Each colour has a different purpose, here are some of the main Chiang Mai Songthaew routes: This isn’t an exhaustive list and there are also Songthaews used privately by tour agencies and hotels to transport guests so there are no hard and fast rules. Those who have travelled extensively in Thailand or neighbouring countries will be familiar with Grab. Does anyone have idea of approximate prices? There is no bus in this bus station, only van and songthaew. While getting around on foot is perfectly fine, it can be uncomfortable walking around – especially during the warmer months. CHIANG MAI – A songthaew (baht bus) has rolled down a steep slope near a parking lot in Chiang Mai city, killing two tourists and seriously injured two others.. I can read Thai anyway, but luckily for people that cannot read it the numbers were same as in English. This is a ride-hailing app similar to Uber for Southeast Asia and allows you to arrange a taxi from your current location using your smartphone. Prem Pracha is the bus operator offers bus service from Chiang Mai to Pai. Most attractions in the city can be accessed using the standard red Songthaew. You can choose red trucks (red songthaews) or a tuk tuk.When you want to go fast to your place take a tuk tuk. You’ll mainly come across red Songthaews on your visit to Chiang Mai but occasionally you’ll spot others roaming around. If you are struggling to fill a Songthaew at Chang Phuek Gate, try heading to the Chiang Mai Zoo stop as this is sometimes more popular. You can also find van from Chiang Mai to Pai in this bus station. Create. The moral of the story is this, if you’re in a rush – don’t use a songthaew. The price of a Songthaew in Chiang Mai will be between 20-40 baht per person within the walls of the old city or more outside. Again, it will be a long day but it will be totally worth it. Chiang Mai Destination Experts. In Thai, the word “songthaew” literally means “two rows” ( Pronounce: Song-Tail ). We walked nearly everywhere, and only got a songthaew when we had to go somewhere a few kilometers away. I recommend having small change to hand and try to pay in the exact change. Take highway 1001 up north, past Mae Jo for about 1.5 hours. The driver decides on which route to take and which passengers will be dropped off first. Songthaews don’t follow specific routes like buses, they simply take you to your desired destination, and unlike taxis, passengers share the ride with others, so it may not go to your destination directly. Elephant Nature Park dropped me off at my hostel that I had pre-booked in Chiang Mai. Mae Sa Waterfall; Arguably one of the most photogenic waterfalls around Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai Tourism Chiang Mai Hotels Chiang Mai Bed and Breakfast Chiang Mai Vacation Rentals Chiang Mai Vacation Packages Flights to Chiang Mai The distance from Chiang Mai to Pai is 135km not a great distance but one made longer by the 762 curves. Route 1095 which connects Pai with Mae Hong Son (110km) and Chiang Mai (135 km) is a very scenic route through the mountains which takes several hours. In Chiang Mai you can use Grab to book Songthaews, simply select ‘Grab Rod Daeng’ when choosing your ride and enter your route details to get picked up. Chiang Mai. The trucks should hold about 10 people (5 on each side) but I’ve seen them crammed with adults and kids on the floor and additional passengers hanging off the back. As one of the most popular tourist destination of Northern Thailand, most tourists visiting Chiang Mai will also go to Pai, the small town with its cool climate, relaxed atmosphere and picture-perfect views of jungle-green mountains and epic sunsets.. Pai is hidden in a secluded mountain valley of Mae Hong Son province, about 130 km northwest of Chiang Mai. The old city is only 1.5 km x 1.5 km, so it’s an easy place to walk. Show less . . (they often ask 200 baht like 5 euro / 5.5 dollar) Do you have time save 90% and take a shared red truck. Use Chiang Mai to Pai by Car. This runs every hour or so from 8.30am-6pm, costing around 60 baht per person to the springs and taking about 1.5 hours. Booking.com Black Friday Deals ️ Don’t Miss Out On The Sale of the Year! His adventures have included Interrailing through Europe, road tripping the US and backpacking SE Asia. The Songthaews for journeys like this only run when they are full so you may have a considerable wait at non-peak times or in low season. Answer 1 of 21: Hi, I'd like to know how much does it cost to hire a songthaew to Doi Suthep, Bhu ping palace, Tiger Kingdom for 4 pax and how to hire a songthaew? They’re similar to a taxi as they’ll drop you off at specific destinations, but you’ll have to share it with other members of the public. The songthaew was mostly full of tourists, all of them shitting their pants and looking at each other, wondering who was going to say or do something. There is no need to discuss price at this point as you’ll end up with an inflated tourist price. How to Use Chiang Mai Songthaews (Red Taxi’s). Inilah Songthaew, dijamin seru! Chiang Mai: ... From most of the popular areas in Chiang Mai you need to get a tuk-tuk or songthaew (converted pick up truck) to get there. There is no need to discuss price at this point as you’ll end up with an inflated tourist price. You’ll have to catch a return journey in the opposite direction once you’re done. Besides the bus, Prem Pracha also offers air-conditioned minivan, which is one of the popular options to get to Pai from Chiang Mai. The best way to get there is by hiring a Songthaew (1200-1500 THB). This multi-tier waterfall consists of 10 levels that you can even climb up carefully. To go from and to the airport, you can hail a taxi or travel like a local on a songthaew or tuk-tuk.There is also a shuttle bus, but we don't recommend this option as it stops outside the city center and runs infrequently. The Isuzu Faster and Toyota Hilux are example models of songthaew found in Thailand. Therefore, the publisher does not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. The songthaews in Chiang Mai are the cheapest and most popular mode of transport in the city. What helps is carrying around a specific address or a picture on the map depicting where you want to go. Although predominantly red, the trucks also come in other colours such as blue, white, or yellow. Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station is the place where long distance buses to Central Thailand and Bangkok depart, as well as to North-Eastern Thailand (Isaan) and to Eastern Thailand (for Pattaya). If you’re not leaving Chiang Mai, the price should never be above 100 baht. Last year in Chiang Mai I noticed the red songtaews had the price 30 baht per person written on the outside, but the writing was in Thai script not English. A red Songthaew (shared minibus), tuk-tuk or taxi from the airport will take you the city. Finally after we swerved to avoid a head on collision, one of the Swedish tourists banged on the window until the driver finally stopped. How to Get to Popular Tourist Attractions by Songthaew, How to get to the hot springs by Songthaew (San Kamphaeng Hot Springs), How to Get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by Train, 9 BEST Hostels in Chiang Mai for Solo Travellers (Party, Chilled and Chic), Slow Boat from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang, Laos – How to Save Money + Other Tips. Grab top tip: sometimes I check the fare on Grab and show a nearby tuk to get a similar price. Everybody Loves Pai. (AYA Service, from 100-150 Baht / USD $3-4.60 per day) Only hire a moped, scooter or motorbike if you have an international or Thai license. Here, you can find affordable shopping, bars full of laid-back adventure seekers and unbeatable natural scenery. NancyL 9,273 Posted October 19, 2014. Hi, I’m Kieren, the 20-something year old backpacker behind this blog. This is a very local experience, so you’ll likely be packed tightly in the truck. This was my first hostel that I had ever stayed in. Songthaew literally means ‘two rows’ which is reference to the two rows of seats in the back of the trucks. To use a Chiang Mai Songthaew, simply hail one down and tell the driver where you’re going. As Thai language improved in 2011 I paid 500 baht for the entire day, with agreement 5 of us would eat food at Tiger Kingdom and him getting commission was known and the food was fine. The driver will remember where you asked to get off but in some cases the language barriers can be an issue or they may forget so I recommend using a GPS app such as google maps to keep an eye on where you are. Hi - Have some friends visiting and planning to hire songthaew for the day tomorrow in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai to Pai by Bus and Back. Make social videos in an instant: use custom templates to tell the right story for your business. ... Day 3: Chiang Mai to Pai. But these trucks are only used to get to areas outside of Chiang Mai, while the red trucks only service locations within the city limits. Attractions, temples, zoos, museums, shopping, accommodation, food and events – everything can be found here! The journey to Pai is beautiful. Chiang Mai Historical Centre, Chiang Mai Arts and Cultural Centre, Lanna Folklife Museum These three museums can be found at the Three Kings Monument in the Old City. From Interrailing through Europe to backpacking in Southeast Asia, I’m slowly working through my bucket list and I set up this blog to help you do the same. Chiang Mai. It's a steep and winding drive, with 762 curves between Chiang Mai and Pai, which is notably for giving the passengers motion sickness. It's a shared passenger vehicle used to get around town, known among locals simply as rot si daeng. One way trips are also possible for 50 baht each way, but you’ll be relying on finding a space in another Songthaew for the return journey. The Songthaews have no fixed route and don’t operate on a first come first serve basis so you never know how long it will take. When people use the word 'hostel', I always used to think the worst; turning up to a mattress on the floor… Its particularly good as it shows you the fare up front before booking which is always cheaper than the price you’ll get from hailing down a taxi or tuk on the road. 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