When to Visit Chiang Mai:

Most pleasant times are from  mid October – mid February when days are usually cooler.
October is the end of the rainy season with skies clearing, enjoy lush green landscapes before the peak season crowds start to come in November.
December and January can become quite cool in the mountains.  This is also peak season for travel,
but early December is a wonderful time before the Christmas Holiday rush and usually the first week of December is Chiang Mai Design Week with local and international artisans exhibiting new creations.

Burning Season in MARCH
The burning of the dry-season comes with the smog setting into the whole region of northern Thailand, northern Laos and Myanmar-  so this is the time to AVOID.  In last few years, the skies started to turn pretty bad earlier in February. Hopefully this dilemma can somehow be controlled.
April and May are the HOTTEST months.  Songkran and Thai New Year water throwing party (the days around 15th April) is a time to join-in cooling off -if you are into that sort of fun.

June and July more humid but refreshing rains bring back clearer skies and there are fewer crowds.
August and September are traditionally the months of heaviest rainfall.
November Full Moon is the Loi Krathong Festival when the skies fill with fire lanterns. This has become a very popular and also a very crowded event within the city. There has been controversy with the fire lanterns not being environmentally friendly so this may also be controlled within the city.
Casting off flower floats along the Ping River can be very beautiful but please participate with
Eco-Friendly Floats and REFRAIN from USING Plastic and Styrofoam! 

The first weekend of February is the beautiful Chiang Mai Flower Festival with flower floats in procession and beautiful displays around Suan Buak Haad-the public park along the southwest corner of the moat within the Old Town.

Getting to Chiang Mai:

Chiang Mai Airport ( CNX ) is a short 10-minute ride from the Old Town.
Direct International Flights from:
Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul and from various airports in China.
Also from Hanoi and from Luang Prabang in Laos.

Domestic flights from Bangkok’s Main Suvarnabhumi airport ( BKK )
or from the old Don Mueang airport ( DMK )-home to budget carriers.
Direct flights also from/to Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui.

Train Travel Bangkok to Chiang Mai:
approx 12 hours -overnight trains with sleeping carriages are very popular.
Trains operate via Ayuthaya and Phitsanulok-where you can jump off for Sukhothai, one hour drive away.
Bangkok’s New Main Krung Thep Aphiwat Train Station, north of the city is now connected to Don Mueang Airport by the RED MRT Line.
Train buffs will enjoy the ride and new train carriages have been introduced.
There are plans for High-Speed Trains in years ahead. But it is also nice to enjoy slow travel.

More Good Train Info within Thailand on:
https://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm

Bus Services into Chiang Mai:
There are Two Bus Stations in Chiang Mai:

Arcade Bus Station is divided into 2 Terminals:
-Long distance buses of all standards from simple air-con to Luxury VIP buses from all over Thailand.
-Bus and Mini Vans to Mae Hong Son via Pai.
Travel time by bus from/to Bangkok is approx 9 hours.
From Bangkok’s Mo Chit Bus Terminal ( not far from the Aphiwat Train Station, you can travel anywhere in Thailand cheaply.

Chang Puak Bus Station-  just north of the old moat and Chang Puak Gate is where you get local buses and mini-vans to:
Tha Ton via Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and Chiang Dao.

Accomodations:

Accomodations for all budgets and new boutique hotels seem to be constantly opening and also changing.  Below are a few favorite places to check out and On Line Booking sites will show lots more.

Within Chiang Mai Moat and Old Town: 

Being based within the old town allows you to easily explore the quiet sois and neighborhoods on foot or on bicycle. A favorite past time is simply wandering into the many wats and coffee shops.
Local Markets are also fun to visit to see local life and where you can find lots of good food!

Chiang Mai Gate  ( South Gate of the Moat – called Pratuu Chiang Mai )
and Chiang Mai Gate Market – open from early morning with more food stalls opening later in evening.

A short walk from the market is a delightful area near little Wat Phan Waen Temple.
Loads of guesthouses for all budgets around here.

There are two very charming and a bit more upscale small hotels:
Baan Klang Wiang – a few steps to Wat Phan Waen and the beautiful KALM Arts Crafts Center-
https://baanklangwiang.com/
and they have another very beautiful, more upscale property short walk away:
Villa Klang Wiang-  gorgeous, serene oasis:
https://villa-klangwiang.com/

Exploring markets where you can also find a bowl of Khao Soi -popular Chiang Mai yellow noodles in yellow curry and coconut milk- with chicken or tofu.

Also within the moat:

Somphet Market – just up from Tha Pae Gate towards the northeast corner of the moat.
Lots of small guesthouses and backpacker inns.
The quiet sois up from the market lead you to Wat Chiang Man– Chiang Mai’s oldest temple.

Wat Chedi Luang ( Temple of the Great Stupa )
Directly opposite are small sois filled with small guesthouses and boutique hotels.

Makka- traditional architecture and contemporary rooms: http://www.makka.co.th

More upscale within the moat:

Tamarind Village: www.tamarindvillage.com

Rachamankha: www.rachamankha.com

Ping River Luxury:

Anantara ( fomer Chedi Hotel) on the river – easy walk to Night Bazaar:
www.chiang-mai.anantara.com

Ping Nakara
https://www.pingnakara.com/

137 Pillars House: old world elegance with modern luxuries. Located just behind the beautiful Wat Gate off the Ping River. The dining area and lounge is in the beautifully restored former plantation home of Louis Leonowens, son of the real Anna of Anna and the King.  www.137pillarshouse.com

Doi Inthanon is Thailand’s highest mountain ( 2565m ) and a very beautiful national park
approx 90km to the west of Chiang Mai town.
Mae Wang  is also a beautiful and quiet area- easy 1.5 hour drive enroute to Doi Inthanon.
Here you will find elephant sanctuaries including:  https://chailaiorchid.com/

Wat Tham Doi Thone– is a beautiful meditation center with a very special cave temple.

Wat Tham Doi Tone is open for visitors on Sundays only and retreats are hosted once a month mostly in Thai. Located on the way to Mae Wang waterfall and Chai Lai Orchid.

North of Chiang Mai
an easy drive brings you into countryside with mountain views.

Mae Rim is approx 30 minutes north of Chiang Mai and from here you can drive into the Mae Sa Valley for Elephant camps, orchid gardens and the Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens

Further North of Chiang Mai:
Mae Taeng Valley and lovely Lisu Eco Lodge run by Asian Oasis supporting community-based tourism:

https://www.asianoasis.com/lisulodge

Chiang Dao: 
approx 1.5 hours north of Chiang Mai is another place to retreat into nature where a million stars seem to twinkle above Chiang Dao Mountain.  Dao means star in Thai.  Simple accomodations are found around Chang Dao where you can also enjoy caves and hot springs and Wat Tham Paplong Temple.