Top 9 Things to do in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is 700 km north of Bangkok, set in a verdant valley on the banks of the Ping River.

Famous all over the world for its rose; Chiang Mai enjoys the reputation of "Rose of the North".

Chiang Mai literally means "new city" and has retained the name despite celebrating its 700th anniversary in 1996. Served as the Capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lanna since 1296, Chiang Mai is one of the few cities in the world which still has a traditional moat around the city. The old city of Chiang Mai is a showcase of the north Thailand's fascinating indigenous cultural identity that includes diverse dialects, a delectable cuisine, distinctive architecture, traditional values, lively festivals, numerous handicrafts workshops, northern style massage, and classical dances.

Chiang Mai is also blessed with pristine natural resources including mountains, waterfalls, and rivers.

Chiang Mai is also a modern vibrant city with an International airport and good hotels. It is one of the few places in Thailand where it is possible to experience both historical and modern Thai culture coexisting side by side: the city features centuries-old pagodas and temples next to modern convenience stores and boutique hotels.

To help you to plan your trip to Chiang Mai, we listed the top 9 things to do in this beautiful city:

#1. Doi Suthep Mountain

It is famous for the Doi Suthep Temple on the mountain. Doi Suthep Temple, officially known as Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, is one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples, and its founding legend is learned by every schoolkid in Chiang Mai. The monastery was established in 1383 by King Keu Naone to enshrine a piece of bone said to be from the shoulder of the historical Buddha. The hillside is full of five-color roses, the top of the mountain is surrounded by white clouds, and the scenery is beautiful. Climbing to the top of the mountain, you can get a panoramic view of Chiang Mai city.

#2. Inthanon Mountain in Chiang Mai

The highest peak of the mountain is 2565 meters above sea level, which is the highest mountain in Thailand. It is actually part of the Himalayas, the mountain range that stretches from Nepal and Bhutan to Burma and Northern Thailand. It was originally known as Doi Luang, "big mountain" in Thai. The mountain is renamed in honor of the king Inthawichayanon, one of the last kings of Chiang Mai, who was concerned about the forests in the north of Thailand and wanted to preserve it. At the foot is Doi Inthanon National Park which is known for its biological diversity and complex ecological system that teems with wildlife. Even at the summit, the forest canopy is thick. It is here where the waters of the Ping River and its tributaries emanate from. The park has scenic waterfalls, steep cliffs, different rock formations as well as stalactite sand stalagmites, particularly in the Bori Chinda cave. Another tourist attraction is the Doi Inthanon Royal Project that was started in 1979 to help hill tribes cultivate cash crops other than opium and to teach them modern agricultural practices.

#3. The Phuping Palace in Chiang Mai

The summer palace of the King of Thailand, is elegant in style. As the palace buildings are not open to the public, the chief drawing card are the landscape gardens that can be visited when none of the members of the Thai Royal Family stays at the palace .One of the main attractions is the rose garden named Suan Suwaree. Besides the roses, the dispersed out gardens contain many species of flowers and plants such as several species of camellia, ferns, giant bamboo and colored orchids. A number of well-marked paths lead through the big gardens. Wear comfortable walk shoes, as it can be quite a walk and the paths can be steep at several places.

#4. The ancient city of Chiang Mai

As the old town of Chiang Mai, it is not only one of the important cultural heritages of Thailand, but also the most fascinating place in Chiang Mai. There are many ruins in the beautiful and quiet ancient city of Chiang Mai. The ancient city features traditional Thai temples and pagodas, and most of them are free of charge. Founded in 1296 by King Mengrai, Chiang Mai is the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Lanna. The Lanna Kingdom was independent until 1768, when it became a tributary of Siam, although it was not fully incorporated into Thailand until 1939.

#5. Night Safari

Located at the foot of Doi Suthep Mountain, is the largest zoo in Thailand. They have a large collection of animals. All the animals have a reasonable amount of space and are in good condition. Seeing animals at night will be a rare and exciting experience. It was called night safari, but it was actually open at daytime too. You can take tram to enjoy in the open zoo in every 30 minutes from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. There are different interesting shows you can watch. One of the features of a trip to the Night Safari is the nightly musical fountain and water screen Laser Light Show. There are two shows one at 8pm and one at 9pm, and they are absolutely spectacular. You stand or sit around the foreshore of a really huge fountain (about the size of a football field) and watch the display broadcast through cascading water sprays and out over the waters with the accompanying music washing over the whole area.

#6. Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum (Art in Paradise)

One of the largest 3D art museums in the world, also known as "Paradise Art", the extraordinary 3D hotel is waiting for you The 3-story museum collects a variety of paintings featuring land of animals, underwater world, extinct animals, deserts, and the famous Pharaoh’s tomb. In total, there are 130 3D paintings on the walls spread across eight zones. Discover the underwater world, Surfing giant waves, Crossing wobbly wooden bridges across waterfalls, Walk in the park and Fighting off dinosaurs. Explore the mysterious land. Dubbed as the largest interactive art museum in the world, the museum will provide you with plenty of photo opportunities to amuse your family and friends. It is good for both children and adults. It is a good place for one or two hours.

#7. Chiang Mai Tha Phae Gate

An important landmark in Chiang Mai, it is the most complete city gate in the ancient city. Tha Phae Gate is the main entrance to Chiang Mai's center (the old walled city). It was before used by the traders, diplomats and visiting monks who passed it to enter the city. In the old times, Chiang Mai's main road was from the Mae Ping River down to Tha phae Gate (through Tha phae road). Nowadays, Chiang Mai is different and has grown a lot, but Thapae road is still the main thoroughfare of the city. Tha Phae Gate is also the main place of the city that holds public events and festivals. Many tourists like to take pictures here, even wedding photos. Eat a perfect meal and take a walk here at night, very sentimental!

#8. Chiang Mai Sunday Market

Also known as Chiang Mai Night Market or Sunday Walking Street Market Chiang Mai, is the largest and most famous night market in Chiang Mai. The market located right in the centre of the old walled city area of Chiang Mai. Starting at the Tha Phae Gate at one end the Sunday Market extends for roughly 1km down the full length of Ratchadamnoen Road. You can go to the Market every Sunday from 4pm till midnight. There are so many stalls to look at selling all sorts of goodies and it’s the perfect place to purchase souvenirs. And there many stalls that sells all kinds of food, it's very lively!

#9. Visit one of the Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai.

There are many elephant sanctuaries that care elephants have been rescued from temples, zoos or circus-style attractions; some of those elephants may have been orphaned or injured, and it is rarely safe or feasible for them to be returned to the wild. In this case, they may be cared for in elephant sanctuaries or rescue and rehabilitation centers, and these centers supplement their income (elephants are unsurprisingly costly to house, feed and care for) by opening their gates to tourists and volunteers. You can visit one of the sanctuaries and play with elephants there.

How to get to Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai has the largest international airport in Northern Thailand, with flights arriving from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Macau. For travelers already in Thailand, there are daily flights to Chiang Mai from Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui. It’s a convenient option since the flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is only 1 hour and 10 minutes. It’s 1 hour and 55 minutes from Phuket. However, if you prefer to take the more scenic and cheaper route, either by bus or train, you have both options. The bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes 9.5-10 hours, and prices start from $13. Bring along some snacks, water and a book while you take in the beautiful views of Thailand. A trip on the train from Bangkok is slightly longer, taking approximately 13.5 hours. If you travel individually, you can book a cabin with a bed, making the journey a lot more comfortable ($30-$47 one way).