Bus Service in Chiang Mai

Bus service in Chiang Mai is inconsistent and the most unused mode of local transport. The city's original four-line bus system was closed down in the year 1997. Since then, locals and tourists have been lamenting the need of an efficient system of local transportation in Chiang Mai .

After dilly dallying for several years, bus service in Chiang Mai began operational again in November 2005. The city bus line now plies on five different routes in Chiang Mai. Usually referred to as the ‘pink bus', these lines connect most of the important places of the city. Route 4 of the bus service in Chiang Mai is most popular, as it traverses the Chiang Mai International Airport .

Fares for bus service in Chiang Mai are a flat 15 Bahts. The drivers are attentive, cooperative and affable. They take pride in showing around the city and mingle with foreigners quite easily. Many of them have even learnt important salutations of popular foreign languages.

Buses in the city are mostly used by budget tourists who cannot afford to hire limousines, or are not interested in tuk-tuk or the red sawngthaews. Most leisure travelers either opt for car hire in Chiang Mai , or use their hotel's travel services.

Bus service in Chiang Mai is operational between 5.30 am and 10 pm. The major sites can be directly reached by bus. For the others, you may need to walk or take a tuk-tuk after disembarking from the bus.

Local administration in Chiang Mai is working very hard in bettering the image of bus services in the city. Mainly owned by the government, this service has not yet taken off greatly, due to severe competition from traditional modes of transport.

Private agencies have not been too interested in starting their bus services in Chiang Mai. With time, this issue needs to be properly addressed, so as to win people's faith in public transport system in the city.