Many people who visit Chiang Mai do bucket-list-worthy activities like visiting an elephant sanctuary or attending the Yee Peng or Songkran festivals. But there’s a lot you can do within the Old City as well, less epic but equally memorable things like cafe hopping or conversing with monks.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai may not be as unique as Chiang Rai’s White Temple, or as grand as Wat Pho in Bangkok, but for me, it’s the most beautiful. It’s a striking temple and my favorite thus far in Thailand.
Major attractions like Wat Rong Khun and Baan Dam Museum are located outside of the city, but there are a few lesser known temples you can visit within the city’s limits. They aren’t as spectacular as the White Temple but they do make for a pleasant few hours of temple hopping without the distraction of crowds.
Gaggan is a restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand named after owner and executive chef, Gaggan Anand. It’s currently ranked number seven on the list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. In 2017, it received two stars with the recent release of the first ever Bangkok Michelin Guide.
Everland Resort is a Korean theme park located about 36 km from Seoul in Yongin City. It’s South Korea’s biggest theme park, receiving around 7.3 million visitors annually. Its most popular attractions include T Express, the world’s steepest wooden rollercoaster, and Panda World, which is home to a pair of giant pandas.
I expected this to be a walking tour similar to their Chinatown tour in Bangkok, but it wasn’t. Instead, you’ll ride around for four hours in style, in a private songthaew, as tour guide Moui takes you to some of Chiang Mai’s best local markets and restaurants.
Your Thai Guide is a private tour provider in Thailand. They operate mainly out of Bangkok but they offer private tours in other parts of the country as well. Itineraries are entirely customizable and tailored to what travelers want to see and do.
I don’t enjoy spending time in the kitchen but this cooking class at Mama Noi Thai Cookery School was one of the most fun things we did in Chiang Mai. When you don’t have to do any clean-up and virtually all chance of failure is eliminated, then cooking becomes a guaranteed joy, even for boneheads like me.
Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand and part of the Himalayan mountain range. Located about two hours southwest of the Old City, it makes for a popular day trip from Chiang Mai.
A khantoke is a traditional Thai Lanna lunch or dinner offered to guests to celebrate any number of occasions. They can be smaller gatherings enjoyed at home, or they can be more grand affairs celebrating annual festivals like Loy Krathong and Songkran (Thai New Year).