Travel to/from/in Chiang Mai

Travel to/from/in Chiang Mai
I used to say that Chiang Mai is difficult to get around https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2016/07/buses-in-chiang-mai.html. Now I can extend that: it's difficult to get to and away as well!

But first, getting around in Chiang Mai, experiences over many years several visits 2012-2022.

It's awful to get around as a pedestrian. I clearly remember waiting about 10 minutes for a gap in traffic to get across the road around the moat.

When travelling with a Farang friend with his car, slow traffic, narrow roads and difficult to find a parking spot.

And the public transport the most expensive in all of Thailand. Songtheo costs 30 THB (whereas in Bangkok, Pattaya and elsewhere usually 10).

I didn't even try taxis, expecting more horrors.

Shamelessmack thinks the same:
https://shamelessmacktwo.travel.blog/2025/01/27/gently-falling-over/
The only problem was that nowhere along Chiang Mai’s roads was one ever going to get a pleasant walk. As expected, it was noise, fumes, near-misses by motorbikes, and impossible-to-cross roads all the way.
https://shamelessmacktwo.travel.blog/2025/01/20/chiang-mai-miscellany-december-2024/
My most distinct memory from that visit was the bad traffic and the difficulty in getting tuktuks or songthaews, which were meterless and thus necessitated bargaining. Hardly any wonder then that I wasn’t rushing to come back in the years since. ….

For me as well, the awful travel in Chiang Mai, regardless of mode of transport, kept me from coming back. But now (jul2025) go to meet a friend. 

Train or bus to Chiang Mai
Night trains to Chiang Mai booked out weeks in advance. Check buses: https://book.siamtickets.com/en/travel/bangkok/chiang-mai?dep_time=3 Incomplete, last bus 20:45, but I want later and elsewhere has later buses.

https://www.busonlineticket.co.th/booking/bangkok-to-chiang-mai-bus-tickets Has tickets up to 22, but booking only return trip?

https://ncabooking.nakhonchaiair.com/booking/timetable.php Most booked out already, only 22:30 has one seat left. But this is gold class 693 THB, I would want first class 924. 

https://www.sombattour.com/ I can't find booking on their website! No online booking? https://www.sombattour.com/en/faq.html How can a passenger book and buy tickets?
1. Book tickets via Call CENTER at number 1215 (06:00 - 20:00 hrs. every day).
2. Buy ticket at every branch of Sombat Tour ticket counter and ticket agencies.
I call them (good English service). The call takes 17min9s with spelling my name and passport number. Total about 1h30min spent on booking a bus!

Now I have one hour time to pay. My online banking app has an error message. ATM does not offer bill payment (menu items in grey, might be a temporary problem). I have to go to pay at 7-Eleven counter (with 10 digit number I got from Sombat Tour). 20 THB fee at 7-Eleven. First staff who served me had no idea how to process the payment, but second staff knew how to do. 

Travel in Chiang Mai
The one part that worked well. I rented a bicycle and got around by bicycle. Taxis booked on Bolt cost about the same +20 THB booking fee. That fee would be the same elsewhere, however in Bangkok I don't book taxis on app to save the fee. In Chiang Mai I have to use the app and pay the fee. My various rides: 3.4 km, fare 48, fee 20. 3.2 km 43+20. Grab mocy 1.9 km, fare 32, fee 1 (no idea why just 1 THB fee). All trips after comparing prices on Bolt and Grab and choosing the cheaper one. 

Over the years, Chiang Mai had several bus systems that all were sabotaged by taxi mafia. I wrote about buses in Chiang Mai before: https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2016/07/buses-in-chiang-mai.html Since then, several more bus systems have failed, but their stops with maps are still around:

Getting away from Chiang Mai
When I went to Chiang Mai in 2023 by night train, to continue to Pai, I took taxi (booked on app) from railway station to bus station and was shocked to find a 3 hour waiting time for van to Pai. The van runs every hour, but was booked out! Considering the possible delay of train, you can't book a van in advance because you will miss it if your train is late!

This trip (jul2025) I wanted to go to Phrae. Check on internet, there are direct buses from Chiang Mai to Phrae. Go to bus station a day in advance to buy the ticket at Green Bus (227 THB, 12:30-16:20). I can see on her computer screen a fee of 20 THB for using Promptpay, and on ticket 207 fare + 20 fee, that's weird! This was their regular ticket counter, not an agency. Why do they use a payment system that costs every customer 20 THB in addition to ticket price? 

Chiang Mai airport
I have never flown to/from Chiang Mai, but here is how to get to/from airport: https://digitaltourist.co/chiang-mai-airport-cnx-transport/

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