Chiang Mai public transport: stations, prices
Chiang Mai's public transportation is represented by the sungtuo (tuk-tuk). The cost of the trip is fixed, but it depends on the distance. On average it is 40 Baht per person.
On very short routes, within the old city you can drive in just 20,at. To determine which route this or that car moves, prompts its color, number, and sometimes even the name of tourist spots on the windshield of the car.
In Chiang Mai, public transportation stops at several "end" points:
— Warorot Market. Here you should look for tuk-tuks going to the most popular tourist sites in the city, as well as some of the provinces of Chiang Mai. Located near the area where hotels, restaurants, stores and other infrastructure are concentrated.
— Manee Nopparat Street (north gate area of the old city) - The red sangtao to Doi Saket are a concentration point.
— Arcade Bus Station and Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 1 (Chang Phueak) - Chiang Mai public transport and intercity bus departure stations.
Navigating Chiang Mai's public transportation system is quite difficult, as the color of the sungtao is a clue, but not the main indication for determining the vehicle's route. Cars with the same color serve different directions, and may go in opposite directions.
Green - Mae Jo
Particular attention should be paid to the red sontages. As mentioned above, they are the most popular in the city, but there is also more confusion with them.
This is due to the fact that the cars can be of two types: the first - working on a fixed route and serving the center of Chiang Mai; the second - do not have specific routes, carry out transportation on the principle of a cab.
The latter "pick up" passengers along the way, so to speak on the way, and the route is formed based on where the "picked up" passengers need to go. The price of such a trip is higher and starts from 80 Baht (for short distances), the cost is negotiated with the driver personally.
How to use the Chiang Mai Songhtsuo
The easiest way is to get into the car at one of the "end" points. Everything is simple: you should go to the driver, explain where you want to go, and if the given songtao passes through the declared place to clarify the fare and get into the van. The fare is paid at the end of the trip upon arrival.
The second way is to stop a sangtuo on the street. You can do this at any point in Chiang Mai by waving to the driver of the desired sungtuo, thus demonstrating to him your desire to make the boarding.
Gesticulate in such a way that the driver sees the body movements and does not pass by. Sometimes the songhtyo does not stop, and this does not mean that the passenger has gone unnoticed. Most likely the car is already full, and in this case you have to "catch" the next one.
Chiang Mai's public transport intervals are short, so usually the wait does not take long. When boarding a sangtao, you should approach the driver of the vehicle in advance and indicate the drop-off point.
This is required in order to first make sure that you get into the car going in the right direction, and secondly, to inform the driver of the place where passengers want to get off. The fare is paid at the end of the trip.
Passengers are disembarked at the points indicated at boarding. Usually the car stops without additional reminders. If suddenly passengers are not dropped off at the right place, you should use the "stop" button located in the cabin or (if there is no button) knock on the window to the driver so that he would stop.
You can read about the routes of the sungtao flights on the website - www.chiangmaibus.org. Unfortunately, all the information is presented only in Thai, but some maps are quite informative, as well as there are difficulties with entering the site.
The location of some of Chiang Mai's public transport stops on the map: