Things to do in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is an old mountainous city in northern Thailand. It is also known as the cultural capital of Thailand and is calmer than many other famous Thai cities. From my trip to Chiang Mai I have pulled together a list of things to do in Chiang Mai. Some of the places listed here are not as popular, but definitely worth a visit! There are definitely a lot of things to do in Chiang Mai, but I am listing the ones I found most enjoyable.

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1. Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Park

Doi Suthep is about 15 kms (9.3 mi) away towards the west from Chiang Mai city center. It is elevated at 1,676 meters and the views from up there are very impressive! Doi Pui, at 1,685 metres above sea level, is the highest peak in the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. It is most famous for the Hmong Tribal Village where you can get insights about a tribal villager’s life. You can rent a motorbike and easily drive to reach the mountain peak (its good fun). In between you can stop by at different spots to explore the National Park.

You just can’t go to Chiang Mai and not visit Doi Suthep.. its one of the main things to do in Chiang Mai.

Things to do while at Doi Suthep :

Check out Wat Phra That – a temple built in the 13th century which is also one of the most important temples of Thailand.

Explore the national park.

Shower under a waterfall.

Enjoy the views from up there.

TIP – It gets a bit cold up there (especially during the evenings), so be sure to take something along to keep yourself warm.

2. Chiang Mai Grand Canyon

Originally an old quarry now filled with water. It has now become a fairly touristic place famous for cliff jumping. The cliffs are as high as 15 meters and the water is as deep as 35 meters. You can also relax on the bamboo beds floating on the water and soak up the sun. Entrance fee is 50 baht per person, including a complimentary delicious ice herbal tea. Personally, it is one of my favorite things to do in Chiang Mai because I like jumping from places 🙂

3. Elephant Nature Park

Photo credit : Non Stop Destination

Basically a place where you get to babysit rescued Elephants. The Elephants here have been rescued from human torture and are set free in this nature park to live as they want. You get to care for the Elephants, bathe with them, learn about their lives, play with them and do a lot more, except for riding them. At the Elephant Nature Park, these giants are treated with affection and care, and visiting one of these camps is truly a life changing experience.

4. Doi Inthanon

Photo credit : Ryan Pikkel

Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand at an elevation of 2,565 meters. Due to the high altitude the temperature is low all seasons around. It is about 90 kms away from the Chiang Mai city center and can be easily reached by a motorbike. The entrance fees is 300 baht per person and 30 baht per vehicle. You can drive all the way to the top and stop by at different spots to do some bird watching (there are over 300 species of birds in this national park), shower under waterfalls, check out the beautiful gardens among pagodas, then finally reach the summit to spectate the spectacular views and the two wats (temples). I would advise you to reach there before sunrise and come back after watching the sunset from the summit. In between that time you can do so much since Doi Inthanon National Park is so huge that you can easily spend one whole day there and still not experience all of it.

5. Wat Chedi Luang

Photo credit : MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld

A lesser crowded Wat in Chiang Mai. This ancient temple was built more than 620 years ago and is slowly wearing with age, but also being restored. It is within walking distance to places within the Old Town. It is advised to cover your shoulders, chest, and legs (especially women) when visiting this Wat. This is also a good place to sit down and have a chat with young monks as they all are keen on chatting with travelers and improve their English as well.

6. SAN KAMPHAENG HOT SPRINGS

A place generally not popular among tourists but filled with locals. The place is surrounded by mountains and has a mineral swimming pool along with traditional style mineral baths. The naturally hot water is channeled throughout the place for people to enjoy. You can also rent towels and private bathing huts and if you get hungry then do it like the locals do – buy some eggs (available for sale there) and boil them in the natural hot water then enjoy!

7. Chiang mai night safari

Photo Credit : travel3sixty

You can visit this place during the day time and the night as well although it gets a lot better if you visit at night. You will be taken around the park in a tram from which you can even feed some animals like Giraffes, Deer, Zebras and more. It is a great chance to get up close with the big cats and other predators. But if walking seems like a better option to you then you can walk the Jaguar trail which is about 1.5 kms walk around the artificial lake where you can spot different animals. The park also performs various shows and some of the famous ones are – The Tiger Show, The Fountain Show, and The Night Predator Show.

8. Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls

Bua Thong Waterfalls, also known as the “sticky waterfalls” are pretty different from other normal waterfalls. Usually one goes down a waterfall but in this special case you can effortlessly climb all the way up to the top (about 35 meters). Because of the limestone mineral deposit on the surface of the rocks, you get a nice grip even with bare hands and feet. The rocks are not slippery at all and its a safe and a fun place to visit with kids as well!

Looking to live the island life in Phuket after you’ve done exploring the mountains in Chiang Mai? Check out these off the beaten path experiences in Phuket.

What are your favorite things to do in Chiang Mai? Share them with me and the readers!

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