Updated on April 08, 2022
Welcome to Chiang Mai
The old city gate, the ancient city wall and the moat, after more than 700 years of wind and frost, still guard this ancient city of Chiang Mai. The Thapae Gate welcomes worldwide visitors by its orange-red brick walls. More than 300 temples and pagodas, as witnesses of history and precipitation of culture, are scattered all over the streets and alleys. The Chedilong Temple and the splendid Ssangyong Temple are the famous representatives.
Lively Market
The lively and joyous market with good quality and low price has long become the business card of Chiang Mai. People buy handicrafts, ethnic costumes, taste special snacks, and even experience Thai's massage on the street. The Saturday and the Sunday Night Market, which are only open on weekends, the Changkang Road Night Market, which is open every day, and the Warorot Market, which is mostly populated by locals, are the most popular markets.
Highlights in Chiang Mai
1
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Suthep Mountain is the best overlooking point of Chiang Mai.
It is named after two long dragons sitting and lying on the steps on both sides. It is a famous Buddhist summer resort in Thailand. The observation deck at the back of the main hall overlooks the entire downtown area of Chiang Mai.
Opening Hours: 6:00 - 18:00
2
Chiang Mai Night Market
As the largest tourist city in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai has gathered a lot of Thai businessmen, which has given birth to a rich and colorful snack culture. These popular snacks are mostly found in Chiang Mai’s night markets, such as Sunday Night Market, Saturday Night Market and Chiang Mai Night Market.
3
Thai Cooking Classes
One of the most popular things to do in Chiang Mai is taking part in a Thai Cooking Class. There are more than 10 establishments in downtown, which is possible to learn and taste the traditional and authentic local cuisine. Actually, Thai food is very easy to learn. Some establishments have Spanish, French and Chinese speaking classes.
4
Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang is the most famous and largest of the six temples in Chiang Mai.
There are Lanna style temples and world famous ancient stupas. Each building has its own characteristics, but they complement each other very harmoniously. The educated monks and devout believers make the Chedi Luang Temple exude a peaceful and elegant atmosphere.
5
Elephant Nature Park
There is no saddle riding and performance here. You can get close to the elephants by feeding and bathing. The park has one-day tours, multi-day tours, and various volunteer projects, which can be booked on the official website and provide pick-up service.
Official website: http://www.elephantnaturepark.org
6
The Thapae Gate
Thapae Gate is the most popular attraction in Chiang Mai. It is the best preserved of the four gates in the ancient city of Chiang Mai. It is also an important entrance for tourists to enter the ancient city of Chiang Mai. Not only has the rich history of vicissitudes, but also the new landmark of "the best pictures in Chiang Mai". Crimson brick walls and flocks of pigeons are the signs of Thapae Gate.
7
Doi Inthanon National Park
Mount Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand, with an altitude of 2565 meters.
Birds seem to be in greater densities here than in many other locations in Thailand, meaning that this is an ideal place to see a large number of bird species in a short space of time.
Good for: Birds Watching, Birds Photography
Practical Chiang Mai Travel Tips
Best Times to Visit Chiang Mai
November to February of the following year is the recommended travel time.
November to February of the following year: The Loy Krathong Lantern Festival in November and the Flower Festival in February, tourists and locals gather for carnival. Correspondingly, it is necessary to book air tickets and hotels at least two months in advance, and the price will be about twice as high as usual.
March to May: The Songkran Festival (Water Splashing Festival) on April 13-15 is the grandest festival in Chiang Mai. Although it is a hot season with a maximum temperature of 40°C, there are still many tourists coming.
June to October: Although it is the rainy season, the amount of rainfall is indeed not small, but generally only one rain a day, and it will end soon, basically does not affect travel. Hotels often have discounts during this time.
Loy Krathong Lantern Festival
If you only plan to come to Chiang Mai once in your life, please come during Loy Krathong.
Loy Krathong in November is a national festival in Thailand. Regardless of scale and sight, Chiang Mai is the most magnificent. The splendid sky lanterns, the river lanterns swaying along the river, the candlelights of Pandao Temple and the grand float parade all make Chiang Mai fancy and romantic.
The specific time of the Loy Krathong Festival is the full moon night of December in the Thai calendar. You can check out the specific dates and book tickets here.
