Top Things to do in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the hub of Northern Thailand, making it the perfect way to extend a trip in the country while seeing some amazing sights. Often thought of as a resort town, the city is home to great religious monuments, nature excursions, and tremendous food & shopping opportunities. The best times to visit Chiang Mai are November - February, given the moderate temperatures and regular amount of tourists. Let’s look at some of the highlights you can do over the course of a few days in Chiang Mai.
Visit an Elephant Sanctuary
This is by far the most popular reason people visit Chiang Mai, as there are over 80 different homes for elephants in northern Thailand. Definitely do your research before hand to ensure the sanctuary you visit treats their elephants ethically, but most were rescued and taken care of well. A couple we would recommend that have been vetted are Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary and Happy Elephant Home.
You’ll get an opportunity to see multiple elephants up close, take part in their feeding and bathing routines, and learn about the history of these majestic animals in Thailand. Given there is a bit of a drive into nature involved, most tours also include hikes to the nearby waterfalls and boating excursions on the rivers that adorn the farms. This makes for an excellent way to spend a day and see more of the nature of Chiang Mai.
Explore the prominent temples
Thailand has such a rich religious history, and thankfully, many of the Buddhist temples constructed years ago are still intact and open to the public. Within the city itself, there are some beautiful structures, like Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh; these are open throughout the day, and given that they are in the city itself, are quite accessible to do in between activities.
However, I’d urge you to take the extra effort and see two temples that are around a 45 minute drive away from the city center. Firstly, Doi Suthep is the most famous temple in Chiang Mai, as it is a large Buddhist temple situated on a mountain. It is quite a large complex and to see how many monks and people were praying was amazing. Secondly, Doi Kham held an astonishingly large Buddha, that sits at over 50 feet tall. Literally meaning “Temple of the Golden Mountain”, Doi Kham was our favorite temple in Chiang Mai and really was a breathtaking sight to behold.
Relax with a Massage
Massages in Chiang Mai can be found all over the city and are so affordable (usually under 20 USD for a full hour) that it’s hard to resist getting one daily. The quality of the massages is impeccable and the best ones can be found in the Old Town. This makes for a great pit stop between other tourist or food activities, allowing you to relax in between the busy days exploring this remarkable city.
Check out the Night Markets
Nightlife in Chiang Mai is less prominent than in other Thai cities like Bangkok or Phuket, but there are still some great things to do in the evenings. Particularly the food and shopping scene is quite electric in this area. The Night Bazaar is a fantastic strip open every night in the center of the city, where many vendors sell souvenirs & goods, and foodstalls are lined in hawker centers on the street. The Ploen Ruedee Night Market particularly had incredible food and drink options, along with live music at nights, making for a great way to sample a bunch of different parts of the Thai cuisine.
Chiang Mai ended up being our favorite place in Thailand and we hope you end up feeling the same way! Let us know if you’d add anything to this list.
