This year, I got to visit Chiang Mai, Thailand for the second time. It was my husband and my mom’s first time visiting the city, and I honestly couldn’t remember what I had done there the last time. It was fun to go back with them and remember some of the things I did, but also discover new things this time around. From markets to cabaret shows, the city is an amazing juxtaposition of traditional and modern. Here are my top 10 things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Local Morning Market
If you want to travel like a local, one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai is visit a morning market. While night markets are insanely popular and mentioned in every guidebook, the morning markets are a more local experience. Many of the vendors sell produce, meat, seafood or other ingredients to cook with, but there are some who make precooked food. These markets are super cheap, and you can try multiple items for a fraction of what you would pay at a restaurant.
We went to San Pa Koi Market in Chiang Mai as part of our cooking class. We loved it so much we went back a few days later when we had more time to explore and walk around. It’s a good place to go for brunch as many of the stalls will close up shop by 12pm. Watch what locals are buying and try some of the random things you don’t recognize.
Night Market
Night markets might be one of my favorite things in Thailand. I dragged my family to every single one I could find within a one hour distance. The night market in Chiang Mai is great because it’s close to the old town and stretches down several blocks. The food in these markets is some of the best and cheapest food you’ll find in Chiang Mai. I recommend going as a group and ordering a bunch of things to share.
Night markets are also a fantastic place to buy souvenirs and clothing. The quality isn’t high, but you can get some cool and unique stuff for cheap. Remember to negotiate and ask a few different stalls the price before buying. Many places sell the same thing so it’s easy to see if one place is selling t-shirts for 100 baht and the next place is selling the same item for 300 baht.
Elephant Sanctuary
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Chiang Mai are the elephant sanctuaries that have gained popularity over the last ten years. In the past, elephants were used to help with the logging industry in a time before modern equipment was available. Foreigners saw locals riding the elephants and wanted to try. This created a new demand for elephant riding in cities where tourists were often found. Later, tourists became aware of the harsh training program elephants undergo to submit to giving rides on their back. The elephants are tortured until their spirits are broken.
Now, elephant sanctuaries have become popular. These sanctuaries rescue elephants from the logging industry and riding industry and offer the elephants an alternative. Elephants are extremely expensive to feed, and the already domesticated elephants can’t be returned to the jungle. These elephants are rescued by sanctuaries where they can roam in a safely enclosed piece of land large enough for them to enjoy life. During the day, tourists can visit and feed them bananas and give them a bath. The elephants aren’t chained or ridden. Elephants can live up to 70 years, so these sanctuaries help the elephants live out their lives in a happy safe environment.
I’ve visited Elephant Nature Park and Into the Wild Elephant Camp. Elephant Nature Park is one of the most well-known sanctuaries and has a large number of elephants with a lot of package options. Into the Wild Elephant Camp is much smaller but offers a more personal touch. Both experiences were special and I’d recommend both of them depending on your budget and how much time you want to spend there.
Temples
There are so many temples in Chiang Mai that you don’t need to go out of the way to see them. If you spend a day walking around aimlessly, you’ll see at least ten without even looking for them. I’ll describe a few below, but there are so many small temples that the guidebooks don’t mention. You can pop into any of them for a quick visit, to meditate, or to enjoy the architecture. Make sure to dress appropriately. Women should not wear shorts or tank tops inside the temple areas.
Wat Chedi Luag is one of the oldest popular temples in the old city. It dates back to 1385. It used to be home to the emerald Buddha which is now in the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
Wat Phra Singh is another popular temple in the old city. It has several buildings on the premise including a few stupas that are so gold your camera has trouble focusing on them on a sunny day.
Wat Chiang Man was built in the 13th century. It’s known for having scenic grounds and gardens.
Wat Lok Moli is beautiful in a different way. Dating back to the 14th century, this temple features more wood. I love this older rustic looking style of temples which contrasts with the new brightly painted red and white ones that are more common these days.
Wat Phan Tao is another temple that features a wood ceremonial hall. It was also founded in the 14th century and is made using teak wood with gilded accents.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is located inside the national park outside of the city of Chiang Mai in the neighboring hills. It requires a 309 stair climb and is considered one of the most famous and most visited temples in Chiang Mai.
Old Town
If you’re planning to visit a few of the temples of Chiang Mai, you’ll likely find yourself in the Old Town. The Old Town is an area that used to be walled off to outsiders. The wall still remains in some areas and looks like ancient ruins.
I recommend starting at Phae Gate which is one of the old main entrances. I love this area because there are a ton of pigeons and for some money, a local person will help you capture the perfect pigeon photo. I’m actually bummed we didn’t do this. They stand you in one place, then they feed the pigeons around you, and all of a sudden they throw a metal can full of pennies hard at the floor and all the pigeons fly around like crazy just in time to capture the perfect picture of you walking through them. Even if you don’t take a photo, it’s hilarious to watch, and I absolutely love the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of the locals.
You can also find the Three Kings Monument which honors the three kings of the Lanna kingdom which was prosperous for more than 700 years. The monument is situated in front of the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre and the Chiang Mai Historical Centre.
Old Town is also a fantastic place to walk around. The streets are clean and there isn’t too much traffic. You can go shopping in cute boutiques, visit coffee shops, and dine at nice restaurants. Wandering around without much of a plan is an enjoyable way to spend a relaxing day in the city. I recommend starting on Rachadamnoen Road which has a lot of fun things to see and passes by a few of the popular temples.
Thai Massage
Thai massages are something you tend to either love or hate. I absolutely love them. I should start by saying that Thai massages can be intense. I always ask for a “soft” massage. Thai massage focuses on pressure points and has a unique feel compared to other massages. There’s also some yoga like stretches at the end. Thai massages are the only massages I’ve ever had where I leave feeling like I have a new body for the next three to five days. The crazy thing is most places only charge around ten dollars.
My favorite massage was in Chiang Mai at Lila Massage. We found out after our massage that the masseuses are women who served time in prison. Thai massages are a way for prisoners to earn money when they finish serving time. I have to say, it was the best massage I’ve ever had and one of the nicest massage parlors in that price range. If I lived in Chiang Mai, I’d surely go there once a week.
Cooking Class
One of my favorite things to do in each country is take a cooking class. While souvenirs get lost or go unused, knowing how to make food from a different culture is something that you can keep with you and impress friends and family with later. Out of all the cooking classes I took, Thai cuisine is the one I make the most often back home. My mom has cooked Thai food with me tons of times, so I was excited for her to take a class like I did.
We decided to go with Mama Noi Cookery School as I wanted to take a different class than I did last time. The class includes a tour of a local morning market where you get to see the ingredients you’ll use and try foods that they sell there.
In the cooking class, they give you several choices for what to make and you can choose based on your palette. The three of us decided to make all different dishes which was a lot of fun and a little confusing. The class was upbeat with an amazing cooking space and garden. You get to eat everything you cook, and ours tasted like it was prepared by professionals. Pam was our teacher and we enjoyed the way she taught in a fun and energetic manner.
LadyBoy Cabaret
I was sad that I didn’t go to a LadyBoy cabaret show last time I was in Thailand. I was traveling solo and was afraid to go to a bar alone at night and then walk back to my dorm at night. So, I dragged my mom and husband to a show this time. We ended up at Ram Show Bar after checking a lot of reviews online. The performances were amazing!
You are required to buy drinks, but I thought it was worth it for the quality of the show. The only downside was how late it started and even with a reservation, you had to get there almost an hour early. Overall, it was a fun experience and we had a fun night out in Chiang Mai.
Tuk-Tuk Ride
Taking a tuk-tuk ride is something you can’t do in many countries, and it’s become a bucket list item for people visiting Thailand. I recommend getting a tuk-tuk at night. Look for the ones with the neon lights and the music playing. There’s something so fun and silly about flying through traffic with a disco happening and feeling like you are about to fall out the side at every turn. It might not be the grandest thing to do, but you can’t visit Thailand without getting in at least one tuk-tuk.
Sak Yant Tattoo
I got a sak yant tattoo on my first visit to Thailand in 2017. At the time, I was doing a deep dive into Buddhism and Eastern culture. Getting a sak yant was special to me because it wasn’t an average tattoo. It would be done by a monk in a temple (or nearby a temple) and at the end it would be given a special blessing. I chose the design I have as it represents protection from all eight directions. It also represents reaching enlightenment. The center is chaos and as you go outward the lines get simpler until they straighten outward. It’s similar to Buddhist stupas. The bottom represents suffering and as you make your way to the top which is a thin point, it represents peace and enlightenment.
I will say that getting a sak yant is not for the faint of heart. The tattoo is done by hand with a non-mechanical needle. Some places even use bamboo. It’s the traditional way to get a tattoo. It’s believed that the more pain you feel, the more spiritual the tattoo is. I almost passed out. I’ve never understood the phrase, “the blood drained from their face” until I got a sak yant.
You can read about my full experience in this post: Getting a Sak Yant
Have any questions about my favorite things to do in Chiang Mai? Ask in the comments.
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Michelle Della Giovanna
Writer at Full Time Explorer
I’m just your average New Yorker who quit her job in the fashion industry to explore the world. Come find out what it’s like to trade in five-inch heels for squat toilets.
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