After being blessed to see the Taj Mahal in all of its glory, Candace and I continued our Southeast Asian adventure in Thailand, where we spent three days in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai, which means “new city” in Thai, is situated 435 miles north of Bangkok in a mountainous region called the Thai highlands. It’s Thailand’s second largest city and one of the best places to visit in Thailand.
Steeped in history and brimming with breathtaking temples, lush greenery, traditional markets, and rich culture, Chiang Mai is often referred to as the “Digital Nomad Capital” of Thailand, making it one of the top places to workation in Thailand. It’s also renowned as a center of Thai handicrafts, like silverwork, wood carving, pottery, and more.
Beyond all of that, Chiang Mai is one of my favorite places in the whole world, and I’m excited to share all about it! This blog post focuses on our three days in Chiang Mai, where we stayed, where we ate, some of the best things to do in Chiang Mai, and more. Now, let’s dive in!
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How to Get to Chiang Mai
To optimize our time, we chose an overnight flight from Delhi to Chiang Mai, with an early morning layover in Bangkok. We arrived at Chiang Mai International Airport around 10:00 am and took a short cab ride from the airport to our boutique hotel in Chiang Mai.
A Broad Recommendation: Be sure to get some local currency before your ride, as cab drivers might not accept credit card. If you coordinate your cab beforehand, even better, but it’s not necessary for this airport.
Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
We chose to stay at an adorable, boutique hotel in Chiang Mai called Rinn Boutique House. From the moment we booked, the staff were very helpful and accommodating! Since they don’t normally have 24-hour counter service, I reached out to them via Facebook to request an early check-in (or at least luggage storage), so we could explore Chiang Mai luggage-free upon arrival.
They quickly responded—within a few hours, despite the 12-hour time difference between Houston and Thailand—and said that they could accommodate our request. All I had to do was share our flight details!
When we arrived, we were able to freshen up in the downstairs bathroom, which was very convenient. However, we quickly realized that the luggage storage was in the lobby, which we weren’t overly comfortable with, considering we were leaving our computers. Noticing this, the staff went above and beyond to make sure we felt comfortable and allowed us to leave our bags in a back room that could only be accessed by employees.
Weather in Chiang Mai
Though November through February are typically the best months to visit Chiang Mai, the country is warm year-round, and the “green season”, which runs from June through October, offers beautiful, lush landscapes, lower prices on accommodations and flights, and fewer crowds.
Plus, any rainfall is usually over quickly, and Chiang Mai is otherwise bathed in sunshine this time of year. This makes July the perfect time to explore some of the best things to do in Chiang Mai! Note: March through May are typically the hottest months in Chiang Mai.
A Broad Recommendation: Since July is in the middle of Thailand’s rainy season, be sure to pack a rain jacket and to wear waterproof shoes or waterproof sandals. We got caught in a torrential downpour one evening and had to wait it out until it stopped.
If you’re interested in attending one of Chiang Mai’s iconic festivals, be sure to plan your trip with these dates in mind:
- January: Bo Sang Umbrella Festival – celebrates the tradition of making hand-painted umbrellas in the village of Bo Sang with parades, contests, and stunning umbrella displays
- February: Chiang Mai Flower Festival – offers a vibrant parade with giant, colorful floats made of flowers and incredible flower displays across the city
- April: Songkran (Thai New Year) – a celebration symbolizing purification and renewal with epic water fights all over the city
- May or June: Inthakin City Pillar Festival – a religious festival with rituals to bless and protect the city
- November: Yi Peng & Loy Krathong – a magical lantern festival with little decorated boats floating down the rivers to pay respects to the water goddess
3-Day Chiang Mai Itinerary
First let me say, oh my goodness, Chiang Mai is cool! It’s different from anywhere else I’ve ever been, and Candace and I were both blown away by its beauty the minute we stepped out of the hotel.
Due to Chiang Mai’s location in northern Thailand, the city offers lots of outdoor activities, like hiking, waterfall hunting, zip-lining, and elephant sanctuary visits. It also boasts more than 300 Buddhist temples, is steeped in history and culture, as evidenced by its ancient city walls and preserved architecture, and hosts several exciting festivals throughout the year, including but not limited to those mentioned above.
For these reasons alone, Chiang Mai attracts millions of visitors from all over the world each year. Here’s our three-day Chiang Mai itinerary. Two of these days were spent directly in Chiang Mai, while one was spent at the Elephant Nature Park outside of Chiang Mai.
Day 1: Explore the Temples of Chiang Mai
- Wat Chetlin
- Wat Fon Soi
- Lunch at B Samcook Home16
- Check-in to Rinn Boutique House
- Wat Chedi Luang
- Wat Chiang Man
- Tha Phae Gate
- Dinner at The Good View
- Tuk-tuk ride
- Sunday Night Walking Street Market
- Foot massages at Thai Hexi SPA
Day 2: Hang Out with Some Adorable Elephants
- Full-Day Elephant Nature Park Excursion
- Dinner at See You Soon Cafe
Day 3: Hike in Chiang Mai
- Monk’s Trail
- Wat Pha Lat
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Lunch at Norn-Nanta House
- Massages at Thai Hexi SPA
Day 1: Exploring the Temples of Chiang Mai
Wat Chetlin
We began meandering from our hotel and almost immediately stumbled upon several temples right along our path!
At first, we were hesitant to go inside, but everyone was so welcoming and kind, so eventually, we felt comfortable enough to enter.
Wat Chetlin caught my attention, as it sits beside a lake with lotus flowers and lily pads and has bamboo pavilions where you can sit at and relax. The bamboo walkway is colorfully decorated and leads to the monks’ quarters.
Wat Fon Soi
Next, we found ourselves at Wat Fon Soi, the temple closest to the Chiang Mai Gate Night Market. This temple boasts a white stucco chedi and was another cool temple that we just so happen to stumble upon.
Lunch at B Samcook Home16
Walking around in Chiang Mai in the middle of July can be hot, humid, and draining. Basically solely due to the fact that they had air conditioning, we made our way to the cutest restaurant at B Samcook Home16. Here, we were instantly enamored by the coy pond and elephant display outside, as well as the adorable wooden swing at the entryway, which we totally played on.
When we walked in, we were treated like royalty! The waiters immediately brought each of us some free bottled water and a refreshing beverage on the house—obviously, this was a cheersing boomerang opportunity.
The portions were so large that our meals could have fed a small army, and they were very affordable. Naturally, I ordered the yellow curry, which not only looked amazing but also tasted amazing. At the end of our meal, our waiters brought us ice cream bars also on the house. I’m not sure if they serve everyone in this way, but our experience of the service here was out of this world!
We were so giddy from our amazing stroll and then even more so after our experience during our first meal in Chiang Mai—a true treat!
Check-In to Rinn Boutique House
After lunch, we wandered a bit more before heading back to officially check into our room. Our room was clean, bright and white, with two twin beds, a desk, a wardrobe, a full bathroom, and a fridge.
A Broad Recommendation: We didn’t realize that the fridge didn’t stay on when we left the room, so our leftovers from lunch sadly went bad while we were out later in the evening. Be sure to keep this in mind if you put anything in the fridge here.
Wat Chedi Luang
That evening, we naturally had to check out a ton more temples, a couple of which are must-sees in Chiang Mai in our opinion!
Wat Chedi Luang, a Buddhist temple in the historical center of Chiang Mai, was one of our favorites. An earthquake substantially damaged the chedi, and UNESCO and the Japanese government worked to restore the temple and to stabilize the site to prevent further damage.
However, the top was never reconstructed, as there wasn’t a clear idea of how it originally looked. Wat Chedi Luang is also famous for once housing the Emerald Buddha, one of the most important religious relics in Thailand.
The entrance fee was 40 TBH (~$1.26 USD) at the time of our visit. And, luckily it stayed open until 5:00 pm, so we were able to fit it in.
Wat Chiang Man
Dating all the way back to the founding of the city in 1296, Wat Chiang Man is a Buddhist temple located in Chiang Mai’s Old City and is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai.
Since there was no admission fee, we walked right in and immediately fell in love with the elephant statues, which we learned are one of the earliest examples of this architectural style in Northern Thailand.
Tha Phae Gate
Next, we passed by the Tha Phae Gate, which is located on the eastern side of the Old City near a bustling public square filled with souvenir, book, and food vendors. The gate is part of a crumbling wall that once acted as a fortress back in the 13th century and is one of Chiang Mai’s most significant landmarks
A Broad Recommendation: If you’re interested in live music, visit on a Saturday evening when live bands perform in front of the gate. Tha Phae Gate also hosts cultural shows, parades, and other local celebrations, so be sure to check the event calendar during your visit.
Dinner at The Good View
Next, we strolled over to the Riverside area, which was a bit of a trek, before heading to dinner at The Good View. In my opinion, this one was nothing to write home about. We were mainly concerned with finding air conditioning again and ended up here after being disappointed with The Riverside Bar & Restaurant’s AC situation.
After doing some quick research, it turns out that The Good View is actually a popular restaurant in Chiang Mai, overlooking the River Ping. Indeed, the restaurant is large, with an indoor section and an outside terrace with seating down towards the riverbank.
Since we requested to sit inside at the bar area, we may have missed out on some of the allure of this place. Plus, I just didn’t love the dish I ordered and thought the service was subpar in the area we sat in.
Tuk-Tuk Ride
By this point, we were pretty worn out, so we hopped into our very first Tuk-Tuk to head back to the main part of town. We had such a blast zipping around Chiang Mai, and it felt similar to the Rickshaw I’d rode around Delhi in.
A Broad Recommendation: Tuk-tuk pricing varies from driver-to-driver, so make sure that you have cash/exact bills on hand and to negotiate the price. If you’re looking for another fun and easy way to get around the city, you may consider renting a motorcycle in Chiang Mai. That being said, we were happy to let someone else do the driving for us this time around!
Sunday Night Walking Street Market
As we made our way back to the Old City, we stopped at the Sunday Night Walking Street Market, which starts right at the entrance of Tha Phae Gate.
This fun and bustling night market is one of the top things to do in Chiang Mai and a cool sight to see even if you don’t plan on purchasing anything. Vendors fill the streets, offering well-priced handmade goods, souvenirs, artwork, and street food, and of course, bartering is welcome and expected.
Foot Massages at Thai Hexi SPA
Almost as quickly as we’d started our walk through the market, we found ourselves caught in a torrential downpour—don’t forget to pack your rain jacket!—and spent some time hiding from the rain before finding a place to get foot massages.
Thai Hexi SPA was located just a couple streets away and offered exceptional massage services. A 1-hour foot massage on special was 199 TBH (~$6.25 USD) plus 40 TBH tip (~$1.25 USD), and it was the best foot massage I’ve ever had! Unfortunately, Thai Hexi SPA has since closed, but we really loved this place at the time.
Naturally, we found ourselves chatting with some folks from the U.S. and learned that some of them were from Seattle, where Candace lived at the time, and had friends in Houston, where I lived. Not only that, but they’d just been in Phuket and were able to give us some advice on where to stay and what to do, since that was one of the places in Thailand we were headed to later on our Southeast Asia trip.
Day 2: Full-Day Elephant Excursion
The Elephant Nature Park
Our next day in Chiang Mai was absolutely amazing, and it was one we’d been anticipating for a long time! Early that morning, we were picked up from our hotel and taken to spend a full day at the Elephant Nature Park.
Located just outside the city of Chiang Mai, the Elephant Nature Park is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation center and a refuge for other animals like dogs, cats, and buffalo.
During our visit, we were able to interact with the elephants in an ethical and natural way (no riding or bathing with them), and we both felt that this was one of the coolest experiences of our entire Southeast Asia trip!
In addition to providing excellent animal care, the Elephant Nature Park also helps with rainforest restoration, cultural preservation, and visitor education, and because of all of these things, I can’t recommend this place enough.
Dinner at See You Soon Cafe
When we got back from our day trip, we freshened up a bit before meandering our way to See You Soon Cafe. See You Soon is not only a cute dinner spot with a vast menu but also an adorable boutique with fashionable clothing, jewelry, and small souvenirs.
After our yummy meal, each of us picked out a cute top (or a few, haha) and had an interesting time in the dressing room together—they didn’t have mirrors!
So, we took some pics to figure out which outfits looked best, and we ended up landing on a cute crop top for me (that I still love and wear to this day!) and a sweater for Candace.
After dinner, we decided to call it an early night after a long, fun-filled day and headed back to the hotel to do some planning for the remainder of our trip.
Day 3: Hiking in Chiang Mai
Monk’s Trail
On our last day in Chiang Mai, we decided to hike the six-mile trek along Monk’s Trail up Doi Suthep mountain to see Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Monk’s Trail is another one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai, and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is another must-see temple.
We used the Grab app, which is similar to Lyft or Uber, to call a driver to drop us off at the mysterious trailhead just past Chiang Mai University. This cost us 305 TBH (~$10 USD).
Considering we couldn’t read the signs, we made the bold assumption that the drop-off location was correct and started our journey with some strong positive vibes.
We didn’t have to go too far before we arrived at Wat Pha Lat, a smaller, lesser-known Buddhist temple nestled among the trees.
Wat Pha Lat, whose name loosely translates to “Monastery at the Sloping Rock,” is a bit of a hidden gem and a great example of Lanna-style architecture. The atmosphere here is serene and peaceful, which makes it feels more like a retreat than a tourist attraction.
We stopped to meditate at the first lookout, reflecting and enjoying the serenity of the area. It was truly magical sitting in silence among the trees thinking about how blessed we were to be in Thailand!
After 15 minutes or so, we started exploring and thankfully, found some bathrooms.
A Broad Recommendation: One of my Thailand travel tips is to always carry tissues and hand sanitizer. There was no toilet paper or soap in the bathrooms here or in many of the other bathrooms we stopped at in Chiang Mai and around Thailand, so it’s always best to be prepared.
As we continued our trek up the mountain, things got a bit more strenuous. The remainder of the hike was mainly uphill, with just few places to stop and rest (or to use the restroom).
A Broad Recommendation: Pack lots of water. There are shops and cafés at the top of the mountain, but you’ll likely go through several water bottles on the way up—like at least three each. And, we were still very thirsty when we reached the top.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
We ended up climbing 5,500 feet in elevation, which was totally worth it for the spectacular, 360 degree views at the top. You can even see downtown Chiang Mai from here!
Founded in 1383, during the Lanna Kingdom, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of the most sacred temples in Thailand and a must-see on any trip to Chiang Mai.
Upon entering the temple, you’ll immediately notice the jaw-dropping, gold-plated chedi, which houses a relic that’s believed to be a piece of the Buddha’s shoulder bone. You’ll also notice the five-tiered umbrella, which marks the city’s independence from Burma and its union with Thailand.
At the time of our visit, entrance to the temple was 50 THB (~$1.50 USD) per person.
A Broad Recommendation: As with most temples, you’ll need to cover your shoulders. During the hike, we kept lightweight scarves in our drawstring backpacks to ensure we’d be able to enter. You’ll also need to leave your shoes outside. But, don’t worry! Shoes can be worn everywhere else on the premises.
There are other sacred relics and shrines throughout the complex, including various Buddha statues, religious murals, carvings, and more. You could definitely spend an entire afternoon exploring up here!
If hiking isn’t your thing, there are several alternatives for getting to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. These include driving a car, motorbike, or scooter, calling a Grab Taxi, or catching a ride in a red songthaew (red trucks that act as shared taxis throughout Chiang Mai).
The descent down was much less exciting, albeit a bit easier but still taxing on our knees. When we finally made it back to the beginning of the trailhead, which seemed to take much longer in our minds than in reality, we called another Grab Taxi, which was only 160 TBH (~$5 USD).
Lunch at Norn-Nanta House
For lunch, we went right next door to the Norn-Nanta House, where we’d frequented for Thai Tea during our stay. If you’ve never had Thai Tea, you NEED to try it in Thailand.
The food was just okay, and I think I only managed to finish half of the curry I ordered, as the portions were huge. But, we only spent 300 TBH (~$10 USD) total between our meals and the Thai Teas, so it was a steal for sure.
Massages at Thai Hexi SPA
As it was nearing the end of our stay, we took the afternoon to relax and to prepare for our last night in Chiang Mai.
Later in the evening, we took a tuk-tuk (no more walking for us!) for 80 TBH, or $2.50 USD, back to Thai Hexi SPA, and each of us had absolutely fabulous three-hour massages. Let me tell you, Thai massages are where it’s at!
We paid 3200 TBH (~$50 USD) each, and the massages were better than any massage we’d ever gotten in the U.S. We tried to tip (100 TBH, or ~$3.15 USD, per person), but the owner was so overly grateful and wouldn’t accept the full amount. This was an amazing way to end our time in Chiang Mai!
Conclusion
After our massages, we ate at some random vegetarian place with air conditioning and took another tuk-tuk for 150 TBH (~$5 USD) home to start packing and relaxing before the next leg of our journey: three days in Hanoi, Vietnam.
We had the most incredible time in Chiang Mai and would love to visit again someday! Have you been to Chiang Mai yet? What else would you recommend doing here?
XOXO Sara at Travel A-Broads
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