Indigo Chiang Mai Holidays

You’re never out of things to do in Chiang Mai. One of the fun places to visit for kids and adults alike is the zoo. Chiang Mai Zoo is very large (and hilly), covering over 200 acres of land at the foot of Doi Suthep. The zoo is certainly walkable (or rather, hikable), but you can also easily get around by taking the tram or the monorail.

The current star of the zoo is the new baby panda, Lin Ping. She is currently on show twice a day from 9-10am and 4-5pm - very cute, of course, very much like a very big teddy bear! Unfortunately I couldn’t get good shots of her, but here is one of her mum (or dad) having breakfast! The pandas are in their own special air-conditioned enclosure, so it’s also a good place to escape the heat!

Near the panda enclosure, you’ll be able to see the magnificent white tigers. This is the year of the tiger after all, so you shouldn’t miss them!

At the zoo (for an additional entrance fee), you can also visit an excellent aquarium. Chiang Mai Aquarium boasts the world’s longest underwater tunnel (133m long). The aquarium houses about 8000 aquatic animals of 250 different species. When we visited, there was also a very good underwater show celebrating Chinese New Year, and shark feeding (11am), which was quite amazing. If you’re hungry, there are little stalls selling popcorn in the aquarium, and just outside, there is a good and clean little food court selling standard Thai meals (around 35-50 baht/dish).

Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium is Asia's largest, and boasts the longest tunnel in the world!

Other exhibits that are worthwhile visiting are the walk in aviary and the gibbon enclosure.

Chiang Mai Zoo, Huay Kaew Rd, Chiang Mai. 8am-5pm. www.chiangmaizoo.com

Tip: Get there early! It does get very hot!

Interested in a tour of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & Mae Hong Son? Contact us now!

Celebrate Songkran in style this year at The Chedi, one of the most stylish hotels in Chiang Mai!

How do Thais celebrate the New Year? Traditionally, they will go to the local temple to make merit and release animals like birds and fish. There is also the ritual bathing of the buddha image. Young people pour fragrant water on elderly folks’ and ask for blessings. Although tradition still persists, most of the area around Chiang Mai’s moat becomes a wild free for all waterfight!

This year, The Chedi has a very special “Water Ride” program.

The Program

Welcome water ritual at the entrance

Three course “Khan-toke” Northern style luncheon

Hop on the convertible tuk-tuk, fully equipped with your “weapon” (aka water gun) with your driver

Cruise into the most happening places in the old city

Back to the hotel very wet - towels provided

The Timetable

Lunch at 12pm

Tuk tuk at 1:30pm

Back to the hotel at 5:00pm

The Deluxe Package

Baht 14,150 net for 2 nights (2 persons)

Welcome drinks and cold towels upon check-in

Fruits in-room

Daily breakfasts

The Chedi Club Suite Package

Baht 22,350 net for 2 nights (2 persons)

Round trip airport transfer by hotel’s limousine

Private check-in at the Chedi Club Lounge or in room

Welcome drinks and cold towels upon check-in

Fruits in-room

Complimentary mini-bar selection (one refill per day)

Complimentary laundry services (7 pieces per day)

Evening cocktails with canapés in The Chedi Club Lounge

Breakfast in The Chedi Club Lounge or the restaurant

The Choice
Select 2 nights; 12 - 13 | 13 -14 | 14 - 15 |  April 2010
For further information and reservation please contact us.

This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Red was the colour of the day as Chiang Mai’s residents got together to celebrate this year’s Chinese New Year. The streets arond Chiang Mai’s little Chinatown, near Wororot Market, were closed of for pedestrian. Celebrations were in full swing. There were performances, markets selling all manner of goods, and of course, the many obligatory food stalls - a feast for the eyes (and stomach)!

Dragon - give the dragon money for good luck & prosperity!

Lots of food stalls!

If you are in Chiang Mai during the Chinese New Year, come and celebrate with us!

Book a tour with Indigo Chiang Mai Holidays! Contact us for more information. : )

Wat Suan Dok at dusk

Chat to a monk, go on a mediation retreat, learn about the temple’s fascinating history, take a romantic stroll and watch the sunset, or even just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, eat at a famous (and inexpensive) vegetarian restaurant, Pun Pun…

Suan Dok Temple dates back to the 14th century. Originally, it was  was built on what was Chiang Mai’s Royal Family’s flower garden. Today, it’s a functioning temple that as well as a home to a Buddhist university. The university, in fact, opens its doors to visitors keen to learn more about buddhism through the “Monk Chat” program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings 5-7pm. You can actually talk the monks anything you like -  their day to day activities and lifestyle, Thai culture, or even the weather! You never know, you might learn something interesting, and you’ll be helping these monks practice their English too.

While you’re there, don’t forget to look up and enjoy the sunset. Wat Suan Dok reputedly is one of the best places in Chiang Mai to see the sun setting over Doi Suthep Mountain.

Wat Suan Dok also has a fascinating history, with a tale of a holy relic that self-replicated (or, according to other sources, broke in half). One of these was enshrined here at Wat Suan Dok in the main chedi (pagoda), the other was tied to a white royal elephant which was sent loose. Eventually, the elephant found its way up Doi Suthep Mountain, and died. This then became the location of Chiang Mai’s most revered temples, Wat Pratat Doi Suthep, and the other relic is enshrined here.

When you visit Suan Dok Temple, you’ll see smaller white pagodas next to the main golden chedi. These contain ashes of Chiang Mai’s royal family. The temple is not the original “graveyard” of the royalties, however. The remains were collected from various places in the city by request from Princees Dara Rasmi in 1909.

Wat Suan Dok is located on Suthep Road, opposite Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Dentistry, between the moat and Nimanhaemin Road.

Free entry.

Would you like to book a tour to Chaing Mai? Contact us now! : )

Chiang Mai is not just about temples and elephants! Nimanhaemin Rd, possibly one of Chiang Mai’s trendiest streets, is full of boutiques selling art & home decor, as well as countless restaurants, bars, cafes and bakeries. My favourite street, Soi (Lane) 1, consists of small shop houses with treasure troves of delights waiting to be discovered.

From Suriyan Chandra

In the beginning of December each year, Nimanhaemin Soi 1 hosts “Nimanhaemin Art and Design Promenade”. The little street is closed off to make way for a live street market full of trendy arts, crafts and designs, and live music performances.

Of course, there are more to Nimanhaemin Road than Soi 1! Come and take a look for yourself!

Tulips are blooming in Chiang Mai! Charoenprakiet Park (at the lake opposite to the 700 Year Stadium on Canal Rd) is covered with a carpet of colourful flowers. The “show” is put on by Chiang Mai Municipality as a present to the people for the New Year. It’s on till around February 2010. Really worth seeing, and even better, it’s free!

If you love gardens and flowers, you shouldn’t miss Chiang Mai’s annual flower festival! It’s on from 5-7 February 2010.

If you have any enquires or would like to book a tour, please contact us!

Looking for a luxurious weekend get away? Look no further than the opulent Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi. Set in gorgeous settings and complete with its’ own paddy fields, laze away the weekend being pampered at the resort’s award winning Dheva Spa, try your hand at planting rice, or dine in some of Chiang Mai’s finest restaurants. Children won’t be missing out either, Dhara Dhevi’s Lanna Kid’s Club, with its myriad of interesting activities will keep your children busy and entertained throughout your stay.

Dheva Spa

Whether for your well deserved R&R, or for a weekend getaway with the family, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi is an ideal choice.

Lanna Kid's Club

Accommodation starts from 21,232 THB/night (Colonial Suite). Includes tax and service charges.

Valid from 7th January - 31st March 2010

Includes:

Daily American Breakfast for one or two persons

Complimentary extra bed for a child under 12 sharing the same room

Late check out until 18:00 hours (subject to availability)

For more information, or to book, please contact us. : )

Fancy paying to feed fish and get your feet cleaned at the same time? Try Fish Spa!

Fish Spas are popping up everywhere in Chiang Mai. My friend recently opened one in Chiang Mai’s Airport Plaza Shopping Centre so I had to try it!

These little Garra fish from Turkey nibble on the dead skin on your feet leaving a strong ticklish sensation at first, and became rather pleasant later on…and yes, my feet did feel softer and cleaner afterwards! Something to try while you are in Chiang Mai! : )

It’s not expensive either - about 150 baht for 15 minutes.

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Mae Fah Luang Garden, Chiang Rai

When you visit Chiang Rai, one of the wonderful places to visit is the Mae Fah Luang Garden and Royal Villa. The garden, built in 1992 and located at 950m above sea level, is, to say the least, spectacular. The garden covers over 10 hectares of land and and is possibly one of the most colourful places in Thailand.

Mae Fah Luang garden is covered in a dazzing array of flowers. The centrepiece of the the garden is the a sculpture of children forming a human pyramid (see top photo). One of the children is trying to reach the sky. Entitled “Continuity”, the sculpture was named by the late Princess mother (mother of present king of Thailand) as “continuity ensures the the success of any endeavour”.

In 1993, the garden won the Pacific Asia Tourism (PATA) award for Tourist Site Development. Today, the garden is one of main tourist attractions in Chiang Rai.

Mae Fah Luang, the Princess Mother

“Mae Fah Luang” literally translates to “mother sky royal”, and it is the name Thai people gave to late Princess Mother. The Princess Mother had a great interest in the arts and culture, as well as the environment. She also held a deep concern for the people, especially the poor living in the remotest parts of the country and worked tirelessly to help them to become self-reliant.

In 1971, the Princess Mother founded the Mae Fah Luang Foundation in order to improve the resident’s quality of life. The foundation also helps to promote and preserve the culture and arts of the people in the North, and to provide employment and training for the Hilltribe people. These people through poverty, turned to growing opium as cash crop and their shifting cultivation techniques also resulted in the severe deforestation of Doi Tung.

Today, through the work of the foundation, the lives of the hilltribes in the area have changed remarkably. Coffee, macadamia nuts and flowers are the main crops grown today, and the cottage industry is thriving, producing quality goods of international standards. The centre of these activities is Doi Tung.

So, if when you visit Chiang Rai, why not come and enjoy the beauty of the Mae Fah Luang Garden? It’s also worthwhile to visit the Princess Mother’s swiss chalet style Royal Villa near by. A trip to the garden can also be combined with a visit to Mae Sai, the bordertown with Burma.

Interested in visiting Mae Fah Luang Garden and Chiang Rai? Contact us now!

Chiang Rai’s river, Mae Kok originates from Shan State, Burma and flows through Thaton (a small but picturesque town north of Chiang Mai Province). The 130km long river then passes through spectacular landscapes to Chiang Rai city, and finally into Mekong River at Chiang Klong.

There are many long tail boat tours along the Mae Kok River, as well as quite a few hill-tribe villages that you can visit such as Akha, Lisu and Karen Villages. One of the Karen Villages, Ruammit, is a popular destination. The villagers raise elephants for daily work in the jungle, and elephant riding is available. If your boat passes Ruammit Village late in the afternoons, you will be able to see elephants bathing in the river!

When you come to Chiang Mai, why not consider spending a few days in Chiang Rai?

For information or to book a tour to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son, contact us now!