Best Things To Do in Chiang Mai

The iconic Thai city of Chiang Mai has a history of more than 700 years that is reflected in the Buddhist temples and architectural remains preserved in the old area. You will also enjoy natural areas, leisure attractions and other places that will allow you to immerse yourself in the local culture.

You can tour the Doi Suthep, Wat Umong and Wat Pha Lat temples, have fun at the Grand Canyon water park and go kayaking on the Ping River. Even join a Thai cooking class, experience Muay Thai, learn how to make silk, and more.

Chiang Mai has managed to stand out over the years due to its beautiful temples, being one of its great tourist attractions. Let yourself be amazed by these majestic constructions and contemplate closely part of the cultural legacy of this important Thai city.

Some of the best temples in Chiang Mai that you can visit are:

• Wat Umong Buddhist Temple, whose history dates back more than 700 years. The site features a system of ancient tunnels and a tranquil natural space with forests and a lake.
• Doi Suthep Buddhist Temple, a sacred place with pagodas, museums and a distinctive aroma of incense.
• Wat Pha Lat temple, dedicated to Buddhist worship. The entrance to this ancient enclosure located on Doi Suthep Mountain is guarded by two Nora Nair (hybrid demi-gods), and inside you will see some pagodas and altars.

You can do this experience on your own without any inconvenience. However, there are a number of guided activities in the city, such as the Chiang Mai's best temples tour, which will take you to Doi Suthep, Wat Umong and Wat Pha Lat.

Chiang Mai is not all about temples and historical sites, you'll also find entertainment venues like the Grand Canyon Water Park, where you'll have a really fun day out in a natural setting. Slide down the slides and lie in the sand and soak up the sun, among other activities.

Once at the park, you'll have access to a variety of attractions, spread across some 35 outdoor areas, including the following:

• A series of slides stretching over 10 metres long and other smaller ones, specially designed for children.
• The zip line with a height of up to 400 metres that crosses the large canyon of the park and from which you will get a privileged panoramic view of the place.
• The white sandy beach, where you can relax and recharge your batteries under the warm rays of the sun.
• An obstacle course on the water, where you'll have to walk over bridges and test your balance, climb, etc.

In addition, with tickets to the Chiang Mai Grand Canyon water park you can paddle a canoe through the calm waters of the park. For this, you will be provided with the necessary safety equipment and the advice of an instructor who will tell you everything you need to know about kayaking.

Useful information

• Price: from 28€ per person.
• Timetable: from 10:00 to 19:00 (every day).

If you are a culinary enthusiast, then during your stay in Chiang Mai you should take part in a cooking class with a culinary expert. You will learn how to prepare some traditional Thai dishes.

This activity usually incorporates a visit to one of the local markets, such as Somphet Market. There, accompanied by a chef-guide, you will select all the ingredients needed to make the different dishes. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the history of the market.

Afterwards, you will enjoy the Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai. The chef will teach you the step-by-step of some of the recipes. Although the menu usually varies, there are some not-to-be-missed preparations such as the following:

• Green curry, prepared with milk.
• Pad thai or rice noodles with tofu, prawns, chicken, egg and fish or soy sauce.
• Kuay teow lui suan, which are rice paper rolls with soy and vegetables.
• khanom tarn, a palm cake.

Useful information

• Price: from €31 per person.
• Duration: about 4 hours.

Another of the things to see and do during your 1-3 day stay in Chiang Mai or longer is undoubtedly kayaking on the Ping River at night. This is a very popular activity for locals and tourists alike. You'll get a different perspective of this ancient Thai city, illuminated by the moon and artificial lights.

You will cruise along the Ping River for about 6 kilometres. As you enjoy the calm crystal clear waters, fresh air and starry skies, you will see the city's skyline, picturesque bridges, traditional houses covered by lush trees and more in the distance.

This night kayak tour of Chiang Mai is usually guided, so you don't have to worry about paddling equipment and handling the canoe. The guide will teach you the basics of kayaking so you can get around safely.

Useful information

• Price: from 28€ per person.
• Duration: usually around a couple of hours.

Chiang Mai' s night markets are lively and colourful places where you can experience the culture of Chiang Mai from the perspective of the locals. Sample popular street food, enjoy live entertainment and buy handicrafts.

Some of the markets you can visit in Chiang Mai at night include the following:

Sunday Night Market

Arriving at the Sunday Night Market, you will be immersed in a large food court that stretches along the streets of Chiang Mai's old town. You'll also stumble upon handicraft stalls. As night falls, you'll see street musicians with their lively tunes.

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: every Sunday from 17:00 to 23:00.

The Night Bazaar

The Night Bazaar is a busy destination in the city where you will find many bars and restaurants. There are also dozens of stalls with street food and handicrafts. It is ideal if you want to embark on a gastronomic tour of Chiang Mai, to discover the flavours, aromas and textures of its traditional food.

• Price: admission is free.
• Opening hours: every day from 18:00 to 24:00.

Saturday Night Market

Another place not to be missed is the Saturday Night Market. It takes place at the southern gate of the Chiang Mai City Wall. There, you will have the opportunity to see and buy all kinds of objects: jewellery, paintings, frames, silver handicrafts, among others.

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: every Saturday from 18:00 to 23:00.

If you like off-road adventures, during your stay in Chiang Mai you should hop on a quad bike and head into the jungle of this Thai city. Get off the beaten track and experience a different, fun and adrenaline-fuelled experience.

You can drive a quad bike to the Mae Taeng Valley in northern Thailand. This is a 40-kilometre ride, which includes roads and uneven terrain. You will enjoy the vegetation and wildlife of the countryside. An ideal route if you wish to visit an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai.

For this experience, you can rent a four-wheel drive car and set off at your own pace. You also have the option of booking a quad biking tour of the Chiang Mai coun tryside with a professional guide who will give you some basic quad biking tips.

Martial arts such as Muay Thai are also part of Thailand's culture and during your time in Chiang Mai, you can discover this discipline which is considered the national sport. Join a Thai boxing class and learn the legendary moves of fists, elbows, feet and knees.

There are many Muay Thai gyms in the city that you can visit for this unique experience. For example, there is the Bangarang Muay Thai, located in the rice fields, or the Chiangmai Muay Thai Gym in the centre of the old town.

At any of them, you will enjoy the company of an experienced trainer who will teach you the history and basics of Muay Thai. You will learn a combination of moves and punches, adapted to your level of stamina.

Sericulture or silk production is one of Chiang Mai's long-established commercial activities. And you can be part of a Thai silk class and discover the history and cultural importance of this textile art. You will learn about the amazing weaving techniques and feel like a local weaving with your own hands.

Once you arrive at the textile production workshop you will have an amazing experience. The class usually starts by pulling the thread directly from the silkworm cocoons. These are fed by Thai weavers with mulberry leaves.

After carefully reeling the silk thread, you proceed to sit in front of a traditional weaving machine and perform the spinning. Of course, beforehand, an expert in this art will teach you the different techniques for crossing the fibres. If you are skilled enough, you can weave up to 1.8 metres.

Useful information

• Price: from around 102€ per person.
• Duration: a maximum of 6 hours.

Make the most of your stay in Chiang Mai and take home a unique souvenir of your visit to this majestic Thai city. Join a silversmithing class and create your own silver jewellery. You will learn a range of traditional craft techniques from a goldsmith with a long history in the trade.

For this experience, you will have the opportunity to put your desired design for your jewellery on paper. Then, a professional silversmith will guide you step by step to turn your sketch into a memorable piece of jewellery. With this activity, you will learn about the history of Thai silver jewellery.

You will learn how to work a noble and malleable metal such as silver. You will be able to easily mould it into different shapes and join them into one piece. Afterwards, you will carry out the polishing process to improve the finish and enhance the shiny tone of the silver.

Useful information

• Price: the average cost is 69€ per person (approx.).
• Duration: about 5 hours.

Touring the streets of Chiang Mai by Tuk Tuk is another of the things to do in the city. This is a traditional and very popular mode of transport, which allows you to get a different perspective of the monuments, temples and other places of interest.

Once you are on board the Tuk Tuk, you will move around Chiang Mai, being able to make some stops to take a closer look at the destinations along the way. Although the route of this type of tour varies depending on the company you hire, there are places you can't miss. So essential that they are usually included in the itinerary of some of the best tours and excursions in Chiang Mai.

Along the tour you will have the opportunity to see:

• The Three Kings Monument Square: located in the centre of the old town. There, you will find the statue of King Mengrai, ruler of Lanna, King Ramkhamhaeng, who ruled the Sukhothai Kingdom and King Ngam Muang, who ruled Phayao.
• Wat Phra Singh Temple: a 14th century Buddhist compound with beautiful gardens.
• Wat Chedi Luang Temple: with more than 700 years of history.
• Warorot Market: where you will find street food, fashion, handicrafts, fresh produce and more.

Information of interest

• Price: approximately €27 per person.
• Duration: a couple of hours.