trip to chiang mai

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Getting Around Chiang Mai

Airport Guide

Neighborhoods in Chiang Mai

48-Hour Itinerary

Top Things to Do

Best Museums

Where to Go Shopping

Best National Parks

Foods to Try

Best Restaurants

Nightlife Guide

Your Trip to Chiang Mai: The Complete Guide

The capital of an expansive, independent Lanna Kingdom that maintained a separate identity till the 19th century, Chiang Mai retains a unique culture that is both a part of Thailand and yet separate from it. As the urban center for Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai goes beyond its roots as a Lanna heartland to become a destination for digital nomads, an example for world ecotourism, source of high-quality handicrafts, even a noted foodie stop for world-hopping gourmands!

For first-time visitors, Chiang Mai can be hard to make sense of at first glance: before planning your trip, read the information we’ve provided below.

Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit: Between November and February, Chiang Mai experiences the lowest overall temperatures and humidity for the year, making this period the best time to visit . This time of year also coincides with festivals like Loi Krathong and the Chiang Mai Flower Festival.
Language: The majority of people speak Thai, with older and rural folk speaking Lanna (the Northern Thai language) as a first language. Local English proficiency is all right for workers in the city’s service industries, but don’t expect to be understood the further you venture out to the countryside.
Currency: The local currency is the Thai Baht (THB), with its value hovering around 33 baht to the U.S. dollar. You can convert money at one of Thailand's many banks.
Getting Around: The best way to go places in Chiang Mai is by riding the songthaew, the cheapest way to travel in the city. Red songthaew (rod daeng, Thai for “red car”), are the most common type, running throughout the city; other colors can go as far as neighboring provinces.
Travel Tip: Chiang Mai is an excellent jump-off point for exploring the rest of Northern Thailand, with easy transport access to Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, and Pai . The city of Chiang Rai , for instance, is just a three-hour bus ride away.

Things to Do

The Chiang Mai experience begins at the Old City and radiates out to the countryside into your choice of adventures. From buying Thai handicrafts to climbing waterfalls to browsing through night markets, Chiang Mai offers different travel experiences to suit a wide variety of tastes.

Consider the following experiences when you’re planning a trip to Chiang Mai.

Walk inside the Old City: This 370-acre walled district houses the oldest part of civilized Chiang Mai, along with many of its finest temples, restaurants, and attractions. Set your own itinerary on foot, and you’ll discover many of the Old City’s hidden gems.
Buy Northern Thai handicrafts: Many Thai handicrafts sold in Bangkok and abroad originate from the handicraft specialty villages outside Chiang Mai city. Cut out the middleman and visit villages like Bor Sang (for mulberry-paper umbrellas) and Ban Tawai (for hand-carved wooden crafts) to buy Thai artisanal crafts straight from the source.
Experience an ethical animal encounter: The wilds around Chiang Mai also host a number of ethical elephant sanctuaries that permit care activities like feeding or bathing the animals, but no riding or abuse of the pachyderms in their care.
Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: Chiang Mai’s most sacred temple is set on a mountain slope some 10 miles from the city center, at an altitude of 3,500 feet above sea level. Despite the distance, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep remains a singular must-visit temple: take in the culture, the crisp mountain air, and the gorgeous views of the city from above.
Shop at Chiang Mai’s night markets: The O.G. Night Bazaar is still going strong, but it’s getting some serious competition from the weekend night markets in the Old City. These night markets have everything—cheap souvenirs, jewelry, home furnishings, and as much Thai street food as you can eat!

Explore more things to do in Chiang Mai with our full-length articles on the top things to do in Chiang Mai , top shopping stops in Chiang Mai , Chiang Mai’s nature parks , and the top temples to visit in Chiang Mai .

What to Eat and Drink

The former capital of the independent Lanna Kingdom is the best place to try Northern Thai food—a regional cuisine with close links to Lao , Burmese, and Yunnanese Chinese food traditions.

Don’t be fooled by the foreign influence, Chiang Mai’s cooks have perfected the use of local ingredients to create something completely unique to the province, and is completely tied to the Chiang Mai tourist experience today.

You can’t say you’ve visited Chiang Mai until you’ve had khao soi (flat egg noodles in a coconut-based curry), sai oua (Lanna sausages) and som tam (papaya salad); in fact, these dishes have become iconic all-Thai dishes in their own right!

Explore our full-length articles on the foods to try in Chiang Mai and the best restaurants in Chiang Mai to try them.

Where to Stay

As one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations, Chiang Mai offers tourist accommodations for every budget, from backpacker-friendly hostels to five-star resorts.

Look through Chiang Mai’s individual neighborhoods for a hotel, hostel, or resort that fits your needs: budget guesthouses and boutique hotels in the Old City; mid-to-high-end boutique hotels in Wat Ket; and luxury, mid-range, and economy hotels around the Night Bazaar, among others.

Beyond city limits, you’ll find a cool assortment of mountain resorts promising eco-friendly stays with nature encounters as part of the mix. The Anantara Golden Triangle, for instance, sells overnight stays in their Jungle Bubbles , where you can sleep in transparent hemispheres next to roving bands of elephants!

Getting There

Most international visitors fly in to Chiang Mai via Chiang Mai International Airport , located only 3 miles from the Old City. From Chiang Mai, you can take buses, trains, or domestic flights to other parts of the country, including Pai, Mae Hong Son, and Chiang Rai.

Citizens of over 60 countries (including the U.S.) can visit Thailand (and Chiang Mai) without a visa for up to 30 days. Check with the Ministry of Tourism for any rules changes before planning your trip.

Culture and Customs

Cover up in Buddhist temples: Thailand’s Buddhist temples, as a rule, require modest clothing from its visitors; any skimpy clothing signals disrespect for the monks. Cover your shoulders and legs when visiting active Buddhist temples , whether you’re in the Old City or visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

Tipping is not necessary: As a rule, service personnel do not expect tips from their guests. If you do feel authentic satisfaction with their service, tips will not be discouraged.

Don’t lose your temper: Showing strong emotions is a big no-no in Thailand. The locals prize saving face above all , so they smile and stay cool even when they have every reason to blow their top.

Read these articles about tipping in Asia , Thai temple etiquette ; dos and don’t’s to observe in Thailand , and table manners in Thailand .

Money-Saving Tips

Stay at a hostel: Thai hostels and budget hotels are great deals for scrimping travelers; chosen well, your hostel will have just the right amount of comfort, with walking-distance access to local tourist sights. Many budget hotels in the Old City fit this description—for not a lot of dollars per night, you can sleep well and explore the Old City’s sights from your doorstep.

Learn to ride the songthaew: Red songthaew run all around the city, costing as little as 30 baht (around $0.90) per ride. They don’t follow set routes but will take a general direction where they’ll pick up and drop off passengers on demand.

Look for free stuff to do: In several Old City temples, for instance, you can sign up for “monk chats” where you can ask questions about the local religion and culture; and the monks get English-language practice. Win-win!

Eat local: Go where the Thais go to eat in Chiang Mai, generally, food courts or eateries where they serve only local food. You’ll be fed delicious Northern Thai food at a fraction of the cost of a comparable meal at a touristy restaurant.

Buy a local SIM card for phone and mobile internet use: Using Chiang Mai’s cellular and 4G network is just a matter of buying a local SIM card and slapping it into a compatible handset. You can choose from a variety of cellular providers in Chiang Mai—the top three brands (AIS, DTAC, and True Move) can be found at almost every convenience store around the city.

For more details on saving costs in Chiang Mai, read our articles on how much money you’ll need for a trip to Thailand and what $100 buys in Southeast Asia .

Encyclopedia Britannica. " Chiang Mai ."

Tourism Authority of Thailand. " Language & Culture ." Jan. 9, 2020.

Tourism Authority of Thailand. " Thailand Currency ."

Royal Thai Consulate - General. " List of Countries – Allowed 30-Day Stay Without a Visa ( For Tourism Only) – Passport MUST be valid for at least six more months ."

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Home » Southeast Asia » Thailand » Chiang Mai

EPIC 3-Day Chiang Mai Itinerary (2024)

Surrounded by lofty mountains hugged by tropical jungle, Chiang Mai is not your typical urban sprawl! Despite its size, the chilled atmosphere and proximity to nature make it one of the most relaxed cities you’ll ever visit.

Chiang Mai has a proud past as an independent kingdom and still retains many of its traditional Lanna customs. You’ll be immersed in all of this and more with our in-depth Chiang Mai itinerary!

Chiang Mai’s such an amazing city that we’ve waxed lyrical about it on countless posts and we’re going to do it again: from gorgeous temples to an atmosphere of zen, there are so many reasons to travel to Chiang Mai!

Whether you’re shopping up a storm at the Night Bazaar or up to your knees in mud as you watch elephants bathe in the river, there’s plenty of fun to be had on your visit to Chiang Mai — just hold tight to our 3-Day Chiang Mai itinerary!

Let’s get right to it…

A Little Bit about this 3-Day Chiang Mai Itinerary

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If you want to have a great time backpacking Chiang Mai , it doesn’t really matter how many days you spend here but you do need to have an awesome itinerary — and that’s exactly what we’ve put together right here! From charming temples to vibrant markets, everything you need for an incredible trip to Chiang Mai is packed in 3 days!

Getting around between attractions isn’t very hard. In fact, there are various methods of transportation for you to pick and choose from!

Walking between sites on your 3-day itinerary in Chiang Mai is probably the best method of transport. Since most landmarks are located in the Old City or around the markets, the distances aren’t too far. You should, however, take care when walking: the sidewalks aren’t always well-maintained and are often used by motorcyclists!

The public transport system is centered around tuk-tuks. They’re kind of like taxis as they travel to specific places that you request. Just prepare for a bumpy and very speedy ride!

Song Taews, or Red Taxis, are shared taxis that sometimes have set destinations and other times don’t. For both the Song Taew and the tuk-tuk, you should negotiate prices.

The final option is to hire a motorbike. While many tourists think that getting around on a motorbike is a quintessential part of their vacation in Chiang Mai, it’s worth remembering that Thailand has the second-highest number of road accidents in the world — so make sure you actually know how to drive a motorcycle!

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3-Day Chiang Mai Itinerary Overview

Day 1 in Chiang Mai: Elephant Nature Park , Wat Phra Singh , Wat Phan Tao , Wat Chedi Luang , Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Day 2 in Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center , Chiang Mai National Museum , Wat Umong , Wat Phra That Doi Suthep , San Kamphaeng Road

Day 3 in Chaing Mai: Lanna Folk life Museum , Bhubing Palace , Mae Ping River , Thai Massage , Terracotta Garden

More Places to See in Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai Gate Market , Wat Umong , Wualai Walking Street

As relaxed and peaceful as Chiang Mai may seem, the city is actually quite big! That said, the area that most tourists tend to stick to is quite compact in the downtown part of the city. Here, there are various neighborhoods that will appeal to all kinds of travelers!

Knowing where to stay in Chiang Mai is important to make the most out of the 3 days. Old City has to be the ultimate best place to stay in Chiang Mai. This neighborhood is in the heart of the city and is chock-a-block with the most fascinating Chiang Mai points of interest, such as Wat Chedi Luang!

It’s also the best area in town for those on a budget as there are plenty of Chiang Mai’s backpacker hostels and budget accommodations located here, and you can save costs on transport by walking to the nearby attractions!

Nimmanhaemin, often called Nimman, is a more alternative, modern part of Chiang Mai. It has a vibrant atmosphere and is the center of the city’s local nightlife! Although the most iconic landmarks on your Chiang Mai itinerary aren’t in the area, there are plenty of things to keep you busy, such as bars, clothing boutiques and the local university!

Best Chiang Mai Airbnb – Beautiful Thai Home

A gorgeous traditional wooden house with all modern comforts and conveniences, this Chiang Mai Airbnb is situated near the moat. There’s one king-sized bedroom, another bedroom with bunk beds and a single bed, and an air bed in the living room if required. Bedrooms have air conditioning. The bathroom is new and there’s an open-air kitchen, living room, and dining area. The home has Wi-Fi. There’s secure parking.

Best Budget Hotel in Chiang Mai – Arch39 Minimal Art & Craft

Centrally-located, characterful and sparklingly clean… what else could you ask for from a budget hotel? Arch39 Minimal Art & Craft offers real value for money with its array of spacious rooms, complimentary bicycle hire and delicious breakfasts! The staff are also incredibly friendly and helpful with arranging your 3-day Chiang Mai itinerary!

Best Luxury Hotel in Chiang Mai – The Inside House

This elegant and comfortable hotel truly deserves its 5-star rating! It’s situated in a stunning white and green mansion in the city center, with landmarks like the Chiang Mai Gate within walking distance! The hotel’s bathrooms are particularly luxurious, mixing indoor and outdoor living with bathtubs set beside private pools and surrounded by greenery — you’ll have to redefine the notion of bliss after a dip here!

Best Hostel in Chiang Mai – S*Trips The Poshtel

What’s not to love about an affordable downtown hostel with plenty of quality facilities? You’ll find all this and more at S*Trips The Poshtel! It’s within walking distance to many of the sites on our 3-day Chiang Mai itinerary, such as the Night Bazaar. It’s also noted for its impeccable cleanliness and spacious dormitories.

S*Trips The Poshtel is one of our favourites in Chiang Mai but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

The first day in Chiang Mai is all about getting to know the key attractions that you’ll find in Old City! Thailand is famous for its stunning temples – you can literally feast your eyes on every single one of them! It’s a great way to start your 3-day Chiang Mai itinerary. To round the day off, you’ll dine on local Thai cuisine while bargaining like a local in the bazaar!

Every map that you see in this article includes a hyperlink to an interactive version on Google Driving. After clicking the map image, the interactive version will be opened in a new tab.

9:00 AM – Elephant Nature Park

Elephants have long called Thailand home but in recent years they have been under threat from tourism, habitat loss, logging and poaching. Elephants may seem strong but riding them can actually harm them. Thanks to Elephant Nature Park , tourists can now interact with the iconic Thai elephants in a more ethical way!

The 250-acre grounds are home to around 70 rescued elephants which you can mingle with as they go about their daily lives. This is the perfect way to start your Chiang Mai itinerary! The short park visit includes transport to and from your hotel, the opportunity to feed the elephants (if they want to eat) and to enjoy the sight of them mucking around in the river! Note that none of the tours are the same as the park lets the elephants decide what they want to do. If they feel like sleeping during the day, that’s all you’ll get to see. No animal is forced to do anything or to entertain the crowds.

Make sure to bring some water and a hat – the sun can get quite harsh around noon-time. Wearing closed and comfortable shoes is also recommended since you’ll be in your feet quite a lot. The tour stops around 3pm, but with the hotel drop off, you can keep exploring the city without a problem.

Cost – around $81
How long should I stay here? 5-6 hours
Getting there – Pick up and Drop off at your hotel

4:00 PM – Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh is the largest temple in Chiang Mai and an absolute must on your 3-day Chiang Mai itinerary! There are three main structures in the temple complex that you should visit.

Viharn Lai Kam is the temple’s assembly hall. It was originally constructed all the way back in 1345 and is the epitome of Lanna-style building. Be sure to admire the roof which was designed in the shape of wings! Inside, it’s beautifully decorated with wooden carvings and stucco. The highlight, though, is the statue of Phra Singh, the Lion Buddha. If you’re lucky enough to be in Chiang Mai for the Songkran festival, it is this Buddha that is processed around the city!

Viharn Luang is the larger assembly hall at the temple, though it’s less ornate than Viharn Lai Kam. It’s home to a magnificent image of Buddha cast in gold during the 15th century!

Finally, Haw Trai is the temple’s library. It’s a beautiful stone structure that houses Buddhist scriptures.

Insider Tip: Most temples have a fairly strict dress code which includes covered shoulders and knees. The feet are considered dirty in Buddhism so make sure to leave your shoes (your material feet, as it were) in the dedicated spot at the temple entrance.

Cost – $1 USD
How long should I stay here? 1 hour
Getting there – Wat Phra Singh has its own public transport station.

5:00 PM – Wat Phan Tao

Once a palace, this pretty structure is now one of the most beautiful sites on any Chiang Mai itinerary! This unusual temple in was built of specially-molded teak panels that were fit tightly together, supported by teak pillars. Look up as you enter: the three-tiered roof features gilded snake tails and there’s a spectacular gilt carving of a peacock above the entrance!

Inside, you’ll find a dhamma , a wooden casket that holds Buddhist scriptures written on palm leaves. Some of these precious documents are on display. You’ll also find a busbok , a tall, ornate box for images of the Buddha. Also, be sure to admire the golden sitting Buddha!

If you find yourself getting hungry and craving lunch, Khaow Tom Restaurant is nearby and a locals favorite. Serving mouth-watering Asian cuisine, you can charge some energy for the rest of the day!

Cost – Free
Getting there – You can easily walk through Old Town

6:00 PM – Wat Chedi Luang

Most of Chiang Mai’s temples are gold and meant to be admired in direct sunlight but not Wat Chedi Luang! This ancient temple is best viewed at night when lanterns and candles breathe magic into the atmosphere, so head here around dinnertime!

Wat Chedi Luang isn’t as majestic as Wat Phra Singh but it has an atmosphere that isn’t easily beaten! It’s a partially ruined, tall and imposing structure that is a testament to Chiang Mai’s long and glorious past. It was built in the 14th and 15th centuries with a pagoda rising 80 meters high! Over time, the height diminished to 60 meters but Wat Chedi Luang remains one of the most impressive Chiang Mai landmarks!

The main sanctuary is home to the Phra Chao Attarot who is surrounded by his disciples. At the end of the complex is a large reclining Buddha and an even bigger seated Buddha.

Another highlight is the Lak Meuang. It’s a decorative pillar that was constructed at the founding of Chiang Mai in 1296. Unfortunately, it can only be viewed by men. If you’re lucky enough to fall under this category, be sure to put this experience on your 3-day Chiang Mai itinerary.

Insider Tip: One of the most original experiences you can have on a weekend in Chiang Mai is talk with a Buddhist monk! Wat Chedi Luang is the perfect spot to do so. Monks congregate on the northern side of the temple grounds so that they can talk about Buddhism with visitors! They’re there between 9:00 and 18:00.

Getting there – You can easily walk through Old Town

7:30 PM – Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Now that you’ve made some epic memories touring the Old Town and have gotten to know more about the city, it’s time to start finding the perfect mementoes for your 3-day stay in Chiang Mai! You’ll find a mind-blowing variety of goods on offer at the Night Bazaar and the vibrant ambience is so infectious that it’s worth a visit even if you’re not buying!

Night Bazaar has many different goods on sale, from knock-offs to antiques, but it’s the ideal place to visit in Chiang Mai to purchase traditional Thai crafts. Soft Thai silks and carved wooden items are the most popular souvenirs but don’t overlook the bamboo rice boxes, silver jewellery, and handmade soaps and candles

Bargaining is key to getting a good price and is an expected norm in the market. However, the prices are generally quite low anyway. Negotiate with a friendly smile and have the exact amount you settle on at hand.

Insider Tip: Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is great but if you’re here on a weekend in Chiang Mai, you may want to switch it for the Saturday or Sunday Night Walking Street. Both of these markets consist of vendors lining the street and crowds of people shopping and eating. It’s quite hectic but it is a famous Chiang Mai attraction!

How long should I stay here? 2-3 hours
Getting there – Taxi/Grab or Walk through Old Town

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With 2 days in Chiang Mai, it’s time to look behind the stunning landmarks and get to know the history and culture that built them! There’s more to Thailand than just street food and temples (although that worth a visit alone!). History lovers will enjoy this day especially. Take notice that the last stop today is a bit further from the city centre. Make sure you wear comfy shoes, as you’ll be walking around quite a lot.

9:00 AM – Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center

Right in the middle of Old City, you’ll find this excellent museum in the old provincial government hall. This beautiful Art Deco building is certainly a great place to start the second day.

The monument in front of the center is the Three Kings Monument. King Mengra, the founder of Chiang Mai, stands with his friends (also kings) who were involved in the layout of Chiang Mai. It’s quite an iconic image that comes in various forms across the city.

The exhibitions are dedicated to fostering an understanding of Chiang Mai’s history in visitors and a sense of local pride. The front section focuses on Chiang Mai through the ages, using multimedia to tell the city’s rich history. The back section of the museum hosts temporary events and exhibitions in the hope of preserving the area’s culture. There’s a replica of a traditional Lanna village and a Thai temple. You’ll also find a quaint souvenir shop in this area!

Cost – $3 or $6 USD (depends on ticket)
How long should I stay here? 2 hours
Getting there – Walk through Old Town or grab a Taxi

11:00 AM – Chiang Mai National Museum

There’s no doubt that the city’s National Museum is one of the most underrated places to visit in Chiang Mai: few people wonder what to do in Chiang Mai and think of this little gem! Luckily for you, we can highly recommend it!

The Chiang Mai National Museum is the perfect continuation of the trip down history lane that the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center would’ve started! It’s small and quiet so the exhibitions tend to make quite an impact.

First, you’ll be introduced to the Lua and Hari Phunchai people. The latter founded the first known kingdom in northern Thailand. Then comes the famed Lanna Kingdom. It’s presented through a beautiful selection of archaeological artefacts from everyday objects to magnificent Buddha statues!

Chiang Mai was once part of the independent Kingdom of Chiang Mai. This kingdom’s close relationship with Siam is also presented in an exhibition, with a particular emphasis on their artistic developments.

Many of the artifacts in the museum are also works of art so it’s sure to be one of the most breathtaking experiences on your Chiang Mai itinerary!

Cost – $3 or $6 (depends on ticket)
Getting there – Right next to the Arts Centre

1:30 PM – Wat Umong

With 2 days in Chiang Mai, you’ll have time to visit a few more temples. Wat Umong is often known as the Hidden Temple as not many tourists find it in the jungle outside of Chiang Mai.

Wat Umong was founded in 1297, just a year after Chiang Mai was established. Its architecture is characterized by the use of tunnels. At the end of each tunnel is a Buddha or another symbol. The tunnels are designed so that external sounds are minimized, creating a hushed and deeply spiritual atmosphere.

In the temple grounds is a collection of Buddha statues, many of which are disfigured. It creates an other-worldly environment for a peaceful stroll in the forest. Keep an eye out for wooden plates bearing Buddhist proverbs in English and Thai! On the edge of the grounds is a small lake and you can reach the island by crossing a bridge.

Insider Tip: Combine your visit to Wat Umong with a visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. You can take a tuk-tuk or songthaew to reach the site which is about four kilometers outside of Chiang Mai. Get your driver to wait for you as not many vehicles stop here. If you’re here on a Sunday between 15:00 and 18:00, join one of the talks in the Chinese Pavilion about Buddhism.

Cost – Free!
How long should I stay here? 30min – 1 hour
Getting there – Easy to reach by Taxi

3:00 PM – Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

By now, you’ll have seen your fair share of temples and may even be feeling a bit “templed out”. Bear with us, though, because we’ve saved the best for last!

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep was founded in 1383 to house a fragment of the historical Buddha’s shoulder bone. The original bone was brought by a monk to Lanna where it broke into two pieces. One was enshrined at Wat Suan Dok, while the other was tied to a sacred white elephant who wandered the jungle. The spot on which the elephant died was the spot chosen to house this bone shard: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

Visitors need to ascend 306 steps to get to the temple. The long route is meant to help devotees gain Buddhist merit but if that doesn’t appeal to you, there is a funicular alternative.

On top of the stairs is a statue of the legendary elephant that picked the temple’s location. There are also various shrines and other monuments.

The temple itself is split into an inner and an outer terrace. The inner terrace houses the sacred relic of the Buddha. There’s a walkway around the golden Chedi in which the relic sits.

Try to get here just before sunset. The monks will gather for prayers and the panoramic view of Chiang Mai becomes even prettier in the fading light!

Cost – $2 USD
Getting there – Grab a Tuk Tuk

4:00 PM San Kamphaeng Road

Make sure you’re wearing comfy shoes when you arrive at San Kamphaeng Road because there are loads of villages and factories on this Chiang Mai walking tour!

San Kamphaeng Road is the best place in Chiang Mai to buy Thai silk which is often considered to be the best in the world. Try Shinawatra Thai Silk , the oldest silk factory in Thailand.

Continuing a 600-year-old tradition are the potters of San Kamphaeng. You can visit the ancient Lanna kilns in the area before watching the modern masters. Chiang Mai’s potters are very skilled at Celadon, very fine, greenish ceramics. Baan Celadon is the best place to see the artists at work.

Bo Sang Handicraft Center really deserves its place on your 3-day itinerary in Chiang Mai! Its principal craft is traditional umbrellas. These colorful items can be seen all over Chiang Mai and are made of Bamboo frames and Saa paper (which comes from local tree bark). The artists then hand paint various motifs onto the umbrellas, meaning that each umbrella is a unique, useful product! You can both watch the crafting process and buy the finished product at Bo Sang Handicraft Center.

You can also find brilliant silverwork and woodwork in San Kamphaeng Road. Whether you’re buying or not, don’t miss out on this excellent attraction. Just being able to watch traditional art in the making means San Kamphaeng Road is one of the most unique places to visit in Chiang Mai !

How long should I stay here? 1-3 hours
Getting there – Taxi or Tuk Tuk

By the time we reach day 3, we will have already seen a lot. It might be the case that you want to have a chill day and not do so much. Feel free to cut out a few parts of this particular itinerary and then save the rest when planning your next trip to Chiang Mai!

8:30 AM – Lanna Folklife Museum

Lanna Folklife Museum doesn’t have as many historical items as the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center or the Chiang Mai National Museum but it does do a splendid job of personalizing the Lanna people’s glorious history!

Detailed images of daily life are recreated through the use of wax dolls and reconstructions. For example, there’s a trio of wax dolls playing music, while a life-size loom allows you up close to Lanna arts!

It’s a great spot to spend some time if you’re travelling with kids. Learning about Chiang Mai’s culture and the history behind it might not be everyone’s favorite thing, but it sure is interesting and informative.

Cost : $3 or $6 (depending on ticket)
How long should I stay here? Max 1 hour
Getting there – If you’re staying in the Old City, you can walk here.

10:00 AM – Bhubing Palace

Bhubing Palace is as visited by locals as by tourists due to its spectacular gardens! No visit would be complete without a garden stroll but the buildings themselves are also quite interesting!

Phra Tamnak Bhubing Rajanives is the main building of the palace complex. The upper level is home to the royal family, while the lower level is reserved for their entourage.

There are a number of other residences in the palace complex, such as Ruen Peek Ma (Log Cabin) which is inhabited by a royal princess. Ruen Rab Rong is a royal guesthouse built in the modern Thai style.

In the gardens, make sure to admire the palace’s famed rose garden. It’s also worth visiting the water reservoir which doubles as a fountain. The music playing in the background was composed by the former king himself!

Insider Tip: Much like the temples, Bhubing Palace has a strict dress code. Your shoulders should be covered (but not with a scarf) and your bottoms should fall below your mid-calf. You should also keep your voice down!

Cost : $2 USD
How long should I stay here? 30min
Getting there – By taxi as it’s quite a way to travel…

12:00 AM – Mae Ping River

Riverside, as the area on the banks of Mae Ping is known, is considered to be the most relaxed part of Chiang Mai. It’s home to several luxury resorts, shops, markets and stunning views!

We suggest you set aside a few hours for a chilled walk around the area. You could choose to visit Warorot Market, a fruit market that also hosts stalls selling street food and other goods. Afterwards, take a leisurely stroll around the area’s many shops and cafes.

We highly recommend having lunch at one of the riverside restaurants. The Good View Bar & Restaurant is one of the most famed establishments on any Chiang Mai itinerary — and with good reason! Sit down outside, right beside the river, to soak up the eponymous views while dining on classic Thai dishes like deep-fried shrimp.

Of course, you should definitely go on a boat ride along the lovely Ping River. It’s a humbling experience to see how the riverbank changes from bustling city to tranquil farmland.

How long should I stay here? Anything between 1-3 hours
Getting there – Take a Tuk Tuk and enjoy the view!

3:00 PM – Thai Massage

Thai massage is unique in that it doesn’t involve oil being massaged onto bare skin. You’re given a set of loose clothes to change into and the treatment revolves around pressing down on your muscles firmly and stretching them gently.

The Women’s Correctional Institute is a good place to try out a traditional Thai massage. There’s no need to worry about safety as there are guards on duty and all the inmates are trained for 6 months in Thai massage.

If you’d like to support the women but would feel more comfortable with ex-inmates, then try Lila Thai Massage . The company provides jobs to many former prisoners who trained with the Women’s Correctional Institute. It’s not a luxury spa but the services are top-notch!

Cost : No set price
Getting there – You’l find massage places everywhere, so either walk or take a taxi.

4:30 PM – Terracotta Garden

Hidden from the city by a decorative wall, the Terracotta Garden is sort of place you either look for or just happen to stumble upon! Stepping into the walled garden is like reaching an oasis: all around you, you’ll see shamrock-green leaves spilling out between larger-than-life Buddha-style statues.

The collection of ornate pots, wall hangings and statues is breathtaking. We recommend that you pull out a chair and place an order with the small cafe for drinks while you meander leisurely around the garden. Don’t worry if it rains; the cafe is entirely enclosed by glass so you can still feel like you’re in the garden while remaining dry inside!

The Terracotta Garden is actually a showroom for Baan Phor Liang Muen, a well-established terracotta shop. The items on show are all handmade by local artists, so they are on sale, although that’s not the main reason to visit.

Insider Tip: If you’d like to learn a bit about pottery, why not do so at the Terracotta Garden? Call ahead of time to arrange a pottery workshop in the garden with a local artist!

Cost : Free
How long should I stay here? Only as a stroll around
Getting there – As your Taxi driver to drop you off

Need a place quick? Here’s the best neighborhood in Chiang Mai

The Old City is often the cheapest place to stay in Chiang Mai, with a plethora of backpackers’ hostels and budget guesthouses making it one of the best places to stay in Chiang Mai for broke backpackers.

Admire one of the city’s few remaining wooden buildings at the old monastery of Wat Phan Tao.
Stroll around the outer defensive walls and enter the city through Thapae Gate.
Go offbeat at the Thai Coin Museum and Mengrai Kilns.

Try to spend as long as possible in the city. There are just so many amazing attractions to visit that 3 days in Chiang Mai will pass by in a whirlwind! If you can, try to stay a little bit longer and visit even more awesome hotspots. We’ve listed a couple more of our favorites down below. Note that these are in no particular order.

1. Chiang Mai Gate Market

This market has the most awesome food stalls in Chiang Mai and perhaps even all of Thailand. The market is held most nights of the week, but weeknights are the most popular. There are fewer vendors on weekend nights, so make sure you go when you can enjoy everything this market can offer.

It’s a great spot to end the day or even squeeze into day 1 or 2. If your stomach can take it, try out the local dishes and things you normally wouldn’t eat (I’d recommend fried insects as a little snack!).

Eat lightly throughout the day and prepare yourself for a night blowout. And once you’re there, your mouth will be watering from all the different smells and spices in the air. If you’re not into insects, there are other popular dishes like mango sticky rice, smoothies, and pad kra pow, which is a spicy meat and basil dish.

Cost – Depends on your hunger>
How long should I stay here? 1-2 hours.
Getting there – Taxi, Grab or Tuk Tuk

2. Wat Umong

There are a lot of temples and shrines in Thailand. In fact, when you’re looking for the most interesting places to visit in Chiang Mai, you’ll find that most of them are temples. But these shrines are a little different because they’re nestled underground, attached to a network of tunnels that were once used by a king and a Chiang Mai monk who preferred to pray underground.

This site was first abandoned in the 15th century but fortunately, it wasn’t eaten by the forest. It’s now open to the local Buddhist monks as well as curious travelers.

The tunnels are located a few miles out of town, so you’ll need to get a motorbike or arrange other transport to get there.

Make sure that you book return transport too, or you might find it difficult to get back to your hotel. Once you’re there, explore the tunnels and the surrounding forest as well. You’ll find numerous Buddhist shrines, statues, and signs all over the area. And the hunt is partly what makes this one of the most enthralling points of interest in Chiang Mai.

Cost : $2-3
How long should I stay here? 1 hour
Getting there – Taxi if you don’t have a motorbike.

3. Wualai Walking Street

If you’re into shopping, but big crowds irritate you, this is the perfect spot for your Chiang Mai itinerary. Fewer tourists visit this walking street but that doesn’t mean there are less things to see.

If you want a fun and lively market that isn’t as packed as the rest, then show up on Wualai for the Saturday market. It opens in the later afternoon and runs until late.

It’s a little smaller, which is why you won’t have to fight your way through the crowds. It’s also more like a strolling market, where you’ll find a good array of goods and food stalls without the claustrophobic crush of other markets in the city. It’s known for its peaceful atmosphere, without any rush or hectic. If you’re in Chiang Mai over the weekend, it’s definitely a cool spot to check out.

How long should I stay here? 1-2 hours is plenty enough
Getting there – Get a Taxi or Tuk Tuk to drop you off where the street starts.

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

You can generally categorize Chiang Mai’s climate into three seasons. It’s rainy season from May to October. November to February is winter, while March to April is summer. Summer may sound like a good time to travel to Chiang Mai but it’s also burning season. During this time, farmers in the surrounding countryside burn the remainder of their harvest. This causes extensive smog which often obscures the mountain ranges around Chiang Mai and causes pollution in the city.

In terms of planning your trip, it doesn’t really matter when you visit exactly. With the exception of the burning season, Chiang Mai is generally a great destination year-round as every season brings its advantages. The best time to visit Chiang Mai tends to be in the shoulder season. June and October are both good times to enjoy pleasant weather.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – nothing beats having a motorbike when visiting Chiang Mai. As long as you’re comfortable on a bike and can handle the slightly intense Thai driving style, having a scooter will make your life much easier. There are rental shops on every corner in Chiang Mai, with most offering daily, weekly, and monthly rates. Make sure you check your bike (even take photos of its condition before you head off) and ask for a helmet.

Those not comfortable on a bike will have to get by on public transportation. There’s no metro system in Chiang Mai, but there are a ton of bus routes and the ubiquitous songthaew . These color-coded pickup trucks go just about everywhere in the city but can be a bit confusing. If you’re looking to do Chiang Mai on the cheap, the songthaew are definitely the way to go.

Taxis will always get you from A to B in the safest way possible (the Thai idea of “safe”) but haggling for a fair price can sometimes be a pain in the a*s. If you can, rent a personal driver while you’re in Chiang Mai or use Grab. Grab is the cheapest and most efficient way to get around, but if you’re travelling in a large group it can sometimes be a bit of a struggle to find a transport big enough or get everyone on the back of a bike.

Obviously your trip starts with packing your bag. make sure to have a pair of comfortable shoes with you (you’ll be walking a lot), a hat and sunscreen – the Thai sun can get quite harsh around noon time. Be sure to tick off all of the essentials on your Thailand Packing List before you start your travels so your Chiang Mai experience will be a success.

While there are certain things to watch out for in the city, worries about safety in Chiang Mai certainly shouldn’t stop you from planning a trip to Chiang Mai!

Avoid drugs when backpacking in Thailand . As chilled out as Chiang Mai is, Thailand is very strict when it comes to drug use and there’s no exception when it comes to foreigners. Stay clear, then, because the lightest sentence is a $2000 USD fine!

A common scam occurs with tuk-tuk drivers who offer tourists free rides, take them to gem stores and forcefully encourage them to buy. If you feel uncomfortable, calling loudly for the tourist police tends to work well.

The biggest danger, however, comes from road accidents. Thailand is notorious for its large number of road accidents and foreigners trying out the seemingly cool motorbike are often involved. Only hire a motorbike if you’re experienced with riding one and always wear a helmet. In fact, many backpackers are killed each year in motor accidents while driving in Thailand, so, please, follow the travel advice and warnings, respect the road, and stay safe!

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Chiang Mai

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Find out what people want to know when planning their Chiang Mai itinerary.

How many days should you need in Chiang Mai?

Four or five nights should be enough to explore the city and beyond.

What are some cool things to do in Chiang Mai at night?

The night bazaar is an awesome way to spend the evening, buy some cool souvenirs and grab some local food. Chiang Mai also has some great pubs too.

What are the best free things to do in Chiang Mai?

Many of the temples the city is famous for are free or cheap to visit, one you can’t miss that won’t cost a penny is Wat Phan Tao.

What are some fun things to do in Chiang Mai with family?

The whole family will love a day looking after elephants in the ethical Elephant Nature Park.

With rivers, mountains and jungle just outside of the city, Chiang Mai offers visitors access to a world of adventure and breathtaking natural landscapes! The city itself, however, isn’t outshone by these natural wonders: colorful markets, intricate artwork and stunning temples can be found on almost every corner in Chiang Mai.

This incredible combination of nature and culture makes Chiang Mai a winning destination that’s best seen with our expert 3-day Chiang Mai itinerary! From finding you the best place to stay in Chiang Mai to knowing the nearest quality eatery for an impromptu snack, we’ve got all the practical advice you need to make the most out of your trip!

There certainly is a lot to see in, and outside the city: whether it’s gilded Buddhas, royal roses or woven silks, you’ll find it all on our epic 3-day Chiang Mai itinerary!

Have you been to Chiang Mai before? Let us know your experience in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Clair Cathryn

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13 Awesome Things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand (2024 Guide)

Last Updated: April 2, 2024

When you’re looking for the best things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand, you can’t go past these top 13 attractions and activities. You’ll be amazed at all the choices for what to do in Chiang Mai!

From the world-class beaches in the South to the mountain forests in the North, Thailand really does have something for everyone.

While Bangkok is its bustling capital, the north is the heart of culture and creativity, and there are hundreds of things to do in Chiang Mai.

See the best things in Chiang Mai, such as the temples of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Wat Chedi Luang or visit a national park such as Doi Inthanon or Doi Suthep-Pui.

Stay busy with Chiang Mai’s busy markets and street food in the old city, relax with meditation or a Thai massage, or even take a day trip to Chiang Rai or to some of the most beautiful landscapes in Thailand.

Wat Phra Singh 10 Things To Do In Chiang Mai Thailand

Table of Contents

1) Visit Elephant Nature Park

2) enjoy the cafe scene, 3) ride the mae hong son loop, 4) spend time with a local, 5) explore the buddhist temples, 6) hill tribe trekking in the surrounding mountains, 7) wander the sunday walking street markets, 8) visit san kamphaeng hot springs, 9) do a meditation course at wat doi suthep, 10) get a thai massage at the chiang mai women’s correctional institution, 11) cliff diving at the hang dong rock quarry, 12) get a sak yant from a monk, 13) go shopping at the night bazaar, where to stay in chiang mai, best backpacker’s hostel in chiang mai, best mid-range accommodation in chiang mai, best luxury hotel in chiang mai – 137 pillars, the best things to do in chiang mai.

You could easily spend a month (or more) in Northern Thailand, making Chiang Mai a base for exploration.

With the best restaurant and cafe scene in the country, excellent nightlife, a strong Buddhist presence, and enough activities to fill a calendar year, there is definitely no shortage of things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand!

It really is the cultural capital of Thailand, and no doubt you’ll fall in love with it on your next visit. Best of all it’s very affordable compared to the south of the country.

There are so many places to visit in Chiang Mai, and every day we found more and more to do! If you want to know what to do in Chiang Mai, have a read of this article and come visit the city for yourself!

READ MORE: When planning to visit Thailand be sure to use our comprehensive Travel Guide to Thailand !

Unfortunately, Thailand has a history of animal abuse to help boost its tourism economy. Activities such as riding an elephant or visiting the sedated tigers in many of the temples only add to this cruelty and should be avoided at all costs.

But in Chiang Mai, there is one sanctuary that is committed to education and rehabilitation. Elephant Nature Park is a rescue centre for elephants that have been abused by the tourism industry over the decades.

Here you can either visit the elephants in their natural environment or volunteer at Elephant Nature Park to help out around the sanctuary.

Riding elephants are prohibited; instead, the focus is on treating and protecting these beautiful creatures. Definitely one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai.

Elephant Nature Park is also the most expensive option for visiting elephants in Chiang Mai, but that’s because they are the absolute best company in town.

Ok, we admit it – we’re suckers for a city with a great cafe scene. And in Thailand few places offer the kind of coffee-hopping joys that Chiang Mai does.

Because we work online, we love a good cafe with tasty coffee, a comfortable setting, funky music and fast wifi.

After a huge morning seeking out all the Chiang Mai attractions, we’d often find ourselves in one of the quirky cafes to while away the afternoon hours.

Our favourites were Good Morning Chiang Mai and Bird’s Nest Cafe, but you could spend weeks bouncing from place to place and never get sick of it.

The cafes really are the bomb and one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai.

Ok, this isn’t exactly in Chiang Mai, but no trip to Northern Thailand would be complete without renting a scooter or motorbike and riding this incredible four-day loop.

Starting from Chiang Mai, you complete a circuit, spending nights in Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son and seeking out the beauty in Pai, before returning back to the city.

It is known to be one of the best motorbike loops in Southeast Asia, and after we spent 10 months riding two motorbikes 15’000km around the region, we can honestly agree that it is well worth doing.

There’s a lot to see and do along the way, and first up is the sensational mountain scenery. Make sure your travel cameras are charged because it’s seriously going to blow your mind.

There are also a lot of cool detours you can take that will take you up to some unique hill tribes. The people up there are very friendly and welcoming, but make sure you are dressed modestly and show them respect.

And if the temperature is getting the better of you, there are plenty of gorgeous waterfalls to stop off at and take a quick dip.

The Mae Hong Son Loop is probably up there with Chiang Rai as being one of the best trips from Chiang Mai. Many travelers hit up Chiang Rai afterwards, but save time for the Mae Hong Son Loop, you certainly won’t regret it!

(Seriously, don’t be one of those digital nomads or backpackers who spend all their time in the city and never leaves.)

Read our complete guide on riding the Mae Hong Son Loop .

Mae Hong Son Loop 10 Things To Do In Chiang Mai

We’ve been lucky enough to spend months backpacking Thailand, and one thing we never tire of is the welcoming and generous culture of the Thai people.

When you’re in the country you will no doubt have countless incredible interactions that will help convince you Thailand may just be the best country in the world.

If you’re in the city and on a limited schedule, there are plenty of things to do with locals in Chiang Mai, such as trekking and a Thai cooking class.

Our absolute favourite experience with locals is a Thai cooking class. We did this one and absolutely loved it.

READ MORE: Check out our brand new 3-days in Chiang Mai itinerary guide!

Chiang Mai is full of amazing Buddhist temples, known as ‘wats’, and the majority of them are open to visitors. While Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is probably the most beautiful, the ones in the city should not be missed either.

Even if you don’t consider yourself spiritual, Chiang Mai’s temples are a must-see.

Definitely check out Wat Phra Singh, Wat Pan Tao, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Umong. One of the real unique things to do in Chiang Mai is to attend a monk chat.

Basically, this is where you can visit a temple and talk to the monks about Buddhism, life in the temples, or just about anything you can think of.

They are often very excited to practice their English, so it is mutually beneficial. Check out the posters plastered around the temples to see when the regular monk chats are on.

The monks might even give you some more tips on what to do in Chiang Mai!

Wat Phra Singh 10 Things To Do In Chiang Mai

A lot of people who visit Thailand start in the Southern islands, which are undoubtedly beautiful, but can lack a bit of culture and authenticity.

It is no wonder then that when people arrive in Chiang Mai, they are often craving to learn about the history and ethnic development of the country.

Chiang Mai’s jungles are a trekker’s paradise, filled with waterfalls, valleys, mountains and, perhaps more interestingly, various hill tribes.

Just make sure you sign up for your treks with a reputable and responsible tour operator, where the majority of the money will go to the local people of northern Thailand.

Avoid visiting the Karen long neck tribes.

These minority people have been forced to continue their paralysing traditions, at the insistence of the government, to keep growing the booming tourism economy.

This one trekking at Doi Suthep Mountain is really cool (booked with Klook).

Every Sunday night the centre of the Old City is closed to traffic, and food vendors, craftspeople and artists take over with their unique and bargain-priced street markets.

The night street markets are among the most popular of Chiang Mai’s tourist attractions.

It’s a wonderful evening out, and you’ll find locals and tourists alike wandering around, checking out the items for sale and just enjoying themselves.

If you’re looking to buy any souvenirs or trinkets this is the place to do it. You’ll find all kinds of things here, from traditional to contemporary, and usually at very good prices.

Or if you would rather spend your money on something different, you can get foot massages for only a few dollars, and literally stuff yourself silly with all the delicious local food that is scattered all over the markets.

Definitely one of the better things to do in Chiang Mai at night. The Saturday Night Market is also just as great!

Hot tip – don’t eat lunch on a Sunday, because you’re going to fill yourself up at the walking street markets for dinner!

Sunday Walking Street Market 10 Things To Do In Chiang Mai

Renowned for its therapeutic and relaxing qualities, the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs offers visitors a rejuvenating experience amidst serene surroundings.

It’s one of the best tourist destinations near Chiang Mai!

Visitors can immerse themselves in a series of hot mineral pools while enjoying the picturesque surroundings of tropical gardens.

Additionally, the site offers recreational activities such as egg-boiling in the natural hot springs and exploring the nearby Mae On Cave. With its tranquil ambiance and healing waters, San Kamphaeng Hot Springs offers a lovely day of relaxation and natural therapy.

Chiang Mai is full of ways to get in touch with your inner self, but perhaps the most famous one is the Doi Suthep Vipassana Meditation Centre . Situated on top of Suthep Mountain, this temple receives thousands of visitors every single day.

For those that want to stay longer and learn more about this life-changing method of meditation, the monks open their doors and provide courses that range from 3-28 days.

Speaking is forbidden during your time in the temple, and all your energies are focused on breathing and clearing your mind of thoughts and troubles.

Courses are run on donations. Alesha completed a 7-day course in 2014 and absolutely loved it.

Click here to find out more about her Vipassana meditation course in Chiang Mai .

Wat Doi Suthep Vipassana Meditation 10 Things To Do In Chiang Mai Thailand

READ MORE: Be sure to check out all of the great things to do in Krabi !

That’s right – get a Thai massage at the women’s prison . Before you turn your nose up at this idea, it is important to realise that this is actually a wonderful and hugely beneficial enterprise.

The women in this correctional facility are all serving short sentences for minor offences, and this is a way for them to learn a new skill to help them migrate back into society.

There’s a cafe and crafts store on site, and the massages and spa facilities are very reasonably priced (expect 180 Baht for a massage). One of the strangest, but more interesting, things to do in Chiang Mai.

If jumping off of high things into water sounds like your idea of fun (it is for us), then make sure you head out to the Hang Dong Rock Quarry in northern Thailand.

Originally used as a mine to clear out limestone, the quarry has now filled with water that glows a vibrant turquoise green. The massive pool is deep enough to launch from the highest cliffs, some of them up to 12m high.

If you would rather take a dip without taking the dive, there are plenty of spots you can just swim out.

It can be hard to find, so hiring a scooter or songthaew is the best way to get there. The spot is also sometimes called Chiang Mai Grand Canyon.

If you’re done with Chiang Mai sightseeing and you’d like to commemorate your northern Thailand adventure – get a sak yant.

If you’ve ever wanted to get a bamboo tattoo, then Chiang Mai is the place to do it. Luckily there’s an incredible way to have this experience too.

A sak yant is a traditional, sacred tattoo in the Buddhist religion that is performed by an Ajarn, or tattoo master.

These Ajarns are often Buddhist monks, and the sak yants given are ancient script and designs that offer protection and strength to the person wearing it.

Getting a sak yant is often something many travellers want to do on their trip around Thailand, but finding a clean and hygienic place to do it can be tough.

Not wanting to risk infection, we signed up for a sak yant tour with Where Sidewalks End and even had an English-speaking guide to help translate the entire experience for us with the monk.

It was one of the real highlights of our time in Chiang Mai, and if you’re interested in doing this yourself, we highly recommend it.

Check out our detailed article about our experience getting a sak yant in Chiang Mai .

The night bazaar in Chiang Mai is an absolute must for anyone who wants to dive into the myriad options for gifts and trinkets from Chiang Mai as well as various practical items for travellers.

Hundreds of vendors begin setting up their stalls around 6 PM. But the night bazaar doesn’t start kicking off until an hour or so later.

If you’re not in the mood to buy anything, there is plenty to see in just walking around the night bazaar.

Plus there are lots of places where you can pick up something to eat or drink. Thai street food is among the best in the world!

Chiang Mai Travel Guide

Organising a trip includes so much research and planning – it can be a bit tiring. To save you the hassle and time, we created a list to help you find accommodation options regardless of your budget situation.

The Chiang Mai International Airport is also just 20 minutes from the center of town, so transport to your accommodation should be quick and easy. If you’re wondering where to stay in Chiang Mai while visiting northern Thailand, read on!

Chiang Mai has a huge number of accommodation options to match every budget, from backpacker hostels and tiny guesthouses to 5-star luxury resorts.

We stayed in a few places while visiting Chiang Mai, and they were all very decent. If you are a backpacker, check out the options on Hostel World .

If you are a couple or would prefer something a bit higher-end, Booking.com has a huge selection of accommodations.

Which Neighbourhood in Chiang Mai?

If you’re wondering where to stay in Chiang Mai, it’s important to choose the right neighbourhood to stay in.

While a lot of ex-pats and digital nomads choose the popular Nimmanhaemin area for its abundance of cafes, bars and restaurants, the truth is it’s a bit far away from the tourist attractions.

If you’re a backpacker you’ll want to stay near the Old City, which is the most picturesque and is walking distance to most of the Chiang Mai points of interest.

However high-quality hotels are quite limited in the Old City, so you’ll have to venture further afield. Don’t worry though – you’re never too far from anything in Chiang Mai, and tuk-tuks and motorbike rentals are very cheap ways to get around.

There’s an overwhelming number of awesome hostels in Chiang Mai, and it can be daunting trying to narrow it down to just one.

But the hostel with the most good reviews is Hostel Lullaby . With over 1,000 positive traveler reviews, and a 9.7 out of 10 rating on Hostelworld, this is easily a top pick.

Travelers love that it’s centrally located in the Old City and social, yet not super loud like a party hostel.

There’s no shortage of mid-range accommodation in Chiang Mai, but one of our favourites is the Sakorn Residence and Hotel .

It’s just outside of the Old City, so it’s a quieter place to rest your head and it really has a stunning setup.

There’s a pool, huge, bright and clean rooms, a great restaurant and friendly staff. It really has just about everything you would want for a stay in the city.

If money isn’t an option and you really want to splurge out on the most brilliant accommodation in Chiang Mai, then you need to check out the beautiful and historic 137 Pillars .

We stayed here on our most recent visit to Chiang Mai and absolutely fell in love with it.

It is arguably the best 5-star hotel in the city, and when you see it for yourself you’ll understand why. The suites surround private courtyards, and there are art galleries and delicious cafes and restaurants on-site.

The history of the place is unrivalled, and the service provided is seriously next level. The rooms feature deep, ancient teak timbers and huge 4-post beds like you’d see in the movies.

Seriously, if you want to live in pure luxury in Chiang Mai, this is the place to do it.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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45 Absolute Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Home » Blog » Thailand » 45 Absolute Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand

We’ve rounded up a list of the best things to do in Chiang Mai that will make your trip a memorable one. We have spent more than a year living in Chiang Mai, Thailand so we know this city inside and out! We’re sharing both top Chiang Mai attractions as well as local secrets you won’t find in the guidebooks.

Things to do in Chiang Mai Thailand | Chiang Mai waterfall

Surrounded by lush mountains and dotted with historic temples, Chiang Mai is the best hub for exploring northern Thailand. This city has a rare combination of adventure, nature, culture, history, food, and modern comforts ; a blend that makes it one of our favorite cities in the world.

If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, we’ve got you covered with a huge list of fun things to do in Chiang Mai. And this isn’t just any list you’ll find online or in the guidebooks…

We’ve spent a lot of time in Chiang Mai. Like a LOT . We even called it home for a year, so we know this city really well.

We’ve rounded up the top Chiang Mai attractions as well as our favorite off-the-beaten-path things to do in this city. And trust us, with this handy guide, you’ll never find yourself wondering what to do.

This guide is chock full of insider tips and hidden gems , so you’ll definitely want to bookmark this page or pin it for later! We genuinely hope this guide helps you as you plan your trip to Thailand (or fuels your wanderlust!).

Chiang Mai Travel Guide

For more tips and advice for planning your trip to Chiang Mai, jump to the following sections (or just keep scrolling to see it all!).

Things NOT to do in Chiang Mai

How many days do you need?

Best time to visit Chiang Mai

How to get there from the airport
How to get around Chiang Mai

Tips for visiting Chiang Mai

Where to eat in chiang mai, where to stay in chiang mai, top things to do in chiang mai.

If you’re looking for the very best things to do in Chiang Mai, here are our top recommendations.

Climb up “Sticky Waterfalls”
Hike the Pilgrim’s Path to a temple in the jungle (Wat Pha Lat)
See elephants in Chiang Mai the responsible way
Paddle down river with a Bamboo Raft
Go temple hopping
Visit Doi Suthep Temple (Wat Phra That)
Shop for souvenirs at one of Chiang Mai’s Night Markets
Take a Thai Cooking Class
Try Khao Soi in Chiang Mai
Explore Doi Inthanon National Park

Keep reading for more detailed information on each of these things and more ideas of fun things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

1. Climb up “Sticky Waterfalls”

Sticky Waterfalls What to Do in Chiang Mai

Most waterfalls you think of are extremely slippery due to the massive build up of mossy rocks and fast moving water. The Bua Thong Waterfalls (also known as “Sticky Waterfalls”) are unique because they are fed by a spring rich in minerals.

Due to the mineral deposits in the water, the rocks have become porous and slightly spongy, allowing you to walk up them with bare feet (perfect for anyone with “wandering soles”—see what I did there!)

There are a couple sections to the tiered-waterfall, but our favorite was at the very bottom where the falls drop about thirty feet and you are able to climb around them. It’s a great way to cool down on a hot day!

After you’re done playing the falls, head up the small set of stairs opposite of the falls which leads to the source of the spring. The spring itself is a deep hole filled with vibrant blue water.

Read our complete guide to visiting Sticky Waterfalls (Bua Tong) for directions on how to get there and what to expect.

Don’t want to do it on your own? This tour through Airbnb Experiences earns rave reviews and makes visiting easy!

2. Hike the Pilgrim’s Path to a temple in the jungle (Wat Pha Lat)

Unique things to do in Chiang Mai Thailand Wat Pha Lat Temple

There are dozens of temples in Chiang Mai, but Wat Pha Lat is our favorite temple we’ve visited by far.

First, it is surrounded by the jungle, so it has a completely different feel than the temples within the Old City. Second, it can only be reached by hiking , which eliminates many tourists. The crowds at Wat Pha Lat are far fewer than at many of the other temples in Chiang Mai, so it feels really special.

After an easy 30 – 40-minute hike on the Pilgrim’s Path , you’ll be rewarded with bamboo forests, the sound of chirping birds, a trickling waterfall, and monks completing their daily chores. Allow yourself at least 30 minutes to wander around, take photos and enjoy this beautiful place.

There is a small stand selling coffee and clean restrooms on the temple grounds.

How to get to Wat Pha Lat Temple via the Pilgrim’s Path

Take a red truck to the D Condo Apartment building (30 baht from old city). Walk west towards the mountain and at the first intersection after D Condo, turn right and walk about 200 meters and turn left. You are now on Pilgrim’s Path road.

Keep heading west towards the mountain until you see the trailhead and a motorbike parking area. This is where you will start your hike. It should take you about 30 minutes from the trailhead to reach Wat Pha Lat (1.5 km).

Local Tip: Sometimes Google Maps falls short of details around Chiang Mai. The best app to find hiking trails around Doi Suthep mountain is Maps.Me. Download the app and then download Chiang Mai region.

3. See elephants in Chiang Mai the responsible way

Things to do in Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park

Seeing an elephant up close is on pretty much everyone’s bucket list in Thailand. But before we delve into where to see elephants in Chiang Mai, we are going over some very important things to consider when you book your elephant experience.

If you just skim this section over and don’t do much research, your actions can actually be very harmful to the elephants you just wanna cuddle.

Read this before you visit an Elephant “Sanctuary” in Thailand

Today, many travelers are educated about why you should not ride elephants, and instead decide to visit “elephant sanctuaries” while on vacation in Thailand. Although this is a great shift, there are some things you should know before you book just any “sanctuary”…

Here’s a little insight we’ve learned while living in Chiang Mai: As the demand for sanctuaries grows, there are unfortunately some places that are capitalizing on this and calling themselves “sanctuaries” without truly doing what’s right for the elephants.

Chiang Lai Orchard Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai Thailand

We’ve heard stories that after tourists leave, the way they treat their animals (and staff members) isn’t always great.

To be totally honest, the best thing you can do for elephants is to donate to reputable organizations without visiting them. I mean, think about it… It’s not natural for elephants to have the stimulation of people around them each day. Interacting with elephants is for our benefit, not theirs.

But we get it… seeing these beautiful creatures up close is a dream. It was for us, too. So if seeing elephants is a must for you, keep reading. We’re going over the best places to see these gentle giants in Thailand.

Best places to see elephants in Thailand

From our knowledge, Chiang Mai and the surrounding area probably has the best selection of actual sanctuaries in the country.

The positive thing about visiting a reputable elephant sanctuary is that the money you spend there will (mostly) go back to taking care of the elephants.

I will say, however, that this is not an intimate experience. This is by far the most popular and well-known elephant sanctuary in Thailand, so it’s also one of the more busy ones.
Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary : This is a lesser-known place we have heard from others that is ethically run and the elephants are returned to their natural habitat (and not fenced in). They provide a better life for the elephants and also work towards improving villages and alternate work for the mahouts.

Important Tip: The reputable places book up in advance – so plan ahead if seeing elephants is a must for you.

Our advice for you: We encourage you to do some research ahead of time and choose a place that is (hopefully) treating elephants well. And if you end up somewhere that is not ethically run, SPEAK UP. Tell their management of what you saw. Write a review online so others can be informed and decide if they want to support it.

On a related note: Thailand faces its fair share of negative impacts from tourism, and the exploitation of elephants is probably one of the most well-known of this country’s issues. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can travel more ethically in Thailand , we have a whole article devoted to this topic.

4. Paddle down river with a Bamboo Raft

Things to do in Chiang Mai Bamboo Rafting

Similar to river tubing, you can cool off on a hot day by floating on a bamboo raft!

Imagine floating on a rustic bamboo raft down a river that cuts through the jungle-y Thai countryside. While you’re less than an hour away from Chiang Mai, you’ll feel a world away from the city.

We have an entire bamboo rafting day-trip guide detailing everything you need to know like how to get there, how much it costs and what not to forget to bring!

5. Go temple hopping

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s epicenter of culture, and one of the best ways to really dive in is to visit some of the city’s best temples.

There are so many temples in Chiang Mai that you won’t have to wander far to find one (or five!). Some are small and seldom visited, while others are iconic must-see places for most visitors, and each has its own unique characteristics.

Below is a list of some temples to add to your Chiang Mai itinerary.

Best temples to visit in Chiang Mai Old City

Wat Phra Singh : This temple in the Old City is known for its striking gold exterior, and is well worth checking out.
Wat Chedi Luang : Almost smack dab in the center of Chiang Mai’s Old City, Wat Chedi Luang is a sight to behold. It is one of the most famous temples within the Old City walls.
Wat Sri Suphan : The most notable characteristic about this temple is its silver exterior. Located right beside the Saturday Night Market, it’s an easy temple to visit after picking up some souvenirs.
Wat Phan Tao : This temple is made from teak wood and being that it is right next to the much more famous Wat Chedi Luang, this wooden complex is often overlooked. It is most notably the site where young monks release lanterns during the Yi Peng festival .
Wat Chiang Man : Established in 1296 by King Mengrai, this ornate structure is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai.

Best temples to visit around Chiang Mai

Wat Doi Suthep : Arguably the most iconic place in Chiang Mai, if you only visit one temple, make it this one. (See below for more info)
Wat Pha Lat : Hidden in the jungle, this is our very favorite temple in all of Chiang Mai. The best way to get here is by hiking the Pilgrim’s Trail. (See #2 for more info)
Wat Suan Dok Temple : Situated about 1 km west of the Old City’s West Gate, this temple has a hauntingly beautiful mausoleum garden which is the resting place of many past leaders. This is also a great temple for doing a Monk Chat (explained above).
Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham : Located outside of the city walls, this temple is situated in a forested area and is known for its underground tunnels.
Wat Chet Yot Phra Aram Luang : Located outside of the Old City, this temple is situated near the Super Highway and is less visited than those within the city walls.
Wat Phra That Doi Kham : Known for a Buddha that stands 17 meters tall, this temple is perched on a hilltop to the southwest of the city and is more popular with Thai visitors than foreigners.

Fun Fact: The word wat refers to a Buddhist temple or monastery in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The most iconic example of this is Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat , which was originally built as a Hindu temple, but was transformed to a Buddhist complex in the 12th century.

6. Visit Doi Suthep Temple (Wat Phra That)

Doi Suthep Temple What to Do in Chiang Mai

The temple on Doi Suthep gets its own section because it is by far the most iconic temple in all of Chiang Mai.

Someone told us once that if you haven’t visited Doi Suthep, then you haven’t visited Chiang Mai. Now, we don’t fully believe that, because one place can’t simply make a city. But after finally visiting Doi Suthep, I can’t believe it took us so long!

This is one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand. Plus, you’ll also have a pretty great view of the city if the skies are clear.

Tip: Try to go early in the morning, as it can get very, very busy.

How to get to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Take a red truck from anywhere in the city and kindly ask them to go to Doi Suthep. It should be about 60 baht per person. The ride will take about 30-45 minutes depending on traffic up the winding hill.

Or you can take the 2-3 hour hike to the top and be sure to stop at Wat Pha Lat along the way (see #2 on this list for more info).

7. Shop for souvenirs at one of Chiang Mai’s Night Markets

As you can see, the night markets can get incredibly busy, so be prepared to brave the crowds!

You can find night markets all over Asia, and we’re obsessed. You’ll typically find inexpensive souvenirs, local street food, and a lively atmosphere.

Chiang Mai has some incredible—albeit crowded—night markets. Depending on which days you’re visiting, you can visit a couple and compare!

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar: Open every night of the week, vendors line the street on Chang Klan Road selling every souvenir you can imagine from t-shirts to stuffed elephants to pillow cases to jewelry.
Saturday Night Market: Starting from the Old Pagoda by the South Gate and stretching down the Wua Lai Road, this is another souvenir market.
Sunday Night Market: Tha Phae Gate is where this market starts and the vendors and crowds pack down Rachadamnoen Road into the old city. There are plenty of food stalls and vendors selling anything and everything.

Insider Tip: You can find smaller (less crowded) night markets near Maya Mall and near Chiang Mai University (Malin Market).

8. Take a Thai Cooking Class

If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you know that we LOVE to eat . Anything and everything. No exaggeration.

And you probably also know that we are constantly raving about taking cooking classes in other countries . We’re up to 12 now. We wholeheartedly believe that there are few ways to learn more about a culture than through its cuisine.

And when it comes to Thai food , there is no better place to learn how to make your favorite dishes than Chiang Mai. The tricky part is choosing a cooking school, as the options are plentiful.

In our research, we found 3 cooking schools that are clear winners:

Thai Farm Cooking School
Secret Thai Cooking School
Sammy’s Organic Thai Cooking School

Psst! When you’re booking be sure to check out Cookly website where they compare cooking schools and sometimes have cheaper prices.

They all have a 3 things in common:

They bring you to a local market instead of the one ridden with tourists in the Old City.
Each person is able to make 5 dishes that they have selected.
All 3 of these cooking schools take place on an organic farm from which you can gather your own produce and herbs.

Secret Thai Cooking Class

We chose Secret Thai Cooking School and were incredibly impressed .

Our teacher, May, gave everyone in our class of 11 individualized attention as she taught us how to make dishes from a menu we created—not the case at many cooking schools! (Ben and I love to try everything, so we each choose different dishes so we’d be able to try 10 separate meals. Best idea ever!)

Picking Vegetables Secret Thai Cooking School Unique Experiences In Chiang Mai Thailand

We were able to pick our own vegetables in the onsite garden, and had our own gas stove and cooking station in our host’s home. Additionally, we learned how to make our own coconut milk the traditional way and received a cookbook that was made especially for us with our own photos inside.

Tip: If you are visiting in November during the Loi Krathong festival , you might be lucky enough to make your very own krathong in your cooking class, which you can float down the river alongside locals in the evening. Book ahead because classes during this season fill up quickly.

9. Try Khao Soi in Chiang Mai

Trying the dish at the famous Khao Soi Khun Yai

Unlike Pad Thai and Green Curry, this Thai dish is not very well-known in the Western world, but it should be!

With a Burmese influence, Khao Soi is most commonly found in the north of Thailand ; and Chiang Mai is a perfect place to try your first bite.

I’d like to think that Khao Soi would be the love child if chicken noodle soup and yellow curry ever got together. A combination of egg noodles, coconut curry broth, chicken, shallots, lime and chilies make each bite of this dish a party in your mouth! It is typically topped with crunchy fried egg noodles and served pickled vegetables on the side for a flavor and texture explosion.

Where to get the best Khao Soi in Chiang Mai

Our favorite version of the dish at Khao Soi Mae Sai

The best place to eat Khao Soi is in unassuming mom-and-pop shops . We sampled several bowls, and each has their own unique flavors.

Traditionally, Khao Soi is eaten in the morning and afternoon, so many Khao Soi street stands will close before dinner time. You’ll still be able to find it on the menus of many restaurants.

If you’re looking for recommendations, here are some restaurants that serve up some of the best Khao Soi in Chiang Mai:

Khao Soi Mae Sai : this is a hot spot among locals and is not far from the Nimman neighborhood. This is our favorite spot for Khao Soi!
While we thought it was good, we didn’t think it lived up to the hype as we’ve had better Khao Soi elsewhere (but try it out, it might be your favorite!). Their Khao Soi has a broth that is a bit thicker and spicier than most, but I was a little disappointed that it comes with pieces of chicken instead of a whole leg, and the crunchy noodles on top weren’t as fresh as some other places.
Khao Soi Nimman : a decent choice in the Nimman Road area with many different choices. Broth is on the sweet side and prices are a bit higher than most Khao Soi.
Khao Soi Arak : located in the Old City and known for serving a killer bowl of Kaho Soi. Plus the couple who owns this tiny restaurant is lovely. At just 30 baht, you can’t go wrong!

Looking for vegetarian Khao Soi? Try it at Aum or Pun Pun . These are two good choices to try vegetarian versions of Khao Soi, allowing you to give this famous dish a try even if you don’t eat meat.

10. Explore Doi Inthanon National Park

Things to do in Chiang Mai Doi Inthanon National Park

Just under 2 hours away from the city, Doi Inthanon National Park is a great place for getting some fresh mountain air, going hiking, and seeing some of the most iconic pagodas in the north of Thailand.

Oh, and Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in all of Thailand! (Save that knowledge bomb for your next trivia night!)

Things to do in Doi Inthanon National Park

Hike the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail: The trail itself is not very difficult or steep, but it offers sweeping views of the mountains and landscapes below. It is required that you hire a guide on this trail, which provides a job for a local. The guides are at the trailhead and you can simply show up. It costs 200 baht for a group (maximum 10 people), and should take roughly 2 hours.
Visit the twin pagodas: Without a doubt the most iconic sight in this national park, the two pagodas — also known as the Queen and King Pagodas — are a must-see when you’re visiting the national park. They house some historic relics and are great spots for photo opportunities.
Go waterfall hopping: The national park is home to a handful of waterfalls, and if you have the time, see as many as possible. But if you’re on a tight schedule, we think Mae Ya Waterfall (just south of the park) is the most impressive, and makes a great stop on your way back to Chiang Mai. (pictured below)
Eat a local meal: If you feel your tummy rumbling and you haven’t packed enough snacks, there is a small restaurant right by the Kew Mae Pan trailhead that serves up cheap, local and tasty dishes! We got some crispy fried chicken, sticky rice, and noodle soup, all for 150 baht (less than $5 USD).

Good to know: It costs 300 baht for foreigners to enter Doi Inthanon National Park.

Things to do in Chiang Mai Mae Ya Waterfall

How to get to Doi Inthanon National Park

From Chiang Mai, you can hire a driver for the day (either a red truck or a car). This will be the most comfortable option, but also the most expensive.

If you are an experienced motorbike driver, you can drive yourself (this is what we did). But be prepared for a rather long drive.

11. Take an adventurous day trip to Lampang’s “Floating Pagodas” (Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat)

Things to do in Chiang Mai Lampang Day Trip

If you are up for a full day of adventuring off the beaten path , we have just the idea for you…

The town of Lampang is not on most Western tourists’ radar , but it is home to one of the most magical sites in northern Thailand.

The “floating” white pagodas perched in the cliffs outside of Lampang is a hidden gem that most visitors will never see. And if you make the journey there, it will likely be a highlight of your time in Thailand.

Known as Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat, these pagodas are not only undeniably beautiful, but they still very much feel like a hidden gem.

Now we have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is it can be quite a long and somewhat tricky journey to get to these pagodas. But the good news is we have you totally covered with an in-depth guide to Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat that goes over exactly how to get there and how to make it an epic road trip!

12. Relax at Huay Kaew Waterfall and swimming hole

Things to Do in Chiang Mai Huay Kaew Waterfall

Not far from the Nimman neighborhood, Huay Kaew Waterfall is hidden in the jungle, and few travelers know it exists. A visit to these little-known waterfalls is a good way to escape the city and find some solitude. When we went, we only crossed paths with a handful of people.

Unlike Sticky Waterfalls (see #1 on the list), you can’t climb on the actual falls, but if you stick to the side path you’ll make it to a swimming hole, complete with a rope swing! Keep going up the path and you’ll find more and more small pools to hang out in.

On a hot day, this is a great place to bring a picnic and relax. Check out our hike to Huay Kaew Waterfall video on YouTube.

Responsible Travel Tip: If you bring food, please, PLEASE carry out your trash and bring a bag to collect any rubbish you find along the way.

How to get to Huay Kaew Waterfalls

Photo cred: Our talented from Eric Zyla@zylasphere

It is really simple to get to the Huay Kaew Waterfalls. From the old city you can take a red truck to the Chiang Mai Zoo (30 baht per person). Starting from the entrance of the Chiang Mai Zoo, walk west toward the mountain.

You can take the mountain road uphill until you see the official entrance, or walk our favorite way through a local street to the left just as the road begins to go uphill. Stroll through this tiny neighborhood with a stream passing through the middle and walk to the end of the street. There will be a small foot path that leads uphill slightly and will take you to the waterfall.

Related: Some of the best waterfalls in Thailand are north of Chiang Mai in a town called Pai. Check out our detailed guide to Pai, Thailand for more information.

13. Go hiking around Chiang Mai

If you love the outdoors, but you don’t want to hike solo, we’ve got a perfect solution for you!

There is a hiking club in Chiang Mai that meets every Saturday (as well as some weekdays) to go hiking in the jungle surrounding the city. Some days the hikes are short and for beginners, while other times they are full-day expeditions and lead to hill tribe villages in the mountains.

Check out the hiking club’s Facebook page, Doi Suthep Walkers , for details and upcoming hikes. These weekly meet-ups are typically on Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m. sharp.

Note: This group is great, but the crowd tends to get large, especially for the shorter hikes. The hikes we have been on have had about 50 people going up the mountain. The people who join are really fun and are typically foreigners living in Chiang Mai long-term, with a few travelers sprinkled in.

If you are excited to meet new people and get outside the city, this is a fun (FREE) option for you, but do know that the group is not small.

Alternative: Guided hiking

If you’re visiting Chiang Mai and aren’t able to coincide with the hiking group, this highly-rated guided hike on Airbnb Experiences is a great way to be able to explore the countryside with a local.

You’ll trek through the jungle trails (which can be difficult to follow if you don’t know where you’re going), and you’ll have lunch in a beautiful Hmong village called Khun Chang Khian. We visited this village with the hiking group, and it is an amazing place to see, and feels very much like a hidden gem.

14. Hang out at this secret (Mok Fa Waterfall)

If you love waterfalls, we’ve already got a few on this list for you to check out. But if you’re looking for an adventure to a secret waterfall, we gotchu covered.

Mok Fa Waterfall is a bit outside of the city, and feels like a hidden oasis. This tall and majestic waterfall is beautiful and lacks the crowds of some of the other more accessible or popular falls in the area.

We arrived around 9 a.m. and were the only ones there for a while. There’s a sandy area and a nice pool for swimming right by the falls, a lush jungle and cave, as well as some smaller pools further out. Bring some snacks and find a sunny patch to have a little picnic.

How to get to Mok Fa Waterfall

Getting to Mok Fa is an adventure in itself because it’s not really near anything else. If you’re confident driving a motorbike, that’s the cheapest way to get here.

Otherwise, you can hire a songthaew or a Grab for the roughly 1-hour drive. Just put the location into Google Maps , and you shouldn’t have any trouble getting there. Once you’ve parked, the waterfall is just a short walk away.

Cost: 200 baht entrance fee for foreign adults to enter, plus 20 baht to park a motorbike.

15. Enjoy a drink with a view at a rooftop bar

Whenever we’re in search of a good view, we head to a rooftop bar!

Unlike some of the popular rooftop bars in Bangkok , which are seriously overpriced (in our opinion), you can make a toast above Chiang Mai at a reasonable price. That said, don’t expect to be 40 stories up like you would in Bangkok.

Best rooftop bars in Chiang Mai

Hotel YaYee : Hand-crafted cocktails and panoramic views… what more could you want?!
Rise Rooftop Bar at Akyra Manor : Lounge beside their rooftop pool with a fancy cocktail in hand. They have 2-for-1 drinks for their happy hour special from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Enjoy the views as the sun sets behind Doi Suthep.
Xanadu Rooftop and Restaurant : This classy rooftop is on the 17th floor in the Furama Hotel. You can get great views of Nimman and Doi Suthep as you order a meal and drinks.
Oasis Rooftop Garden Bar : Tucked away in the northeast corner of the Old City, Oasis presents a relaxed vibe and a nice place to meet up with friends.

16. Get a Thai massage

Traveling to Thailand without indulging in a Thai massage (or seven!) would be crazy.

Unless you’re like my mom, who doesn’t like massages in the slightest, I would highly recommend getting a massage in Chiang Mai. And when you can find hour-long massages for $6 USD, why not get a few?!

You won’t have to wander far before you hear “massage, massage” being called after you. (You can’t blame them for trying to advertise for free!) Our advice would be not to go for the first place you see. There are plenty of amazing massage places around Chiang Mai, but there are just as many (if not more!) sub-par establishments.

Where to get the best Thai massage in Chiang Mai

We’ve read lots of reviews on Google, talked to many friends about their favorite places, and done some “research” ourselves. Here are just a handful of good options to start with:

Ziam Spa & Massage
Sense Massage
Green Bamboo Massage
Orn Healing Hands
Nimman House Massage
The Artist Spa

While most of the massage places listed above are very budget-friendly, there are certainly higher-end massage parlors where the prices (and facilities) will be closer to what you’d pay in Western countries. You’ll have to do a little comparison to decide what’s best for your budget.

Good to know: At some of the cheaper places, you may be in a communal room with other guests.

What do you wear to a massage in Thailand?

This is the typical clothing you’ll be given to change into before a Thai massage.

In most massage parlors in Chiang Mai, you will be given clothes to change into. They are typically baggy cotton one-size-fits-all pants and a shirt.

For some treatments—like an oil massage, for instance—you will be given disposable underwear and will be nude.

Good to know: Traditional Thai massages involve a lot of cracking and stretching, and can leave some people sore. If you don’t think you’ll like this “hands on” massage, try a “Neck, Back and Shoulder Massage” or a foot massage instead. They are quite a bit tamer.

Pssst! Check out this detailed article describing where to find the best massages in Chiang Mai . The author tried 30 different massage places in the city and ranked her favorites.

Unique experience: Get massaged by a prison inmate

If you’re picturing laying in an 8-by-8 concrete cell with bars, getting rubbed down by a surly woman clad in orange, you’re sorely mistaken. My masseuse was sweet and giggly, and looked more like a pigtailed schoolgirl than a convict.

So, here’s the question everyone is wondering… What are the women in prison for? Could you potentially be massaged by a serial killer?

No, silly! Most of the women are serving short sentences for minor crimes. The Chiang Mai Women’s Correctional Institution has created a program to give its inmates the opportunity to learn marketable skills. The women are also allowed to save their wages and tips for their release date.

There are three options for massages:

1-hour foot massage
1-hour Thai massage
2-hour Thai massage

We chose a 1-hour Thai massage and were led into a big, dimly-lit room with nearly 20 beds on which people were getting cracked, rubbed and stretched. The air was filled with the strong scent of menthol and eucalyptus… Mmmm, Tiger Balm.

The only thing that distinguished this establishment from the hundreds of other massage joints in the area were the women wearing police uniforms that paced the room every once in a while with clipboards in hand.

On TripAdvisor , many people rave that they received “ the BEST massage in Thailand ”, and Ben said his was fantastic. Mine, on the other hand, was mediocre. I’ve had better, and probably have had worse… but still, I felt good contributing to this organization that enables women to create a better life for themselves.

Responsible travel note: If you decide to get a massage, remember that this isn’t a tourist attraction to be gawked at. These women are trying to make a better life for themselves, and by visiting you are helping contribute to their self-improvement, but it’s not a place to leer rudely or take pictures of your masseuse.

Our advice is to arrive early. We got there just after 10 in the morning, and weren’t able to get on the schedule until 2:45 p.m. Arrive much later than we did, and you’ll be outta luck!

Also on the premises is a souvenir shop and a reasonably priced restaurant serving Thai and Western dishes as well as a coffee and fruit shakes.

Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; weekends from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

17. Sample as many Northern Thai dishes as possible

I’m not even that big of a fan of sausage, but I love the vibrant flavors insai oua , a sausage made with fresh herbs like lemongrass, kaffir leaves, and chilies. You can only find in northern Thailand, so be sure to give it a try!

While Khao Soi is our favorite northern Thai dish (see #8 above!), it’s far from the only meal you should try in Chiang Mai.

Many Thai restaurants in Western countries have a focus on Thai dishes from the south of the country, so there are many dishes you’ve likely never heard of. And they can be hard to find in other regions of Thailand (or the rest of the world), so be sure to eat up while you’re in the north of the country!

Below you’ll find a list of more Northern Thai dishes to try during your time in Chiang Mai:

Sai Oua (northern Thai sausage): This pork sausage has a unique taste that’s all its own. The meat is seasoned with fresh Thai herbs and spices like turmeric, kaffir lime leaves, garlic, lemongrass, coriander, shallots, galangal, and chillies. It is an explosion of flavors!
Laab (spicy salad): This spicy minced meat “salad” is usually served with parboiled veggies and cabbage or lettuce leaves. You can eat it like a lettuce wrap, or as a “dip” for the vegetable sticks.
Khao Niaw (aka sticky rice): Sticky rice is a much more common side dish in northern Thailand than in other regions.
Nám prík nùm (green chili dip): This is a green chili dip made from a mashed combination of long green chilies, shallots and garlic. This spicy paste is often served with parboiled veggies like carrots and green beans, cucumber slices, cabbage, and deep-fried pork cracklings.

18. Chat with a Monk

Monk Chat near Wat Suan Dok Temple: Unique Things to do in Chiang Mai

You will spot the iconic saffron robes everywhere you venture in Thailand, but in Chiang Mai you can have the rare opportunity to go beyond gawking and get personal with a monk .There are 5 temples with “Monk Chat” programs in the city, but we chose to visit Wat Suan Dok Temple due to its proximity to town.

We spent an hour asking the monks questions about daily life and anything else that popped into our minds. They were incredibly open and willing to talk.

I only wished we had thought more about what we would ask them ahead of time because after we left I started coming up with many more questions on some of the hot topics in today’s society… What is the Buddhist stance on gay marriage? Guns? Refugees? ISIS? If you have the chance to ask any of these questions, I’d love to know the answers!

How to do a Monk Chat: It’s super easy. At Wat Suan Dok , just show up between 5-7 p.m. on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. You will sign in with your name and nationality and be assigned to a monk. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing that covers your shoulders and everything above your knees.

19. Celebrate Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai

Sky Lantern Release Unique Things to do in Chiang Mai

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Chiang Mai during the month of November , you can observe the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals, which take place around the same time. The date changes each year due to the lunar calendar, so do you research.

Young Monks Releasing Sky Lanterns at Wat Pan Tao Lantern Ceremony: Unique Things to do in Chiang Mai

Also, book your accommodation well in advance. We were without a bed for one night because it seemed like the entire city had “no vacancy” signs. (Our amazing hostel saved the day and set up a mat on their porch – they called it a “jungle bungalow” – so we didn’t have to sleep on the streets.)

More Info: Here’s a detailed article on activities during Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festival that will help you make the most of this celebration.

20. Take a day trip to Chiang Rai to visit the temples

Chiang Rai is located in the far northeast and is well worth a visit during your trip to Thailand.

Most famous for Wat Rong Khun – aka “the White Temple” – there is lots more to Chiang Rai than seeing this single landmark. Though I will say it is truly breathtaking and worth the hype.

A roughly 3 hours apart, getting to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai isn’t a quick affair. That said, it is totally possible to visit as an already-planned-for-you day trip.

This tour earns rave reviews and makes a couple of stops along the way, making it possible to see Chiang Rai and return back to your hotel in Chiang Mai in the evening.

…or take an extended trip to Chiang Rai

Personally, we’d recommend spending at least one night in Chiang Rai if you have the time, as getting there from Chiang Mai is no quick trip. Expect the drive to take 3 hours each way , meaning you’ll be in transport for 6 hours if you attempt this as a day trip.

If it were us, we’d skip the day tour and do it on our own to have more time to explore and less time in a car.

Getting there: Buses are frequent and cheap starting around 250 baht ($7) one way; book a bus through 12Go to make sure you get the time you want
Where to stay: This glamping resort looks incredible! We know someone who stayed here and absolutely loved it!
Dear Friends Bistro : breakfast and cafe fare
Kunda Vegan Burger Cafe : amazing vegan food
Barrab : Northern Thai eats
Khao Soi Restaurant : While there are other things on the menu here, definitely stick to their specialty – Khao Soi

21. Meditate with monks

This photo was taken at a monastery in northern Thailand (about a 5-hour journey from Chiang Mai). However, there are many meditation centers in Chiang Mai if you don’t have time to venture far from the city.

Some people come to Thailand for the adventure while others come to get in touch with their spiritual side. If you’re interested in the latter (or want a healthy mix of both!) you might want to consider fitting in some time to slow down and quiet your mind.

Whether you’re totally new to meditation or have been practicing for years, there are meditation centers in Chiang Mai (and all around Thailand, for that matter) for all levels.

Here are some meditation centers in Chiang Mai:

Wat Ram Poeng
Wat Suan Dok
Body and mind healing

Personal Note: While we haven’t done any of these meditations in Chiang Mai, we stayed at a monastery in northern Thailand (between Kai and Mae Hong Son) where we meditated for 3 days (pictured above). It was an incredible experience, and we’ve written all about it .

If you have extra time in your Thailand itinerary, we’d highly recommend making it here. But if time is tight, one of the meditation centers in Chiang Mai here (or listed above) will be a good alternative.

22. Go on a food tour

Responsible Travel Tip:We like carrying our reusable utensil sets when we travel in order to avoid as much unnecessary plastic waste as possible (unfortunately a common thing in Thailand).

If you’re a serious foodie, going on a food tour in Chiang Mai will be a perfect way to sample the best dishes the city has to offer at spots chosen by locals.

We’ve eaten our way around Chiang Mai quite a bit over our many visits (and time spent living there). But on our most recent trip to Chiang Mai, we decided to book a food tour for ourselves and two of our friends who have called the city home for 6+ years.

Even though we’ve spent a lot of time in Thailand and our friends have been there even longer, we all tried dishes on this tour that we had never heard of before, which was kind of surprising. Also, we all learned even more about Thai cuisine and culture from our local guide.

We loved squeezing into the tiny mom-and-pop shops that we never would have found on our own and exploring a local market where there were hardly any other tourists in sight. We only wish we had done this experience sooner!

There are lots of food tours to choose from in Chiang Mai. Here are our top recommendations:

With Locals: This is the tour we personally did. We chose it mainly because they can cater to dietary needs. Our friends are vegetarian, and they were able to adjust the stops accordingly. It is also one of the most budget-friendly tours, and we had a great experience.

Evening Street Food Tour : This 2.5-hour tour takes place after the sun has set and brings you to street stands for some of the best flavors you’ll have in the city.

Northern Flavors Food Tour: This food tour through Airbnb Experiences is a crowd favorite, and includes 15 different tastings over 4 hours. Good to know: It’s not suitable for those who don’t eat meat.

If you squeeze a food tour into your itinerary just be sure to come with a (very) empty stomach and pencil in some time afterwards to relax because the chances of a “food coma” are high!

Really love food? Taking a food tour was also one of our favorite things we did in Bangkok ! If you like foodie experiences, I don’t think it’s overkill to do one in each city, as they are very different and focus on different dishes and ingredients.

23. Eat on the street!

If you like street food, you’ll love Chiang Mai! While street food is easy to find basically anywhere in Thailand, you’ll find the most options at the night markets and around the gates of the Old City walls.

You’ll find everything from super cheap pad thai being cooked in a gigantic wok to grilled meat skewers to noodle soups. If you’re traveling with a partner, order a few different dishes so you can sample them all!

Listen up! Don’t miss the famous Cowboy Hat Lady featured on Anthony Bourdain’s show Parts Unknown. She serves up a damn good Khao Kha Mo (Thai-style stewed pork leg).

Things to do in Chiang Mai Street Food Cowboy Lady

Her stall is located near the north gate of the old city at the Chang Phuek Market . The pork and rice dish can be served in a small size (40 baht) or a large size (50 baht) and it literally melts in your mouth.

Insider Tip: We don’t like fatty pieces of meat, so we order ours “mai ow nang” which means without skin and fat.

24. Have a local plan your Chiang Mai itinerary

Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of things to do in Chiang Mai? We know the feeling (and we’re not even halfway through this list yet!). Wouldn’t it be great if you could have someone plan your itinerary for you!? Well, your wish is about to come true…

ViaHero is a really cool company that connects travelers with locals in the place they’re visiting. You tell the local what kinds of things you are interested in and what you really want to do and see on your trip. And they’ll put together a customized itinerary just for you.

Insider Tip: Our advice would be to ask them to include lots of cultural experiences and food spots on your itinerary, because who better to get tips from than a local?!

Not only are you providing a valuable job for someone in the community, but you will get a complete itinerary for your trip to Chiang Mai that is totally tailored to your interests. Follow their advice and get off the beaten path for an authentic and memorable trip!

25. Explore Chiang Mai’s local markets

Jing Jai Market on a Saturday. Don’t be fooled, it got much more crowded shortly after this photo was taken!

Chiang Mai has a market in what seems like every corner of the city. Whether you’re looking for elephant pants and other souvenirs, hoping to pick up some fresh fruits, or you’re wanting to be surrounded by locals, there is a market for you!

Discovering local favorites is one of the best parts of travel. Get more tips on where to go and what to do from locals in Thailand when you use ViaHero to plan a personalized itinerary.

Local “Everything” Market

Warorot Market (Kad Luang): This is where many locals shop for clothes or home goods. It’s cheaper than the tourist markets but is only open during the day.

Organic Produce Market

Jing Jai Market : Here you’ll find cute coffee shops and stores, but the main reason to visit Jing Jai is for their organic produce market every Wednesday and Saturday morning. There are also vendors selling crafts and food, as well as live music and caricature artists!

Artsy Market

Bor Sang (Umbrella Village) Market : A little outside of Chiang Mai, this market is famous for its handicrafts and popular decorated umbrellas. Go here for a color explosion.

Our Favorite Market

Malin Market : This is our favorite market to get dinner and do some shopping. If you are over by Chiang Mai University, pop over to Malin Night Market. There are artists selling jewelry and clothes stalls with cheap price tags (not souvenir-type items). The food court is great too! You won’t find many foreigners here – mainly Thai university students.

Responsible Travel Tip: When shopping at Chiang Mai’s many markets, don’t forget to bring your own reusable bag and turn down plastic ones whenever possible. Check out this article for more eco-friendly travel gear !

Psst! We didn’t forget about the famous Chiang Mai Night Markets! (See #7 for more info!)

26. Eat ALL the tropical fruits!

Things to do in Chiang Mai tropical fruits

My name is Katie, and I am fruit-a-holic. (Anyone else with me?!) If you’re nodding your head you’re in luck because Chiang Mai is heaven for tropical fruit-lovers.

Visit the local markets and you’ll see all sorts of colorful fruits you’ve likely never seen before. I made it my mission to search for unfamiliar fruits and buy them. Fresh produce is really cheap in Thailand (from the local markets), so there’s really no risk!

It would be nearly impossible to list all the fruits you’ll find in Chiang Mai, but here are some of my favorites that you should definitely try:

Mangosteen (my absolute favorite!)
Plum Mangos
Custard Apple
Dragonfruit
Small Bananas

Oh, and while they’re probably not unfamiliar, if you like papaya, pineapple and mangos, be sure to try a few while in Thailand, as they’re likely more fresh and delicious than the imported ones we get in Western countries.

Feeling adventurous? Try durian. Some people love it (it has a cult following), and others — myself included — hate it. I consider myself someone who likes pretty much all foods (except ketchup, and now durian). I can’t even stand the smell. But give it a taste and let me know what you think!

Good to know: You can also find a lot of these fruits in Hawaii , which was a nice surprise on a recent trip! I felt like I could indulge in some of my favorite tropical fruits without the price tag of a flight to Asia! Though the same fruits in Hawaii are much more expensive than they are in Thailand.

27. Get soaked at Songkran celebrations

Songkran, or Thai New Year, is celebrated in April. (The exact date changes, as it follows the lunar calendar.)

If you’re planning to visit Chiang Mai for Songkran, get ready for a festival you’ll never forget!

Songkran lasts for 3 days, and the whole city plays along. Everyone carries water guns and buckets, and there is no way you can walk down a street without getting wet.

As long as you’ve got your phone protected , you’re in for an incredible time.

Families will drive down the street with the bed of their pickup truck lined with plastic and filled with water, creating a makeshift “pool”. Kids or teenagers sitting in the back will find every opportunity to douse passersby with buckets of water.

Music plays on every block and spontaneous dance parties will break out on the streets, and everyone — tourists and locals — come together with smiles on their faces. We’ve never really witnessed a celebration like it.

Good to know: One thing to look out for is that some of the water being thrown as you walk through the streets is from the moat that surrounds the Old City. Close your mouth and be sure not to swallow it. Also, be sure to shower once you get back to your hotel, as the water in the moat can be filled with bacteria. I hope that little health tip doesn’t scare you away, because it is seriously such a fun celebration!

28. Splash around at the Chiang Mai Grand Canyon

We’ve visited the Chiang Mai Grand Canyon twice before — once in 2015 and again in 2019 — and boy oh boy has it changed! What used to be a sort of hidden secret is now super built up, and it’s certainly not off-the-beaten-path anymore.

Back in the day (aka 2015 and before), this old quarry was a haven for backpackers looking for an adventurous and cheap way to spend the day. There was one small cafe onsite and it cost 50 baht ($1.60 USD) to enter, and this fee included a complimentary drink.

From there, you were on your own. Locals hung out and dove off cliffs — some as tall as 15 meters (50 feet). There were a couple of rickety bamboo rafts to float on, and that was pretty much it.

Today, things have changed quite a bit. For one, the entrance fee is now 650 baht ( $21 USD) — that’s a huge price increase! But an even bigger difference is how built up it is. What was once a simple, no-frills quarry is now basically a waterpark with tons of inflatables.

It is now known as the Grand Canyon Water Park.

This was what the “Grand Canyon” looked like on our first visit to Chiang Mai back in 2015… Quite a bit different than it looks today.

The changes haven’t been all bad. Honestly, the Grand Canyon was pretty dangerous before it was built up (there were a few cliff jumping deaths). Now, there are lifeguards and cliff jumping is only allowed in designated areas.

The quarry is filled with inflatables (think a Ninja Warrior type obstacle course!), and if you want to channel your inner child for a day and get out of the heat , you’ll have a great time. We visited the Grand Canyon on my birthday and had a really fun time just acting like kids.

But I will say, it is a lot more TIRING than it looks! (Do I sound like a grandma?!) After about 2 hours, we were ready to go back to town. Also, we think it would have been more fun with a group of friends. So factor that in to determine if the cost will be worthwhile for you.

How to visit the Chiang Mai Grand Canyon

Just a 30-minute drive from town, a trip to Grand Canyon Water Park will allow you to escape the city and soak up some rays.

Get there by motorbike (an easy drive) or by tuk tuk/songathew (red pickup truck). Split the fare with other travelers to make it more affordable. You can also order a Grab (rideshare) to bring you there.

Entrance fee: 650 baht for adults (~$22 USD)

Don’t want to pay a huge entrance fee? Not into the inflatables?

Listen up because there is an alternative…

Instead of navigating to the “main” Grand Canyon entrance, you will go to Grand Canyon Gamnanboon. There will probably be a parking attendant trying to get you to come here instead of the bigger one, so just park as soon as you see them flagging you down.

The entrance fee here is just 100 baht ($3.20 USD), and you can hang out on the floating dock, use kayaks or jump off the designated platforms. There is also a small onsite restaurant selling food and drinks.

29. Have a pool day

If you’re craving a day relaxing in the sun, head to one of the many pools in Chiang Mai. Oh, and don’t forget your sunscreen!

If you’re really smart, you can plan ahead and book a hotel with a nice pool. But if your accommodation is pool-free, here are a few options that are open to the public:

RISE Rooftop at the Akyra Hotel: This combination rooftop bar and pool is open to the public from 6 – 11:30 p.m. nightly. All you need to do is buy a drink to use the facilities.
Green Hill Apartments : Lay out by these two massive pools all day for only 80 baht per person. If you get hungry, they also have a restaurant on-site.
Center of the Universe : Located just north of the Nimman area, this salt water pool (less chemicals, yay!) is 200 baht for an all day pass.
Ozone Roof Bar at the Cross Hotel: Private cabanas and poolside sunbeds make this the perfect place to catch some rays. Plus the rooftop views can’t be beat!
Looper : Boasting a lap pool, an onsen, a cold plunge, and a Thai style herbal “sauna”, this could be a good place to come for a little self care time. There’s also an onsite cafe that serves some really good drinks. You can pay a basic entrance fee for 200 baht or 250 baht which includes a drink.

30. Embrace the cafe culture

Chiang Mai is home to thousands of digital nomads , which means there are coffee shops on every corner.

And we’re not just talking about your run-of-the-mill Starbucks. In Chiang Mai, you’ll find super interesting and quirky cafes all around the city, like ones with ball pits and cotton candy lattes!

Here are a few to put on your list if you love coffee shops:

We like the Ristr8o Lab location because it’s in a more peaceful setting than the one right on Nimman Road.
Artisan Cafe : South of the Old City, this is one of the prettiest cafes in Chiang Mai. Hang out in the a/c to get some work done or just come in for a drink to marvel at the decor.
Chaseki Teahouse : With chic decor and decadent drinks, how can you go wrong?!
Akha Ama Coffee : With a couple of locations in town (one in the Old City), Akha Ama is known for serving up some of the best coffee in town.
My Secret Cafe in Town : This coffee shop doubles as a vegan cafe and is a nice place to rest your legs while exploring the Old City.
Free Bird Cafe : This entirely vegan cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating. And the best part: they donate profits to support Northern Thai and Burmese hill tribes. This is a laptop-free cafe, so don’t expect to get any work done here!
The Larder : Deliciously good coffee and an epic brunch menu in the heart of Nimman.
Cool Cat Cafe : The themed cafes that are popular in Tokyo have made their way to Chiang Mai! Cuddle friendly felines while sipping a specialty drink.

31. Catch sunrise at the Huay Tung Tao Reservoir

A peaceful sunrise at Mai Huay Tung Tao Lake

Huay Tung Tao Lake is a place many foreign tourists never visit. In fact, we didn’t hear about it until our third time in Chiang Mai. This lake is a popular place for locals and expats to go for morning runs and hiking in the surrounding trails.

If you’re feeling up to it, we’d recommend hiking while you’re at the lake. The hike to Taab Mook Waterfall is quite easy and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful sight!

Have lunch at a floating restaurant

Floating restaurants at Huay Tung Tao Lake Chiang Mai Thailand

At lunchtime, people come to eat in one of the many floating restaurants around the lake. While the food isn’t anything spectacular and it’s a bit pricier than you’d pay in the city, it’s a unique dining experience .

The restaurants seem to be more or less the same, and they charge a per person fee to eat in the bungalows over the water. The restaurant we ate at charged 20 baht per person for the lakeside tables, while the ones a few meters back on land were free. Also, they only take cash.

How to get to the Huay Tung Tao Reservoir

Unique things to do in Chiang Mai Thailand Floating Restaurant

Traveling by motorbike would be your best option to get to the Huay Tung Tao Reservoir . From the Old City, travel west on Huay Kaew Road and turn right on Highway 127. Travel north for about 4 km and then turn left when you see signs for the lake. If you come to Highway 107, you have gone too far.

You could also order a Grab car (Asia’s version of Uber), but as we experienced it was easy to get there but very difficult to find a driver to take us back to the city.

Another way to get there would be to talk to a songthaew (red truck) driver and negotiate a price. You would probably play about 100 baht per person and you would need at least 4-6 people.

Cost: There is a 50 baht entrance fee for foreigners. If you enter before 7 a.m., it is free.

32. Practice yoga

If you’re stiff from a long plane ride, Chiang Mai is the perfect place to get your downward dog on! With plenty of yoga studios throughout the city, you’ll have no trouble finding a class.

Free yoga in Chiang Mai

If you’re on a budget, you might want to try one of the free yoga classes offered daily in Chiang Mai.

Nong Buak Hard Park: Free classes daily from 9 – 10:15 a.m. If you don’t have your own mat, you can rent a straw mat for 15 baht. Join the Yoga in the Park – Chiang Mai Facebook group for more info.
One Nimman: Every Tuesday (Hatha) and Thursday (Hatha Vinyasa), there are free yoga classes at One Nimman from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. They also offer free Swing Dance and Salsa lessons throughout the week. This article has more information . (It is in Thai, but you can have Google translate it.)

Yoga studios in Chiang Mai

If you’d prefer to practice your inversions within the walls of a studio, there are plenty to choose from. Most classes are quite affordable, usually starting at 200 baht. If you purchase multiple sessions up front, the price per class will be cheaper.

Ananda Yoga : There are two locations within Chiang Mai (Jing Jai Market and Nimman). We had a membership at the Nimman studio and really loved the classes. We always felt challenged and got a good workout.
Freedom Yoga : One of the most popular studios in Chiang Mai, this studio is located in the southwest corner of Old City.
Om Ganesha Yoga : A studio in Nimman offering multiple classes daily for different skill levels. They offer Vinyasa, power, Ashtanga and Hatha yoga styles.

33. Eat vegan for a day

Things to do in Chiang Mai Vegan Restaurants

If you don’t eat meat, you will be in heaven, as there are endless vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Chiang Mai .

I should mention that vegetarianism is not typical in traditional Thai culture, and in rural parts of the country it can be very difficult to find meatless dishes. However, with the influx of foreigners in Chiang Mai as well as a change in the times, there are vegetarian and vegan places popping up everywhere.

Here are just a few of our veg favorites:

There is also an attached zero-waste store where they sell items that are good for the environment , like bamboo straws, menstrual cups and reusable bags. Plus, there’s a section of second hand clothing and accessories where you can pick up (old) new clothes or donate any items that are weighing down your backpack!
Pun Pun Restaurant : The produce at this restaurant is organic and is sourced from their own farm (renowned worldwide for their sustainability methods), so you can feel good about what you’re eating.
Anchan : One of our very favorite restaurants in the Nimman neighborhood, this small restaurant serves veg versions of Thai dishes as well as yummy smoothies. Their portions are huge and their curries are rich and delicious.
Goodsouls Kitchen : With two locations, this is one of the more well-known vegan restaurants in Chiang Mai.
Imjai Vegan (vegan stand in the Maya Food Court): The cheapest option on this list, this is a small stand in the Maya Food Court (located underground). The family who owns this is so sweet, and all the Thai dishes served here are vegan and cooked with coconut oil. For just 40 baht, you can get 3 different items (you choose from a buffet of options) as well as rice.
Aum Vegetarian Restaurant : Located just south of the Old City walls, this is a cozy spot to enjoy vegetarian versions of traditional Thai dishes. We’ve heard good things about their veg khao soi!

34. Get lost inside the Old City walls

A lot of Chiang Mai’s charm comes from the fact that it remains a walled city with a moat surrounding the walls. Chiang Mai’s Old City is where most first-time visitors to this city will want to base themselves, and for good reason. You’ll find temples on just about every block, and there is an abundance of cute restaurants and massage parlors.

Wander through the narrow alleyways, stumble upon street art, and take a break with a smoothie or coconut ice cream from a street vendor.

One of our favorite areas of the Old City to wander is the northeast corner. Start at Blue Diamond restaurant (a good choice for a meal!), and walk around the narrow streets nearby. There’s a small local market at the very edge of the city wall, and lots of tree-shaded streets with murals to get lost in.

35. Explore this secret Art Village

Unknown to most tourists, there is a cute “art village” that’s not far from the airport. With small cafes, tree-shaded paths, art studios and shops selling handcrafted items, this is a sweet spot to spend part of a relaxed afternoon.

If you want to get artsy, there is even a pottery studio where you can book single-day classes or multi-day courses and get your hands dirty!

How to get there: We haven’t really been able to find the name for this village (comment below if you know the name!), but if you plug this address into Google Maps or direct your Grab driver here, you’ll find the parking lot and will be able to wander around from here.

Hungry? There are a handful of restaurants in the area serving local dishes, but if by chance you’re craving pizza, Adirak Pizza is just down the street and serves us the best pizza we’ve had in all of Asia. This stuff is the real deal and is worth the splurge. Oh, and they have wine too! Can I get a hell yeah ?!

36. Hang out in the a/c in one of Chiang Mai’s Luxurious Malls

Whether you’re visiting during rainy season or you want to escape the midday heat, popping into one of Chiang Mai’s malls can be a surprisingly fun way to spend part of the day. While we aren’t exactly “mall people”, we’re always pretty impressed by the shopping centers in Thailand.

There are several malls in Chiang Mai (Central Festival, Central Plaza, Promenada Resort Mall, to name a few), however, we are most familiar with Maya Mall.

Even if you don’t feel like trying on clothes, there’s plenty to do in Maya Mall:

Have a drink at the rooftop bars: Take the elevator to the 6th floor, where you’ll step out onto the rooftop. Whether you just want to see the view or you want to enjoy a beer with the sunset, it’s worth a stop before you leave the mall.
Watch a movie in style: The movie theater on the 5th floor of Maya shows the latest movies, and most are in English. On Wednesdays, movies are just 100 baht. If you want an extra special experience, go for the VIP theater where you can enjoy super comfy chairs, complimentary popcorn and a soda for just a bit more money.
Explore the cutesy shops: Moshi Moshi and Daiso are Japanese shops that sell inexpensive items that you don’t really need, but you’ll definitely want.
Visit the food court: The floor below ground level has a food court filled with local options that are tasty and affordable.
Get your WiFi on: If you need to use the Internet for a bit, pop into CAMP, which is a co-working space on the 5th floor of Maya Mall. Purchase a beverage or snack and get 2 hours of complimentary WiFi, or buy an Internet card at the AIS store on the 3rd floor. It is 150 baht and can be used to access the Internet in CAMP and other places around the city for one month.
Entertain your inner child: On the 5th floor you’ll find an arcade with air hockey, arcade dance games and more. And nearby, you’ll find virtual reality pods that cost 100 baht for a simulation of your choice.
Cross the street and make your way to Nimman One: This upscale covered shopping center has European-inspired architecture and a food court with local dishes.

37. Try a coworking space

This is C-A-M-P, one of the more crowdedco-working places in town, but it’s free as long as you buy a drink.

It’s no secret that Chiang Mai is one of the most popular digital nomad hubs in the world . A combination of high speed Internet, low cost of living, long-term rentals, and an active DN community are just some of the reasons that make Chiang Mai such an appealing city for remote workers to settle down for a while.

We’re no exception. In fact, we’ve called Chiang Mai “home” two different times for a collective year.

If you’re at all interested in the digital nomad lifestyle , give it a try by popping into one of the city’s many co-working spaces. There are tons all throughout the city. Simply type “coworking space” into Google Maps and you’ll see what we mean!

Coworking spaces to try in Chiang Mai

Punspace : This is kind of the OG in co-working spaces in Chiang Mai. With two locations inside the Old City, Punspace is well-known in the DN community for their networking events and prime working conditions. That said, they are one of the more expensive co-working places in the city.
CAMP at Maya Mall : Located on the 5th floor of Maya Mall, this is a cool spot to check out if you’re just curious about co-working. It is free to work from here, though you are supposed to buy a drink in order to access the Internet. This space is often full of Thai university students and can get very crowded at times.
Heartwork : Located southeast of the Old City, this space is beautiful and quiet.

Psst! Are you a DN thinking about living in Chiang Mai? We’ve put together a guide to living in Chiang Mai as a digital nomad just for you!

38. Watch a Muay Thai fight

Translating to “Thai boxing”, Muay Thai is to Thailand what baseball is to the United States. This beloved sport is practiced all around the country , and seeing a match in person is on many travelers’ Thailand bucket list.

Just inside the Old City’s east gate (Thaphae), is a Muay Thai area where you can watch a handful of fights up close. This facility is outdoors and is quite small, but we went with a group of friends and had a fun time!

The quality of the fight is really going to depend on the athletes. We’ve heard some people say they came on a night when the fights seemed “rigged”. However, on the night we were there, we had an acquaintance that was fighting (there is often a foreigner in the last fight), and it seemed real to us!

Also, the matches typically start with young fighters and go up in age as the matches progress.

How much does it cost?

Normal Ticket: 400 baht ($12.70 USD)
VIP Ticket: 600 baht ($19 USD)
there are also cocktails for a bit higher price

Insider Tip: In our opinion, the normal seats were just fine and weren’t much farther away than the VIP seats (in the photo above, you’ll see the men ahead of us were in the VIP seats but weren’t that much closer). Also, it is possible to reserve your seats in advance, but we had no trouble showing up and getting tickets at the door. It is also a bit cheaper to get the tickets in person.

What time are the matches?

The Muay Thai fights start around 9 p.m. (you can be seated earlier) and they are held on most nights.

Really interested in Muay Thai? Why not take a course and try it out for yourself. There are many Muay Thai boxing gyms in Chiang Mai where you can learn from a trained instructor.

39. Go on a street art scavenger hunt

You don’t have to wander far in Chiang Mai to see displays of street art on walls or the sides of businesses. Whenever we’re in a city known for its street art scene, we love scoping out as many murals as possible.

There are a handful of well-known resident artists in Chiang Mai, plus, it’s a city that attracts muralists from around the world to leave their mark.

Where to find street art in Chiang Mai:

The Old City (especially the eastern section) is a great place to do a little self-guided street art scavenger hunt.
The Abandoned Women’s Prison is known as a good place for spotting a variety of murals. You can see many pieces of art from the outside without trespassing.
You’ll also see lots of smaller pieces on the smaller streets in the Nimman neighborhood.

And if you’re really interested, this is a pretty comprehensive guide to street art in Chiang Mai .

40. Ride in a Songthaew (Red Truck)

When you visit Chiang Mai you can’t miss the numerous songthaews , or red trucks, on the roads. Songthaews, literally translated means “two rows”. They are converted red trucks with two padded bench seats in the bed and act as shared “taxis” throughout the city.

Red trucks are our favorite way to get around Chiang Mai . Not only are red trucks plentiful and help reduce the number of cars on the road, they are fairly inexpensive costing only 30 baht ($0.93 USD) per person anywhere within the old city.

Here is our rule of thumb for songthaew costs:

Anywhere within or around the Chiang Mai Old City: 30 baht per person
Chiang Mai Old City to Nimman Road area: 40 baht per person (sometimes only 30 if they already have a load of people)
Chiang Mai Old City or Nimman Road to Airport: 50 baht person
Old City to Doi Suthep Temple: 60 baht per person one-way

How to get in a Songthaew red truck

Hail down a red truck just like you would a cab or a tuk tuk, and they will pull over on the side of the road. Say hello (sah-wah-dee) to the driver and tell them the general area you are going.

It may confuse them if you request a specific hotel or restaurant. We typically request one of the old city gates, or a popular market, and then just walk the rest of the way.

If they know where you are going, they will either say “Okay” or state a price per person. If they don’t say a price, it is understood that the price is 30 baht per person.

The drivers are pretty good about getting to where you want to go, but if they go past your stop, you can ring the bell on the ceiling and they will pull over. Hop out and pay the driver.

41. See a cabaret show

If you’re looking for a fun night out on the town, consider seeing a cabaret show! RAM Bar will show you a good time with live performances every night starting at 10 p.m. The dancers are super talented and you’ll see several acts during this 1.5-hour show.

Our advice would be to arrive early, as these shows fill up quickly and it is a very tiny venue. The drinks are on the expensive side, but the show is free, so we found it worthwhile and a fun experience!

P.S. Maybe you’ll get lucky like Ben and get called up on stage for a “special dance experience” haha!

42. Cheers with local craft beer (sort of…)

Any fellow craft beer lovers out there?! Listen up because we have some good news and some bad news.

The bad: Thailand is well known for its light beers, like Chang, Leo and Singha. In fact, Chang has a monopoly on brewing in Thailand, meaning no other companies can actually brew inside the country.

To get around this, some small craft brewers source local ingredients, then send each batch off to Cambodia to be brewed and then returned to Thailand. Talk about red tape!

Since this process comes with a big cost and is a logistical nightmare, the craft beer scene is still very small overall.

The good: Things are changing. Since my first visit to Thailand back in 2011, things have changed a LOT when it comes to craft beer. Chiang Mai actually has a decent craft beer scene for being in a country where they have to outsource the brewing process.

There are a handful of craft beer bars where you can get imported brews as well as “local beer”. (Remember, it may be sourced and combined in Thailand, but it is technically brewed outside of the country.)

One more thing we should point out is that because the brewing must be outsourced, craft beer in Thailand is very expensive. It is at least as expensive as you’d pay for a craft brew in a Western country, and a lot of times it’s even more than you’d pay at home.

But the cravings are real, friends, and if you want to some of Chiang Mai’s best (sort of) local beers, here’s where you’ll find them:

Best places for craft beer in Chiang Mai

My Beer Friend : With a few locations around the city, My Beer Friend brews some pretty decent beers including IPAs and Stouts. You can also find their bottled beer in some of the bottle shops around town.
Mind Cafe : With several taps and a refrigerator filled with craft bottles, this quaint shop in the Old City has a big selection.
Q-Bar : Located in the Nimman neighborhood, this bar almost has speakeasy vibes and has a decent selection of craft beer.
Renegade Craft Beer & Billiards : If you’re looking for a true sports bar vibe with a good beer selection, this will be your jam!
Beer Lab : This place probably has the largest selection of imported beer in the entire city, but we weren’t overly impressed by the vibe or the prices.

43. Check out the nightlife in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai’s nightlife scene isn’t as lively as many other major cities, as the bars must “officially” close at midnight. Oh, and while we’re on the topic, if it is a crazy night out you’re looking for, Zoe in Yellow (a popular backpacker bar/club) is going to be the best place to find that scene.

But there are plenty of fun things to do at night, whether that involves drinks or not!. (See #15, #38 and #41 on this list for some ideas.)

If you love live music and are craving a jam session, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear Chiang Mai actually has a pretty decent live music scene . Here are some venues that regularly host live music:

Where to see live music in Chiang Mai

Northgate Jazz Co-Op : This ultra-popular venue can get super crowded, especially on Tuesdays when they host an open mic night. Expect to be standing on the street, mingling with other music-lovers.
Thapae East : This venue is super cool and hosts many events.
7 Pounds : This bar is a hidden oasis, and we’re obsessed! With a garden lit by fairy lights, decently priced drinks and a big stage for performers, this low key bar is tucked away in a quiet street not far from Maya Mall and will make you feel as if you’ve discovered a local secret!
Mellowship Jazz Club : Live music every night of the week. A little bit more upscale, but a pretty nice place if you want seating, food and nice drinks while enjoying live music.

44. Boil eggs in San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

San Kamphaeng Hot Springs Chiang Mai (Google)

While I wouldn’t say this is a must do for your first (or even second!) visit to Chiang Mai, San Kamphaeng Hot Springs Park is an interesting experience for someone who is looking to get far off the beaten path.

We stumbled upon this park by accident when driving to the floating pagodas of Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat (a day trip from Chiang Mai we totally recommend!).

We found a bunch of hot springs ranging in temperature — from nearly boiling to a comfortable soaking temperature.

We wandered past Thai families boiling eggs in the extremely hot pools and groups of Thai teenagers soaking their feet in the cooler pools while small children splashed around.

There are local places to grab lunch, making it a good place to refuel before continuing on a little countryside road trip.

45. Visit a botanical garden

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden (Sarath Jasrin - Google)

If you’re the kind of traveler who enjoys escaping the city for nature, Chiang Mai has a few botanical gardens that are worth a visit.

Bai Orchid & Butterfly Farm
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Entrance fee: 40 baht per person

Situated just 30 minutes north of the city center, this enchanting botanical garden showcases it’s butterfly residents fluttering around among a vast collection of orchids. Visitors can wander through lush gardens, marvel at rare orchid varieties, and witness the delicate dance of vibrant butterflies that flit about.

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Entrance fee: 100 baht for adults (50 baht for children)

Another 15 minutes west of Bai Orchid & Butterfly Farm is the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden. Spanning over 1,000 acres, this expansive garden is dedicated to preserving and showcasing Thailand’s diverse plant species.

Visitors can explore themed gardens, including the Rainforest Collection and the Rock Garden, which feature an array of indigenous flora. The garden also serves as a hub for research and conservation, promoting environmental awareness and education.

We decided long ago that we will not knowingly contribute to attractions that exploit people or animals while traveling . A picture, in our opinion, just isn’t worth the suffering of others .

We know all too well that it is often hard to know if a company is socially responsible, so we try to share what we’ve learned along the way. We hope this information helps you formulate your own opinion about visiting some controversial sites on your travels.

As with any controversial issue, research the subject, and formulate your own opinion so you can make a socially-responsible decision.

Related: Easy ways to Travel More Responsibly

Tiger Kingdom

You will undoubtedly be pestered by tuk tuk drivers shouting “Tiger Kingdom! I take you to Tiger Kingdom!” After doing lots of research on the subject and talking to others who have visited this attraction, we have very strong feelings about this type of tourism.

And we made a firm decision not to support it even though, yes, having a picture with a large cat would be quite cool.

At the “sanctuary”, tigers are treated in a way that is undoubtedly inhumane. Hordes of people line up daily to have their photo taken with these animals that are living a harmful and unnatural lifestyle. This article outlines several reasons to avoid this tourist hotspot.

Elephant Trekking

Many of the treks advertised in Chiang Mai include an elephant ride. As we’ve written before , riding on an elephant’s back is actually very harmful to these gentle creatures. There are a few elephant sanctuaries in Thailand that treat them well, but the overwhelming majority are terribly cruel.

We had a wonderful experience at the very reputable Elephant Nature Park . Here, you can be assured that your contribution is not harming the animals, but instead is ensuring they have a healthy and happy life.

Visiting the “Long Neck” Hill Tribes

Several tour shops advertise tours that take you to a hill tribe village where you can see the famous “Longneck” people (this actually refers to a subgroup of the Karen people).

Although we can’t speak from experience, some people we spoke to who had done these tours said it felt like a group of people on display in the name of tourism. Others claim that many of these villages’ main source of livelihood comes from tourism.

We, too, are intrigued by the indigenous tribes, but are still unsure of how we feel about this. It is no doubt a complicated issue that brings up many feelings in different people.

Our advice would be to do a little research and decide where you stand on this topic.

If you do decide to visit a hill tribe village, be sure to choose a company that is paying the villagers fairly and operating in an ethical way. Also, do some research on the history of these indigenous groups – many of whom are refugees – and you will have a much more meaningful experience.

How many days do you need in Chiang Mai?

Now that we have shared all the fun things to do in Chiang Mai, you’re probably wondering how you’re to fit it all in? AmIright ??

The number of days you should spend in Chiang Mai depends on your interests, travel preferences, and the activities you plan to do.

If you’re more interested in exploring Thailand’s diverse landscapes outside of the city, you may find that 3 days in Chiang Mai is enough to get your palette wet. However, for a well-rounded experience of Chiang Mai, we’d suggest spending 5 to 7 days in the city.

Here are some general guidelines:

3-4 days: Get a taste exploring Chiang Mai’s Old City and Nimman neighborhoods. Visit historic sites like Doi Suthep, Wat Pha Lat, and the night markets. And get a taste of Chiang Mai’s food scene.
5-7 days: If you have specific interests like taking a cooking class, doing a Monk Chat or learning Muay Thai, you might want to allocate additional time for exploration and cultural experiences.
1 week or more: More time for exploring the city. Allocate 1 to 2 days for day trips to nearby destinations such as Doi Inthanon National Park, Sticky Waterfalls, or an elephant sanctuary, each offering unique experiences.

Before you plan your trip there is one very important thing to consider… We are going to go over the best time to visit Chiang Mai (and when to avoid visiting at all costs!).

Thai “winter” has the best weather (November – January): Don’t be fooled by the word “winter” — temperatures are comfortable (warm during the day and slightly crisp at night). Also, during this time of year, rain is rare and the air is fresh!
We would strongly advise against visiting Chiang Mai during this time. We lived in CM during this time, and it made most activities outside pretty miserable. Thankfully, weather in many of the Thai islands is very nice during this time of year.
Hot & rainy season (May – October): Rain is frequent during these months and the temperatures can be unbearably hot and humid. Often times, the rain doesn’t last all day, but when it falls, it falls hard!

Related: Read up more on the best time to visit Thailand . This country is huge and spans many different microclimates, so the weather varies a lot!

How to get to Chiang Mai city center from the airport

Chiang Mai International Airport is located pretty near the city center (about a 10 minute drive to the Phae Gate in the Old City and 15 minutes to Nimman Road).

When you arrive at the Chiang Mai International Airport, there is a taxi queue, but you’ll find that it is overpriced. Instead, order a Grab to pick you up directly from the airport.

Or if you are on a shoestring budget, you can wait in front of the departure doors for a songthaew to come by. From the airport to the city, it should cost around 50 baht per person.

Transportation in Chiang Mai

Getting from one place to another is quite simple in Chiang Mai due to all the options for transportation. Here are just a few of the most common ways to get around:

Songthaew (Red Truck)

These “shared taxis” are everywhere in the city and can basically take you anywhere you want to go for about 30-60 baht per person. More information above in #40.

Southeast Asia’s version of Uber and Lyft, this ride sharing app is super handy when wanting to get to a specific place. Grab constantly has promotions going on and we have gotten across the city for 20 baht before! Typical rides around town vary from 50-100 baht.

We only recommend renting a motorbike if you have driven one before and are comfortable with driving in a busy city and on the left side of the road. Additionally, you should always respect the rules of the road and don’t ride like an idiot to try to impress people.

Now that I’ve gotten that warning over with: Renting a motorbike can be one of the cheapest ways to get around and explore the outskirts of Chiang Mai. Rentals start at around 250 – 300 baht per day. You’ll need to leave your passport at the rental shop for collateral.

And please, please, PLEASE… wear a proper helmet (with wind-guard and facemask). It’s worth the extra 50 baht ($1.66 USD). We have seen/heard off too many travelers getting in accidents and we don’t want that to be you.

When you’re visiting Chiang Mai, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.

Know what weather to expect . Chiang Mai is pretty darn reliable when it comes to weather, so look up the weather in advance so you can plan and pack accordingly. And if possible, avoid burning season – trust us (we’ve experienced it and it’s awful).
Save room in your suitcase for souvenirs. Chiang Mai is my favorite place in Thailand to stock up on souvenirs. It tends to be cheaper than shopping in Bangkok or the Thai islands. Plus, the markets are great places to browse just about all the souvenirs you can imagine in one place.
Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking a lot in Chiang Mai, and the sidewalks are notoriously uneven, so wear your comfiest shoes!
Bring layers to wear at temples. When visiting temples (which you’ll definitely do in CM!) women will want to have something to cover your shoulders and knees. I like carrying a sarong in my bag which can be wrapped around my waist as a skirt, and a loose fitting t-shirt if I need to cover up a tank top.
Don’t try to see all the things. There is so much to do and see in Chiang Mai that it can be overwhelming. Prioritize the things you want to see the most because you definitely won’t be able to do it all. Also, my advice is to choose a few temples that stand out to you and not try to see them all. There are hundreds and they can start to blend together after a while, in my opinion.
Have a plan for transportation. Do you feel comfortable renting a motorbike? If not, you’ll need to rely on songthaews and Grabs to get around the city (which is pretty easy). The part that will be trickier is getting to the places outside the city. If you plan to do a lot of exploring outside the center, you may need to book a tour or arrange a driver.

From an amazing street food scene with traditional Thai dishes, to an abundance of vegetarian and vegan places, to tons of international options, Chiang Mai is truly a gem when it comes to food.

Insider Tip: We love going into Google Maps and looking at the reviews for all the restaurants near our current location. Typically, you can’t go wrong when the reviews are 4.5 and up!

You could eat at a new restaurant every day of the year and still not visit all of Chiang Mai’s restaurants and food stalls, so there’s absolutely no way we could make a comprehensive list.

Honestly, I’m hesitant to even list restaurants here, as you won’t have to look far to find great food… But here are a (big) handful of restaurants (mostly in the Nimman neighborhood) to get you started:

**= vegetarian / vegan restaurant

*= many vegetarian vegan options (but still serves meat)

Local/Thai food

Anchan **: One of our favorites! Vegetarian versions of Thai favorites. We especially love their massaman curry and stir fried mixed veggies. Yum!
Khao Soi Mae Sai : Our favorite Khao Soi place in the city! Local shop, and cheap prices.
Cherng Doi Roast Chicken : Famous for roast chicken and sticky rice (served with a yummy sauce!) as well as their papaya salads. Their mushroom tom yam soup is good too (and vegetarian).
FYI: It is a very small menu with basically a few options for one dish — stewed pork leg and rice. I do not believe there are any veg options.
Home J Vegan & Teaw J **: Super cheap Thai vegan place where you pick 3 dishes to be served over rice. The woman who owns this small restaurant is sweet and does a lot of “mock meat s”.
Our favorite is the vegetarian stand, Shan Tou Hao Chi **. If you like mushrooms, be sure to ask for a serving. The are amazing! The people who work at this stall are so sweet, and you’ll get a big portion for a small price (around 40 baht).
Wrap Master * is another good option in the food court. You’ll find burritos and creative wraps (with veg options).
Tip: Order your skewers “less spicy” (you’ll select your preference on a piece of paper where you place your order). We love spicy food, but this is next-level spicy! Oh, and if you eat pork, the bacon-wrapped mushrooms are super tasty!
Street Food @ One Nimman *: Street Food Style Food Court area with lots of choices!

Our favorite cafes

Free Bird Cafe **: Non-profit vegan cafe with a zero waste and thrift shop inside.
Gallery Seescape *: Super tasty meals that are healthy and have lots of veggies. Our favorites are: chicken & roast veggie salad, veggie rice bowl, deconstructed massaman beef sandwich, and eggs Benedict. I ordered a smoothie bowl once and was disappointed, as it was really runny.
Manifreshto *: This tiny cafe is one of our favorite places for healthy smoothies (they’re amazing!) and decadent (Western) breakfasts. Many of the breakfast options include meat, but you can make substitutions (for mushrooms or egg).
Imm Aim Vegetarian and Bike Cafe **: Vegetarian restaurant with tons of Thai dishes.
Blue Diamond **: Located in a quiet part of Old City, has a big vegetarian menu and lots of yummy desserts.

Other favorites

Food 4 Thought *: Huge menu with Western options, and everything is made from scratch. We think the best thing on the menu are their (huge!) salads (Citrus Chicken, Zorba, and Cobb are some favorites). Oh, and try their carrot cake too!
Tip: In the same courtyard space is a wine shop ( Wine Lover by Pao ) that has lots of options (as well as a decently priced house wine available in carafes). Wine is not always easy to find in Asia, so if you like vino, keep this little shop in mind!
Salsa Kitchen *: Best Mexican food we’ve found in Chiang Mai. Good margs too, and lots of vegetarian and vegan options.
Tip: There are tons of topping and dressing options to choose from — some better than others — and it does take a little experimenting to come up with a good combo. (We like the creamy sesame and Japanese soy dressings.)
Cat House *: Mix of Western and Thai food on the east side of Old City. Lots of veg options.
Beast Burger : If you’re craving a burger, this is one of the best you’ll find in all of Chiang Mai.
Adirak Pizza *: A bit out of the way, but this place has the best pizza we’ve had in Asia.
Namaste Indian Cuisine * is another good choice for Indian, and it’s cheaper, but not as nice of an atmosphere.
Ninja Ramen : Big selection of many different types of ramen.
Ai Sushi and Tsunami Sushi Bar : Two of our favorite spots for sushi. Ai Sushi has a larger menu, while Tsunami is cheaper.

There are plenty of amazing hotels in Chiang Mai. If you’re looking for the best place to stay during a short visit, we’d recommend finding accommodation near Tha Phae Gate (the east part of the Old City or just outside).

If you are planning to spend some time living in Chiang Mai as a digital nomad , we’d recommend looking for accommodation in the Nimman neighborhood . For more detailed information on the different neighborhoods, plus lots of hotel and Airbnb recommendations, we put together an entire article for travelers trying to figure out where to stay in Chiang Mai .

Be sure to download our complete packing list for SE Asia ! It’s packed with good suggestions and insider tips to help plan your SE Asia vacation. And it’s completely FREE, so why not!?

SE Asia Packing List PDF download | Two Wandering Soles

Round up of the best things to do in Chiang Mai

Here’s a recap of all the best things to do in Chiang Mai so you can see everything in one place.

Sticky Waterfalls (Bua Tong)
Wat Pha Lat Temple
Elephants in Chiang Mai (the responsible way)
Bamboo rafting
Temple hopping
Doi Suthep Temple (Wat Phra That)
Chiang Mai’s Night Markets
Thai Cooking Class
Doi Inthanon National Park
Lampang’s “Floating Pagodas” (Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat)
Huay Kaew Waterfall and swimming hole
Mok Fa Waterfall
Rooftop bars
Thai massage
Northern Thai dishes
Loy Krathong & Yi Peng Festivals
Meditate with monks
Street food
Viahero Chiang Mai itinerary
Chiang Mai’s Local Markets
Eat ALL the tropical fruits
Songkran celebrations
Chiang Mai Grand Canyon
Cafe culture
Huay Tung Tao Reservoir
Old City Chiang Mai
Secret Art Village
Chiang Mai’s Luxurious Malls
Co-Working Space
Muay Thai fight
Street art scavenger hunt
Cabaret Show
San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

More Thailand resources…

We have TONS of resources on travel in Thailand and destinations throughout the country. Check out our Ultimate Thailand Travel Guide for all the answers to your most burning questions, or read some of our favorite articles below.

Best Time to Visit Thailand: When to Go & When to Avoid
Digital Nomad’s Guide to Living in Chiang Mai
Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat: Adventurous Day Trip From Chiang Mai
Visiting Sticky Waterfalls (Bua Tong) in Chiang Mai

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Things to Do in Chiang Mai | Two Wandering Soles

We want to hear from you!

Which of these things to do in Chiang Mai are going straight to the top of your bucket list? Do you have any other suggestions you think belong on this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Comments (110) on “ 45 Absolute Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand ”

Thank you for all of the information! It is obvious that it is a lot of work! You’ve helped so much!

Great post! So thorough and well put together. We are headed to Chiang Mai next week and I have a whole list of things to do and places to visit now!

Thank you so much for this detailed blog, had so much fun reading it!!

Thanks for the post. It has some really useful info. I have been to Chiang Mai, but it was years ago and I know it has changed loads. I am now heading back with teenage kids, so really looking forward to trying out some of the adventurous activities with them.

Great blog! Thank you for all the info. I believe I might have found the name of the artist village you mention in your blog post. Is it called Bann Kang Wat?

Hi there 🙂 Just wanted to give a comment that this was an amazing blog and I genuinely appreciate you and your efforts! I am ecstatic about my visit and can’t wait!

Hi guys, I had the incredible opoortunity (thanks for the best article btw) to chat with monsk in Wat Pha Lat! Inspired by your article, I wanted to ask about their position on LGBT and share that with you. The monks said, they believe in karma and that LGBT bring (in their opinion) bad karma from orevious life. They ended by saying that everyone has right to love and to be loved:) This comment relates to one of the article above. I hope I answered your question:)

Once again, thank you. Kevin

Thank you for this incredible post. It made me fall in love with Chiangmai Mai, and I haven’t even been there yet! Beautiful photos too.

I’ve been thinking about going back to Chiang Mai (now that it looks like Thailand might open soon). Saw your list and realized I didn’t do half the things on your list when I was there several years ago. Looking forward to do a bit of hiking – didn’t think that was possible near Chiang Mai. Thanks for sharing!

As a current resident in Chiang Mai, this list is incredible for tourists and locals alike. Amazing! Thank you so much.

This is an amazing list, thank you so much for putting the time and effort on this! Even though a few places are closed due to covid, I’ve saved many to try out 🙂

And I think the name of the little art market is "All day craft market" 🙂 thank you again for this!

My god such detailed info! I have been to Thailand before but never thought of Chiang Mai. Definitely on my list of places to visit. Thanks for sharing.

We have been to Chiang Mai 3x – found your blog on the last visit and it was incredibly helpful. Thank You! We always do a pair of overnight visits to Elephant Nature Park. We have also added Happy Elephant Home for a smaller more personal experience. We both got tattooed last visit (Ganesha Tattoo- sadly closed – and Celebrity Ink). Utilizing your info we did the Pilgrim’s Path hike (then found out there is red truck and Grab Car service available – better to hike though). We designed a 2 day food tour that hit 8 restaurants /coffee bars from your recommendations plus 4 more we found. Renting a motorcycle or scooter was cool but we did have to also hire a guide for the day since following someone is so much easier than traveling on the left side of the road. We have settled on the month of Nov every year as we love the Yi Peng and Loi Krathong Festival. Visiting the Buddhist Temple of Hell, Wat Mae Kaet Noi, was pretty interesting as the guide we hired to lead us was also a Buddhist scholar who shared many insights and historical facts with us. We always enjoy a couple drinks at Blue Boy Bar at the Night Market for some amazing music. Thanks for sharing your experiences! Steve & Gayle

So helpful! THANK YOU

I will be shifting to Chiang Mai within next few months and this is really helpful. I got a clear insight now

Thank you for taking the time out to share your experiences . It has been most helpful for our upcoming trip

This is super helpful thank you for all of the work that went into this!

Oooh this is a nice list. My favourite is getting soaked at Songkran celebrations. That looks really fun. The waterfall also looking cool. Haha basically anything involving water

i have a blogger couple that used to live there, and they also have such lovely things to say! so far i have spent time in PhiPhi, Samui and Phuket. Id love to explore more, i fell in love with Thailand!

I am so amazed by this long list of things to do in Chiang Mai! I am planning to go there in a few months so I will definitely save this list for later! And all that food makes me willing to travel there asap!

Oh my god, how good does the food look there? I have been itching to go back to Thailand for a while now and I can’t wait to visit Chiang Mai.

Browse for reading treasures in the Lost Bookstore. They will also buy back books at a reasonable rate once you are done! It is a unique place with books up to the ceiling.

Thanks for the additional tip, Janine!

Such a helpful blog! Taken so many screenshots for next week when we arrive. Thank you!

Great to hear, Ashleigh! Hope you have a great time in Chiang Mai!

What a great blog thank you, heading there for 7 nights on way to Uk for Xmas and now have our days filled. We have been there before but backpacking 30 yrs ago so lots have changed I’m sure. Thank you..

Hey Sandy, You’re right, a lot has changed in Chiang Mai in 30 years. I would be curious to hear the differences you noticed. Have a great trip!

What a fantastic blog, i have been researching for a while now and this is by far the most helpful site i have visited. thank you!

Aww, thank you so much, Diana! We hope you have a wonderful time in Chiang Mai!

Thanks for the information! Much appreciated.

Hey Nafeez, you are very welcome! Hope you have a wonderful time in Chaing Mai!

Hello I just finished reading your blog it was super helpful!! I have one question. Are there red trucks to pick you up where they drop you off outside the city?? Also when you rented bikes, was it okay to leave it parked somewhere? I have this fear of not finding a ride back to my hotel is I deiced to go hiking or leave a bike I rented without it getting stolen?? Not sure if I’m being irrational.

Good Questions, Ariana. There are red trucks everywhere in the city! They frequently drive up Doi Suthep too, so if this is where you are hiking, you’ll be able to find one. If not, get a phone number of a red truck driver from your hotel and they will be able to help you out. When you rent bikes, it’s always best to get a lock for them. Chiang Mai is a very safe city, and I wouldn’t expect someone to take a rental bike, but it’s always best to just lock it up. Hope this helps!

very nice info, i will go there soon!

RE: "2018 Update: We have been told the Grand Canyon has now been turned into a water park of sorts with platforms and inflatable toys. It sounds like a bunch of fun, but the entrance fee has increased and is currently 450 baht (up quite a bit from 50 baht when we were there in 2015)."

There are two businesses at the canyon. One is the big waterpark, but the other, in your photos, is next door and still there. We paid 100b yesterday. Entrances/parking areas are just meters apart.

Hi Liz! Yes there are two water park areas: One will the inflatables (450 baht), and one more for lounging (100 baht). There are literally right next to each other so for others making the trip, make sure you know which one you want to enter. Update to come 🙂

Hi Katie, Ben, thanks for your very helpful comments. Any thoughts/comments on farm stays in Chiang Mai?

We didn’t do a farm stay near Chiang Mai (we did one up near Pai, you should check out that article). We’d recommend looking on the WWOOF website to find farms. Make sure to look through the comments, rating and details before you commit a week or two to a farm.

Such a great article 🙂 So excited to squeeze as much in as possible – we have only booked 5 days but may stay longer! Your photos are gorgeous – it looks like a really beautiful place. Particularly excited about the hiking and visiting the elephants! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and tips 😀

You are very welcome Kirsty! There are so many things to do in Chiang Mai, we love it there!

Great article, thanks. My wife and I volunteer (once every two years) at Elephant Nature Park with their Seven day package and it’s amazing. You get to help out and really learn about these amazing animals, plus you meet some great people. If you have time I highly recommend the seven day option. We also spend time in Chiang Mai and have grown to love it. Thanks for the suggestions, we will definitely be exploring some of them.

Thanks for your suggestion Dave!

This article was so awesome – thank you!!!

Thanks so much Olivia! We love Chiang Mai! Are you heading there soon?

Thank you so much! I am visiting Chiang Mai in a week and your article was better than anything I hoped on finding after googling about things to do in the city. The tittle and topic have pulled me in, your style of writing and originality have made me stay on your website for hours and I was positively surprised by your way of using influence for the greater good.

Wow, thank you so much for your kind comment. We hope you had a wonderful time in Chiang Mai. We really love this city and always encourage travelers to visit.

Great article, thanks much!

You are very welcome, Iryna!

This is seriously the best post about Chiang Mai I have read! I’ve been twice and planning to go next year and you’ve given me some great ideas of alternative things to do! Thanks!

Thanks for your kind words Shireen. We love Chiang Mai and have lived there twice now!

You guys are awesome. The article is informative and yet a lot sensitive to the Dos and DON’Ts. I love the entire flow it has. Me and my wife are planning to visit it in April 2nd week. I had a few questions: – Would the weather be too bad? We live in Mumbai, India so we are used to the heat and humidity, but would like to know more. – We plan to catch the Bangkok-Chiang Mai train as i absolutely love train journeys. Its a great way to meet more people, exchange travel stories and to see the great landscape go by. Any watch outs? – We both are avid nature lovers and would love to explore small villages or places where we can go for a meal or do some small activity. Any recommendations?

Once again, thank you for the amazing work you guys are doing. If you’ll ever plan a visit to India, I would love to host you’ll in Mumbai and take you around.

Hello Prathamesh, Thank you for you thoughtful comment! The weather in the 2nd week of April will be hot, but it is around the Thai New Year, Songkran. Where the whole city turns into water fight! We’ve hear the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is stunning, but we’ve only been on it in the dark so can’t speak much to that. Up in the Doi Suthep mountains there are villages where you can walk through and explore. Many have small cafes where you can have a good meal. Hope this helps!

This is a great article! We’ve been here for two months and haven’t done half of these things! mostly because we didn’t know they existed, thanks!

Love the ethical aspects of this article, relaying info about the ‘long neck’ women and elephants. I live in CNX and often have to have these conversations with people.

I also saw that you posted one of my FAVE things to do here, which is to see the cabaret show. Just a heads up, they’ve moved from Ram Bar to a spot called 6IXCRET (pronounced Secret) here’s the google map link, you can access them through IG and FB quite easily. It’s all the same performers in a much upgraded venue and with fab new costumes and numbers (I’m totally unaffiliated, just a huge huge fan) https://goo.gl/maps/Kk4QvbqQuhJ2

cheers! Barrak Founder, theluckystraw.com

Thanks Barrak for the recommendation! We’ll have to check it out next time we are in Chiang Mai! Cheers!

I totally agree with you about not visiting human zoos like longneck tours etc. Instead go and meet the real people! Our encounters with Thai, Hmong, Karen and other hill tribe people led to friendship and lasting memories – instead of an arranged photo. Our village stays were organised by Duara travels, which idea is not just have home-stay but to participate in the daily lives of the villages. We went to market, cooked and ate with our families. Picked coffee and roasted it, helped the monks at the temple and sat evenings in their ‘living room’ chatting (with google translate) and drinking hot water. Best of my travel memories!

Hi iina, Sounds like you made some great memories in Chiang Mai. Thanks for sharing!

Love your blog! We are 58 and 60 yo canadian couple, we are selling our house and stuff (so much stuff) and we are getting a small place in Quebec and we’ll be spending 6 months a year elsewhere. Our first place is CHIANG MAI and your excellent input is making a huge difference. Do not stop this great work, you are helping people like us!

Thanks so much Lizabeth. You’re so kind. You are going to love living in Chiang Mai! Let us know if you have any other questions.

THanks for sharing all this and nice tips to get around! Just that perhaps you would add the sky lanterns to be included in the things not to do as they can do a lot of harm to the nature. Otherwise this is a very useful list, thank you!

Yes, definitely a good point. We have an entire article dedicated to the Yi Peng festival and discuss the dangers and harms of sky lanterns. Thanks!

Excellent post !!! I am presently in Chiang Mai and found your suggestions and tips very helpful ! Thank you !!!

We’re so happy to hear that, Celine! Hope you had an amazing time 🙂

Great post! I wish I had seen this before I went to Chiang Mai. Bookmarking for next time!

Hey Pepe, Great to hear you like it! Let us know if you want any more advice for traveling around Thailand!

Whenever I am in Chiang Mai, my family and I usually stay at Akyra Manor. The hotel is great and spacious, staff were very helpful and made our stay comfortable plus the rooftop bar is nice and not too busy.

Thanks you for the additional tips about Chiang Mai!

The most unusual list about Things to do in Chiang Mai I saw. It is necessary to add here an Infinity nightclub! =)

Thanks Cat! Glad you liked our list of things to do in Chiang Mai.

This is awesome, one of the best CM guides that I have read. Definitely saving a bunch of these places 🙂

Thank you so much, that really means a lot! We spent a lot of time on it, so we’re so happy to hear when it’s helpful!

Fantastic article, very thorough and detailed i will be using much of this information. Thank you!

You are very welcome Mike. Hope you enjoy Chiang Mai!

Hi guys. I’m currently researching sustainable tourism development, for my dissertation project for university in the U.K. Sustainable tourism development is a very important topic at the moment! I would greatly appreciate your help so if you can spare 5 mins to fill in the survey please do! The survey coconsists of 12 questions and its design makes it easy to use and complete.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqt4fl7N1NJF25mSjFO9_ycCU7o_ZKm-OJFs30liOPwtzHow/viewform?usp=sf_link

Hi Chris, thanks for your comment. If you want to talk further about your survey, please fill out the form on our Contact Us page. Cheers!

Love this post, thank you so much for lots of wonderful info! I’m headed on a solo adventure to Asia and will be spending four days in Chiang Mai and your post has made me so excited!

Hey Julie, Thanks so much for your sweet comment. We’re really glad you liked the article. There are so many things to do in Chiang Mai, you will have a great 4 days. Let us know if you have any questions. Cheers!

I’m so glad I found your blog! I am dying to go to Thailand and Chiang Mai is at the top of my list. Thanks!

Hey Chelsea, we’re glad you found it useful! You’ll love Chiang Mai and the rest of Thailand! Let us know if you have any questions, we are happy to help!

These tips are great! We’re planning to go to Thailand in the beginning of September, but am a little concerned about the rainy season. Also, not finding any trips we liked we are planning our own and signing up for a couple day tours at each location. Is Thailand easily to navigate?

Hey Stephanie, in my opinion, Thailand is one of the easiest countries to navigate on your own. Nearly everyone speaks English and they really cater to travelers. Let us know if you have any other questions on Thailand.

Thanks for the tip about the Saturday morning hiking group! My husband and I met up with them for an 18 mile hike last weekend. It was a ton of fun.

Hey Megan! Glad you enjoyed the hiking group. 18 miles, wow that’s impressive!

Hi.. love your blog.. would like to ask about the Wat Pan Tao Lantern Ceremony.. It looks amazing… where can I get more info about this? 🙂

Hey Mel, The Wat Phan Tao Lantern Ceremony is held at Wat Phan Tao on the night of Loy Krathong (which for 2017 is November 3rd) and the ceremony is usually around 7-8pm. But you will want a good spot to view the ceremony you should get there about 2 hours early (before the sun sets), because it gets super crowded.

I been having withdrawals just returning from Thailand and Chiangmai is def one of my fave cities. You got the countryside and city side by side. And it isn’t overcrowded like Bangkok. Great for sharing. thanks. We stayed Yesterday Hotel on Nimmanahaeminda Rd and it was alright. Good thing is, it was close to everything. Its good to know there are some reviews on hostels because I was always a bit iffy on it. How did you guys find the place or was it recommended? I will check it out. We plan to go back in the near future. To Chiang Rai first then back to Chiang Mai.

Agreed – having the city near nature is one aspect we really loved! We usually use Hostelworld to look at reviews and only choose places that are highly ranked (aka not dirty or in a bad location). We’ve found tons of amazing hostels on there and a lot of times stay in private rooms. Happy travels!

Did you do the full day or half day class?

Hi Lynette, We did the full-day class and would highly recommend doing it that way if you have the time. On the day that we did the cooking class, there was only one couple who had signed up for half day, and it kind of felt like awkward timing for them. Hope that answers your question!

You just made me miss Chiang Mai SOOOOO MUCH! For 1. You mentioned Khao Soi which is my favoritest thing in the entire world! The first bite of it I took, I knew it would bring me heartbreak since I couldn’t get it anywhere else in the world…2. The place you mentioned to try it is my favorite noodle cart! I have a picture of it so I know how to identify it among all the other carts! Too funny.

I feel like I had pretty much the same experience in Chiang Mai as you did. The only thing I didn’t get to do was make Krathongs. Can you tell me where you sourced the materials, did someone help you make them or show you how? would love to get their information if I could.

Ahh so funny about the noodle cart – we went back there at least 5 times because the Khao Soi was the best we had anywhere else in the city! And SO cheap!

We were in Chiang Mai during the Loi Krathong celebration and the cooking class that we did actually provided all the materials for us to make them. It was kind of a special class since I think they only do it at that time of year. But it was such a cool experience!

Thanks for sharing your website – we’ll have to check it out!

Great article! We feel very much the same as you do about visiting the North in terms of what to do and what not to do ie visit the hill tribe people! I’m half Thai and totally agree that Khao Soi should be a staple on Thai menus in Western countries! It’s one of my favourite dishes and i can’t believe my Mum never told me about it!

Hey Su Bish! It’s always a good idea to stay away from tourist traps that exploit animals or indigenous tribes. And OMG how good is Khao Soi! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water!

Great write. Your article has inspired me to travelled to Chiang Mai. Well done!

Thanks John! Glad we could convince you to travel, though it doesn’t take much 🙂

Thanks John! Chiang Mai is great. Glad to hear we inspired you to travel there!

I’ve been to the Loi Krathong festival in Pattaya, but I hear that Chiang Mai is the place to go for that. The police were stamping out sky lanterns on the beach with their feet! Wasn’t what I pictured the celebrations to be like at all!

Hey Pattaya! Chiang Mai is a nice place to be for Loi Krathong Festival but it does get really busy. It seems like everyone and their mom came to the festival and the city was absolutely packed. Hard to find accommodation. They no longer have the mass sky lantern release (unless you want to pay $100-300 to do it), so it might not be what you’re expecting. There’s one night during the festival that you can release the sky lanterns in the city, which is pretty spectacular, but again it’s quite busy.

Hey, just a note. Unfortunately, there are companies convincing people you have to pay to do the sky lantern release. It’s totally unnecessary to do that. I was just there last November and I paid all of 50Baht for a Lantern and walked over to the Nawarat Bridge to release lanterns with a group of people. There were hundreds of people out there doing the same.

YES! We did the same thing. We were there in 2015, and realized that the major ceremony being advertised was just for tourists – not authentic at all – so we steered clear of it and bought our own lantern to release on the bridge with all the other people who were doing the same 🙂 Glad you did that too!

Thank you! I am travelling to Thailand and Laos this November/December and your advice will be very beneficial. Great job good onya. ?

Just 2 things if I may. Firstly did you build your own website and if so which did you use? Secondly if you’re interested you can follow my journey through these countries on Instagram @ bernie9330

Hey Bernie! We use Squarespace as a website platform and we’ll definitely check out your Instagram. Hope you have fun in Thailand and Laos, you’ll love it there! Glad to hear our stuff has been helpful.

WOW! this blog made me more giddy for my trip to Chiang Mai this November! This blog is really REALLY helpful! <3

Thank you so much!

Hi Mish, I’m so happy you found it helpful! November is a wonderful time to be in Thailand. Are you planning to be there for the Yi Peng lantern festival? It’s an incredible experience, but if you plan to be there at that time, be sure to book your accommodation well in advance! The city gets completely full and we were without a bed for a night! Eeek! Happy planning and let us know if you have any questions!

YAAAAAS! I wanted to go there because of the Yi Peng Festival! It’s my first time to travel solo and go to overseas.. so im both excited and nervous at the same time!Haha I have booked my accommodation as early as January! that’s how excited I am!HAHA I did a lot of research aswell and I have read tonds of blogs about Chiang Mai and yours is one of the best! All tickets for the paid Yi Peng festival are already sold out,so what I plan to do is just to celebrate the festival just the way locals do! And again, im excited about it. 🙂

That’s great! You’ll love being there during the Yi Peng Festival, such a great time! And good idea about celebrating just like the locals. I think that’s the best way to do it.

Thanks for the great post! We’re planning our second trip to SE Asia and will definitely be taking some of these recommendations!

Thanks so much, Bethany! We hope these suggestions are helpful! Let us know what you think of Thailand and SE Asia 🙂 Best of luck planning!

Great roundup, guys! Thanks for including us 🙂

Chris and Angela

Thanks Chris & Angela! That’s a huge compliment coming from you guys. We love your stuff and recommend it to everyone.

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Detailed Chiang Mai Itinerary for 3, 4 or 5 days [2024]

If you’re wondering how to plan the best Chiang Mai itinerary, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about planning your trip to Chiang Mai from how to get there, the best places to stay, attractions to visit, and more.

Now this isn’t a conventional Chiang Mai itinerary where I only recommend the most popular attractions.

While they are popular for a reason, I strongly believe that the best way to experience a destination is to take some time to venture off the beaten path.

So keep reading to find out how to plan the best Chiang Mai itinerary for 3, 4, or 5 days, including some day trip suggestions.

Wachirathan Waterfall flowing against a steep cliff surrounded by lush vegetation | chiang mai itinerary

*** This article may contain affiliate links, meaning each time you click through and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you which helps a lot in keeping this website running. Thank you for your support 🙂

How many days is enough in Chiang Mai?

In my opinion, 3 days in Chiang Mai is the absolute minimum if you want to hit all the major tourist attractions.

But if you can afford to spend more time in Chiang Mai, I would recommend staying 4 days in Chiang Mai or 5 days if you want to do a few day trips.

Below is a suggested Chiang Mai itinerary for up to 5 days:

Day 1 : Temple hopping around Old Town & Chiang Mai Night Market

Day 2 : Doi Inthanon National Park

Day 3 : Doi Suthep Temple & Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall

Day 4 : Monk’s Trail to Wat Pha Lat, Montha Than Waterfall, Huai Kaeo Waterfall & Chiang Mai University Night Market or Nimman

Day 5 : Option 1 – Chiang Rai day trip; Option 2 – Thai cooking class & Wat Phra That Doi Saket; Option 3 – Mon Jam; Option 4 – Lampang day trip

view of chiang mai city from doi suthep temple

Chiang Mai Itinerary Essentials

Where to stay in chiang mai.

If it’s your first visit to Chiang Mai, I highly recommend booking your hotel in the Old Town as most attractions, restaurants, and night markets are within walking distance.

Below are some of the best places to stay:

Luxury : 99 The Heritage Hotel is one of the best places to stay during your Chiang Mai itinerary. Rooms are luxurious, the location is great – right in the middle of the Old Town, plus it has a swimming pool. Check rates here.

Mid-Range : El Barrio Lanna is a great place to stay for those looking for some peace and quiet while still being close to attractions, restaurants, and cafes. Rooms are spacious and have either a twin or double bed. There’s also an outdoor pool. Check rates here.

Budget : Located less than 200 meters from Wat Phra Singh with plenty of restaurants nearby, Sleep Walker Poshtel offers double and family rooms at affordable prices. Check rates here.

Hostel : OYO Le Light House & Hostel is located near the south gate and just a few minutes walk from Chiang Mai Gate Market and Saturday Night Market. The hostel is clean and each bed has a curtain for privacy. They have both mixed and female-only dorms. Check rates here.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HOTELS IN CHIANG MAI

How to get to Chiang Mai?

Plane : The best and quickest way to get to Chiang Mai is by plane. Direct flights are available from several parts of Thailand such as Bangkok and Krabi as well as from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Train : Another popular way to get to Chiang Mai is by taking a sleeper train from Bangkok . The total journey takes on average 10-13 hours and tickets cost about 700-1400 baht depending on the cabin class, time of the day, and whether you choose the lower or upper bed.

Bus : Buses are also available and cost about 650 baht. The total journey takes on average 9 hours.

BOOK YOUR TRANSFER FROM BANGKOK TO CHIANG MAI HERE

a blue and orange train at chiang mai train station

Getting around Chiang Mai

Walking : If you’re staying in the Old Town, you can easily get around on foot.

Songthaew (Red bus) or Tuk Tuk : For longer distances, you can take a songthaew for about 30 baht per trip depending on the distance covered and your negotiation skills. Tuk tuks are also available but cost slightly more.

Rental car or motorbike : If you want more flexibility, you can rent a car (about 1,000 baht per day) or motorbike (about 250 baht day).

Taxi : The last option is to download a ride-sharing app such as Grab, Bolt, or inDrive. I personally found Bolt to be the cheapest one out of the three.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to plan your Chiang Mai itinerary is from November to February when the weather is cool.

The rainy season happens between June and October while March to May is known as the hot season which sometimes coincides with the burning season.

Note that the burning season may sometimes start in late January or February. If you want to check the current air quality, I recommend using this website .

I personally visited Chiang Mai in May and June and the weather was quite hot (about 35°C) but luckily the burning season was already over. It also rained only once in the evening during the whole 10 days I was there so I was able to do a lot of sightseeing.

Chiang Mai Itinerary Day 1

Temple hopping around old town.

Familiarize yourself with the city by spending your first day exploring the Old Town where you’ll come across some of the best Chiang Mai temples.

The temples are located within walking distance of each other, so you can easily do a self-guided walking tour.

You can click here for an interactive map featuring the best temples to visit. The total walking time should be around an hour.

But if you’d like to learn more about the history of each temple, I recommend this Chiang Mai temple tour with a local guide which includes visits to 3 major temples in the Old Town.

The tour also includes hotel transfers, transportation between each temple, entry fees, water, and a guide. It’s available as a private or small group tour.

CHECK PRICE FOR A CHIANG MAI TEMPLE TOUR

a man stainding on the stairs leading to wat lok moli temple | 4 days in chiang mai

Below are some of the best temples to visit in the Old Town:

Wat Lok Moli : A small teakwood temple adorned with intricate carvings. Behind is a chedi ruin reminiscent of the temples in Ayutthaya .

Wat Chiang Man: About a 15-minute walk from Wat Lok Moli is Wat Chiang Mai, famous for its elephant chedi.

Wat Phantao : This is another teakwood temple located right in the middle of the Old Town.

Wat Chedi Luang: This is a must-visit on any Chiang Mai itinerary! It features a huge chedi with elephant statues on each side. The entrance fee is 50 baht.

elephant statues on the side of wat chedi luang chiang mai itinerary

Wat Tung Yu: This hidden gem in Chiang Mai is worth visiting if you’re looking for some peace and quiet within the Old Town. They offer free meditation classes every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 9 a.m.

Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan: This is the second most popular temple in the Old Town (after Wat Chedi Luang), famous for its gold-plated chedi. Entrance is free but the main hall costs 40 baht to enter.

Silver Temple (Wat Sri Suphan): One of the most unique temples in all of Thailand, the exterior of the Wat Sri Suphan is adorned with intricate silver carvings illustrating the life of Buddha. The entrance fee is 50 baht.

a silver buddha statue in front of a silver temple in chiang mai thailand

Note : When visiting temples, make sure to cover your shoulders and knees.

Explore the Chiang Mai Night Markets

After a full day of temple hopping, end the first day of your Chiang Mai itinerary at one of the many night markets dotted around the city.

One of the biggest night markets in Chiang Mai is the Sunday Night Market, also known as Tha Phae Walking Street.

The night market is set along the whole length of Rachadamnoen Road, occasionally spilling onto the little side streets.

Here you’ll find hundreds of stalls selling food, clothes, souvenirs, and local handicrafts at affordable prices.

people eating at a night market in chiang mai

The atmosphere is lively and fun albeit a little overwhelming. Despite that, it was the highlight of my Chiang Mai travel itinerary and I really enjoyed walking around and soaking in the vibes.

The Saturday Night Market is also very popular and is set along Wua Lai Road opposite the South Gate.

In case you don’t happen to visit Chiang Mai on a weekend, don’t worry as there are plenty of other markets to explore.

A few of them include Chiang Mai Gate Night Market , Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Klare Night Market , Pavilion Night Bazaar , Anusarn Market , and Chang Phuak Gate Night Market , all of which are open daily.

Related post: 8 Best night markets to visit in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Itinerary Day 2

Doi inthanon national park.

One of the most beautiful places to visit during your Chiang Mai itinerary is Doi Inthanon National Park. It’s home to the highest mountain in Thailand and features lush forest trails, waterfalls, temples, viewpoints, and hill tribe villages.

Due to the high elevation, it’s one of the coldest regions in Thailand, so pack some warm clothes even if you’re visiting during the hot season.

It’s best to visit as part of an organized tour or by private taxi as it’s located about a 1.5-hour drive from Chiang Mai.

Although you can catch a public songthaew to the park entrance, you would still need a vehicle to get around each attraction as they aren’t within walking distance. This is why it’s best to book a guided tour.

CHECK PRICE FOR A TOUR OF DOI INTHANON

a purple pagoda at doi inthanon national park chiang mai

The most popular place to visit in Doi Inthanon is the King and Queen Pagoda which are set in the middle of a beautiful garden overlooking the mountains.

Other attractions include Sirithan Waterfall , Wachirathan Waterfall , and the highest spot in Thailand where you’ll also see the memorial shrine of King Inthawichayanon.

If you’d like to go on a hike, several hiking trails can be explored such as Pha Dok Siew and Kew Mae Pan . Note that the latter is closed from June 1 st to October 31 st .

For those who aren’t very fit, you can instead visit the Angkha Nature Trail which is a 320-meter-long boardwalk trail that weaves around the forest.

a woman walking toward Wachirathan Waterfall in chiang mai

Entrance to the national park is 300 baht for adults and 150 baht for children.

3 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary

If you have 3 days in Chiang Mai, I recommend visiting Doi Suthep Temple and the Sticky Waterfall on your third day.

I visited as part of a guided tour which included both attractions since the Sticky Waterfall is located about an hour’s drive from the Old Town and taking a private taxi there would be too expensive (unless you’re sharing with a group of people).

I really enjoyed the tour as the guide was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of info about the temple and waterfall. The tour price included hotel transfers, entrance fees, lunch, water, and a local guide.

CHECK PRICE FOR A DOI SUTHEP AND STICKY WATERFALL TOUR

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

No Chiang Mai itinerary would be complete without visiting the famous Doi Suthep temple ! Sitting atop Doi Suthep mountain, the temple offers a panoramic view of Chiang Mai.

The temple complex consists of several buildings with a glistening gold chedi in the middle.

You can climb up the 300+ steps flanked by Naga serpents or take a funicular to get to the temple.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is open from 6 a.m to 8 p.m and since it’s very popular, I highly recommend visiting early in the morning. Sunset is one of the best times to visit but do expect some crowds.

To get there, you can take a songthaew from the Old Town which should cost around 50-80 baht per person. Otherwise, you can book the guided tour I mentioned earlier .

a woman walking around the golden chedi at wat phra that doi suthep chiang mai

Entrance to the temple costs 30 baht.

Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall

If you’ve booked the combined Doi Suthep Temple and Sticky Waterfall tour , your guide will take you to a local restaurant for lunch on the way to the waterfall.

Bua Tong Waterfall, commonly known as Sticky Waterfall is one of the best waterfalls in Chiang Mai . I had so much fun there and highly recommend you visit as well.

The sticky surface of the rocks makes it easy to climb up and down the waterfalls, plus there are ropes and handrails if you need extra help. Just make sure to avoid stepping on the green algae though as they are slippery.

Also near the waterfall is a sacred spring with crystal-clear blue water but note that swimming isn’t allowed there.

people walking down the sticky waterfall in chiang mai

Bua Tong Waterfall is open daily from 8 a.m to 5 p.m and is free to visit.

Related post: Guide to the best waterfalls in Chiang Mai

4 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary

For those planning to stay 4 days in Chiang Mai, I recommend exploring some of Chiang Mai hidden gems.

Monk’s Trail to Wat Pha Lat

Start the day with a morning hike along the Monk’s Trail to Wat Pha Lat , a small Buddhist temple set in the middle of the forest.

To find the trailhead, type in “Wat Pha Lat Hike (Monk’s trail)” on Google Maps or click here .

The hike takes only about 25-45 minutes depending on your fitness level. The trail is easy to follow but you can also download the maps.me app to see the exact hiking route.

Just remember that you need to cover your shoulders and knees when entering the temple grounds.

The temple is very peaceful and quiet and also provides a panoramic view of Chiang Mai city.

If you don’t want to do the hike, you can take a Grab or songthaew and ask to be dropped off directly at Wat Pha Lat.

an ancient temple surrounded by plants at wat pha lat chiang mai

Wat Pha Lat is open daily from 6 a.m to 6 p.m and entrance is free.

Related post: Guide to hiking in Chiang Mai

Montha Than Waterfall

About a 10-minute drive from Wat Pha Lat is Montha Than Waterfall . I recommend taking a Grab to get there as it’s much cheaper than taking a songthaew. You can hike the whole 1.6-km nature trail or simply visit the two waterfalls.

The first waterfall is located just a few meters from the parking lot while the second one is found at the end of a long flight of stairs.

Luckily, the stairs aren’t very steep so it takes only about 5-10 minutes to get there.

water cascading a steep cliff at montha than waterfall 1

The waterfall is open daily from 9 a.m to 4 p.m and the entrance fee is 100 baht plus 20 baht for motorbike parking or 30 baht for car.

Huai Kaeo Waterfall

Next, make your way to Huai Kaeo Waterfall . There are a few restaurants near the entrance if you’re looking for somewhere to have lunch.

Huai Kaeo Waterfall doesn’t require any hiking at all and is a great place to visit for adults and kids alike. If you’d like, you can even hike up to the viewpoint for a panoramic view of the city.

a multi-tier waterfall at huai kaeo waterfall chiang mai

The waterfall is open daily from 8 a.m to 4.30 pm and is free to visit.

Chiang Mai University Night Market

Finally, head to Chiang Mai University Night Market for dinner since it’s located nearby. You can find lots of cheap clothes here as well as delicious street food and souvenirs.

The market is open daily from 5-11 p.m but some of the stalls open as early as 4 p.m.

If you have more time, you can also check out Nimman. This neighborhood is very popular among expats and is dotted with trendy coffee shops.

One coffee shop I recommend in particular is Fohhide which has a nice view of Doi Suthep and the surroundings. Their menu consists of the usual coffee blends and but they also serve their signature coffee and fruit cocktails!

Nimman is also home to two shopping malls – One Nimman and MAYA. If you’re there on the weekend, you can also shop at the White Market which sells cute handmade clothes and accessories.

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat dinner, you can check out Rincome Night Market which opens daily from 5-10 p.m.

a matcha tea at fohhide cafe in chiang mai thailand

5 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary

Finally, if you have 5 days in Chiang Mai, I’ve listed a few other activities and day trips that you can take from Chiang Mai.

Option 1: Chiang Rai Day Trip

Chiang Rai is a smaller and more laidback city located about 180 km north of Chiang Mai.

Chiang Rai is best known for its eccentric White Temple but there are also other temples in Chiang Rai that are worth visiting like the Blue Temple and Wat Huay Pla Kang as well as the underrated Khun Korn Waterfall , and Chiang Rai Night Bazaar .

If you have more time you can even visit Chiang Saen where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet.

While I highly recommend spending at least 2 days in Chiang Rai , those short of time can visit Chiang Rai as a day trip from Chiang Mai.

One particular day tour I recommend is this Chiang Rai temple tour which includes visits to Mae Khachan Hot Spring, White Temple, Blue Temple, and the Black House Museum. The tour is affordable and includes hotel transfers to and from Chiang Mai, entry fees, and a guide.

CHECK PRICE FOR A CHIANG RAI DAY TOUR

a white temple with a small pond in chiang rai

Related post: Top things to do in Chiang Rai in 1 or 2 days

Option 2: Thai Cooking Class & Wat Phra That Doi Saket

Another fun activity to do during your Chiang Mai itinerary is to take a cooking class to learn how to make your favorite Thai dishes.

This authentic Thai cooking class has over 500 near-perfect reviews and includes a local market visit where you’ll be able to buy fresh ingredients.

You’ll then head to the cooking school where you’ll learn how to cook four dishes of your choice from Pad Thai to Tom Yum, Mango Sticky Rice, and more

At the end of the lesson, you’ll be able to eat everything you cooked, plus you’ll get a recipe book so you can make the dishes at home.

Classes are conducted in the morning or evening but if you’d like to make more dishes, you can opt for a full-day class.

CHECK PRICE FOR A THAI COOKING CLASS

a pad thai dish with chicken, eggs and shrimp

If you’ve booked a cooking class in the morning, you can then spend the afternoon at Wat Phra That Doi Saket .

This beautiful temple is located about a 30-minute drive from the Old Town and boasts stunning mountain views.

You can easily get there by taking a yellow songthaew from a small station opposite Chansom Memorial Bridge ( click here for the location ). Tickets cost about 25 baht per person.

Just note that the songthaew will only depart once it’s full. The driver will then drop you off about 50 meters from the temple entrance.

a woman standing on a flight of stairs with mountains in the backdrop at Wat Phra That Doi Saket

To get to the temple, you’ll have to climb up a long flight of stairs but if you don’t want to walk, you can hire a songthaew for a small fee.

Wat Pha Thai Doi Saket is one of the most beautiful temples I’ve seen with several ornate buildings, Buddha statues, and a gold and silver chedi.

If you’re fit enough, you can also climb up another flight of stairs for a panoramic view of the surroundings ( find the exact location of the viewpoint here ).

Option 3: Mon Jam

If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai city, I highly recommend taking a trip to Mon Jam, a small mountain village with stunning panoramic views.

I actually spent one night there and stayed at Mon Ing Dao Resort . I would recommend avoiding the weekends though as it’s super popular among locals and can thus be crowded and loud at night.

There isn’t much to do in Mon Jam apart from relaxing and taking in the view but if you’re renting a car , you can also visit Mae Sa Waterfall , Plai Fa Strawberry Farm , or take a rollercoaster ride at Pong Yaeng Jungle Coaster & Zipline .

view of mountains and plantation in mon jam thailand

If you’re on a budget, the best way to get to Mon Jam is by taking a shared taxi. I booked mine from Van Station Sankamphaeng Maekampong (about a 15-minute walk from Tha Phae gate) for 150 baht one-way.

I highly recommend booking your taxi at least a few days in advance as seats are limited.

Option 4: Lampang Day Trip

Another fun day trip for those spending 5 days in Chiang Mai is Lampang, located about a 3-hour train ride away.

Trains depart daily from Chiang Mai at 6.30 a.m, 8.50 a.m, 9.30 a.m, and 3.30 p.m (be sure to double-check the timetable at the train station).

Tickets can only be bought on the same day and cost 23 baht for 3 rd class or 50 baht for 2 nd class.

Some of the best things to see in Lampang include Wat Chiang Rai , Wat Si Rongmuang, the Clock Tower, and Wat Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram.

You can also check out Kad Kongta Night Market which is open on Sundays only from 4-9 p.m.

a white temple with 2 naga serpents in front at wat chiang rai lampang

I hope you found this detailed Chiang Mai itinerary helpful and got some ideas on places to visit during your next trip. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below.

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The former seat of the Lanna kingdom is a blissfully calm place to relax and recharge your batteries – in a city still firmly Thai in its atmosphere and attitude.

Best Things to Do

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Overlooking the city from its mountain throne, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples, and its founding legend is…

Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang isn't as grand as Wat Phra Singh, but its towering, ruined Lanna-style chedi (built in 1441) is much taller and the sprawling compound…

Wat Phra Singh

Chiang Mai's most revered temple, Wat Phra Singh is dominated by an enormous, mosaic-inlaid wí·hăhn (sanctuary). Its prosperity is plain to see from the…

500px Photo ID: 61441821 - merchant waiting for seller in Warorot market Chiangmai...See more work at.https://www.facebook.com/Amandernaja

Talat Warorot

Chiang Mai's oldest public market, Warorot (also spelt Waroros) is a great place to connect with the city's Thai soul. Alongside souvenir vendors you'll…

Principal image at Wat Pan Tao in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Wat Phan Tao

Without doubt the most atmospheric wát in the old city, this teak marvel sits in the shadow of Wat Chedi Luang. Set in a compound full of fluttering…

Wat Pha Lat

A hidden jungle temple tucked into the mountain along the way to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Old stone structures, intricate carvings, naga-flanked…

The Death Railway, bridge over the River Kwai

Lanna Folklife Museum

Set inside the former Provincial Court, dating from 1935, this imaginative museum re-creates Lanna village life in a series of life-size dioramas that…

Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham

Not to be confused with the small Wat Umong in the old city, this historic forest wát is famed for its sylvan setting and its ancient chedi, above a brick…

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Baan Kang Wat

Though a little out of the way, Baan Kang Wat is worth the trip simply to coo over the cute architecture and picturesque ambience. The open-air artists…

North Gate Jazz Co-Op

This compact jazz club tends to pack in as many musicians as it does patrons, with local and visiting instrumentalists offering nightly sets and…

Sunday Walking Street

On Sunday afternoon Th Ratchadamnoen is taken over by the boisterous Sunday Walking Street, which feels even more animated than Th Wualai's Saturday…

Wat Srisuphan

It should come as no surprise that the silversmiths along Th Wualai have decorated their patron monastery with the same fine artisanship shown in their…

Akha Ama Cafe

Akha Ama serves locally harvested, sustainable, direct-trade beans from the jungles north of Chiang Mai, but – perhaps most importantly to some – the…

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is one of the city’s main night-time attractions, especially for families, and is the legacy of the original Yunnanese trading…

Chiang Mai's best chicken emerges daily from the grills at this tiny cafe near Wat Phra Singh. The menu runs to salads and soups, but most people just…

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND - 2006/08/13: The popular walking street market which attracts thousands of locals and tourists each weekend. The market opens in the evening and vendors sell a wide range of goods from traditional produce to pirated DVDs and CDs.. (Photo by Yvan Cohen/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Saturday Walking Street

The Saturday Walking Street takes over Th Wualai, running southwest from Pratu Chiang Mai at the southern entrance to the old city. There is barely space…

The best 12 free things to do in Chiang Mai

Riverside Bar & Restaurant

Almost everyone ends up at Riverside at some point in their Chiang Mai stay. Set in an old teak house, it feels like a countryside reimagining of a Hard…

Talat Ton Lam Yai

Adjacent to Talat Warorot, Talat Ton Lam Yai morphs from a covered household market into an animated flower market (gàht dòrk mái), flanking the river on…

Wat Suan Dok

Built on a former flower garden in 1373, this important monastery enshrines one half of a sacred Buddha relic; the other half was transported by white…

Wat Umong Maha Therachan

This historic wát is in the heart of the old city. Though it was first constructed in 1367 and boasts some very old, Lanna-style chedis, it's also worth a…

Wat Bupparam

This highly ornate temple shows the clear influence of the Burmese teak merchants who immigrated to Chiang Mai during the 19th century. The eye-catching…

Wat Chet Yot

This wát was established by King Tilokarat in 1455 as part of an effort to prevent a predicted decline in Buddhism. It still has much of its original…

Thapae East

An atmospheric and intimate red-brick house where a diverse array of musicians perform throughout the week. There's also an adjacent hostel, a craft store…

Wat Phra That Doi Kham

Reached via a steep naga stairway through the forest, this handsome wát looms above the city from the hillside above Royal Park Rajapruek. With its gilded…

Talat Muang Mai

Chiang Mai's main wholesale fruit market is a riot of activity every morning, when enormous cargoes of mangoes, durians, rambutans, longans, watermelons,…

Royal Park Rajapruek

This sprawling formal park has 23 themed gardens donated by international governments, along with nine Thai gardens and six 'corporate' gardens. It sounds…

Planning Tools

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Transportation

From túk-túks (autorickshaws) to rót daangs and walking to buses, it's easy to get around Chiang Mai. Here's how to do it.

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Chiang Mai's known for being budget-friendly with lots to see and do for free. Here's a guide to exploring without spending a Bhat

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Chiang Mai Starts Here

Finding the right Chiang Mai travel guide can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.

To be sure, many websites provide lists of things to do in Chiang Mai that are so exhaustive—and so without insight, in spite of all the information they provide—that the city can seem unruly. In fact, a trip to Chiang Mai is only difficult if your knowledge of the city is shallow and superficial.

I’ll help you easily decide which attractions are worth your time, and which you might want to skip. This is in addition to a variety of practical matters covered in this Chiang Mai itinerary, from my favorite hotels in Chiang Mai, to how many days in Chiang Mai you should spend.

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

Before I get into the nuts and bolts of this Chiang Mai travel guide, let’s talk about places to stay in the city. In general, I like staying inside the Old City Walls; I prefer boutique properties to big box ones. In this vein, I can recommend properties such as El Barrio Lanna and Pingviman Hotel . I also like iLanna House , although this does sit on the far western periphery of the city walls.

Many of the more luxurious Chiang Mai hotels, meanwhile, are legitimately on the outskirts of the city center. Siripanna Villa Resort , for example, actually sits on the east bank of the Ping River, about 15 minutes walking distance from the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. This isn’t a bad thing—it’s a quiet place to sleep, not to mention a luxurious one—but it isn’t as convenient as the other options I mentioned.

My Favorite Things to Do in Chiang Mai

Get lost in the old city.

There are as many Chiang Mai temples are there are amazing local foods to try—more on those later. However, some touchstones to keep in mind once you enter the Old City Walls (assuming you decide not to stay within them) include Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang , which is made even more stunning by the fact that it’s half-ruined. Another favorite Chiang Mai temple of mine is Doi Suthep , perched above the city to the west.

Discover Northern Thailand Cuisine

Eating is an essential part of any Chiang Mai itinerary, regardless of your dietary personality. If you don’t hit up the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar (or, on weekends, the Sunday Walking Street ) for authentic northern-style Khao Soi , you might decide to sit down at any number of restaurants. From the down-home Dash to Delish , whose banana-bloom salad is to die for, Chiang Mai is the perfect place to discover amazing Thai food .

Enjoy Elephants (But Ethically)

As you scour the internet for a Chiang Mai travel guide, you might be worrying whether some of the city’s elephant camps are unethical. Not only is Elephant Nature Park a place where you can’t ride elephants, but they’re a licensed rehabilitation facility. Visitors here need to keep their distance (for the most part) from the elephants, who are being nursed back to health by trained professionals. Nature is best appreciated from afar!

Visit Thailand’s Highest Peak

If a visit to Doi Suthep (which, let’s face it, is pretty high!) is not enough altitude for your Chiang Mai itinerary, consider going up even more. Specifically to Doi Inthanon , which is the highest peak in Thailand. Although you’ll have to be extremely lucky to travel up here on a day that’s legitimately cold, the King and Queen Pagodas (a key feature of any Doi Inthanon tour) are an evergreen bet for enjoyable.

Spend Time in Nature

The good news? Many of the most amazing waterfalls near Chiang Mai are located near Doi Inthanon (namely, Wachirathan Falls ), which is excellent news if you don’t want to rent a motorbike. And you shouldn’t, in my opinion, unless you have extensive experience riding in Thailand. I understand the freedom of the open road; I also understand what it’s like being inside a rural Thai hospital—you don’t want to know.

How Many Days Do You Need for Chiang Mai?

The topic of how many days in Chiang Mai you should spend is pretty simple. If you’re content to stay in the city and explore outward (Elephant Nature Park, Doi Inthanon) on day trips, 2-3 days in Chiang Mai will serve you, as it does the vast majority of travelers. This allows for a full day in the city center, plus two days outside, sometimes assuming multiple excursions per day.

If, on the other hand, your plans are more fluid, or you simply don’t want to rush your way through a Chiang Mai itinerary, you could always rent an Airbnb (and a motorbike, assuming you have experience driving in Thailand) for a week, and see where the wind takes you. Careful, however: This is how many unsuspecting travelers get looped into moving to Thailand !

Chiang Mai vs. Chiang Rai

I’ll be honest: When it comes to places to visit in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is not my favorite. It might actually be my least favorite, which is not to say it’s bad—it’s wonderful, at least most of the time—it just doesn’t feel the same way it used to, even on my first visit to the city way back in 2012. (Granted, I haven’t yet visited in the wake of coronavirus , so things might well have changed.)

Specifically, I find the things to do in Chiang Rai more fulfilling, to say nothing of the generally more relaxed and authentic vibe of the city. Moreover, in spite of having few elephant sanctuaries, I think the outskirts of Chiang Rai are more interesting, in particular the so-called “Golden Triangle” region that runs along the Mekong River near the borders with Myanmar and Laos.

Other FAQ About Visiting Chiang Mai

When should you avoid chiang mai.

In my opinion, there isn’t a time of year that’s “bad” to visit Chiang Mai—all have their charms. However, most travelers avoid the hot months of April (at least after the Songkran festival) and May, and the wet months between about June and October.

Is Chiang Mai worth visiting?

Chiang Mai is absolutely worth visiting! While the walled Old City (and the attractions within it) can easily become overrun with Chinese tourists, don’t let that deter you. Peripheral attractions such as Doi Suthep temple and Doi Inthanon and Doi Luang offer lush landscapes and relaxing ambiance. Additionally, Chiang Mai is the best place to base yourself if you want to enjoy an ethical elephant adventure on your next trip to Thailand.

What is the best time of year to go to Chiang Mai?

The best months to visit Chiang Mai are the dry, cool months between November and March. November in particular, with the annual Loy Krathong lantern festival, is a very special month to visit Chiang Mai. If you go in December and January, you may actually enjoy some genuinely cold weather in the mountains surrounding Chiang Mai, whether a Southeast Asian species of cherry blossom blooms in late January or early February.

The Bottom Line

Is it worth visiting Chiang Mai? While I can’t guarantee that you’ll have assembled a complete itinerary by the time you finish reading this Chiang Mai travel guide, I do think you’ll be well on your way. From deciding which Chiang Mai temples to visit—and which to skip—to determining which day trips you should take, I’ve offered the perfect balance of information and insight. Over the course of this Chiang Mai itinerary, I’ve also weighed in on the topic of Chiang Mai vs. Chiang Rai (SPOILER ALERT: I recommend you visit both, if you have a chance!). Still don’t feel like planning your own Thailand trip? Hire me to make a custom Thailand itinerary for you!

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13 Best Things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is the ancient capital of Northern Thailand and one of the most infectious cities—packed full of century-old temples, heaving night markets, and some of the best coffee shops in the country. The best thing about Chiang Mai is it still feels very authentic, so it’s the perfect place to see local life at a slower pace than bustling Bangkok . Don’t stick within the city walls either; the surrounding mountain towns, national parks, and rice field valleys are waiting to be explored! Discover all the best things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Things to do in Chiang Mai

Although Chiang Mai is one of the largest cities in Thailand, it has more of a village atmosphere. Take advantage of the booming cafe culture, spectacular street food scene, and artisanal arts and crafts with all the top things to do in Chiang Mai.

Here are all your hotel options in Chiang Mai.

1. Sunday Night Market

The Sunday Night Market is a top thing to do in Chiang Mai and a must-see on your trip! This huge walking street comes to life on a Sunday evening (from 4 PM – 12 AM) when it’s filled with stands, shouting street vendors, golden lamps, and the sound of hill tribe music in the air.

Also read our 2-week Northern Thailand Itinerary .

Follow the crowds and get caught up in the atmosphere as you shop for art, ceramics, and clothes. There’s also plenty of entertainment, from street performers to glass blowers.

The best thing, though, is the street food! Hidden food courts lead off from the main street, where you can grab a bowl of sticky mango rice, zesty pad thai, or sweet sugarcane juice. Go on an empty stomach to fill up on all the delicious local delicacies. For example, Khao Soi, a traditional Northern Thai dish of warm broth and crunchy noodles.

Visit the street market on an evening tour to learn more about dishes from a local guide, and even learn some handy Thai phrases to help you order! See tickets and availability for your tour here .

things to do chiang mai thailand sunday night market

How to get there

Start at Tha Phae gate and work your way up the main market street, named Ratchadamnoen Road. The market spreads out onto the smaller side streets too, and on Sunday, you’ll find several neighboring temples are open if you want a break from the crowds.

Tip : Not here on a Sunday? You can check out Chiang Mai Night Bazaar every night from 5 PM on Chang Klang Road.

13 Best Things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand

2. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of the most stunning temples in the area, sitting atop Doi Suthep mountain. Legend has it that a white elephant, carrying a bone believed to be from Buddha, suddenly died on top of the mountain. This was taken as a spiritual sign, leading local people to build a sacred temple in the same spot.

Also read: Top Thing To Do in Chiang Rai, Thailand

things to do chiang mai Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Climb the 306 steps to the top, and discover the steps bordered by snake-like statues and beautiful tiles, known as a Naga staircase in Buddhist culture.

Hotels in Chiang Mai 😴

Once you reach the summit, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular vision of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Not only is it one of Thailand’s most beautiful temples, but it also sits on top of one of the country’s highest mountains. The famous golden pagoda sits at the center of the complex, surrounded by statues, murals, and trees full of flowers.

Tip: If you’re not feeling energetic, you can take a cable car to the top, but we’d recommend walking back down to see this fantastic staircase – a top thing to do in Chiang Mai!

Visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

The temple is open every day from 6 AM-8 PM. The price is 50 THB (1.45 USD), and the ticket office is at the top of the stairs. In total, you’ll need about 1 hour at the temple.

Visit in the morning at sunrise, when you’ll find it’s quieter and there’s a fresh mountain breeze. Alternatively, visit during golden hour in the evening, when the temple is bathed in an orange glow.

Be mindful that this is one of the most sacred sites in Thailand. Because of this, you’ll need to cover your knees and shoulders and remove your shoes.

How to get there: To reach the temple, take a shared red taxi (songthaew), or if you want to get your steps in, challenge yourself to the 3-hour hike through the jungle! For the most convenience, join an organized tour that includes return transportation and a guide.

3. Elephant Nature Park

The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is one of the most memorable experiences on any Thailand trip. Sadly, wildlife tourism is a massive part of the standard backpacker trip in Thailand, with most being unethical and even cruel.

Read everything about Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai .

things to do chiang mai thailand elephant nature park

The Elephant Nature Park is the only place to experience elephants in the country (or another sanctuary recommended by the park’s staff). This vast nature reserve is an ethical and responsible sanctuary with minimal interaction that does fantastic work for the animals.

elephant nature park chiang mai thailand

It’s the perfect way to see these majestic creatures interacting with each other — happily and healthy as they would in the wild. The reserve also does a lot of work raising awareness of the mistreatment of elephants in Thailand.

best things to do chiang mai elephant nature park

Within the reserve, discover 114 elephants, 670 dogs, and 2000 cats, as well as cows, buffalo, rabbits, and more. It’s truly a haven for wildlife, with elephants and buffalo walking amongst each other. We even saw the owner working on site, as the elephants played with her and protected her; remarkable!

Also read: Complete 7-Day Thailand Itinerary

How to Visit Elephant Nature Park

You can visit for the day, overnight, or even volunteer for seven days! On a day trip, you will walk through the park with a guide. The elephants are walking around, and you might even have to step aside as they don’t stop for you. You will spend time learning about their daily routine, watching them bathe and cover their skin in mud (as sunscreen). You’ll also get a delicious vegetarian lunch included in the price.

Make sure to book ahead, as this experience sells out quickly, particularly at peak times.

Book your visit to the Elephant Nature park here

4. Old City Walls

One of the most notable things about Chiang Mai is its rich and fascinating history; it’s believed to date back all the way to 1294 A.D! In the days when kings and monks lived side by side, walls, gates, and moats were built to protect the city. This is why there are so many temples (40+!) within the walls. It’s still possible to see the original clay walls just outside the Old Town.

best things to do chiang mai old city walls

Head for the Chang Phuak gate (meaning white elephant), where you’ll find a fantastic daily night market. Another spot to visit is the Tha Phae Gate, which is the most famous entrance to the Old Town and the main gate because of its central location. These days, festivals and parades are held here, and it is also the starting point of the Sunday Night Market.

5. Old Town

The Old Town is the beating heart of Chiang Mai, home to charming streets where you can step back in time. Although it’s the city center, it can feel surprisingly quiet here, with its tucked-away alleys, sacred temples, and hidden coffee shops. It’s the perfect place to take a relaxed walk, dip into cute cafes, or cycle among the top sights.

best things to do chiang mai thailand old town

By morning, check out one of the beautiful temples, like Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man, or Wat Phra Singh. You can follow this by grabbing a coffee made from locally grown beans in one of the many cute spots in town. Some of the best-hidden coffee shops are:

My Secret Cafe In Town
Nowhere coffee brewers
Pegasus Café & Roastery
Artisan Cafe
Roast8ry Lab
Diciotto SlowBar Coffee
Carrot coffee cnx

In the evening, head to the old town for live music at places like North Gate Jazz Co-op or hunt for colorful street art murals.

6. Nimman Neighborhood

Nimman is one of the most contemporary areas in Chiang Mai, just a stone’s throw from the Old Town. Named after the main street (Nimmanhaemin Road), it’s the trendiest neighborhood in the city, with hipster-vibe restaurants, cute bookstores, and buzzing bars at every turn.

Also read: Best Places to Visit in Thailand

best things to do chiang mai restaurants nimman

This is the next place to go shopping after you’ve explored the night markets, with plenty of unique stores selling clothes and art by local designers.

This area is also home to some of the best food spots in the city, attracting digital nomads who come for the cozy co-working spaces and fantastic independent coffee shops.

Our favorite spots in Nimman:

Manifreshto
Tim Baan Yaii – homemade ice cream
Healthy Junk
Pizza My Heart
Anchan Vegetarian Restaurant

best things to do chiang mai nimman neighborhood

7. Cooking Class

Northern Thailand has some fantastic food, so it’s the perfect place to learn to cook local dishes. We recommend Zabb E Lee Cooking School (Zabb E Lee means ‘very delicious’ in Thai!).

Head to the market with your guide to learn about the local cuisine and pick out fresh ingredients for the day. Once back at the organic farm, you’ll cook delicious Thai dishes from scratch in the open-air kitchen; learn how to make your favorites like Pad Thai, green curry, fresh spring rolls, and sticky rice.

Morning or evening classes are available every day for 1000 THB (28.91 USD) per person. This price includes all food plus drinks and the recipe book.

things to do chiang mai thailand cooking class

8. Doi Inthanon National Park

If you are a fan of panoramic mountain views, thundering waterfalls, and magical sunrises, then Doi Inthanon National Park needs to be on your list of things to do in Chiang Mai!

Read everything about Doi Inthanon National Park .

This incredible national park is only an hour and a half from the city and is home to the highest mountain in Thailand. The beautiful temple complex sits on the peak, marking the end of the Himalayas.

Spend the night at Doi Inthanon

Come for a night or two to trek high altitudes through jungles and remote villages, swim in waterfall pools, and look out for local wildlife. This is fantastic accommodation we stayed at .

Kew Mae Pan Trail

The Kew Mae Pan nature trail is great for a day trip. The two-hour hike (a Hmong Tribe guide will accompany you) leads you through the lush jungle and flat grassland with guaranteed views. Don’t miss a glimpse of the temple from Kew Mae Pan Viewpoint!

This trail is particularly special in the winter mornings when carpets of cloud swirl in the valleys below the mountain ridges.

things to do chiang mai Kew Mae Pan Trail

Royal Twin Pagodas

If you’re staying the night, get up early to catch the sunrise at the stunning pagodas that sit just below the summit. The royal temples are surrounded by beautiful gardens filled with picturesque ponds and bridges. Watching the sunrise over the landscape below from these peaceful terraces is an experience you will never forget.

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Visiting Doi Inthanon National Park

Doi Inthanon is about 1.5 hours by motorbike or 3 hours by songthaew from Chiang Mai. You can also rent a car at one of the local car rentals. It is possible to drive almost all the way to the pagodas and park 50 meters below before taking the stairs or the escalator to the top. The Kew Mae Pan Trail begins a few 100 meters from this point.

We recommend to rent a car in Thailand through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here .

We recommend staying in the village close to the park entrance, which has an impressive waterfall backdrop. There are a few local restaurants, and a lovely coffee shop named 22 Aquarius Glamping Cafe. We stayed at Father’s Garden , which has cozy tent-style rooms and cabins overlooking the countryside.

Tip: Bring warm clothing if you are here during the winter, as temperatures can drop below freezing, particularly at night and early in the morning.

things to do chiang mai Doi Inthanon camping

Opening Times and Entrance Fees :

National Park: 300 THB + 20THB motorbike (+30 THB car) – opening hours 5:30 AM-6:30 PM daily.
Kew Mae Pan Trail: 200 THB to hire a guide (mandatory) – opening hours 6 AM-4 PM November-May.
Twin pagodas: 100 THB

9. Pha Chor Canyon

Pha Chor canyon in Mae Wang National Park is a striking geological feature that is a great stop-off on your way to Doi Inthanon . Sometimes referred to as the ‘mini Grand Canyon’ of Thailand, discover its stunning rock formations in a short but spectacular 15-minute hike.

things to do chiang mai thailand Pha Chor Canyon

The beautiful golden cliffs of 30-meter-high pillars were created by thousands of years of erosion where the river Ping once flowed. Hike through the forest until you reach the canyon, and don’t forget your camera! If you’ve been to the canyon in Pai , this is something a little different and perhaps even more spectacular.

Opening Times & Entry Fee: 100 THB (2.89 USD) + 20THB (0.58 USD) for a motorcycle. Open 8:30 AM – 4:40 PM.

10. Wachirathan Waterfall

Another impressive sight on the way up to Doi Inthanon is the Wachirathan Waterfall, an 80m high fall near Chiang Mai. Admire the falls with their beautiful backdrop of greenery, and look out for double rainbows! When the light hits the water right, beautiful colors appear in the spray.

Unfortunately, you are not permitted to swim, as the water is very powerful. However, a lot of mist drifts off the falls, so prepare to get refreshingly wet. There are a few walking trails nearby, so you can wander around and see the falls from different perspectives.

There is a free parking spot with some shops to buy snacks. Plus, there’s no entry fee!

11. Wat Chedi Luang

This stunning temple complex lies in the middle of the Old Town and is an iconic landmark of Chiang Mai. Come and explore the huge variety of buildings and their unique and impressive architecture. You’ll find gorgeous stone statues of elephants, a beautiful example of a Naga staircase, and an ancient reclining Buddha.

The central pagoda, with its rusty red outer walls, is the largest temple in Chiang Mai. It was once the tallest structure for miles around and was used as a viewpoint to guard the entire city.

Opening Times & Entry Fee: 40 THB (1.16 USD). Open from 8 AM – 5 PM.

things to do chiang mai thailand Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Phra Singh

Alternatively, you can also visit Wat Phra Singh, another gorgeous temple home to one of Thailand’s most sacred Buddha images, the Phra Singh (Lion Buddha). This sacred place is beautiful after dark when the buildings are illuminated from below in a golden light. Open 8 AM – 5 PM.

Discover some of the city’s most beautiful temples on a guided bike tour of Chiang Mai! See tickets and availability here .

12. Visit Pai from Chiang Mai

If you fancy a break from the city, plan a trip to Pai , a beautiful mountain village in northern Thailand , famous for its idyllic natural scenery and laid-back bohemian vibe.

Rent a motorbike and explore the stunning natural scenery, cool off on a tubing adventure down the river, or wander through the rice paddies. Although small, you can easily spend a weekend here, experiencing local life outside the city.

Pai is about 4 hours from Chiang Mai and is accessible by shared van, bus, or taxi.

Read: Discover the best things to do in Pai!

13. Coffee Culture

In the last few decades, coffee plantations have sprung up all over Northern Thailand , bringing a flourishing cafe culture to Chiang Mai. The coffee plantations were initially set up as part of a community development project by the royal family, who wanted to support local hill tribes to move away from opium growing.

The cool mountains in the North have the perfect climate for coffee, and there are now many local farmers who produce fantastic high-quality beans, turning Chiang Mai into the coffee capital of Thailand.

Tip: Give Thai iced coffee a try for a sugar hit and intense flavor!

Best Cafes & Restaurants in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is made for foodies with a vibrant and ever-changing food scene. While some of the best night markets in the country are here, the city is also home to some fantastic (and affordable!) fine dining experiences. Add that to the atmospheric cafe culture and lively bar scene, and you could spend a lifetime exploring Chiang Mai’s hidden gems.

By Hand Pizza
Hummus Chiang Mai (Lebanese)
Its Good Kitchen (Thai)
Goodsouls Kitchen (vegetarian)

There are also some great places to catch live music in the city, and many aren’t just touristy spots– you’ll see a lot of locals around, too, especially at the weekend. We recommend:

Airniversary Camp & Cafe
Nophaburi Bar
Hard Cocktail bar

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

There is a range of accommodation options for every budget in Chiang Mai, with many backpacker hostels , mid-range guesthouses, and luxury apartments. The Old Town is the best place to stay for first-time visitors, as this is where most of the hostels are located.

It’s also within walking distance of the top sights and temples. Plus, the Sunday night market is right on your doorstep! A more modern alternative is the Nimman area, which has loads of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops.

How to Visit Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai International Airport has many connections, particularly within Asia, and is only a 10-minute taxi ride from the center. Chiang Mai is about 3.5 hours by car from Chaing Rai . Book your flight to Chiang Mai

things to do chiang mai thailand airport

By Train or Bus

You can fly to Chiang Mai from Bangkok , but for a more sustainable, slow travel option, take an overnight bus (10 hours) or the popular overnight train (11-15 hours).

Find trains and buses to Chiang Mai from Bangkok

An easy way to get to Chiang Mai is by hiring a car. The roads in Thailand are becoming more and more developed, and it’s getting easier to drive by car between destinations. This can give you more freedom on your Thailand itinerary.

Getting Around

It is really easy to walk or cycle around the center, and we’d recommend doing so to get a feel for the city! For longer journeys, hail a Songthaew or rent a motorbike. A Songthaew is the typical red truck you’ll see everywhere. You can either share these with other passengers, much like a bus or rent one privately as a taxi for a higher fee. Don’t pay more than 100 THB (2.89 USD) for a shared Songthaew within the city.

Renting a motorbike

Scooter/motorbike rental starts at around 150-400 THB (4.30 -11.60 USD) per day, depending on the model you choose. There are loads of rental companies in Chaing Mai, but please be aware that you’ll always need to leave your passport or put down a deposit of 3,000 THB (87 USD).

Grab is another great option (it’s similar to Uber in that you order from an app, but you still need to pay in cash at the end). For women, you can also use the Grab (lady) option to be driven by women.

Renting a motorbike or a car is a better alternative if you want more freedom to explore, especially for day or weekend trips out into the mountains.

Tip: It’s always a good idea to get travel insurance in Thailand, particularly if you’re renting a motorbike. Insurance will cover any unexpected incidents, theft, or accidents. Find insurance ahead of your trip here .

How Much Does Chiang Mai Cost?

Like the rest of Thailand, you can live cheaply in Chiang Mai if you want to! It is a much more affordable city than Bangkok , and coupled with an abundance of street food, a walkable center, and affordable accommodation, you can easily stick to your budget here.

Costs of Traveling in Chiang Mai

Travel on a budget in Chiang Mai, from $100 − $450 USD weekly per person, mid-range $370 − $990 USD, and high-end from $960 − $1670 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

Hotels: $25 − $200 USD Check available hotels
Hostels: $5 − $50 USD Check available hostels
Transport: $3 − $15 USD Book public transport
Food: $2 − $15 USD
Activities: $1 − $15 USD See tickets & tours
Sim: $1 − $3 USD Get an eSIM or SIM here
Travel Insurance: $2 − $6 USD Get Travel Insurance

Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai

November-January is the best time to visit Northern Thailand ; the rainy season has finished, it is cooler, and there are gorgeous flower blooms in the fields. Avoid January-March, known as the ‘burning season’, when there is a lot of pollution in the air from fires burned on neighboring farmland.

Come here in October-November time for the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Festivals when locals float small lanterns down the river, thousands of lanterns are released into the sky, and musical parades fill the streets. An unforgettable experience!

By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost. Thank you for your support. ♥️

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Home » Travel Guides » Thailand » 25 Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai (Thailand)

25 Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Known as the ‘Rose of the North’ Chiang Mai is steeped in history and surrounded by beautiful architecture. Founded over seven centuries ago Chiang Mai is the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and home to more than 300 temples. Due to its location in the north of the country the temperature is cooler than you would find in Bangkok or any of the more southern regions meaning you can spend longer each day sightseeing without feeling the same levels of fatigue.

The locals of Chiang Mai are some of the nicest and most laid back in all of Thailand and the city has a charm will instantly make you fall in love with the place, whittling this list down to just 25 was incredibly hard so with further hesitation let’s get started on the top things to do in Chiang Mai :

1. Take A Visit To Doi Suthep

The most famous attraction in all of Chiang Mai is Doi Suthep, every travel agent and driver will ask you if you want to go, it is like Big Ben is to London. Doi Suthep is about 12km outside of Chiang Mai and is a mountain that has a fantastic view over all of the city. Standing at 5400 metres the mountain also houses Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a 13th century temple that is home to a large white elephant shrine as well as a replica of the Emerald Buddha.

Tip: This Doi Suthep & Hmong Hill Tribe Village Visit includes a scenic throughthe historic areas of Chiang Mai, a visit to Doi Suthep and a visit to the Meo Hill tribe

2. Be Fashionable At Nimmanhaemin Road

Nimmanhaemin Road is the trendiest part of Chiang Mai, full of fancy bars and restaurants it is the place where all the up and coming citizens of the area hang out. The main road has several high end bars and the side streets (soi’s) are full of them as well. There is a new shopping mall at one end of the road which contains many designer shops as well as a multiplex cinema and many famous restaurant names. The area is the most expensive part of Chiang Mai both in terms of property and general eating out.

3. Take A Trip Down The San kamphaeng Road

Also known as the ‘Handicraft Highway’ a 10km stretch of road where you will find outlets famous for their pottery, silverware, lacquerware, sculpting, wood carving and silk products. The area is especially famous for its pottery which is known as Celadon, it has a green glaze which in turn makes it look like Jade, there are several outlets on this road where you can pick these up. Not many know but Chiang Mai is famous for some of the best silverware in Thailand and if you stop into Louis Silverware you will be able to watch the master artist carrying out his work.

4. Visit Doi Inthanon National Park

Doi Inthanon National Park is home to the highest mountain in all of Thailand, an extension to the Shan Hills and made mostly from granite. The park covers a land area of 48,240 hectares, The highest point of the mountain is 2565 metres tall and has been known to hit lows of -8 degrees centigrade, whilst visiting the Park you cannot help but notice the number of birds that you will see, Doi Inthanon is home to more species of bird than anywhere else in Thailand.

5. Eat Khao Soi

Northern Thailand is famous for many things but its greatest export surely has to be Khao Soi. It is a coconut and curry flavored soup filled with yellow egg noodles and chicken, sitting on top of the soup are crispy fried egg noodles giving a real mix of textures to the dish. At the side of soup bowl you will be given a small plate that has chopped red onions, pickled green mustard and a wedge of lime. If there is no other local food you try whilst you are in Chiang Mai you cannot leave before trying Khao Soi, it is absolutely delicious. There are also several food tours available.

6. Shop Again At Warorot Market

Right next to the Ping River is the Warorot Market. Most of the other markets in this city are night markets but Warorot opens early in the morning and closes when darkness descends. This is the market where the locals shop so the prices are low and not inflated like so many of the tourist markets. You can find just about everything at the market such as vegetables, fruit, meat, clothing, jewellery, souvenirs, fireworks and many other things. When you come out the market and venture into the side streets you will find a lot of Thai Handicraft goods made by the local Hill Tribe and again at much cheaper prices than anywhere else.

7. Take A Boat Trip On The Mae Ping River

A two hour boat trip along the Mae Ping River is an excellent way to spend an afternoon, you get to watch as the scenery along the river changes, you will also get to see many beautiful traditional teak houses as well as a lot of rural greenery along the wat. There are a couple of tour companies ( book online ) that carry out the boat trips and they both sail for about forty five minutes before stopping off at a local farmers house for lunch, whilst at the house you can also see how the production of jasmine rice is completed as well as further relaxing in the luscious gardens.

9. Stop For Coffee At The Cat Café

Popular in China and Japan, Chiang Mai now has its very own Cat Café and it is aptly named Catmosphere, the café is designed to fit in with its name with pictures of spaceships and cats floating around in UFO’s adorning the walls. There are fifteen cats currently living in the café and they are free to roam around as if it is their home (after all it is their home.) Drinks are a little pricier than a normal café which you would expect as a lot of time and money is spent grooming the cats and making sure everything is as clean as possible. During busy periods a two hour maximum stay is put on visitors but that should be ample to get your weekly cat fix.

10. Stop at Chiang Mai’s Very Own Grand Canyon

An old soil quarry this place is still very much unknown, it is a huge canyon that is now filled with water and has some absolutely staggering views. The Canyon is very deep and the water filling it is collected rain water that is now estimated to be forty meters deep. At the entrance is a nice restaurant to stop for a drink in before you start off on your adventure. There is not a lot to do here except for continuously wowing yourself with every turn as the sights are stunning and you will never get bored of them.

12. Have Fun Bartering At The Night Bazaar

Chang Klan Road is just another road during the day, but at night the whole place lights up as the stall holders drag out their stalls and get set up for the night. Hundreds of traders line the road selling various goods such as fake designer items, lanterns and other handcrafted goods. A lot of things will not have a price on and bartering is openly encouraged. The market is open every single day of the year whatever the weather.

13. Make A Visit To Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Sing is a Buddhist temple and monastery that was founded in the 14th century. Known as the Temple of the Lion Buddha it houses two Buddha statues. There are 700 monks living in the temple who regularly come to talk to the tourists and are normally very friendly. The largest building at the site is the assembly hall which was rebuilt in 1925 and houses Phra Chao Thong Tip, a very large copper and gold cast of the seated Buddha, various other buildings can be found on the site giving you a lot to explore when you arrive. Is included in several available temple tours .

14. Check Out The Ruins Of Wat Chedi Luang

Known as the Temple of the Big Stupa, Wat Chedi Luang is the ruins of an ancient temple situated in the center of Chaing Mai. Before the temple was in its current state it used to be the home of the Emerald Buddha, the holiest religious object in all of Thailand. An earthquake in 1545 damaged large amounts of the temple and when the Burmese captured Chiang Mai five years later the temple was left to fall into ruin. The temple is still an active worship place so you will still see monks going about their daily work as well as several Buddha shrines.

15. Relax At Bai Orchid And Butterfly Farm

The Orchid is the symbol of Thailand and Thai Airways so it is no surprise that Orchids are very popular amongst the people. Situated just outside Chiang Mai, visitors can marvel at the year rounds exotic blooms as well as buying seedlings. The souvenir shop has fresh orchids that have been dipped in gold and made into different jewellery items. The Butterfly Farm is just next to the orchid farm and houses thousands of butterflies in their natural habitat.

16. Visit The Long Neck Karen Tribe

The Karen are a tribal group who are originally from Myanmar but fled to Thailand during the political unrests of the past. They now live in small villages one of which is in Mae Rim just outside of Chiang Mai. The visits to the villages are enlightening experiences as you get to see the tribal people going about their everyday life whilst having to sell their products to tourists in order to feed themselves. Always go with a tourist guide as they will be able to communicate with the locals and ask any questions you may have of the tribe’s members whilst you are there. There’s a full day tour available: Chiang Dao: Five Hill Tribes Trek

17. Hail a Songthaew

Chiang Mai is home to the Songthaew , the most common being a bright red one which the locals refer to as a ‘red car’ it is an easy and cheap way to get around the city. The Songthaew’s spend their days driving around the narrow roads picking up customers and dropping them off in their chosen locations. You sit in the back of the car on a bench with the other tourists and locals, the car drives around dropping people off whilst picking up new ones. Not every Songthaew will want to give you a lift as it depends if you are on a similar route to the other customers the driver has already picked up. This is a much cheaper alternative to getting a ride in a tuk-tuk.

18. Participate In The Loi Krathong Festival

Chiang Mai celebrates the Loi Krathong festival more than any other city in Thailand, an annual event that ties in with the twelfth lunar month. A Krathong is a basket that is shaped like a lotus and has a candle sitting in the center of it, these are placed in the water of the moat that surrounds part of Chiang Mai and left to float of into the distance, this is done to show respect to Buddha. At the same time as the Krathongs are being released you will see thousands of lanterns filling up the sky above, the whole festival is incredibly special and something you must put on any bucket list you have.For those considering coming to Chiang Mai during the festival you should book early as the hotels fill up fast at this time of the year.

20. Visit The San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

Nestled within a wooded area and surrounded by mountains are the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs. At the hot springs are mineral baths and a traditional mineral water swimming pool. The waters in the springs have Curative powers due to the high sulfur content in the water. Whilst you are there pampering yourself you can also take advantage or a full body Thai massage or bizarrely you can buy eggs to boil in the water for your lunch.

21. Have A Traditional Khantoke Dinner

Chiang Mai is famous for its rich traditional Lanna culture so when in Chiang Mai take advantage of a Khantoke dinner. When you arrive at the dinner you will be seated on the floor at a large round table (called a toke) and traditional northern Thai food will be served. During the meal you will be treated to traditional Lanna entertainment. Depending on where you choose to go for your dinner you may also be treated to some classical Thai orchestral music.

22. Party At The Songkran festival

Songkran happens each year between the 13th and 15th April and is the Thailand traditional New Year celebration. However Chiang Mai takes the celebration to another level where the celebrations can go on for five or six days and sometimes even longer than that. Songkran has a religious meaning with Thai’s believing that the throwing of water will cleanse your sins. Chiang Mai can often come to a complete standstill during the celebrations with people standing at the side of the roads with buckets of water ready to soak every passer-by. People will often visit the many temples during the festival to pray and give food to the monks living there. You will see many images of Buddha paraded through the streets during the festival with locals throwing water over them, this is also to help with the cleansing of sins.

23. Get Involved With The Nightlife.

Chiang Mai is full of bars and clubs and with prices being a lot lower than Bangkok it is worth getting your partying done here. Nimmanhaeman Road has a very large number of trendy bars but is also home to The Monkey Club and The Warm-Up Cafe, both of which are frequented by locals as well as tourists. Thapae Gate is another popular area for drinking with Zoe’s bar filling up each night and the drinking carrying on until the early hours. In Chiang Mai it is very common to buy a bottle of spirit and sit down with soda or coke and an ice bucket, all the bars sell spirits by the bottle and it is the cheapest way to have an evening’s drinking.

24. Enjoy A Traditional Thai Massage From An Ex-prisoner

Wherever you look in Chiang Mai you are likely to see a massage parlor, most of the massage parlors are very reputable with fully qualified staff but maybe it is time for a slightly different experience. The Woman’s Prison in Chiang Mai has various programs that are run where the soon to be released women are taught life skills and one such program is the ex-prisoner massage parlor that has been set up. The women are watched over at all times without it being intrusive and is an excellent opportunity for the women as finding their way into work after prison life is over is often incredibly difficult.

25. Shop Till You Drop At The Weekend Market

Also known as the Sunday Market or the Walking Market this is probably the most famous of all the markets in Chiang Mai, it opens every Sunday starting at Thapae Gate and running along the entire length of the Ratchadamnoen Road. A lot of the stalls on the market sell handmade goods and as you walk through the market it is not uncommon to see the stall holders sitting down and carrying on with their handicraft in-between selling their goods. Dotted along the Ratchadamnoen Road are several Buddhist temples, they usually open their forecourts to various food sellers who cook the food in front of you as you wait. If that was not enough in between the stalls you will see a plethora of street artists singing, dancing or performing some other kind of act.

25 Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai (Thailand):

Take A Visit To Doi Suthep
Be Fashionable At Nimmanhaemin Road
Take A Trip Down The San kamphaeng Road
Visit Doi Inthanon National Park
Eat Khao Soi
Shop Again At Warorot Market
Take A Boat Trip On The Mae Ping River
Stop For Coffee At The Cat Café
Stop at Chiang Mai’s Very Own Grand Canyon
Have Fun Bartering At The Night Bazaar
Make A Visit To Wat Phra Singh
Check Out The Ruins Of Wat Chedi Luang
Relax At Bai Orchid And Butterfly Farm
Visit The Long Neck Karen Tribe
Hail a Songthaew
Participate In The Loi Krathong Festival
Visit The San Kamphaeng Hot Springs
Have A Traditional Khantoke Dinner
Party At The Songkran festival
Get Involved With The Nightlife.
Enjoy A Traditional Thai Massage From An Ex-prisoner
Shop Till You Drop At The Weekend Market

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Chiang Mai Travel Guide

Last Updated: March 13, 2024

One of Chiang Mai, Thailand’s many stunning historic Buddhist temples

Chiang Mai is the largest and most popular city in northern Thailand. It’s the main base of activities for most travelers who come up north and is one of the most visited cities in Thailand for travelers of all types.

The city is brimming with culture, incredible food markets, dozens of beautiful temples, a relaxed vibe, beautiful landscapes. In recent years, it’s become one of the main digital nomad hubs in Southeast Asia so it’s easy to meet other travelers here.

While you can find a lot of delicious Western food, cafes, and bars all around the city, the historic Thai-ness of the city hasn’t disappeared. There are plenty of stunning temples and lively markets to entertain as you explore.

Be sure to budget extra time when you visit Chiang Mai and as it’s easy to get “stuck” here. Lots of people plan to stay for a few days and end up staying for a few weeks or more! There’s magic to this city.

This travel guide to Chiang Mai can help you plan your trip, save money, and ensure you have an amazing visit!

Things to See and Do
Typical Costs
Suggested Budget
Money-Saving Tips
Where to Stay
How to Get Around
How to Stay Safe
Best Places to Book Your Trip
Related Blogs on Chiang Mai

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Chiang Mai

Elephants bathing in a river near Chiang Mai, Thailand

1. Visit the Elephant Nature Park

Elephant Nature Park rescues abused and injured elephants and other animals from around the country. It’s a sanctuary where you can visit for a day or spend a week volunteering. While you can no longer feed or bathe the elephants, you can still walk among them and see them chill out, play, and feed themselves. It’s a phenomenal experience where you’ll get to learn about the elephants and conservation efforts in the country. A one-day visit starts at 2,500 THB and needs to be booked in advance on the park’s website. Be make sure to book your trip in advance as it’s super popular and space fills up fast!

2. Tour the temples

There are hundreds of beautiful Buddhist temples in Chiang Mai, some dating as far back as the 13th century. The main ones worth seeing are Wat Chiang Man, (the city’s oldest one), Wat Phra Singh, Wat Suan Dok (or Flower Garden Temple), Wat Chedi Luang, and the Northern Indian-inspired Wat Jet Yot. As with most places of worship, dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees for men and women), wear shoes that are easy to put on and take off as no shoes are allowed in temples.

3. Visit Wat Doi Suthep

Doi Suthep is the mountain just outside Chiang Mai which holds its most famous temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (the pagoda supposedly contains relics of Buddha himself). Perched at the top of 306 stairs flanked by 2 giant serpent sculptures (there’s a funicular available too though!), it offers beautiful views of the surrounding area and Chiang Mai, plus at 6pm each day, you can watch the monks chant. Entry is 30 THB for tourists and there’s a 20 THB fee for the funicular.

4. Bargain at the night bazaar

Chiang Mai is the main handicraft center of Thailand and the night bazaar is the largest in the country. It’s a sprawling maze of stalls on either side of several streets but if you get to the corner of Loi Kroh and Changklan roads that’s a fair place to start and get oriented. Everything is sold at non-fixed prices so you can bargain the night away for the best deals on clothing, jewellery, paintings, antiques and grab some food across the main street at the Kalare night bazaar. Open daily from 6pm-12am, although individual stalls may have slightly differing hours.

5. Celebrate the Yi Peng Festival

This iconic annual three day festival unique to Northern Thailand takes place around the full moon in November. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Lantern Festival’ or the ‘Festival of Lights’, it’s marked by many ceremonies but most notably on the third and final night by citizens releasing thousands of paper lanterns into the air, which symbolically carry prayers, bad luck and all that people wish to let go towards the heavens. You can watch the lanterns be released from Nawarat Bridge or the Silver Bridge. It is a beautiful, memorable experience.

Other Things to See and Do in Chiang Mai

1. try ziplining.

If you are looking for an adrenaline rush and some time in (and above) lush forests, go ziplining. Chiang Mai has many operators offering beginner and advanced zip lining courses including multiple platforms, sky bridges, abseiling options and more. Jungle Flight is the home of one of Thailand’s longest zipline courses and Kingkong Smile offers both a short and a long course. The sites tend to be 1-1.5 hours’ drive from Chiang Mai into the mountains, but most operators include a return shuttle trip in the booking fee. Ziplining starts at about 2,400 THB.

2. Go jungle trekking

Chiang Mai is the main starting point for all sorts of jungle trekking tours. I like the three-day ones the best because, the longer the tour, the more interesting and secluded places you visit. Most multi-day treks include homestays with local families and some a bamboo raft trip down a river or some time at a waterfall. Be careful with whom you sign up, as many guides simply walk with you and don’t tell you much about the land or wildlife. Moreover, if you visit a tribal village, make sure the money stays with the villagers, and that they aren’t being exploited, which unfortunately happens a lot. Be sure to ask your accommodation for suggestions. Don’t book in advance.

3. Take a cooking class

Chiang Mai is the most popular place in Thailand for cooking classes, offering a variety of classes and amazing deals. You’ll often begin your class by going to the market and learning about Thai produce before heading back to the kitchen to cook a few dishes. Some classes even take place on a farm or location with their own vegetable garden, like Grandma’s Cooking School which includes a tour of the organic garden before the cooking class. Every class ends with eating everything you’ve prepared so bring an appetite! Prices range from 1,000-1,800 THB per person.

4. Eat a kantoke dinner

This traditional Thai event generally takes place on special occasions, like holidays, festivals, and weddings. At a kantoke dinner, you experience both Northern Thai food and culture at the same time. At this event, visitors are seated on the floor around a circular tray laden with Northern dishes (called a kantoke , giving the tradition its name). While you eat, you’ll watch traditional Thai and Northern dances and other cultural performances. The Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center is the premier place to go, with tickets costing 690 THB (including dinner).

5. Cruise down the river

Cruise around rural Mae Ping on a two-hour journey that takes you past beautiful scenery around Chiang Mai. Enjoy the scenic vistas, stop to visit a local farm and its herb and fruit gardens, and relax with an onboard Thai dinner. Mae Ping River Cruise is the main company offering tours. A two-hour cruise is 480 THB, while dinner cruises start at 650 THB.

6. Chat with monks

Monk chats are a chance for visitors to learn about the country’s religion and culture, while for young monks it’s an opportunity to practice their English. It’s a popular cultural activity that occurs at many of the major temples throughout the city, including Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Doi Suthep, Wat Suan Dok, as well as the MCU Buddhist University. Hours vary based on location.

7. Go whitewater rafting

The Mae Taeng River is a popular destination for whitewater rafting, with rapids ranging from levels two to four (easy to advanced). Keep in mind that the river is at its most intense during the rainy season, between August-October, and tours might sometimes be postponed if levels are dangerous. 8 Adventures offers tours for 2,500-3,000 THB per person, which include transportation from Chiang Mai and lunch.

8. Browse Warorot Market

This historic market opened in the early 20th century and is the largest and oldest in the city. It’s a great place to get a more local shopping experience and grab some fresh produce, dried foods, specialty snacks and clothes. There are even flower vendors outside the market and street food stalls that stay open into the evening. The food stalls are located on the first floor, while clothing and other goods are on the second and third floors. Located near the river, it’s open daily from 6am-7pm.

9. Visit The Highland People Discovery Museum

Highlighting Thailand’s ten minority hill tribes, this ethnographic museum offers informational videos and exhibits on each tribe’s lifestyle, beliefs, clothing and jewelry items (as well as a gift shop where you can purchase a few authentic items too!). The 4-storey museum building is surrounded by a lake and outside the gardens host life-size models of traditional huts of various tribes you can take a stroll through at your leisure. Set aside at least 2-3 hours to get a good feel of what the museum has to offer. It’s open Monday-Friday and admission is free (donations are welcome).

10. Climb up the Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls

While a little outside of the city, this makes for a great day trip. The falls, due to the type of limestone they’re made of, is almost sticky and allow you to climb up the cascading water. The rocks themselves are interesting, looking a bit like fluffy clouds. Not only is it a neat experience, it’s also a great workout! Pack a picnic and a change of clothes, find a spot, and “stick” around for lunch. You can self-drive or take a taxi and agree a time for your driver to come back for you, or negotiate a ride with one of the drivers on site. Admission is free and basic shower and toilet facilities are available.

For more information on other cities and islands in Thailand, check out the guides below:

Bangkok Travel Guide
Ko Chang Travel Guide
Ko Lipe Travel Guide
Ko Pha Ngan Travel Guide
Koh Phi Phi Travel Guide
Phuket Travel Guide

Chiang Mai Travel Costs

Person driving a rickshaw past a coffee shop as people walk down the street in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hostel prices – Hostels start at 240 THB per night large 10-12-bed dorms, while smaller dorm rooms with 4-6 beds cost around 280-429 THB. Private rooms start at 1,000 THB for a double room with an ensuite bathroom. All hostels include free Wi-Fi, and most hostels include free breakfast and air-conditioning. Many offer free bikes for their guests as well.

Budget hotel prices – Centrally-located two-star hotels and guesthouses start at 450-625 THB per night for a room with free Wi-Fi, hot water, a private bathroom, and air conditioning. Most hotels also have outdoor swimming pools and offer free or discounted bikes for their guests to use.

On Airbnb, you can find private rooms in apartments for 350 THB. There’s also a wide selection of entire apartments/homes starting at 500-900 THB per night.

Average cost of food – Thai cuisine uses many ingredients to create layers of flavor in a dish. Typical fresh spices and herbs used include garlic, basil, galangal, cilantro, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, chilies, shrimp paste, and fish sauce.

Rice and noodles are central to Thai cuisine, while meat is usually pork, chicken, fish, or seafood. Some popular dishes include tom yum goong (hot and sour soup with shrimp), massaman curry, pad thai (a stir-fried noodle dish), som tam (spicy papaya salad), kao phad (fried rice), khao man gai (rice with boiled chicken), and satay (grilled meat on skewers, served with a peanut dipping sauce).

Chiang Mai’s most famous dish is khao soi , a yellow curry noodle soup with pickled cabbage and your choice of chicken or beef.

Chiang Mai has some of the best street food in Thailand, with dishes like khao soi costing 50 THB and snacks costing 20 THB. Most meals at a casual sit-down Thai restaurant cost 80-125 THB.

Western food is more expensive, starting around 170-195 THB for a main dish. A burger is 210 THB, pasta is 180-245 THB, and pizza is around 250 THB.

When it comes to drinking, going to bars can be pricey, with the cheapest local beers costing about 95 THB each. To save some money, you can buy beers from 7-Eleven for half that.

For non-alcoholic drinks, a cappuccino or fresh juice is 65 THB, and soda is 35 THB.

Some good places to eat are Khao Soi Khun Yai, Dada Kafe, Khao Soy Maesai, Aum Vegetarian, Dash, Musashi Sushi Bar, the Chiang Mai Gate Market, and the Sunday market that cuts through the old city (you can’t miss it)!

If you plan on cooking your own meals, a week’s worth of groceries costs around 550 THB. This gets you basic staples like rice, veggies, eggs, and some meat.

Backpacking Chiang Mai Suggested Budgets

On a backpacking budget, expect to spend about 975 THB per day. This assumes you’re staying in a hostel, cooking or eating cheap street food, using local transportation like songthaews and public buses, limiting your drinking, and doing mostly free and cheap activities like temple visits and wandering the markets.

On a mid-range budget, expect to pay 1,875 THB per day. On this budget, you can stay in a private Airbnb or cheap guesthouse, eat out for all your meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around and do more activities and tours like a cooking class or hiking excursion.

On a “luxury” budget of 3,725 THB per day or more, you can stay in a hotel, eat out anywhere you want, drink more, take taxis everywhere, and do whatever activities you want (including visiting the elephant reserve). This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in THB.

Chiang Mai Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Chiang Mai can be as cheap or expensive as you want (like most of Thailand). But if you stick to the local markets, avoid the fancy organic restaurants that have popped up, and stay in the old city, you can save money easily! Here are some other ways to save money in Chiang Mai:

Bargain hard – You have to bargain hard at the markets here. Don’t take the first price and don’t be afraid to walk away. They inflate prices greatly here since Chiang Mai is such a popular shopping destination for tourists.
Eat from the street stalls – Food from street vendors in Thailand is some of the best Thai food I have ever had, and it’s so cheap it’s ridiculous. The locals eat here and you should too.
Take the songthaew – At 20-40 THB for anywhere in the city, songthaews are one of the cheapest ways to get around. They go everywhere and run all night. There’s no reason to take a taxi around the city.
Take the bus – At 20 THB per ride (and cheaper with a day pass), these modern public buses are, along with songthaews, one of the cheapest ways to get around the city.
Stay with a local – Couchsurfing connects you with locals who can give you a free place to stay and who can share their insider tips and advice. It’s the best way to save money on accommodation and get insider tips and advice.
Book group excursions – When booking your day tours, multi-day tours, cooking classes, etc., try to book it as a group so the price per person gets reduced. Traveling alone? Make friends and book a tour with your hostel.
Use a water bottle with a purifier – It isn’t safe to drink tap water in Chiang Mai, and although buying bottled water is cheap, it does add up. Instead, pick up a LifeStraw , which have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe (it’s good for the environment too!)

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

Looking for budget-friendly accommodation in Chiang Mai? Here are some of my favorite places to stay in the city:

Kodchasri B&B
Smile Robotist Hostel
Hostel Lullaby
The Royal Guest House
Chang Puak Hotel

How to Get Around Chiang Mai

Tents on platforms in the foreground with green rolling hills in the background in Northern Thailand

Songthaew – Songthaews are the most common mode of local transportation in Chiang Mai. These are converted pickup trucks with two rows of seats and how locals travel. Just flag one down in the street and tell the driver where you’re going. You can get to just about anywhere in the central city for 40 THB.

Buses – Until recently, there weren’t public buses in Chiang Mai, but that all changed in 2018 with the launch of the RTC Smart City Bus network. At 20 THB per ride, it’s the cheapest and easiest way to get around the city, including to and from the airport. The buses are clean, modern, and have free Wi-Fi. If you plan to use the bus a lot, you can get an unlimited day pass for 180 THB or a three-day pass for 400 THB.

Bicycle – Chiang Mai has a new dockless bike-sharing system called Anywheel. Each ride starts at 10 THB, while a monthly pass starts at 200 THB. Many hostels and guesthouses also offer their guests free bicycles to use.

Ridesharing – Use the Grab app to request a private ride. It works just like Uber and is one of the most popular ways to get around in Southeast Asia.

Motorbike/scooter rental – Motorbikes and scooters are a common way to get around, though it can be a harrowing experience to drive one in Chiang Mai. Keep in mind that traffic flows on the left in Thailand. A motorbike or scooter costs 100-500 THB per day, with cheaper deals for weekly and monthly rentals.

When to Go to Chiang Mai

The best time to visit Chiang Mai is between October-April when temperatures are warm but not stifling. You’ll still want to pack a sweater in case the evenings cool off. The average daytime temperature is around 25°C (77°F), but it can dip as low as 15°C (59°F) at night. Keep in mind, however, that this is peak tourist season so book your accommodation in advance if you want to find the best deals.

In April and May, things start heating up. Temperatures can soar as high as 40°C (104°F), and you’ll want to pack light clothing and plenty of sunscreen. If you’re not used to such heat, you might find it uncomfortable for sightseeing.

The rainy season takes place from June to October when temperatures cool down to 24-32°C (75-90°F) but the humidity rises. Chiang Mai doesn’t get as much rain as Southern Thailand, but you’ll still want to be prepared. It rains for maybe an hour each day, and only rarely for days on end.

How to Stay Safe in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a safe place to backpack and travel — even if you’re traveling solo, and even as a solo female traveler. People are nice and helpful and you’re unlikely to get into trouble. Violent crime against tourists is rare.

Petty theft (including bag snatching) is the most common type of crime in Chiang Mai so always keep your valuables secure and out of reach. This includes when on the bus/public transportation.

Solo female travelers should feel safe exploring the city, though the common precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

There are some common scams to be aware of here, such as the motorbike scam. This is when you rent a bike and the vendors try to charge you for damage to your bike rental — even though there is no damage. Also, sometimes taxis will try to charge you extra so always make sure you use a reputable taxi (have your hotel/hostel call one if you need one).

You can read this post on common travel scams to avoid if you want to learn more.

If you experience an emergency, dial 191 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Chiang Mai Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
Agoda – Other than Hostelworld, Agoda is the best hotel accommodation site for Asia.
Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.

Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to Thailand!

My detailed 350+ page guidebook is made for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guidebooks and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel around Thailand. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off-the-beaten-path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, safety tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today.

Chiang Mai Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more tips for your trip? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Thailand travel and continue planning your trip:

The 8 Best Hostels in Chiang Mai

The 7 Best Hotels in Bangkok

The 22 Best Things to Do in Bangkok

The Ultimate Guide to Teaching English in Thailand

Is Bangkok Safe to Visit?

The Complete Guide to Diving in Koh Tao

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The Ultimate 5 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary

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Chiang Mai is a vibrant, culturally rich, and laid-back city located in northern Thailand. With its ancient temples, bustling night markets, lush green landscapes, and delicious cuisine, it’s easy to cover all the city has to offer in a 5 day Chiang Mai itinerary.

Chiang Mai has become increasingly popular for travelers seeking an authentic Thai experience.

It’s famous for its Yi Peng festival (otherwise known as The Lantern Festival) which takes place every November, as well as being a hot location to enjoy Songkran (Thai New Year) which is celebrated by washing the Buddha statues at the temples and having water parties in the street.

Even if you are not visiting Chiang Mai during one of these festivities, there is so much to see and do.

In this guide, we have provided you with the ultimate Chiang Mai 5-day itinerary that covers the best of Chiang Mai and more…

Is 5 Days Enough for Chiang Mai?

Before we get into the best 5 day itinerary for Chiang Mai, let’s quickly cover how many days you need to spend in the city.

5 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Chiang Mai, as it allows you to explore the city and the surrounding region without rushing to fit everything in.

You can spend some days relaxing in the city, take it slow, and visit one or two attractions per day.

You can see Chiang Mai in 3 or 4 days, but you would have to rush to fit everything in, whereas 5 days allows you to travel more leisurely.

Read more: 1 Month Itinerary for Thailand

The Best 5 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary

So without further ado, here is how to spend 5 days in Chiang Mai…

Day 1: Exploring the Old City

On your first day in Chiang Mai, we recommend exploring the old city. The old city is located inside the historic city walls, and surrounded by a moat.

The old city is home to some of the city’s most historic temples and landmarks and is one of the main reasons to visit Chiang Mai . Be sure to check out the remains of the Tha Phae Gate , located on the Eastern side of the city.

Begin your day by visiting Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan , a stunning temple complex that dates back to the 14th century.

The temple complex features beautiful chedis (stupas), ornate carvings, and intricate murals.

After visiting the temple, walk over to the Three Kings Monument , a sculpture dedicated to the three Kings (Mengrai, Ramkamhaeng, and Ngam Muang) who are the founding fathers of Chiang Mai.

Then head over to the Wat Lok Moli which is located on the outside of the north gate. This temple dates back to the 1300s and has a beautiful historic chedi with colorful prayer flags at its base.

Next, head to Wat Chedi Luang , an ancient temple that was once home to the Emerald Buddha.

Although the original 14th-century structure was damaged in an earthquake, it remains one of the city’s most impressive landmarks . It’s famous for its enormous chedi (stupa) made from bricks, with huge elephant statues at its base.

I recommend you visit this temple during sunset as it looks impressive when the night lights turn on and light up the four corners of the chedi.

End your day by having dinner at the Tha Phae Walking Street , where you can sample street food, shop for souvenirs, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

In the evening, you can watch a Muay Thai fight (Thai Boxing) which takes place nightly starting at 9.00 pm.

Day 2: Elephant Sanctuary and Doi Suthep

On your second day in Chiang Mai, take a trip to an elephant sanctuary . When choosing an elephant sanctuary to visit, we recommend you ask about your accommodation or do some research online for an ethical sanctuary.

There are many sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, each offering to provide a safe and ethical way to interact with elephants without supporting the cruel practices of elephant riding and exploitation.

The most ethical sanctuaries allow you to observe without interacting with the elephants while learning about their habitat and conservation efforts.

If a sanctuary allows you to ride, feed, bathe, or play with elephants, they are not ethical.

Elephant sanctuary tours last for half a day, so try to time your visit for the morning, so you can spend your afternoon exploring Wat Phra That Doi Suthep , a beautiful temple complex perched on a hill overlooking the city.

The temple features a golden pagoda and intricate carvings, and the views from the top are breathtaking.

If you have time, you can visit the Sticky Waterfalls(Namtok Bua Tong) in Nam Phu Chet Si National Park on the way back. This is the perfect place to cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools of the waterfall.

Day 3: Cooking Class and Night Bazaar

On day three, you may want to do something more relaxing, so I recommend you take a cooking class to learn how to prepare some of Thailand’s most delicious dishes.

During a Thai cooking class, you’ll visit a local market to learn about Thai ingredients before returning to the cooking school to prepare your own curry paste and other dishes.

You will also learn about Thai cooking methods and culinary etiquette .

These classes tend to take 2-3 hours, so it’s best to plan for half a day to do this class.

Afterward, relax with a traditional Thai massage before heading to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar for some authentic street food.

The bazaar is a bustling outdoor market that offers everything from clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs to street food.

If you’re visiting on a Sunday, you could also take a trip over to the Sunday Night Market which is another great place to find street food and shop for souvenirs.

Day 4: Doi Inthanon National Park

On day four, take a day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park , located about 60 kilometers southwest of Chiang Mai.

The park is home to Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon, and features stunning waterfalls, hiking trails, and scenic viewpoints.

Spend the day exploring the park, hiking to the summit of the mountain, visiting the Karen Hill Tribe Village , and marveling at the beautiful flora and fauna.

Day 5: Yoga Retreat and Nimmanhaemin Road

On your final day in Chiang Mai, book yourself into a yoga retreat to relax, unwind and rejuvenate your mind and body.

Chiang Mai has many yoga studios and retreats that offer a variety of classes and workshops suitable for all levels of experience.

Afterward, head to Nimmanhaemin Road , a trendy neighborhood in Chiang Mai known for its coffee shops, art galleries, fashion boutiques, and restaurants.

Spend the afternoon exploring the area, trying out different cafes, and shopping for souvenirs.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai has a wide range of accommodations to suit all budgets and preferences. Here are some of our top picks for places to stay in Chiang Mai…

Pakping Hostel . This is a new hostel that opened up in 2022 and features mixed and female-only dorms, with a modern and homey atmosphere. The owners are incredibly nice and helpful, and the location can’t be beaten – literally in the heart of the Old City. We stay here every time we go to Chiang Mai.
Rachamankha Hotel . This is a charming boutique hotel located in the city center, within walking distance of the city’s temples and attractions.
Le Meridien Chiang Mai . This is a modern 5-star hotel with stunning views of the city and a rooftop pool. It’s located outside of the Old City near the Night Bazaar, but still within walking distance of the city’s attractions.
Sala Lanna Chiang Mai . A boutique hotel located on the banks of the Mae Ping River, offering stunning river views. This is a quiet location outside of the main city, and would be the perfect place to stay during the Lantern Festival (a Thailand bucket list experience ) as it overlooks the river where the Loy Krathongs float downstream.
Amora Hotel Chiang Mai . A budget-friendly option located in the heart of the city, just outside Tha Phrae Gate, offering comfortable rooms and easy access to all the major attractions.

Read more: When Is The Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai?

Map Of This Chiang Mai Itinerary

To help you plan your route, here is a map of this Chiang Mai 5 day itinerary…

FAQs About This Chiang Mai Itinerary

Here’s what people usually ask us about visiting Chiang Mai…

Is 5 days too long in Chiang Mai?

If you’re a fast-paced traveler, then 5 days may be too long for you. But if you prefer to travel slowly, allocate time to relax and soak up the atmosphere of a place, then 5 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Chiang Mai.

Which part of Chiang Mai is best?

The Old City is the best place to stay in Chiang Mai since it’s central to most attractions. You can also find great accommodation in Karin Thip Village, located on the Eastern side of Chiang Mai outside the old city.

Final Thoughts on this 5 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary

Chiang Mai is a beautiful city with a rich cultural heritage and plenty of natural beauty to explore.

Whether you’re interested in history, food, or adventure, there is something for everyone in this vibrant city, and should not be skipped when visiting Thailand for the first time .

With this 5-day itinerary, you can experience the best that Chiang Mai has to offer and make memories that will last a lifetime.

4 thoughts on “The Ultimate 5 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary”

Very useful info, thanks

Hi Sabu, thank you for your kind words. We’re pleased you found this helpful!

Thank you for the information. I will definitely follow your itinerary.

You are very welcome Angela!

Ultimate Chiang Mai Itineraries: From 3 Days to 5 Days

Located in north Thailand, Chiang Mai offers interesting insights into Thai culture. There is no shortage of traditional temples, markets, and food stalls situated on nearly every corner of the city.

There are also mountains, rivers, and a tropical rain forest filled with hill tribes, elephants, and jungle treks.

How Many Days Is Enough for Chiang Mai

How to Get To Chiang Mai from Bangkok

How to get around chiang mai.

How Much Will It Cost in Chiang Mai
When Is the Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai

How Many Days Is Enough for Chiang Mai?

At least 3 days
4 days is the most popular choice
5 days is ideal

3 Days in Chiang Mai

You could see the top highlights in Chiang Mai with a 3-day itinerary, including the temples and elephants.

Day 1: Explore a food and flower market + Wat Suan Dok + Doi Suthep
Day 2: One-day elephant experience
Day 3: Departure

Visiting a market in the morning is the best way to learn about Chiang Mai's local lifestyle.

Doi Suthep is one of the most famous mountains in Chiang Mai. It has one of Northern Thailand's most sacred temples on the top — Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. We suggest a visit in the late afternoon so that you can have a meaningful and personal experience.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family 's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

4 Days in Chiang Mai

You can explore more of the scenery of Chiang Mai at a leisurely pace with a 4-day itinerary. Chiang Mai's natural scenery is well worth discovering.

Day 1: Arrival + Doi Suthep Mountain
Day 2: Elephant Rescue Park
Day 3: Doi Inthanon National Park
Day 4: Departure

On this trip, you'd get close to nature. Our selected elephant sanctuary is ethical, ranking as the top one on TripAdvisor. The activities are all elephant-friendly.

Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon National Park are both iconic landmarks. There are scenic waterfalls, temples, villages, mountain farms, etc.

Evenings are free time. You can enjoy a Thai massage or spa, or explore the night markets.

5 Days in Chiang Mai

If you want to experience Chiang Mai's Yi Peng Festival , then you are recommended to take 5 days in Chiang Mai.

Day 1: Arrival + free exploration
Day 2: Doi Suthep Mountain + Three Kings Monument area (downtown Chiang Mai)
Day 3: Visit the elephants + Yi Peng Festival celebration
Day 4: Free Exploration (temples, markets, or natural parks)
Day 5: Departure

Yi Peng Festival' s celebrations are held in the evening. Please be sure to book a car for the return trip in advance, as it will be difficult to get a taxi after the celebration.

A VIP ticket is recommended. You will get a better viewing angle, especially if you want to take better photos and videos.

Travel with us and we'll make all the best arrangements for you.

Chiang Mai is nearly 700 kilometers (430 miles) north of Bangkok.

Flying is the best (quickest, most convenient) and our most recommended way to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. The flight only takes about 1 hour. Departures are from 6 am to 9 pm.

More local and economical ways include taking a train or bus. But it takes 10 or 11 hours from Bangkok to Chiang Mai over land.

>>> How to Get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok (Best Options with Prices)

A taxi is one of the easiest ways to get around Chiang Mai. However, taxis usually cost more. Remember to ask the driver to use the meter.

Tuk-tuks (3-wheel 2-person mini cabs) and songthaews (3-wheel 6–8-person bench cabs) are also a popular way to travel around Chiang Mai. You need to negotiate a price with the driver before you get on. Drivers are also happy to hire out the whole vehicle for charter trips for a higher price, including day trips out into the countryside.

Most of Chiang Mai's attractions are in the suburbs, which are a 1–2-hour drive away. A private car is safer, more relaxing, and more convenient. We provide a comfortable private car with a driver for our tours. Contact us for an inquiry.

>>> How to Get To and Around Chiang Mai

How Much Will It Roughly Cost to Travel in Chiang Mai Per Day?

1,000 baht / $30 per day in the shoulder season
1,500 baht / $45 per day in the peak season

As Chiang Mai is not as much of a tourist trap as Bangkok or the islands, it is a considerably cheaper destination to visit. However, prices for accommodation around the city can affect your daily budget as they fluctuate depending on the season.

You can easily live off 1,000 baht or $30 per day, which will include private room accommodation, eating three square meals a day, and paying for a tourist trip each day you are there. If you prefer private tours, then you will need to increase your budget.

If you visit during the peak season, you may want to increase your budget to about 1,500 baht ($45) per day because accommodation prices will double or even triple in some cases, plus tour prices will also increase.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai?

The best time to visit Chiang Mai weather-wise is from November to February. The weather is not-so-hot and mostly sunny, which is very suitable for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

If you want to experience Chiang Mai's top festivals, then come in April or November, which are the months for Thai New Year (a.k.a. Songkran Festival) and Yi Peng Festival respectively.

See Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai, When Is the Rainy Season

Popular Chiang Mai Tours

You could tell us your interests, group size, travel ideas, or anything you have a question about, and we will create a trip based on that. Or see our popular Chiang Mai tours for inspiration:

2-Week Thailand Getaway Tour for Couples (Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Koh Samui)
10-Day Classic Thailand Tour (Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Phuket)
4-Day Best of Chiang Mai Tour
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The Easy-to-Follow Chiang Mai Itinerary + Chiang Rai (Northern Thailand Travel Guide)

December 25, 2023 by Bino 2 Comments

They say you haven’t really done Thailand until you’ve checked out the highland scenery and distinctive Lanna culture of the north. With its laidback lifestyle, impressive (and unique) architecture and cooler climes (in December and January), the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai have long delighted local tourists looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.

In terms of international travelers, the region has also attracted a significant number although still way below the likes of Phuket or Krabi. That is starting to change. With increasing international flights to Chiang Mai International Airport, the gateway of the north, plenty of international travelers who have already done Bangkok in the past venture to the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai for something different.

This itinerary aims to show how you can do Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, the main cities of Northern Thailand, in as little as 3 or 4 days – essentially the weekend plus 1 or 2 extra weekdays.

Table of Contents

Day 1 – Walled City of Chiang Mai & Doi Suthep

Wat phra singh.

wat phra singh in chiang mai

In Chiang Mai, there are three main areas that are of interest to travelers. If this is your first time in Chiang Mai, choosing the Walled City as a base is a good option as many of the attractions are located in the vicinity. For folks who are interested in Northern Thai “Lanna” architecture, the walled city offers plenty of temples to check out with the Wat Phra Singh being the highlight. This is probably the most popular temple in the city and is known for the Phra Buddha Singh statue and intricately drawn murals of the building housing it, the Wihan Lai Kham.

Coffee Fix at Akha Ama or Twenty Mar

akha ama phra singh

If you are looking for a caffeine fix in the morning while exploring the old town, I can recommend Akha Ama (daily, 8AM to 5:30PM). It is conveniently located on the road linking Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang. Frequently cited as having some of the best coffee in Chiang Mai, the beans here are harvested by the Akha tribe (known for their elaborate hats) in plantations just north of the city.

orange espresso at twenty mar

Alternatively, Twenty Mar (daily, 8AM to 6PM; until 8PM on Sundays) is another cafe I’d wholeheartedly recommend in the old town. Looking more like a speakeasy with dim lighting, a distinctive funky vibe and good music; the staff here take coffee very seriously and each cup is prepared with a meticulous detail I rarely see elsewhere.

Wat Chedi Luang

wat chedi luang

Another temple to check out in Chiang Mai is the Wat Chedi Luang . This temple has a large stupa made of stone in the middle and is quite evocative of the ancient temple ruins found elsewhere in Southeast Asia due to its unfinished nature. Wat Chedi Luang dates back from the 14th century but remains in its incomplete state even to this day.

Wat Phantao

Just beside Wat Chedi Luang is Wat Phantao . It is different from the previous two temples in the sense that its wooden construct is made much more apparent, with less of the gold and murals seen in other temples. It’s also just a short walk from the previous temple so you might as well have a look especially if you are in the area during the Sunday Walking Street. The golden stupa at the back is especially picturesque at night.

Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center

chiang may city arts and cultural center

For a peek into the culture of Northern Thailand, the Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center (daily except Sunday, 9AM to 8PM, admission: 90 Baht) offers a cooler respite from the punishing heat outside with its well curated exhibitions detailing the history and culture of the region.

Lunch at Baan Landai

Chiang Mai has plenty of restaurants but one I always go back to is the Michelin bib gourmand Baan Landai (Tuesday to Sunday, 11AM to 10PM), located near the north gate of the old city walls. The cuisine here is described as pan-Thai, in the sense that it takes on sensibilities from across the country. My favorites here include the Baked Ruby Fish with Turmeric and Pork Ribs with Red Wine Sauce. Call in advance to get a seat.

Afternoon is a good time to go up to Doi Suthep . There are a few ways to get up there but the easiest is to join a half-day tour inclusive of pickup from your hotel. Alternatively, a more time-consuming but cheaper way is to take a taxi (or Grab) to Chiang Mai Zoo and hail a songthaew from there. Mine waited for a few passengers to board before commencing the ride up although it is entirely possible to pay 600 Baht and have the car all to yourself if you are feeling extravagant.

by the steps of doi suthep

It’s a zig zag ride up to Doi Suthep and at the higher reaches, you can get nice views of the city. Save for a few buildings here and there, Chiang Mai is still relatively low-rise.

At approximately 1,073 meters above sea level, you will find the Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep . Another temple you may ask? Don’t make the mistake of skipping this simply because you have been to the temples in the inner city. The highlight here is the golden chedi surrounded by golden statues and murals. The recommended route here is to go around the chedi by walking clockwise. In between, you might also see newly wed couples coming here for blessings, pilgrims praying fervently and others trying to make merit by sticking gold foils in the surroundings. The chedi is accessed after climbing more than 300+ steps from the parking lot, where the songthaew drops passengers off.

wat pha lat

Along the same route as Doi Suthep, you can also stop by Wat Pha Lat , a beautiful temple surrounded by jungle and with a small waterfall nearby.

After coming back to Chiang Mai, I’d recommend visiting the same sites suggested for the morning. Many of the buildings – such as Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang take on a different mood when floodlit in the evening.

Chiang Mai Night Safari

If you are visiting Chiang Mai with family and are looking for something to do in the evening, check out the Chiang Mai Night Safari (open daily 1 to 8PM). The park hosts over 1,400 animals and although it was inspired by the Singapore Night Safari, the one in Chiang Mai surpasses it in area, covering over 132 hectares. You can book your ticket inclusive of transfers, which is more convenient as the zoo is located in the city outskirts. You can buy discounted tickets here .

Day 2 – Nimmanhaemin, Chiang Mai Outskirts & Sunday Walking Street

Cafe hopping.

coffee from ristr8to

One of my favorite areas in Chiang Mai is undoubtedly Nimmanhaemin . Originally considered a university area, this neighborhood has since attracted expatriates as well as digital nomads who call Chiang Mai home for prolonged periods of time. You can find plenty of hipster cafes here – top in that list is Ristr8to (daily except Wed, 7AM to 5PM), an award winning cafe that is as much about the coffee as it is about the aesthetics. Check out their coffee which is served in their iconic skull caps!

cute desserts at ji matcha tea time

If you are into tea, Chiang Mai has plenty of themed matcha cafes that recreate the zen vibe one often finds in Japan. Popular places include Magokoro Teahouse (daily, 10AM to 9PM) near the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar as well as Ji Matcha Tea Time (daily, 10:30AM to 6:30PM) within the Nimman neighborhood.

the baristro asian style cafe in chiang mai

Further afield, The Baristro Asian Style (daily, 10AM to 6PM) is perhaps one of Chiang Mai’s most atmospheric cafes. I would say it even rivals the Japanese-themed cafes you find in Japan itself. The venue boasts of a sprawling compound with both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seats look out to either a zen garden or a lawn that sometimes plays host to live acoustic music. The highlight of the indoor space is a matcha room where diners sit on an elevated floor behind the baristas.

kao soy nimman

For food, Kao Soy Nimman (daily 11AM to 8PM) is popular for its highly customizable bowls of the Northern Thai staple. Instead of just chicken, I had mine topped with chicken AND seafood.

Wat Suan Dok

wat suan dok

At the southern end of the neighborhood is another temple – Wat Suan Dok – looking picturesque in the day with its whitewashed mausoleums with the highlands of Northern Thailand in view.

Baan Kang Wat

baan kang wat

Baan Kang Wat (open daily except Monday, 11AM to 5:30PM) is so much more than a market. It’s a functioning artist village where skilled craftsmen get to practice their craft. There’s no hard selling here as the studios are mostly manned by the artists themselves and if you’re lucky, you can chance upon them doing one of their creations as you walk in. The crafts found here range from ceramics to paintings, wood work, sculptures and clothing. Workshops are also offered to the public and you can spend an hour or two learning the likes of pottery if you have time to spare.

Jing Jai Market

jing jai market

If you are in Chiang Mai over the weekend, check out Jing Jai Market , a farmer’s market that sells local fruits and vegetables, artwork, handicrafts and clothing. The market is open daily but it is at its liveliest on Saturdays and Sundays when local farmers descend to sell their produce here. There is also an art gallery within the complex that is open daily with a rotating exhibition. From time to time, the market is also host to more specialized crafts. The weekend I visited, they were having a ceramics fair with a number of stalls selling pottery and were even offering free ceramics classes.

Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham

tunnels of wat umong

Located along roughly the same stretch as Baan Kang Wat is one of Chiang Mai’s most atmospheric temples. While the main structure here does not boast of elaborate carvings or gilded exteriors, Wat Umong intrigues with its fortress-like construct as well as elaborate tunnels that evoke an explorer kind of feel while being surrounded with nature. This temple is well-worth the short ride out of the city center.

Wiang Kum Kam

Check out the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam (daily 8AM to 5PM). Once the ancient capital of the Lanna Kingdom, the ruins of an area a couple of kilometers south of Chiang Mai’s walled city were renovated and over 40 buildings now stand for visitors to see. The highlight here is the five-tiered chedi called Wat Chedi Liam which dates back from the 1200s.

Royal Park Rajapruek

the grand pavilion of the royal park rajapruek

Late afternoon is the best time to visit Royal Park Rajapruek especially if you are in Chiang Mai during the warmer months (morning is best if you are in town from the months of December to early February). The park has a diverse collection of flora and even those with a mere passing interest in plants may find something interesting with its international gardens section featuring landscaped depictions of countries such as Malaysia, India, China, Vietnam and even African countries like Kenya. It’s a sprawling complex but thankfully the admission fees come with complimentary shuttle rides. Do check out the imposing Grand Pavilion (Hor Kham Luang), built during the 60th year of the previous King’s reign. It is a lot more elaborate than any of the Lanna architecture you can find in town.

Thai Massage

Escape the afternoon heat with a session of Thailand’s famous massage. Let’s Relax Spa is one of the more popular massage places and has been recommended as well by Lonely Planet. They have three branches in Chiang Mai. You can book a discounted massage session here .

Sunday Walking Street

sunday walking street in chiang mai

If you have time to visit only one night market in Chiang Mai and happen to be there on a Sunday, let that visit be to the Sunday Walking Street . Running from Tha Phae Gate to the edge of Rachadamnoen Road and the small alleys in between, this is probably the most extensive night market I have seen in Thailand that runs in the streets. This is also not your run-of-the-mill night market, as I’ve seen plenty of unique goods for sale including knick knacks and apparel made by local designers and all sorts of food. There are even some stalls selling fried larvae and bugs or for something more appetizing – sushi. There’s of course, plenty of local food to go by as well.

If you can’t make it on a Sunday evening, you can check out the Saturday Walking Street instead. The Saturday night market is located south of the walled city along Wua Lai Road. It is of a slightly smaller scale than the Sunday one but make no mistake about it, you’ll find many of the same stalls here as well.

If you are not in Chiang Mai on a Saturday or Sunday, you can head to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar which is open every night. The products here feature more every day items but one good thing about this place is that you can easily find a good spot for a drink with live music.

Day 3 – Doi Inthanon National Park

One of the highlights of a trip to Northern Thailand is a visit to the country’s tallest peak – Doi Inthanon . The national park is one of the region’s most visited places partly due to the year-long cool weather as well as the myriad of attractions on the way to the summit. A visit to the national park usually involves a group tour or a private tour .

You will mostly likely pass by a number of waterfalls while making your way around Doi Inthanon. The most impressive one here in my opinion is the Wachirathan Waterfall which has a picturesque rainbow effect when seen against the sunlight.

Local Villages

Various tribes live along the slopes of Doi Inthanon and one of the most often visited is the Karen tribe. A typical tour includes a short walk along one of the villages and a stop for coffee tasting. The one I visited, a cafe called Pati non (daily 8AM to 5PM) is locally run and they grow their coffee from the fields just next to the cafe itself.

Doi Inthanon Summit & Cloud Forests

summit of doi inthanon

walking through angka nature trail – a cloud forest in doi inthanon

If the idea of scaling a country’s tallest peak with minimal hiking sounds attractive to you, then you’re in luck. Doi Inthanon (2,565 meters above sea level) requires only a short walk from the parking lot to reach the summit. You won’t miss it. A large sign that says “highest point of Thailand” is usually filled with visitors taking selfies but the true summit is located a short walk behind it near an altar. There are also short walking trails nearby such as the Angka Nature Trail that wind visitors around cloud forests and trees filled with moss.

Twin Pagodas

For some people, the Twin Pagodas are the highlight of the trip to Doi Inthanon simply because of the visually striking landscape. As compared to the Doi Inthanon summit which is mostly covered by forest, the area around the Twin Pagodas allow visitors to survey the view and the surrounding mountains while walking alongside stunning flower gardens.

A typical tour lasts roughly 10 hours, starting around 8:30AM and ending at 6:30PM with pick-up and drop-off near the old walls. You can book a join-in tour covering these places here or a private tour here .

Dinner at Khao So-I

chilling at the japanese-themed khao so-i

creamy khao soi at khao so-i

It will be dinner time once the Doi Inthanon tour ends. If you are interested to try a different kind of khao soi that’s also been making the rounds on social media, check out Khao So-i (daily, 9AM to 8PM). Located in a small Japanese themed compound, the khao soi here is served creamy with a rich and thick broth. Diners can also opt to customize their toppings. Aside from the usual chicken, there’s also pork, beef and even lobster. There is also an option to order a “dry khao soi” which looks a bit like yaki udon.

Day 4 – Chiang Rai

How to go from chiang mai to chiang rai.

Thailand’s northernmost city, Chiang Rai, is located some 190 kilometers from Chiang Rai and involves a 3.5 hour car ride. Folks who don’t have enough time usually turn Chiang Rai into a day trip and there are several day tours to Chiang Rai you can join that will bring you there, show you the main sights and come back to Chiang Mai in time for dinner but if you can spare one more day, an overnight stay is definitely less hectic. Alternatively, you can also take a bus ride to Chiang Rai.

Wat Rong Khun

wat rong khun (white temple)

Assuming you have an extra day to spare, you will find that Chiang Rai is an interesting enough destination in its own right. Although there are similarities in attractions in the sense that many are Lanna-style temples, Chiang Rai also offers something slightly different. Top in that list is Wat Rong Khun or the gorgeous White Temple. Probably the only one of its kind in Thailand, this structure has probably come to define the entirety of the north. The temple was built by artist Chaloemchai Khositphiphat and despite over 20 years of construction, it remains to be a work in progress. Aside from its fully white color scheme, other noteworthy aspects of the temple include sculptures of hands reaching out from the ground. This adds a rather bizarre aspect to the temple. If possible, try to visit Wat Rong Khun first thing in the morning as the queues can get pretty long especially in the late morning/afternoon.

baan dam (black house)

Another interesting place to visit in Chiang Rai is the Baan Dam Museum (Black House). This is a large complex constructed by artist Thawan Duchanee and consist of dozens of houses incorporating local styles as well as the style of neighboring countries.

Mae Fah Luang

mae fah luang park

For a relatively chill time, the Mae Fah Luang Art & Cultural Park (daily except Monday 8:30AM to 5PM) is just the perfect place with its greenery, lakes and huts from where one can just watch the world go by. While here, you can also check out the Haw Kam, a pavilion housing Lanna artifacts.

Try Some Khao Soi

khao soi from por jai

A trip to Chiang Rai or Northern Thailand for that matter, isn’t complete until you try the local specialty – Khao Soi – or Crispy Noodles bathed in Chicken Curry. One recommended place to try it is Por Jai (daily 8AM to 4PM) in the heart of town.

If you are in Chiang Rai as a day trip from Chiang Mai, you’d probably need to end here to make it back to Chiang Mai by dinner time. However, if you are staying a night, you can also check out attractions farther afield such as the Golden Triangle – the border between the 3 countries of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Alternatively, you can also head to Mae Salong for a bit of alpine scenery, nature trails and excellent coffee or Doi Tung for the Mae Fah Luang Flower Garden.

Travel Tips for Northern Thailand

Travel Insurance: In this age of uncertainty, it is advisable to get travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage when entering the country. If you reside in Singapore, check out Starr Travelead , one of the cheapest travel insurance. They have a promotion that comes with S$5 cash rebate that helps to cover the insurance cost.
Weather: Best time to visit Chiang Mai is during the cooler and dry months of December to early-February. November is also a good time although it might still be the tail-end of the rainy season. I would personally avoid heading there from late February to April. During these months, haze is common in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and it can sometimes reach hazardous levels.
Connectivity: For your surfing and social media needs, it is possible to purchase local sim cards upon arrival at Chiang Mai Airport but purchasing in advance will save you the queues and you can also get up to 50% off. You can purchase local sim cards here .
Traveling between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai: If you are coming as a couple, as a group of friends or with family, it may be more sensible to hire private transport for a comfortable 3.5 hour journey between these two cities. It is also possible to travel by public bus but do try to select a direct bus if you can to avoid multiple stops along the way. You can book private Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai transfers here or check for direct buses here .

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

Quu Hotel – This beautiful boutique hotel is located just outside the walled city of Chiang Mai. You are essentially getting a well-appointed hotel room for an affordable price, with a nice ala-carte breakfast included as well.

Raya Heritage Chiang Mai – A cross between the sleek Muji-style and local Lanna interiors, Raya Heritage is a 33-suite property decked with local crafts – handwoven textiles, artifacts and wood carvings permeate the guestrooms and public spaces. The location in the city outskirts also make it more relaxing/tranquil compared to most city hotels.

Mora Boutique Hotel – A good all-around option in Chiang Rai especially if you wish to stay somewhere central. Rooms are stylish and up-to-date with creature comforts at a reasonable price.

Le Meridien Chiang Rai – Probably the most luxurious among the hotels found along the city center of Chiang Rai. Expect consistent chain hotel service befitting the Le Meridien brand.

Packing Tips for Northern Thailand

While there is probably that sense of adventure in bringing nothing but a backpack for a trip to Northern Thailand, I have found that it is not really a practical option in the long term. I used to do it in my younger days but it led to back pains, not to mention the added perspiration brought about by something heavy brushing against you especially when traveling to warm places.

rawrow 63l trunk from sift and pick

In my more recent trips, I have resorted to something easier to carry. A luggage with 4 wheels is personally preferable as I can just let the whole thing slide when I need to walk from point to point – for instance from the train station to the hotel. There are plenty of four-wheel luggage options in the market but I found Rawrow’s R Trunk 63L which is being retailed by Sift & Pick to have those little extras that make the travel experience easier.

built-in weighing scale

The luggage comes with a built-in weighing scale so I don’t have to keep guessing whether I’ve surpassed the airline’s baggage allowance. The Rawrow R Trunk series also comes with a smaller 37″ version and the weighing scale tells you exactly whether the weight’s good enough for plane cabin storage or not.

t-shaped handles

I also like the unique T-shaped handles which I rarely encounter for this type of luggage. The shape allow for easy hanging of clothes or a supplementary laptop case or backpack if need be.

pack slim case

The most impressive feature however has got to be the pocket found just beneath the handles which can be used to store valuables quickly or as a holder for mobile phones. Combine it with the Pack Slim Case , a water repellent passport and credit cardholder which fits perfectly in the pocket, so that you won’t have to scramble to find a place to empty your pockets to the next time you’re subjected to the airport security scanners.

Reader Interactions

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January 28, 2020 at 12:53 pm

What a detailed post, Bino! This makes it easier for us to plan our trip to Northern Thailand soon. Thanks for sharing 🙂

January 28, 2020 at 12:54 pm

Very detailed post, Bino! This makes it easier for us to plan our trip to Northern Thailand soon. Thanks for sharing 🙂

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Chiang Mai Solo Travel Guide: Exploring Alone in the North of Thailand

Chiang Mai is quickly becoming a top destination for solo travelers. With its rich cultural heritage, affordable prices, welcoming locals, and abundance of activities catered to solo explorers, this charming northern Thai city offers an unforgettable experience.

Whether you’re a backpacker on a budget or a luxury traveler looking for a splash of culture, Chiang Mai solo travel caters to every style. This comprehensive solo travel guide will cover everything you need to plan your dream trip to Chiang Mai.

Why a Solo Trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand?

Chiang Mai is arguably one of the best places for solo travel in Thailand if not all of Southeast Asia. Here are some of the key reasons it’s become a rising star among solo travelers:

Affordable Prices

As an inland city without the high tourist demand of beach areas, Chiang Mai is pleasantly affordable. Hostel dorms start around 150 THB ($4.50 USD), while private guesthouse rooms generally run 500-800 THB ($15-25 USD). Even mid-range hotels and boutique resorts can be booked for under $100 per night. Thai cuisine is famously cheap – a Pad Thai from a street cart might cost you only 40 THB ($1.20)! For budget-minded solo travelers, you’ll be amazed at what your money can buy in Chiang Mai.

While every traveler should exercise common sense, Chiang Mai is considered an extremely safe destination for solo travel. Violent crime is rare, locals are incredibly friendly and helpful, and the laidback vibe creates a welcoming atmosphere for all. Wandering the Old City area as a solo female traveler, I always felt secure, even late at night in the colorful Night Bazaar. Chiang Mai is a reassuring place for first-time solo travelers.

Friendly Local Culture

Thai people epitomize the phrase “land of smiles.” Their gracious, hospitable culture stems from Buddhist principles and makes visitors feel immediately at ease. As a solo traveler, you’ll never feel the awkwardness of dining alone, touring solo or even just sitting by yourself sipping Thai tea – the locals treat everyone with genuine warmth. This amiable local spirit makes solo explorations easy and enjoyable.

Vibrant Backpacker Scene

Backpackers flock to Chiang Mai for its chilled-out vibe and low prices, creating a lively traveler culture. The Old City caters especially to the backpacker crowd, with plenty of hostels, guesthouses, informal eateries, and tourist-oriented entertainment. As a solo traveler, you’ll easily meet fellow explorers to befriend at your accommodation or while exploring popular hangouts like Tha Pae Gate.

Endless Cultural Experiences

Immerse yourself in the incredible history, cuisine, traditions, and architecture of Northern Thailand. Chiang Mai satiates any cultural curiosity , from cooking classes in an outdoor farm kitchen to meditation retreats in a jungle temple. Sign up for cultural classes and tours designed specifically for individuals to meet like-minded travelers.

Outdoor Activities

While Chiang Mai offers cultural allure, it also boasts awesome outdoor adventure perfect for solo travelers seeking adrenaline and nature. Tackle jungle treks to hill tribe villages, zipline over lush rainforest canopies, or enjoy heart-pumping white water rafting, all easily arranged for individuals. You’ll share exciting excursions with other solo adventurers.

Opportunities for Self-Discovery

Beyond the temples and markets, Chiang Mai enables valuable self-discovery. Follow in the footsteps of ancient monks on forest meditation trails, join a yoga retreat to invigorate your practice, and indulge in affordable spa treatments – the possibilities are endless. Slow down, focus inward, and revitalize your solo journey.

With these rewarding experiences in-store, Chiang Mai is a goldmine for solo travelers seeking culture, nature, spirituality, excitement or simple rest and relaxation. No matter your travel style, visiting Chiang Mai alone will create treasured memories.

What is the Best Time of Year to Travel to Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai enjoys a tropical climate, with a distinct cool season (November-February) when temperatures are milder and rainfall is scarce making it the best time to visit Chiang Mai.

Cool Season (November-February)

The cool months from November to February are considered peak tourist season. With daytime averages around 80°F (27°C) and cooler nights, you can comfortably explore temples and markets without overheating. Humidity is lower, and chances of rain are minimal, although evenings can get chilly. If you handle crowds and slightly inflated prices, this is overall the best time for solo travel.

November and December see peak numbers drawn by the colorful Loy Krathong Lantern Festival. January/February hosts the popular Flower Festival showcasing floral floats and beauty pageants. Hotel prices jump during these events.

Hot Season (March-May)

As temperatures skyrocket in March, peaking around 100°F (38°C), fewer tourists visit Chiang Mai. April’s scorching heat and hazardous air pollution from seasonal slash-and-burn farming make it an unfavorable time to visit. Late May offers some pre-monsoon rains that temper the heat. Overall, this hot and dusty season is challenging for sightseeing.

Rainy Season (June-October)

June through October brings high humidity and heavy rainfall, especially overnight. Temperatures remain high during breaks from the rain. The atmosphere feels languid. Rice planting andmuted festivals occupy locals’ time. Tourism dwindles, so you’ll avoid crowds and save on costs – if you don’t mind tropical downpours.

Pay close attention to the seasonal climate before planning your solo trip. For optimal weather, lower costs, and vibrant cultural events, prioritize November-February.

Where Should Solo Travelers Stay in Chiang Mai?

With accommodations ranging from backpacker digs to 5-star resorts, deciding where to stay in Chiang Mai can be tough. Here are some of the top neighborhoods for solo travelers:

Old City Center

The historic heart of Chiang Mai, encircled by crumbling medieval walls and moats, offers a quintessential experience. Guesthouses and hotels in traditional Lanna architecture sit alongside ancient temples. Despite its central location, the Old City maintains a peaceful ambiance with quiet tree-lined sois (small lanes) for exploring on foot or bicycle. This is backpacker central, making it easy to meet other travelers.

Nimmanhaemin (Nimman) District

Nimman strikes an enticing balance between local culture and modern comforts. Originally an area housing Chiang Mai University students, Nimman has rapidly developed into a trendy neighborhood packed with coffee shops, gastropubs, boutique hotels, and shopping. Flashpackers and digital nomads flock here. Its creative vibe and plentiful diversions make it ideal for solo travelers.

For those seeking a tranquil, upscale atmosphere, the luxurious hotels flanking the gently flowing Ping River provide a serene retreat. Spend the day indulging in resort amenities before venturing out to visit ancient sites. Singles, couples, and conferences favor these refined sanctuaries.

With endless varieties in location, style, and budget, solo travelers can find their ideal Chiang Mai stay. Make sure to consider neighborhood atmosphere, proximity to attractions, and amenities while comparing options for your solo trip.

How to Get Around Chiang Mai as a Solo Traveller

One of the easiest cities in Southeast Asia to navigate, Chiang Mai offers convenient transport for solo explorers. Here are the best ways to explore Chiang Mai:

These red-covered pickup trucks function as shared taxis following fixed routes around Chiang Mai. Just wave one down and hop aboard, then pay around 20-40 THB (under $2 USD) upon exiting. A fun, quintessentially Thai way to mingle with locals.

Zip around town Thai-style in a thrilling open-air tuk-tuk. Hail one on the street or agree on an hourly rate of around 100-150 THB ($3-5 USD). Rates are usually displayed on a laminated card and don’t forget to bargain.

Public Bus

Cheap, reliable buses run multiple routes connecting major sites. Northbound routes 1 and 3 go to Night Bazaar/Old City, while southwest-bound route 6 terminates near Nimman. Fares are 20-40 THB (under $2 USD).

Flag a ride via the Grab app, Southeast Asia’s version of Uber, just enter your destination and it calls the nearest driver. Grab cars start around 55 THB ($1.50 USD) for short trips, while Grab bikes are the cheapest option at around 15-30 THB (under $1 USD).

Bicycle or Motorbike Rental

Rent a bicycle for around 50-100 THB ($1.50-3 USD) per day to explore at your own pace. For longer excursions, rent a motorbike starting at 200 THB ($6 USD) per day – just beware of chaotic traffic. Always wear a helmet.

Affordable, plentiful, and easily accessible transportation makes getting around a breeze for Chiang Mai solo travelers. You’ll quickly discover which option suits your style.

Top 7 Things to Do in Chiang Mai Solo

While the list of possible Chiang Mai cultural activities fills entire guidebooks, these are the top things every solo traveler should prioritize to explore the city:

1. Join a Thai Cooking Class

Thai cuisine’s pungent flavors and artful presentations continue to gain global fans – why not learn to recreate them yourself? Fun, hands-on cooking classes let you choose your own market ingredients before teaching you to prepare classic dishes step-by-step. After working up an appetite, sit down to enjoy eating the mouth-watering meal you cooked. You’ll likely share your cooking station and lunch table with other solo travelers, making this a doubly rewarding experience. Well-regarded schools like Asia Scenic Thai Cooking Class and Thai Farm Cooking School operate full-day classes priced around 900 THB ($27 USD) including transportation.

2. Visit Ancient Temples

Over 300 Buddhist temples gracefully dot Chiang Mai’s landscape, each with unique architecture, design elements, and historic significance. The elaborate hilltop beauty of Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep should top any list, as should the ancient bricks of Wat Chedi Luang built in 1401 to house the Emerald Buddha. Wake early to wander serenely among the glittering pagodas while monks chant morning prayers. Entrance fees are minimal and proper dress is required – knees and shoulders must be covered.

3. Browse Markets and Sample Thai Food

Chiang Mai’s markets satisfy all cravings and excite the senses. The bustling Warorot Market sells everything from fresh-pressed juices to spices and Northern Thai handicrafts. Flowing into the Night Bazaar after dark, goods turn towards the tourist trade – souvenirs, clothing, art, and more. Don’t miss the Sunday Night Walking Street Market in the Old City to experience Thai street food in Chiang Mai, where you can browse handicrafts and nibble spicy sausages hot off a sizzling grill while listening to live music.

4. Pamper Yourself with a Traditional Thai Massage

Re-energize mind and body with a relaxing Thai massage, considered one of the best affordable spa treatments in the world. You’ll slip into loose pajamas before a skilled practitioner stretches, kneads, and manipulates your muscles using a combination of gentle yoga poses, acupressure, and rhythmic kneading to relax and revitalize without oils or creams. A 60-90 minute massage starts around 250 THB ($7.50 USD) at local shops. For ambiance, book a treatment at one of Chiang Mai’s premier spas like Oasis or Anantara.

5. Join a Trekking or Ziplining Excursion

Take your Chiang Mai adventure into the verdant mountains and forests surrounding the city. Small group trekking trips let you hike through mist-cloaked jungle to hill tribe villages to experience indigenous lifestyles first-hand. If you prefer an adrenaline rush, soar over the jungle canopy on ziplines offering breathtaking vistas far from city noise. Many eco-conscious tour companies promote sustainability and ethical animal interactions. Prices for trekking tours average 1500 THB ($45 USD) while ziplining costs around 2500 THB ($75 USD).

6. Volunteer with Local Causes

Give back and gain cultural insight by volunteering your time towards a cause that inspires you. At the Elephant Nature Park sanctuary, contribute to the care and conservation of these intelligent giants rescued from tourism exploitation. Or help teach English to rural schoolchildren to open up their world. Single-day programs are readily available and joining a group makes fast friends. Costs vary based on the organization.

7. Retreat to a Wellness Center

Detox from travel stress by escaping to a rejuvenating wellness center nestled amid Chiang Mai’s tranquil rainforest and rice paddies. Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary beckons with healthy cuisine, yoga, meditation, and spa services tailored to solo travelers looking to reset mind, body, and spirit. Basic packages start around 15,000 THB ($450 USD) for a five-night stay.

Day Trip to Nearby Destinations

Chiang Mai provides a convenient base to discover highlights of Northern Thailand. Consider easy day trips or overnight excursions to:

Pai – This peaceful mountain town attracts backpackers with its abundant natural springs, swimming holes, hiking trails and laidback cafes. Don’t miss Pai Canyon viewpoint.

Chiang Rai – Founded in 1262, this historical city was once capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Today it lures visitors to the striking White Temple and hill tribe museums.

Lampang – Stop in this riverside town to visit the Thai Elephant Conservation Center and Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, with its giant gleaming stupa.

Mae Hong Son – Journey through lush mountain scenery to this nature lover’s paradise overflowing with quintessential Thai small-town charm.

From the hippie vibe of Pai to ancient sites in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai makes an ideal base for venturing further afield across Northern Thailand.

Indulge in Chiang Mai’s Incredible Food Scene

Chiang Mai is a true foodie paradise, with tasty dishes influenced by Burmese, Yunnanese Chinese, and Lanna Thai culinary traditions. Whet your appetite try these local specialties:

The comforting curry noodle soup khao soi is a regional icon found on every visitor’s bucket list. Egg noodles swim in a rich coconut curry broth bursting with complex flavors. It’s topped with crispy fried noodles, pickled cabbage, lime, and shallots. Locals flock to Khao Soi Khun Yai for the ultimate bowl.

For another local taste, try Sai Oua, Chiang Mai’s own sausage infused with fresh herbs and spices. This pork sausage mimics the spicy flavor profile of larb, a minced meat “salad.” Find sizzling grilled links at Sausage Festival in the Night Bazaar (Chiang Mai night market).

Indulge your sweet tooth with mango sticky rice, the quintessential Thai dessert. Sweet coconut milk is layered over sticky rice and then topped with ripe mango. Street stalls serve this classic treat or try an elegantly plated version at The Service 1921 Restaurant & Bar.

Don’t miss dining at Chiang Mai’s bustling markets and street food stalls. Nab a plastic stool at Chiang Mai Gate Food Market to taste authentic noodle dishes like Khanom Jeen or Khao Lam (sticky rice in bamboo). The food in Chiang Mai is truly amazing!

5 Safety Tips for Solo Travelers in Chiang Mai

While Chiang Mai is a safe city, here are some tips to travel wisely as a solo visitor:

– Only take registered taxis or tuk-tuks and avoid unmarked private cars offering rides. Agree on fares beforehand.

– Stick to well-lit main roads when walking at night and be cautious in secluded areas or deserted temples.

– Beware of “ladyboys” (transgender sex workers) who can be aggressive on certain bar streets; walk away firmly.

– Don’t accept drinks from strangers when out at bars; never leave your drink unattended.

– Be discreet with valuables in crowded spots and consider locking larger cash/passports in a hotel safe.

With basic street smarts, Chiang Mai is an easy and enjoyable place to navigate solo.

For solo travelers seeking a journey of cultural immersion, spiritual connections, tasty culinary discoveries, and exciting adventures, Chiang Mai is a heavenly destination that should top your bucket.

FAQs: Chiang Mai solo travel

What are the best areas in chiang mai for solo travelers.

The Old City and Nimman areas are most recommended, with plenty of hostels in lively neighborhoods that make it easy to meet fellow travelers.

What is the weather like in Chiang Mai?

November-February offers pleasant, mild weather while March-May is very hot. June-October is the rainy season.

Is Chiang Mai Safe For Solo Female Travelers?

Yes, Chiang Mai is considered extremely safe for solo women. Violent crime is rare, locals are very helpful and the city is easy to navigate. However, always be cautious about going off alone with strangers you just met.

How do I get around Chiang Mai without a car?

Songthaews, tuk-tuks, and metered taxis are affordable and reliable options. Grab rideshares are also very popular. For independence, rent a bicycle or motorbike.

What is there to do in Chiang Mai at night?

Chiang Mai nightlife scene centers around the Old City bars and Nimman Road. Check out Zoe in Yellow, Warm Up Cafe, North Gate Jazz Co-Op or local pubs.

How many days do I need in Chiang Mai?

Most solo travelers spend 3-5 days in Chiang Mai to see the highlights at a comfortable pace. With day trips factored in, you could easily fill 7-10 days.

James Collin, with an MBA and over 14 years in the travel and publishing industries, founded Thailand Solo Travel to spotlight Thailand’s untold stories. His extensive experience in both the travel and publishing sectors, coupled with his academic prowess, has enabled him to steer the company toward success and recognition. James is not only a business leader but also a storyteller at heart, dedicated to sharing the rich, diverse narratives of Thailand with audiences around the world

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Chiang Mai Road Trip: An Epic 4-Day Itinerary

Doing a Chiang Mai road trip in Thailand is so much fun. Better yet, it’s so easy. The roads are great, rentals are affordable and you gain the freedom to explore the country as you wish.

In this article, we’ll tell you all about an incredibly fun and offbeat Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary through the far north of Thailand. This Chiang Mai road trip features excellent mountain scenery, remote villages and unique cultural experiences. We’ll give you all the info and tips on how to do this road trip independently and ensure you don’t miss all the great things this region has to offer.

Thailand Travel Resources

Best islands: Koh Adang and Koh Tarutao
Best for adventure: 4-day Chiang Mai Road Trip
Getting there: search for flights to Thailand
Where to stay: search for guesthouses, hostels and hotels
How to get around: search for trains and buses
Rent a car: search for deals on car rentals
Travel insurance: get travel insurance for your trip
Gear: pick up a Steripen for clean water 24/7
Money: get a Wise money card to save money in Thailand

Table of Contents

Chiang Mai Road Trip Overview

Northern Thailand was made for road trips. While there are numerous Northern Thailand road trip routes you can take , if it’s incredible mountain scenery, remote communities, unique culture and an off-the-beaten-track experience you’re after then look no further. This Chiang Mai route has it all.

This 4-day Chiang Mai road trip itinerary packs a lot in a relatively short timeframe and doesn’t require long days in the car or on the bike. It traverses some of the most spectacular scenery in the country and includes some of the region’s hidden gems .

It includes a hike to an amazing viewpoint, sublime hot springs and some of the best dumplings in South East Asia. Yes, really!

Chiang Mai Road Trip Itinerary Breakdown

Chiang Dao → Pong Arng Hot Springs → Arunothai → Sui Thang Campground → Doi Ang Khang → Chiang Dao

4 days / 3 nights

Accommodation

Camping and/or cabins

When To Do This Chiang Mai Road Trip

The optimal time to do this Chiang Mai road trip is in December, but it can be done anytime between November and late January. You’re limited to this timeframe due to the smokey season (starting late Jan/early Feb) and the rainy season (June – October).

You can still do the trip in February, however, just know that it may be somewhat unpleasant due to the onset of the smokey season. The smokey season seems to be setting in earlier and earlier each year and if it’s already quite smokey, it will affect the quality of the trip. Not only will the views be hazy and obscured, but the air quality will be pretty terrible.

We did this Chiang Mai route in early February, and while the smoke was fine on the first few days, when we returned to Chiang Dao it was very smokey and you could barely see the mountains.

Man Standing on Doi Ang Khang View Point - Chiang Mai Road Trip

Other Tips for Your Chiang Mai Road Trip

It gets surprisingly pretty chilly at night in these parts of Thailand, so make sure you bring appropriate clothing and gear . Don’t worry, we’ve put together a packing list for you below .

We’d also recommend bringing your own cooking supplies . Every campground has a restaurant, but at Pong Arng it wasn’t clear whether they were open into the evening, so you will want to be prepared.

Read: Chiang Dao Travel Guide: Northern Thailand’s Hidden Gem

Car or Motorbike?

What a question! There are pros and cons to each, which we’ve summarised below. Have a think about what will best suit your needs and give you the experience you are looking for.

Renting a car will undoubtedly be more comfortable. Let’s face it, riding a scooter/bike for hours a day isn’t exactly the most relaxing experience.

On this Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary, with a car, you’ll also be able to travel faster, more efficiently and be able to see more. There are heaps of more stops/sights to see along this route and if you’re in a car, you’ll probably be able to fit them all in. You also have more space, meaning you’ll be able to pack more.

In our experience, it’s cheaper and easier to rent a car online. Hop over to Discover Cars for the best deals – it’s what we personally use and recommend.

Motorbike / Scooter

Doing a trip on a bike is a lot of fun. It’s a completely different experience. Whereas doing this Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary in a car is about hitting more sights along the way, on a bike, it’s more about the journey itself. You’re fully immersed in your environment and get to really experience the scenery. That’s why we did it and it’s a hell of a lot of fun.

What Kind of Bike Should You Choose for your Chiang Mai Road Trip?

Two people on the back of a scooter - Chiang Mai Road Trip

You’re going to be driving through a lot of mountain passes, so you’ll want a bike with at least 125cc . Although if you’re up for it, bigger is always better.

We had a 125cc bike, which carried both of us, a big backpack and a tent.

A tip for carrying gear: put as much of your heavy gear in the compartment under the seat. This way, you’re not carrying as much weight on your (or your passenger’s) back. Trust us, your backs will thank us for this.

Scooter Rental

For this Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary, the best option is to rent your scooter in Chiang Mai and drive it to Chiang Dao. It adds on a bit of extra driving, but because Chiang Mai has endless amounts of places to rent a bike, you can find a good quality one for good value.

We recommend Bamboo Bikes . We are in no way affiliated with them, we’ve just rented from them and have always been happy with our experiences. Always make sure to bargain!

Read more about Thailand’s Off The Beaten Path locations during your Chiang Mai Road Trip

Chiang Mai Road Trip: The Route

Day 1: Chiang Dao to Pong Arng Hot Springs (Pha Daeng National Park)

On this Chiang Mai route, the first destination is Pong Arng Hot Springs, located within Pha Daeng National Park. These little-known hot springs are 31 km north of Chiang Dao.

The drive is very easy. You take Hwy 1178 until you see the big sign for the hot springs. It should take you between 35 – 70 minutes.

Pong Arng Hot Springs

The Pong Arng Hot Springs are very nice. There are two separate pools to bathe in (temperatures fluctuate between 58C and 64C), plus a foot bath. The pools are immaculately designed, but not overdone, so you still feel like you are in nature.

The springs can get quite busy with locals, however, most people leave by 6 pm. By staying the night, you can access the hot springs when everyone else has left and in the morning before anyone arrives. We highly recommend a night-time soak under the stars!

There are private bathing areas as well, but they were closed when we visited, so we were unable to access them.

The temperature really drops here at night, so make sure you pack some warm clothes.

Pong Arng Hot Springs Entrance Fees

100 THB per person
20 THB per motorbike
100 THB per car

Camping at Pong Arng Hot Springs

The camping area here is pleasant. The real draw is that it’s set up on a grassy patch steps away from the hot springs, so you can get in and out as you please.

Camping costs 80 THB per person.

Want to know more about camping on your road trip in Thailand? Check out our Guide to Camping in Thailand

Facilities at Pong Arng Hot Springs

Chiang Mai Road Trip - Pong Arng Hot Springs

There are a couple of basic bathroom blocks, including showers.

There is a restaurant, but it may only be open during the day, so for dinner, you’ll need to be self-sufficient. (If you visit and have updated information on this, please let us know in the comments below).

Activities at Pong Arng Hot Springs

The main attraction at Pong Arng Hot Springs is … you guessed it, the hot springs!

As the hot springs are located within Pha Daeng National Park, the entrance ticket includes another location within the same park, Sri Sangwan waterfall. This is located 2 km further up Hwy 1178.

It is a cascading 3-tiered waterfall, with a short walking trail around the different levels. It is a ‘sticky’ waterfall, meaning due to the textured limestone, you can walk on it easily. The waterfall is like a mini version of the popular sticky waterfall outside of Chiang Mai.

While this waterfall may not reach the level of some other waterfalls we have been to (notably Gartmore Falls and Duwili Ella in Sri Lanka and along the Jatbula Trail in Australia), it is still very beautiful and well worth a visit.

There is also a camping area at Sri Sangwan, but it is just a big field with very basic facilities. For this reason, we recommend camping at Pong Arng Hot Springs on this Chiang Mai route, rather than Sri Sangwan.

Day 2 Morning: Pong Arng Hot Springs to Arunothai

The next stop on this Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary is Arunothai. From Pong Arng Hot Springs, it is an 18 km drive to Arunothai village. First, it is about 10km on Hwy 1178 and then a further 8 km on Hwy 1340.

Arunothai

Arunothai is a fascinating village and one of the most interesting places we’ve been to in Thailand. It’s a great stop on this Chiang Mai route.

It was founded by Chinese Nationalist Party soldiers who fled China after the revolution, so it’s a distinctively Chinese town. There are signs in Chinese and delicious Chinese food galore. But it’s also pretty much smack on the border with Myanmar, so there’s that influence too.

There’s great coffee at Swamp , which is conveniently located right on Nong Uk Lake, so you can sip a coffee whilst looking out over the lake at the beautiful hills over the border in Myanmar.

The best thing to do in Arunothai is to get some delicious Yunnanese food.

Due to its Chinese heritage, the village is renowned for its incredible food, notably the dumplings. There are a number of places to eat around town.

We ate at Tayong Yunnan Noodle Restaurant and it was, without a doubt, the best gyoza we’ve ever had in our lives.

Amazing dumplings at Arunothai - Thailand Road Trip

Day 2 Afternoon: Arunothai to Sui Thang Campground

From Arunothai, continue on Hwy 1340 for 29 km until you reach Sui Thang Campground.

This part of the Chiang Mai route is incredibly scenic and goes through some of the best hill country that Thailand has to offer.

The road curves up, down and around the mountains that form the border with Myanmar. While you’re driving you have epic views of these mountains and a glimpse into Myanmar, just to your left.

There are numerous scenic places to stop along this part of the Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary, take in the view and take a photo.

Sui Thang Campground

While the Sui Thang campground is nice, it’s really the exceptional viewpoint you’re coming for.

Check out Thailand’s Top 5 Camping Sites

Facilities at Sui Thang Campground

Sui Thang Campground has all the facilities you might need, including a bathroom block and a restaurant.

The visitor’s centre also rents out all camping gear you may require (around 400 THB for an entire setup).

Important: as the campground sits above 2000m, it gets pretty cold, so make sure you have appropriate gear. Plus, you’ll need it for Doi Ang Khang!

Unfortunately, it was closed due to COVID when we visited, so we were unable to spend the night here (but we did walk around and suss it out).

Day 3: Sui Thang to Doi Ang Khang National Park

This is a very short day on this Chiang Mai route. From Sui Thang, it is a short, but very windy and steep, 9km to Doi Ang Khang. Brace yourselves for a fun ride!

Doi Ang Khang

Doi Ang Khang is well-known as one of the highest campgrounds in Thailand. It’s also very popular amongst locals and many Thais come here to spend a night in cold weather.

And cold it gets. The night we spent here, it dropped to 3C overnight. We needed our full cold-weather gear.

It is also one of the most expensive national parks we’ve encountered in Thailand, at a whopping 300 THB per person. Ouch!

Doi Ang Khang Entrance Fees

300 THB per person

Camping at Doi Ang Khang

There is a very big, well-established camping area at Doi Ang Khang. There are dozens of pre-setup tents for hire. As we said, it’s infamous amongst Thais and many dream of coming here to experience the cold.

Be warned though: this place gets super busy and is not the most serene camping. The tents are set up close together and the place can get packed. We definitely recommend avoiding weekends and public holidays.

That said, the views at sunrise are exceptional and it is worth spending a night here.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Lampang, Chiang Mai’s Cool Little Sister

Facilities at Doi Ang Khang Campground

There are a lot of facilities at the Doi Ang Khang Campground. The visitor’s centre rents out anything you may require, which means you can literally rock up with nothing and still have a comfortable night. The full set-up costs around 400 THB.

There is also a restaurant, plus a cafe, so no need to bring your own food or cooking supplies.

There are also showers in the bathroom block.

Activities at Doi Ang Khang

There are some fun things to keep you busy at Doi Ang Khang.

Doi Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station

A garden in Doi Ang Khang, Chiang Mai Road Trip

Doi Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station is a project run by the royal family. It’s an arboretum where they cultivate many different kinds of fruits trees, plants and flowers to support agriculture among local communities. Many temperate fruits and vegetables are grown here that are found nowhere else in Thailand. This provides local opportunities and discourages the opium planting that used to be prolific in this area.

It’s a really great place to visit. We’ll be honest, we were sceptical about this one, but we really enjoyed our time. It is very pleasant to check out the different gardens and areas within the park. It’s also quite big and you could easily spend hours exploring.

Heading south? Check out Koh Adang

If you visit in January, or potentially early February, you will get to see the amazing cherry blossoms in bloom.

There is a restaurant that uses produce grown on-site. We found the food delicious, and quite reasonably priced, given it is a tourist attraction. Dishes were between 100 THB – 280 THB.

Hours: 8 am – 8 pm

Entrance fee: 50 THB per person

Pro tip: be sure to try the strawberries for sale outside the park. You will see women selling strawberries near the entrance. These are grown in the nearby village of Ban Nor Lae and are amongst the most delicious strawberries we’ve ever tasted.

Climb Doi Ang Khang

Surprisingly, for how busy the Doi Ang Khang campground gets, no one seems to climb to the top of the actual mountain.

Which is I guess, a blessing, because that means it’s likely you’ll have it all to yourself. And once you see these views, your jaw will drop.

We climbed Doi Ang Khang mountain and despite the campground being very full, we were the only ones up there.

The trail starts about 200m up the road from the campsite (towards the station). It can be hard to miss so keep your eyes out.

The trail takes about 30 – 60 minutes and is quite steep.

When you get to the top of Doi Ang Khang, you will be rewarded with some of the most insane views in Northern Thailand. There is a 360-degree view of the entire area.

Sunset is a particularly great time to go to see the beautiful colours, but be sure to bring a headlamp for the way down.

Day 4: Doi Ang Khang to Chiang Dao

From Doi Ang Khang, it’s time to finish up your Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary and return to Chiang Dao.

Most of the driving is pretty straightforward and along the highway. First, however, you have to descend a gnarly road. Think crazy twists and turns and gradients that I didn’t know were possible. It’s a hell of a lot of fun, just take it slow and easy.

What to Pack for your Chiang Mai Road Trip

For this Chai Mai route, you’ll need to be self-sufficient. Here’s our packing list, with our recommendations for specific gear.

Sleeping pad
Blow up pillow
Sleeping bag
Ground blanket

Women’s Clothing

Hiking tank top
Merino t-shirt
Long sleeve hiking shirt
Merino underwear
1 x lightweight merino socks
Thermal top
Thermal leggings
Swimming suit

Men’s Clothing

Hiking pants/shorts
2 x merino t-shirt
3 x merino underwear
Thermal bottoms
Down jacket
Toque / beanie
Cooking set (pot, bowls and mugs)
1 x 230 grams fuel canister
Collapsible tea kettle (a luxury, but it’s worth it!)
MSR MugMate Coffee Filter
Pocket knife
Lighter and matches (in a waterproof bag)
Water bladder
Water bottle
Steripen Ultra Rechargeable Portable UV
Toilet paper
Hand sanitizer
Biodegradable dish soap
Mini sponge (just cut a regular one)
Rubbish bags

Electronics

Phone and charging cables
Power bank and/or solar panel
Camera and/or GoPro plus charging cords
Microfiber towe l
Biodegradable toothpaste
First aid kit
Bug repellant
Book / kindle
Games to play at camp – deck of cards, or our favourite, Yahtzee

Considering travel insurance for your trip to Thailand? Shop for plans at SafetyWing

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Here’s Why You Should Travel To Chiang Mai, Thailand

W hen it comes to Thai destinations , Bangkok often steals the spotlight with its busy streets, neon-lit nightlife, and the ever-present hum of activity. But hold on to your Tuk Tuks because there’s a gem up north quietly asserting itself as the preferred choice for discerning travelers—Chiang Mai. Step aside, Bangkok, and make room for the city that effortlessly serves cultural richness, natural beauty, and a laid-back vibe.

Bangkok is like that energetic friend who never sleeps , always has a story to tell, and thrives in chaos. But if you’re looking for something more zen, with a side of history and tradition, Chiang Mai is the understated hero you didn’t know you needed.

The Tempo Of Life In Chiang Mai

Everything is always in a constant state of flux in Bangkok. Chiang Mai, on the other hand, moves to its own beat. The city embraces a slower, more contemplative rhythm. Imagine trading the sounds of horns and engines for the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant chime of temple bells.

Bangkok has its share of impressive temples, but Chiang Mai takes the cake regarding architectural elegance and spiritual ambiance. A maze of ancient temples dot the old city, each bearing witness to a past era. Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Chiang Man are more than simply names; they are portals to different times.

Unique Flavors Of Chiang Mai Cuisine

Arguably one of the most crucial aspects of any trip is the food. Undoubtedly, Bangkok is a foodie’s paradise, but Chiang Mai adds its distinct flavors to the mix. The city is renowned for its delectable Khao Soi, a coconut curry noodle soup that will surely leave a lasting impression.

And if you think Pad Thai is the pinnacle of Thai cuisine, wait until you’ve savored the gastronomic delights of Chiang Mai’s night markets. Street food vendors line the streets, offering everything from spicy sausages to crispy fried insects for the more adventurous palate.

The Impressive Environment

While Bangkok’s skyline is a testament to urban development, Chiang Mai boasts a diverse and breathtaking landscape. The nearby mountains offer a refreshing escape from the city buzz, with opportunities for trekking, zip-lining, and meeting elephants in more ethical settings than Bangkok’s often controversial animal attractions.

The city also lays claim to the elusive “cool season” in Thailand. If you’ve ever visited Bangkok during the scorching heat, you’ll appreciate the cooler temperatures of Chiang Mai, especially from November to February. It’s like nature’s way of saying, “Hey, you deserve a break from that relentless heat. Come chill with us up north.”

Chiang Mai’s Festivals

Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng Lantern Festival is a spectacle that puts even Bangkok’s New Year celebrations to shame. Imagine a city bathed in a warm light as thousands of lanterns illuminate the night sky. It’s a hypnotic visual treat, providing a unique experience you won’t find in the bustling streets of Bangkok.

Temple Wat Mahawan, Chiang Mai, Thailand

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I will be travelling to Mae Rim from Pai in Nov and will like to stay in Mae Rim for 3 nights. My budget is 7000 THB a night. Any accommodations to recommend? Will be great if the accommodation comes with either a bathtub or a swimming pool.

I will like to cover some of the attractions below

- Elephant Poopoo paper park

- Pong Yang Adventure Park

-Siam Insect Zoo

- Bua Tong Sticky Waterfalls

- Ying Yong Flower Garden

- Plai Fa Strawberry Farm

3 replies to this topic

With the exception of Namtok Bua Tong, everything else is in Mae Sa valley, outside Mae Rim. And four of those are up in the Mon Cham area.

Plenty of places in Mon Cham with regular camping and pseudo glamping (dome tents with a real bed, air/con, private bath). There are some places with hotel type rooms as well. A lot of them now can be booked through the major OTAs like Agoda, Booking, etc. So many new places opening it is hard to keep track.

Thanks! Will 3 nights be too much in Mon Cham to cover the activities above? ◡̈

Your strawberry and flower farms are good for a leisurely afternoon. Pong Yang hard to say, a morning is enough for me, but kids can spend all day. Perhaps two nights would be OK. Perhaps your third night somewhere in down Mae Sa valley, a chance to include Queen Sirikit Gardens, a far more interesting place than an instagram flower farm, IMHO.

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Yidan by a river near her farm in Thailand

The Chinese émigrés leaving the pressures of home for laid back Chiang Mai

Thai tourist hotspot popular with backpackers has become an unlikely second home for thousands of Chinese people seeking alternative lifestyles

A pproaching her mid-30s, Xiong Yidan reckons that most of her friends are on to their second or even third babies. But Xiong has more than a dozen. There is Lucky, the street dog from Bangkok who jumped into a taxi with her and never left. There is Sophie and Ben, sibling geese, who honk from morning to night. Boop and Pan, both goats, are romantically involved. Dumpling the hedgehog enjoys a belly rub from time to time. The list goes on.

Xiong nurtures her brood from her 8,000 square metre farm in Chiang Dao, a mountainous district in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai province. Xiong has chronicled her journey from Beijing cryptocurrency marketing executive to farm girl in Thailand on social media; she’s particularly popular on Xiaohongshu, a female-focused app similar to Instagram, where she has more than 38,000 followers. Her account shows people that switching to a slower pace of life “is not just some illusion or idealistic thing, but is very actionable,” she says.

Moving to Thailand has allowed her to have a “multiverse version” of herself, where she can be a farmer, an influencer, a businesswoman and a single, child-free woman, away from the pressures of Chinese society.

Xiong Yidan talks about her decision to move to Thailand – video

Xiong is part of a burgeoning trend of Chinese people – particularly millennials – who feel that the country that was supposed to be the powerhouse of the 21st century has little to offer them personally in social, intellectual and spiritual terms. In recent years, an economic downturn and lingering trauma from the isolation of China’s draconian zero-Covid regime has pushed people who would otherwise be seen as the country’s success stories to emigrate.

“It felt like the end of the world,” says Linda Xu, of the Shanghai lockdown. Until March 2022, she was the general manager of a successful skateboarding start-up in Shanghai, but now she spends much of her time in Chiang Mai, “figuring out what the next chapter might be”.

Art, books, free speech

Linda, a young Chinese woman who has recently moved to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, a tourist hotspot popular with backpackers and nature-lovers, has become an unlikely second home for thousands of new Chinese émigrés. More than 110,000 Chinese nationals applied for long-term visas in Thailand between January and September in 2022, nearly the total number for 2019. Nearly half of the members of Thailand’s “elite card” visa scheme, which offers long term residency rights for a fee starting at 900,000 Thai Baht (£19,400) are Chinese. Thousands of them are settling in Chiang Mai, attracted by the city’s laid back atmosphere and permissive social environment – with or without the legalised marijuana.

Cannabis has never been freely available in the People’s Republic of China. But it was not so long ago that China’s big cities were replete with independent bookstores, cinemas and social spaces where like-minded people could meet openly to discuss topics such as feminism, LGBT issues, philosophy and anything else that might interest them. While certain topics were always forbidden, the country’s intelligentsia navigated these red lines with relative ease. But after more than a decade of increasingly iron-fisted rule by Xi Jinping, few, if any, of these spaces remain.

A book commemorating June 4th Tiananmen Sq massacre (codenamed May 35th) at Nowhere bookshop in Chiang Mai copy

So it is that Nowhere Bookstore opened in Chiang Mai in November 2023, after the launch of its sister shop in Taipei the previous year. Founded by Zhang Jieping, a mainland-born journalist who is now based at Harvard University, the small space stocks material on topics that would be impossible to discuss openly in China, such as the 2022 white paper protests and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. “There are many books that you can’t see or buy in mainland China,” says a young designer from Guangzhou who seized the opportunity to visit the shop while on holiday in Thailand, saying that she otherwise has to rely on the “fragmented information” of the Chinese internet.

As well as selling books, Nowhere also hosts Chinese-language events on wide-ranging topics for the growing Chinese community in Chiang Mai. At a recent event, the 62-year-old writer Zheng Shiping spoke about spending his retirement years in exile. Zheng started his career as a policeman in the 1980s but quit the force after Tiananmen Square massacre, and went on to become a renowned poet and writer, working under the pen name Ye Fu. He arrived in Thailand at the end of 2019, having heard from doctors in Wuhan, the capital of his home province of Hubei, about a virus that was spreading dangerously fast in the city.

Chinese writer Ye Fu by the pool near his home in Chiang Mai

“Thailand is certainly not as safe as the US, Europe or Japan,” he says, acutely aware of the fate of Gui Minhai , a Swedish bookseller who was kidnapped from Thailand in 2015, reappearing months later in Chinese custody, an incident which spooked dissidents in Thailand. “But it’s still basically a country with free speech. It basically protects human rights”.

Zheng is part of an older cabal of expats who have established a retirement village-meets-arts community in a suburb of Chiang Mai. Unlike the millennial transplants, this older generation was forged in China’s more liberal era of the 1980s, and have a more political perspective about the country’s trajectory. “We were hopeful, a generation of people who made great sacrifices and efforts, but ultimately failed,” says Zheng. “Young Chinese today are more desperate than we were then. In the next few years, they will be unemployed, their lives will be in crisis, and their rights as human beings will diminish little by little.”

For Du Yinghong, an artist, part of the reason he emigrated was because he believes that “art is dead” in his home country. “It’s spiritually unsatisfying, materially unsatisfying,” he says. As well as the low cost of living in Thailand, Du was attracted to the country’s Buddhism. Thailand is thought to be home to the second-largest number of Buddhists in the world after China, and as a share of the population, it is far more prevalent in Thailand, with 90% of adults claiming adherence to the faith, according to Pew Research Centre . “Chinese Buddhism is Buddhism in quotation marks,” says Du, aged 48. “There is no real Buddhism in China, there is no real Christianity, there is no real Islam … it’s all fake. Of course, there are a lot of really devout people in China, good people, but what they do, or believe in, it’s in a specific kind of political environment, it doesn’t allow you to have real faith”.

Many of the Chinese in Thailand say that they are attracted to the idea of a less consumerist, more peaceful lifestyle, informed by Thailand’s Buddhist principles. With the highest rate of inequality in east and south-east Asia, Thailand’s appeal may be informed more by the fact that the low cost of living allows relatively wealthy Chinese to have a slower pace of life in Chiang Mai than they could afford in Chongqing. Nonetheless, the space Thailand offers for people looking for a more spiritual life is another draw for Chinese who feel increasingly suffocated at home.

Chinese tourists at a temple in Chiang Mai copy

F ounded in 2010, Panyaden International School is a school made nearly entirely out of bamboo that offers an education based on Buddhist principles, known as bhavana. Staff participate in an annual silent meditation retreat and the students harvest their own rice from a nearby paddy field, to learn about the effort that goes into feeding the planet. More than 10% of the students are from China, and although fees reach up to 549,000 Thai baht (£11,900) a year, that is still only around a third of the cost of top international schools in Beijing. Chinese parents are drawn to the fact that the school offers an international, diverse education for their children, while also being rooted in Asian values, says Gloria Niu, a Chinese lecturer at Chiang Mai University who sends her own daughter to Panyaden. One of the school’s “12 wise habits”, which teachers emphasise to children, is the value of “knowing the right amount”, a reference to the idea of not consuming too much, or too little.There is also an in-house spiritual adviser. It is an approach to education that is unimaginable in mainstream, hyper-competitive Chinese schools.

Xiong says her parents feel that the money they spent on her education has been “flushed down the toilet”. But living in Thailand is “the only way I have the freedom to do whatever I want,” she reflects. “Without actually actively choosing it, I am having this kind of feminist lifestyle.”

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Your Trip to Chiang Mai: The Complete Guide
Planning Your Trip . Best Time to Visit: Between November and February, Chiang Mai experiences the lowest overall temperatures and humidity for the year, making this period the best time to visit.This time of year also coincides with festivals like Loi Krathong and the Chiang Mai Flower Festival.; Language: The majority of people speak Thai, with older and rural folk speaking Lanna (the ...
20 BEST Things to Do in Chiang Mai on Your First Trip
The Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road takes place every night and is a great way to spend an evening in Chiang Mai. The nearby Ploen Ruedee night market is a great spot for street food as well. 8. Try Muay Thai. If you want to give Thailand's national sport a go, Chiang Mai is a great place to do it.
3-Day Chiang Mai Itinerary • MUST READ! (2024 Guide)
Plan your trip to Chiang Mai with this comprehensive guide that covers the best attractions, activities, and accommodation options in 3 days. From elephants and temples to markets and massages, discover the culture and nature of this relaxed city in northern Thailand.
13 AWESOME Things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand [2024]
9) Do a Meditation Course at Wat Doi Suthep. 10) Get a Thai Massage at the Chiang Mai Women's Correctional Institution. 11) Cliff Diving at the Hang Dong Rock Quarry. 12) Get A Sak Yant From a Monk. 13) Go Shopping at the Night Bazaar. Chiang Mai Travel Guide. Where to Stay in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai, Thailand: All You Must Know Before You Go (2024
About Chiang Mai. You could spend your whole vacation just exploring Chiang Mai's famous city center, where the remains of ancient walls wrap around 30-plus temples. Energetic travelers can climb 300 stairs to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, an ornate Buddhist temple in the hills. Wat Chedi Luang holds a jade replica of the famed emerald Buddha.
THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Chiang Mai
Things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand: See Tripadvisor's 614,875 traveler reviews and photos of Chiang Mai tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in April. We have reviews of the best places to see in Chiang Mai. ... Inthanon Day Trip from Chiang Mai with Lunch - Group or Private. 148. Full-day Tours. from . $67.
45 Absolute Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Responsible Travel Tip: When shopping at Chiang Mai's many markets, don't forget to bring your own reusable bag and turn down plastic ones whenever possible. Check out this article for more eco-friendly travel gear! Psst! We didn't forget about the famous Chiang Mai Night Markets! (See #7 for more info!) 26. Eat ALL the tropical fruits!
The Perfect 3 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary for First Time Visitors
Walking: walking is a great way to explore Chiang Mai's Old City. Renting a bicycle: Getting around Chiang Mai by bike is another good option. Within the city, the streets are flat, and in general, other vehicles will give you plenty of room. Renting a bike will cost around 200 - 300 bhat/day.
Detailed Chiang Mai Itinerary for 3, 4 or 5 days [2024]
Another fun day trip for those spending 5 days in Chiang Mai is Lampang, located about a 3-hour train ride away. Trains depart daily from Chiang Mai at 6.30 a.m, 8.50 a.m, 9.30 a.m, and 3.30 p.m (be sure to double-check the timetable at the train station).
Chiang Mai travel
Chiang Mai. Thailand, Asia. The former seat of the Lanna kingdom is a blissfully calm place to relax and recharge your batteries - in a city still firmly Thai in its atmosphere and attitude. Best Things to Do. Day Trips.
Plan Your Trip to Chiang Mai Today
The topic of how many days in Chiang Mai you should spend is pretty simple. If you're content to stay in the city and explore outward (Elephant Nature Park, Doi Inthanon) on day trips, 2-3 days in Chiang Mai will serve you, as it does the vast majority of travelers. This allows for a full day in the city center, plus two days outside ...
13 Best Things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Discover all the best things to do in Chiang Mai — packed with temples, bustling markets, and some of the best coffee shops in the country. 13 Best Things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand ... Costs of Traveling in Chiang Mai. Travel on a budget in Chiang Mai, from $100 − $450 USD weekly per person, mid-range $370 − $990 USD, and high-end ...
25 Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai (Thailand)
1. Take A Visit To Doi Suthep. The most famous attraction in all of Chiang Mai is Doi Suthep, every travel agent and driver will ask you if you want to go, it is like Big Ben is to London. Doi Suthep is about 12km outside of Chiang Mai and is a mountain that has a fantastic view over all of the city.
Chiang Mai Budget Travel Guide (Updated 2024)
The sites tend to be 1-1.5 hours' drive from Chiang Mai into the mountains, but most operators include a return shuttle trip in the booking fee. Ziplining starts at about 2,400 THB. 2. Go jungle trekking. Chiang Mai is the main starting point for all sorts of jungle trekking tours.
The Ultimate 5 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary
The Best 5 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary. Day 1: Exploring the Old City. Day 2: Elephant Sanctuary and Doi Suthep. Day 3: Cooking Class and Night Bazaar. Day 4: Doi Inthanon National Park. Day 5: Yoga Retreat and Nimmanhaemin Road. Where to stay in Chiang Mai. Map Of This Chiang Mai Itinerary. FAQs About This Chiang Mai Itinerary.
Perfect 4 Days in Chiang Mai Itinerary for First-Timers
Where to Stay in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai Itinerary 4 Days - Overview. Day 1: Chiang Mai Landmarks and Attractions. Day 2: Visit an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary. Day 3: Experience the Adventurous Side of Chiang Mai. Day 4: Rest and Relaxation in Chiang Mai. Author Bio.
Ultimate Chiang Mai Itineraries: From 3 Days to 5 Days
How to Get To Chiang Mai from Bangkok. Chiang Mai is nearly 700 kilometers (430 miles) north of Bangkok. Flying is the best (quickest, most convenient) and our most recommended way to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. The flight only takes about 1 hour. Departures are from 6 am to 9 pm. More local and economical ways include taking a train or bus.
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Chiang Mai Night Safari. If you are visiting Chiang Mai with family and are looking for something to do in the evening, check out the Chiang Mai Night Safari (open daily 1 to 8PM). The park hosts over 1,400 animals and although it was inspired by the Singapore Night Safari, the one in Chiang Mai surpasses it in area, covering over 132 hectares.
Chiang Mai Solo Travel Guide: Exploring Alone in the North of Thailand
As an inland city without the high tourist demand of beach areas, Chiang Mai is pleasantly affordable. Hostel dorms start around 150 THB ($4.50 USD), while private guesthouse rooms generally run 500-800 THB ($15-25 USD). Even mid-range hotels and boutique resorts can be booked for under $100 per night.
Chiang Mai Road Trip: An Epic 4-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Chiang Dao to Pong Arng Hot Springs (Pha Daeng National Park) On this Chiang Mai route, the first destination is Pong Arng Hot Springs, located within Pha Daeng National Park. These little-known hot springs are 31 km north of Chiang Dao. The drive is very easy.
Visit Chiang Mai: Travel Guide to Thailand
4. Chiang Rai. Similarly named and just three hours away by bus, Chiang Rai is synonymous with Chiang Mai. Many tourists who travel to the region often visit both. Chiang Rai isn't as big as Chiang Mai but it's home to one of Thailand's most interesting and unique temples, Wat Rong Khun or the White Temple.
Here's Why You Should Travel To Chiang Mai, Thailand
Arguably one of the most crucial aspects of any trip is the food. Undoubtedly, Bangkok is a foodie's paradise, but Chiang Mai adds its distinct flavors to the mix. The city is renowned for its ...
Accommodations recommendations Mae Rim
Preview. Chiang Mai forums. Get answers to your questions about Chiang Mai. Ask a question. Accommodations recommendations Mae Rim 11:55 pm. 3 night itinerary check 11:30 pm. Laundry service near Na Nirand today. Government Opening Emergency "clean air centers" in CM Apr 11, 2024. Infant car seats Apr 09, 2024.
The Chinese émigrés leaving the pressures of home for laid back Chiang Mai
Linda, a young Chinese woman who has recently moved to Chiang Mai Photograph: Christopher Cherry/The Guardian. Chiang Mai, a tourist hotspot popular with backpackers and nature-lovers, has become ...
A Refreshing Stroll at Khlong Mae Kha
#songkran2024 Address: Khlong Mae Kha Average Spending per person: $10 I recently visited Khlong Mae Kha in Chiang Mai and was absolutely delighted by the transformation! This once quiet riverside has turned into a vibrant cultural spot, perfect for an evening stroll or a fun night out. 🎉 Scenic and Serene 🌺 Walking along the clean, flower-lined paths with new, charming Japanese-style ...
Chiang Mai battles extensive forest fires and severe air pollution
Chiang Mai, a city in the northern region of Thailand, is currently combating an alarming number of forest fires, with over 15 fires reported, some of which have been persisting for three days.As per the local authorities, 17 out of 153 hotspots were detected in the city yesterday. Five of these hotspots are located in the Chiang Dao district, with two positioned on Doi Nang in Baan Na Lao of ...

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9:00 AM – Elephant Nature Park

4:00 PM – Wat Phra Singh

5:00 PM – Wat Phan Tao

6:00 PM – Wat Chedi Luang

7:30 PM – Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

9:00 AM – Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center

11:00 AM – Chiang Mai National Museum

1:30 PM – Wat Umong

3:00 PM – Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

4:00 PM San Kamphaeng Road

8:30 AM – Lanna Folklife Museum

10:00 AM – Bhubing Palace

12:00 AM – Mae Ping River

3:00 PM – Thai Massage

4:30 PM – Terracotta Garden

Need a place quick? Here’s the best neighborhood in Chiang Mai

1. Chiang Mai Gate Market

2. Wat Umong

3. Wualai Walking Street

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1. Climb up “Sticky Waterfalls”

2. Hike the Pilgrim’s Path to a temple in the jungle (Wat Pha Lat)

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3. See elephants in Chiang Mai the responsible way

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4. Paddle down river with a Bamboo Raft

5. Go temple hopping

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6. Visit Doi Suthep Temple (Wat Phra That)

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7. Shop for souvenirs at one of Chiang Mai’s Night Markets

8. Take a Thai Cooking Class

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9. Try Khao Soi in Chiang Mai

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10. Explore Doi Inthanon National Park

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11. Take an adventurous day trip to Lampang’s “Floating Pagodas” (Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat)

12. Relax at Huay Kaew Waterfall and swimming hole

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13. Go hiking around Chiang Mai

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14. Hang out at this secret (Mok Fa Waterfall)