Senior Citizen-Friendly Thailand Trip in 12 Days – Day 10
I have always been fond of pandas – I so much feel like cuddling them, they are so cute! Though I hate the concept of zoos and animal captivity, it took a lot of tornado inside me to decide to visit Chiang Mai Zoo only to see Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui, and later take the 5 PM train to Bangkok from Chiang Mai railway station.
Highlights of the Day
- Meeting Pandas at Chiang Mai Zoo Panda House
- Check Out from Hostel
- Train to Bangkok
Panda Bears at Chiang Mai
After our usual breakfast of toasts, jam, fruits, and tea served on the ground floor of our hostel, we caught a songthaew that was going to Chiang Mai zoo.
The admission ticket to the zoo costs 100 ฿ for an adult, and the hop on hop off bus service costs 20 ฿, and the ticket to see the pandas cost 100 ฿.
Overall, it cost me 220 ฿ but I always wanted to meet Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui – the giant panda bears – who were brought to Chiang Mai Zoo from China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan province, China, in 2003 for a 10-year conservation program to breed giant pandas.
I could not believe my eyes- I actually panda bears; I met Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui and also Lin Ping – I was so overjoyous!
We waited for the next bus at the bus stop that took us back to the starting point after taking us around the zoo area as we did not decide to stop by anywhere else.
Back to Hostel
There are plenty of songthaews at the exit of zoo that could take you to old city. We got down at the opposite of our hostel in front of a Chinese restaurant named Jok Sompet. It was lunch time – so we had lunch there before coming back to hostel to check out.
We checked out from the hostel little late for which I took prior permission from the reception as our train to Bangkok was at 5 PM, so we got some time to rest before leaving.
Train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok
Train no. 14 is a special express train that departs Chiang Mai railway station at 5 PM and reaches Bangkok the following day at around 6 AM.
The train journey was unexpectedly pleasant – I highly recommend travelers coming to Thailand to surely plan at least one way train journey – it is different and nice!
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN THB)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Day 10 in Thailand – Chiang Mai.
- Getting around: 80
- Entrance fee to see pandas: 220
- Chiang Mai to Bangkok train: 1000
- Food: 250
Total expense (roughly): 1550 THB
For an overall idea of itinerary and expense of the trip, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page. You can also have a look at Senior Citizen-Friendly Thailand Trip in 12 Days – Itinerary and Expenses.
If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!
Those pandas are so cute, I would love to see them! Thanks for sharing the information about the train too. It’s always helpful to know about the toilet situation, haha 🙂
Yes, the toilets in the train and in the hotels, in fact anywhere, got to be clean.
Great tips especially the expected cost for travelers! Love the Panda House highlight, I wasn’t aware that this is an option for visitors. Thanks for sharing.
Anytime, dear.
Wow, I have just been to Chiang Mai but I never realized they had a zoo there! As I never researched this topic, I didn’t know about pandas – otherwise I would have visited for sure.
Have you ever seen pandas in real, before?
I went to Chiang Mai but I didn’t go to the zoo, as I don’t like the idea of animals kept captive. Anyway the information you gave are very thorough and it sounds like a close encounter to pandas might be fun. I hope to see them someday in their natural environment!
I am very touched by your words. I have realized it late, but I do not entertain zoos or aquariums, anymore now.
I visited Chiang Mai last month and didn’t realize that there were pandas. I usually don’t like to visit zoos, but I’m glad to hear that the pandas are a part of conservation efforts. Thanks for sharing the details on the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. It looks very comfortable. Over five years ago, my family took a local train from Khao Yai National Park to Ayutthaya and we didn’t have the AC option. It was quite the experience sitting on a tiny seat with three people to a seat and in the hot and stuffy train.
The trains here are really comfortable.
I have always wanted to see pandas also! I have not traveled to the Asian part of the world but would love to. Is English widely spoken or is it important to know the local language?
You can totally have a great time without knowing the local language here.
OH MY PANDA! The details of the trains are very helpful. The pricing of everything helps to plan and prepare for future travels.
Hahaha, sure.
I haven’t visited Chiang Mai, from what I have heard it is very beautiful. Would love to visit the Panda House, just to witness their cuteness. Great post.
Yes, though it would be great if they are returned to their real habitat.
I don’t enjoy to see animals in captivity even I second you that these two are truly cute. I am happy to see that you had great time there.
I discourage zoos and aquariums now.
Great tips on the train however not a fan of seeing wildlife in zoos etc. I know you discourage zoos etc now but to those visitors who still want to see wildlife in the zoos and not get a chance to see them in the wild, then this will be a good guide for them.
Zoos should be banned!
I love Chiang Mai and I had no idea there were pandas there!!! I mainly went for the food haha
The food in CM is bomb!