GETTING AROUND
Sam-lor
For relatively short distances, you can take a sam-lor (pedaled tricycle) for Bt20 - Bt30 per head. Fare may go up to Bt40-Bt50 for longer rides.

  

 Tuk-tuk
You may also take a motorized sam-lor, also known as tuk-tuk. Rates are not standard but the ride is quicker. Remember, always bargain with a smile.

Red pick-up cab
The most common means of transport is the red cab, which looks like covered pickup trucks where passengers sit on back benches. Sometimes, these red cabs are mistaken for regular buses because of their size. Others use it as a communal taxi.  Before boarding, ask where it is going. Pay the driver Bt15 if there are other passengers. If not, tell him where you’re going and ask how much would it cost. Don’t hesitate to bargain
 
Airport transfers
To get to or out of the airport you can take a private limousine or a song-taew (red pick-up cab). Most hotels provide airport transfers. train transfers

The Chiangmai-Bangkok route is serviced by three classes that operate from 5am - 10pm. These are the Rapid (Bt421, Bt471); Sprinter (Bt481) and Special Express (Bt611, Bt681, Bt1,193) classes. Phone reservations are not accepted. Call 053-247-462 to check seat availability, 053-242-094 for advance trip schedules, and 053-245363/-4 for same-day trips.  Or call the Chiang Mai depot on Charoenmuang Road at 053-244795 for more information.

Bus transfers
Arcade bus station. The arcade is located on the eastern end of Kaew Nawarat Road near the super highway intersection (Highway 118). Call 053-242-664 to check schedules. The bus trip from Chiang Mai to Bangkok takes about nine hours. One-way fare is from Bt403–Bt605. Most bus companies provide transfer services to and from the Arcade. The majority of bus companies are located at the Anusarn Market and Saeng Tawan Cinema areas.

Chang Puak Bus Station: Located on the southern section of Chotana Road, (053-211-586). Here, buses leave for Chiang Rai via the northern route (Highway 107), passing through Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, Chiang Dao, Chaiprakarn, Fang, Mae Ai and Thaton from where passengers can take a long-tail boat to Chiang Rai : Chiang Mai-Tha Ton, Bt90 (fan); Chiang Mai-Om Koi, Bt110 (fan);  Chiang Mai-Fang, Bt120 (air-con van). Fare to other destinations depend on distance.

THE THRILLS THEY CALL WHITE WATER RAFTING

THE TRILLS THEY CALL WHITE WATER RAFTING
For 36 hours, participants try to navigate numerous rapids
Whether you're looking for adventure or prefer a quiet, relaxing journey, there's no better way to explore some of northern Thailand's most spectacular sights than by navigating its rivers on board an inflated or bamboo raft.

The whitewater-rafting season begins during the rainy season in mid-June and can last until late January. That's also the time when Thai Adventure Rafting offers exciting trips down the Pai river, the only way through Mae Hong Son's Lum Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary. For the next 36 hours, participants try to navigate numerous rapids while marveling at the surrounding wilderness.

Two rivers closer to Chiang Mai also offer the same experience. The Mae Jaem River that flows through Ob-Luang National Park has a number of grade four rapids, while the Mae Taeng River, flowing through Hui Nam Dang National Park, is ideal for a short day trip.

It takes a bit of courage to take on the elements, but the task is made easier with the availability of a good boat, an experienced guide, and a change of dry clothes. For those who want added thrill, try a kayak or a boogie board instead.

If whitewater rafting strikes fear into your heart, then the alternative would be bamboo rafting. Most trekking packages offer it as part of their itinerary

Just past the Mae Rim, Mae Sa and Mae Taman rivers are a couple of starting points for a leisurely trip. Cast off at either Mae Sa Elephant Camp and Mae Taman Rafting & Elephant Camp and just let the raft float at a lazy pace. As it drifts with the current, the stillness is broken only by the sound of the water splashing against it

From the forest, one hears the distinct screeches of different birds and shrill cries of monkeys. The last village now seems far behind and all around, only trees, rocks, and endless water are visible. Yes, it is the silence that accompanies this exciting trip that stays in the memory.