To get a ride, wait on the side of the road and motion to oncoming drivers by extending your arm, palm down, and wave your hand slightly.  You will see others doing this if you watch for it.  If you are taking a red-coloured songthaew or tuk-tuk, first tell the driver where you want to go.  He will either nod (which means yes, get in and pay when you arrive at the destination), or he will state a price for you (which you may negotiate), or he may shake his head and drive away, which means he is not available or willing to go there.  (It is nothing personal!)

Tuk-Tuks

This is definitely the quickest transportation option available.  Prices are a bit higher than for red songthaews,  b ut in a tuk-tuk you can be sure you will always be the only fare picked up.  It is also sometimes a fun, adventurous ride (although bumpy).  All fares need to be negotiated before entering the tuk-tuk.  Within the city, fares generally run between 40-60 Baht.  If you travel as far as the superhighway or to an out-of–the–way place, you may have to pay 60-80 Baht or at times up to 100 Baht (like for main shopping malls).  Prices are usually higher during high traffic periods, after 20:00 hrs and in bad weather.

Songthaews

The word Songthaew literally means “two rows”. The red-coloured trucks you will see are called this because riders sit in the back on two long benches.  Songthaews are sometimes called ‘siilor’, which means “four wheels”. 

Like tuk-tuks, red songthaews do not travel on a set route, but wherever the driver wishes within Chiang Mai.  If you are travelling to a private residence or an out-of-the-way-place, it may be expected that you will travel as the only fare and pay the same amount as in a tuk-tuk.  If you are going to or from a major intersection or a popular public place (i.e. a market area or Central Plaza [Kad Suan Kaew] ) and the driver is willing to go that way, then you can travel “tammada” (regular) and pay 20 THB per person.  Traveling “tammada” means that the driver may pick up and drop off other passengers along the way.  If you travel “tammada” to a further distance within town, you might be asked for 30+ Baht per person. vA songthaew driver with several fares decides his route according to the passengers, so the route taken to your destination may not be direct.  (FYI- the driver will hold up 3 fingers for 30 THB and so on…)

Yellow, white, light blue and green songthaews travel on prescribed routes, usually running between Kad Lung (the bus stop area Lamyay market and the river) and a nearby town.  They charge 15 Baht, and they do not run after 6 pm. The colours and roads they travel are roughly:

• White - Kad Luang to Sankamphang (east on Charoen Mung Road)
• Light blue - Kad Lung (south on Chiing Mai-Lamphun Raod)
• Yellow- some travel to Doi Saket and some travel to Mae rim: check their sign
• Green - north east on Kaew Nawarat to the Superhighway and then north on the Maejo Road