Getting to Chiang Mai.
Fun Fact: It was once its own kingdom. Chiang Mai was the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, which is why the city has such a distinct culture, architecture and cuisine compared to the rest of Thailand.
See below travelling tips and any helpful info.
Travels.
We recommend arriving at least one day before the wedding to allow time to settle in, adjust to the climate, and recover from travel. If you are flying in a few days prior to the wedding, we would recommend checking out Bangkok. Flights from Bangkok to Chaing Mai are very easy and cheap to get, so a few days in the capital of Thailand would be a good excuse to do some travelling!
We recommend using Skyscanner, Google Flights or similar comparison sites to easily find and compare the best routes and prices.
Flights from Newcastle (NCL) to Chiang Mai (CNX) typically involve one or two stopovers, commonly via London, the Middle East, or Bangkok. Average return fares in November usually range from £900–£1,400, depending on how early you book and the length of stopovers.
For guests flying from London to Chiang Mai (CNX), there are no direct flights, but plenty of great one–stop options via major hubs like Abu Dhabi, Doha, Singapore, or Bangkok. In November, average return fares are often around £700–£1,200 if you book early and are flexible on dates, though deals can sometimes be lower when booking well in advance.
Flights from Perth (PER) usually include one stop via major Asian hubs such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok. Average return prices in November are around AUD $700–$1,100, especially when booked in advance.
Guests flying from Sydney (SYD) can expect one or two stops, often through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok. Return fares in November generally sit between AUD $900–$1,300, with shorter connections typically costing slightly more.
Passports and Visas.
To enter Thailand, your passport must have an expiry date of at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least 1 blank page. To avoid queues at the airport and get into the gorgeous warm weather as soon as possible, we’d recommend filling out this free Travel Card form prior to your travels. This can still be filled out at the airport with the help of staff but doing it in advance will save time.
Getting Around.
Chiang Mai is easy to navigate. Everything within Phae Gate is walking distance but if you wanted to catch a taxi, we would recommend using Grab. It’s super easy to use and basically the Thai version of Uber. You can also flag down a Tuk-Tuk or Red Truck (songthaew) to take you to your destination easily. If you do, we recommend naming your price first. It’s a must-do before you head home. Fun fact: The Red Trucks are also native to Chiang Mai and part of the city’s everyday transport.
Currency.
The local currency is Thai Baht (THB). ATMs are widely available, and cards are accepted at nearly all hotels and restaurants. We’d recommend getting a Starling, Monzo or any travel card which has great currency rates and free transactions.
Weather.
Good news for those who like the heat. It will be warm especially coming from an English winter, so expect heat, humidity, and sunshine. Hopefully, as it’s not rainy season, it should be perfect weather but definitely remember to pack some suncream!
Time Zone.
Thailand operates on Indochina Time (ICT). In November, this means Thailand will be 7 hours ahead of the UK, 1 hour behind Perth and 4 hours behind Sydney.
We will also update this page with any extra helpful info closer to the time.