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Chiang Mai is the gateway to northern Thailand. It gives visitors an alternative to Bangkok in the way of city life. Due to its increasing popularity, it can be a little bit touristy but don’t let that take away from the fact that Chiang Mai is a very fun place to be. It has a special atmosphere, it doesn’t feel like you are in an ever-growing city but instead a town where everything you need is on your doorstep. Visitors to Chiang Mai will have no trouble in finding fun things to do and excellent food to eat. For those visiting Thailand’s popular northern city, this Chiang Mai Travel Guide will hopefully help you in some way.
Getting In
By Land
The majority of people travelling to Chiang Mai by land tend to do so from the south. I highly recommended you do this journey by taking the night train. Travelling overnight on the Bangkok to Chiang Mai train is a delight. You get a bed that is surprisingly comfortable and the train journey as a whole is usually quite peaceful. An alternative is to do this journey by bus. Whilst it can be cheaper this way (about half the price), don’t expect a great night’s sleep. Thai bus drivers are crazy and the roads are often not great. Whether you travel by bus or train, when you arrive you will have to take a songthaew (A shared taxi) to your accommodation. Both stations are too far from the town to walk.
By Air
Chiang Mai Airport has flights to and from other parts of Thailand as well as many international destinations, primarily in Asia. The airport is located a short distance from the Old City and although public transport is not available, you can take either a taxi or a songthaew. It is usually financially better off to use one of the taxi apps, Uber or Grab. Grab is basically the South East Asian version of Uber and both work pretty much the same way.
To get a full understanding of the visa system for Thailand, click here.
Where To Stay
Chiang Mai is by no means a huge city and is, therefore, one that is very walkable. This makes finding accommodation in a prime location quite easy. The city has a huge amount of hotels, hostels and guesthouses that are very reasonably priced, considerably cheaper than in other parts of Thailand. The centre of the city is known as the ‘Old Town’. This is a large, walled area of Chiang Mai filled with temples, restaurants, bars and much more. The closer you are to this area, the easier it will be to get around and see the city.
I stayed at Hug Hostel Rooftop, located a stone’s throw from the Old Town. This is a well-equipped hostel that in comparison to others was an absolute bargain. The beds were comfortable, the bathrooms were clean and it had a cool bar on the rooftop that sold cheap drinks. What made it even better was my favourite places to eat in Chiang Mai were just a couple of minutes walk away. Dorms and Private Rooms are available.
When To Go
Visitors to Chiang Mai are quite lucky as the weather never gets too bad. September and October are the wettest months, but heavy showers can happen at any time throughout the year. High season starts in December to February, the rain showers will be less frequent but temperatures have yet to peak. The hot season is from March to June. I would suggest avoiding that if you plan on frequent or strenuous activity. I think of November as the best month to visit. There are fewer crowds, less rain and it’s not quite as hot, but in reality, any time of the year is a good time to travel to Chiang Mai.
What To Do
Visit An Elephant Sanctuary
Elephants are magnificent creatures and the chance to see them in close proximity is too good an opportunity to pass up for a lot of people. Most visits to an elephant sanctuary consist of the same activities. You will feed the elephants, give them a mud-bath, take them for a walk and swim with them. This usually takes the best part of a day although your time with the elephants can be considerably shorter than you think. It is important that you choose a reputable company and not one that mistreats the elephant.
I suggest doing a lot of research before booking. I chose to visit Hug Elephant Sanctuary. For the most part, everything seemed good even if there were a few red flags that I was unhappy about. Unfortunately, this will always be the lesser of two evils when it comes to elephant tourism, a business that makes way too much money to ever be stopped.
Take A Cooking Class
The locals of Chiang Mai have certainly catered to the mass amount of tourists that visit. They offer them any activity and excursion that may be of interest to them. One hugely popular activity is to take a cooking class. Thai food is awesome and anyone that eats it would love to be able to whip up some of their favourite dishes at home. Classes typically last half a day and visitors get to cook a range of dishes they can choose from the options available. The classes are a lot of fun and of course, you get to eat everything you make, so arrive with an empty stomach!
Visit the ‘Grand Canyon’
Chiang Mai’s Grand Canyon is a waterpark built in an abandoned limestone quarry. The quarry had been empty for many years and was naturally filled with rainfall. After becoming a popular swimming spot due to its natural beauty, a waterpark was opened in 2016. It offers an inflatable obstacle course, slides, a small zip line and wakeboarding as well as the opportunity to dive into the water from the steep cliffs. The waterpark is located about 20 minutes out of Chiang Mai and can be reached by songthaew, taxi or scooter.
Take A Trek Through The Jungle
The north of Thailand is packed with jungles. Plenty of companies offer trips into these jungles, most lasting at least one night. It is possible, however, to undertake a trek that lasts up to three days. You will see amazing landscapes, waterfalls, lagoons and everything else that you would hope for. Don’t expect luxury, especially when dealing with companies that suit those on a lower budget.
Temple Hop
Should you be suffering from temple burnout, then maybe it would be best to avoid Chiang Mai for a while. It seems that everywhere you look, especially in the Old Town, there is a temple of some description. Some are not worth writing home about but there are more than a few really spectacular temples to see. Wat Suan Dok and Wat Chiang Man are definitely worth visiting. However, my favourite is Wat Chedi Luang and its giant, broken stupa that sits in the centre of the complex.
Visit the Night Market
The nightly market in Chiang Mai is huge! It offers the best shopping opportunity in the city. The Night Bazaar runs every evening from 18:00 to 22:30 and spreads from the intersection of Chang Khlan Road and Loi Khro Road. Like any Thai market, there is an abundance of counterfeit clothes and electronics, hand-made crafts as well as a huge amount of food and entertainment on offer.
An alternative to the Night Market is the Sunday Market in the Old Town. The market sells similar items to the night market and seems never-ending. If you are visiting Chiang Mai during a weekend, this market is definitely worth visiting.
Wat Doi Suthep
An easy and cheap day trip from Chiang Mai is to the nearby temple of Wat Doi Suthep. This Buddhist temple is a sacred site for many Thai people. The golden temple is located on Doi Suthep mountain and offers amazing views of Chiang Mai and its surrounding landscapes. The best way to reach the temple is by taking a shared taxi. These leave when full from outside the 7/11 at Chiang Mai’s North Gate.
Where To Eat
Chiang Mai is a fantastic city to eat in. Good food is often within close distance and it’s very cheap too. To read about my favourite places to eat in Chiang Mai, click here.
What To Avoid
Elephant-Riding
Whilst most who visit Chiang Mai, myself included, do so with the intention of visiting an Elephant Sanctuary, there are a select few that want to ride the Elephants too. Unfortunately, a number of places still offer this to tourists. Elephant Riding is as inhumane as it gets. The treatment of these elephants is appalling and what they must go through to allow humans to mount them is disturbing, to say the least. Whilst elephant sanctuaries are not perfect, they are certainly the best option available. Whatever you do, DO NOT FUND OR ENCOURAGE THIS PRACTICE!
Tiger Kingdom
This, for me, is an awkward one. I have, out of curiosity, visited the Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai. I expected to find Tigers drugged and chained but in fact, it was quite the opposite. The enclosures were quite spacious and the tigers moved in a way that was startling. They could pace across the cage just as you would expect. The tiger cubs were also a lot of fun to be around and play with. However, the reality is that this is completely unnatural. Whilst I did not see it for myself, something off has to be at play there. For that reason, I would err on the side of caution and avoid this attraction.
Chiang Mai is a city that really grew on me. On initial viewing, it can feel like a city that has catered too much to the tourist, but once you begin to see past that, the city can start to really take a hold of you. It is relaxing, fun, full of good food and a side of Thailand that you will see nowhere else. My second time in Chiang Mai, I stayed for ten days and even then had no desire to leave. You can quite easily fit in with the relaxed way of life there. This Chiang Mai trave guide will keep those who visit for a few days entertained but to truly appreciate Chiang Mai, I recommend staying considerably longer.
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