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All you need to know to visit Chiang Mai
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Northern Thailand
700 km from Bangkok
Province of Chiang Mai
Thai prononciation : Tchiang maï
Northern Thailand
700 km from Bangkok
Province of Chiang Mai
Thai prononciation : Tchiang maï
Budget
Recomm. stay
2 à 4 jours
Visits
Practical guide to go and visit Chiang Mai
The city is considered as the capital of the North and is very popular with thai people. Chiang Mai is much quieter than Bangkok and has a lot of charm thanks to the town center framed by ramparts with 4 doors and bordered by moats that gives a very bucolic side to the city. According to several sources food in Chiang Mai is one of the most tasty and variedin Thailand. Strolling through Chiang Mai at night is also very pleasant. You can enjoy the many restaurants, music bars and a lively nightlife less boisterous than in Bangkok. There is also the famous Night Bazaar and the Walking Streets on Saturdays and Sundays for shopping and enjoying street food at low prices.With its 300 temples, the city center, the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep that overlooks the city and especially the surrounding mountains where you can do many excursions and treks that allow you to meet mountain tribes, you have many things to do in Chiang Mai ! One of the great experiences to live in Chiang Mai is spend the day with the elephants but be careful not to do it anywhere! Important, boycott the places that offer you to ride on the back of elephants ! Elephant nature park is the best palce to go to spend time with elephants. I also recommend you to take one thai cooking class in Chiang Mai.
If you have the opportunity, try to come to Chiang Mai for Loy Krathong (in November) or Songkran (mid-April). These festivals are particularly nice in Chiang Mai especially Loy Krathong which is really beautiful here. Personally, I also like the Chiang Mai Flower Festival which takes place in February. However, it is imperative to book your hotel in advance (see here) for these occasions, otherwise you will have great difficulty finding a room.
Also note that air quality in Chiang Mai is very often very bad from end of February to mid-April. Wearing a N95 mask can be recommended (use website or applications to know the AQI level)
Accommodations in Chiang Mai
In Chiang Mai there are plenty of hotels and especially guesthouses. However, in high season, there is not that rooms available in guest houses. Booking in advance is highly recommended during Flower Festival (first week-end in February), Songkran (mid April) and Loy Krathong (november) !Guesthouses in Chiang Mai are mostly concentrated in the old city center, on Moon Muang Road and near Thapae Gate. This is also the most pleasant part of Chiang Mai and is close to the most interesting temples in the city.
Find accommodation in Chiang Mai
My recommandations
People often ask me what accommodations I recommend in Thailand, here are my recommandations in Chiang Mai.
Practical information about Chiang Mai
If you are coming from Bangkok, try to come with the night train. It is very comfortable. It's quite an experience! There are brand new trains, more modern and comfortable that I did not try yet. But book your tickets in advance to make sure you have a sleeper. You can book your trains tickets on line on this website (which I tested and approved).If you have the opportunity, I recommend you come to Chiang Mai to be here on a Sunday and enjoy the Sunday Walking Street, for me, the best night market in Thailand.
On the surrounding peaks, like Doi Inthanon, the highest mount in Thailand, temperatures can be very cool in the winter, especially in the morning. Take a sweater and maybe a scarf in your suitcase.
How to go to Chiang Mai ?
Chiang Mai is the capital of the North so it is very easy to connect to Chiang Mai from everywhere in Thailand. Especially from the north, the center or from Isaan. From Southern Thailand generally, travelers use the aircraft to avoid very long train or bus journeys. From Bangkok Mochit Bus Terminal, buses depart very very often. Between public buses and VIP buses, you'll have the choice. Some international flights also land in Chiang Mai. A lot of travelers like to take the Bangkok - Chiang Mai night train but you have to book your tickets in advance to be sure to have a sleeper (you can book online HERE).My selection of tours & activities in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai Sightseeing Tour: Tha Pae Gate, Wat Umong & Local Market
Offered in English
Amazing with at Chiang Mai, sightseeing around the town,famous Tha phae gate,visit local market and Wat Umong is unique because of its location in the forest and its system of tunnels. The serene and peaceful atmosphere at the 13th century
Visiter le Doi Suthep et le temple Wat Palad
Offered in EnglishVisitez le temple Doi Suthep, le temple le plus célèbre de Chiang Mai avec une architecture Lanna exquise ! Vous pouvez également voir la vue panoramique de Chiang Mai depuis le sommet du temple. Ensuite, nous visiterons le parc national de Doi Pui et le temple caché appelé Wat Pha Lat Temple !
Live Thai rural life for a day
Offered in EnglishSpend the day in a small rural village near Chiang Mai and live a summary of the Thai local life in the countryside (rice palnting, breeding, cooking, traditions...).
Two days trek at Doi Inthanon and Ban Pa Pong Piang (Chiang Mai)
Offered in EnglishDiscover the nature and life of the Karen hill tribe at Doi Inthanon mountains near Chiang Mai. This tour will also take you to see the most beautiful rice terraces in Thailand!
Sacred Jungle Trail Trek up to Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai
Offered in EnglishTrek up to Doi Suthep temple, the most revered temple in Chiang Mai with a guide starting from the monk's trail and then plunging into the jungle. You will come across a forest temple and hidden waterfalls.
Comfortable immersion stay with the Karen hill tribe
Offered in EnglishSpend 2 days or 3 days immersed with the Karen hill tribe in a mountain village in a comfortable homestay. Share their daily life, their activities and meet the elephants in an ethical and respectable setting. An unforgettable and unique adventure !
How to get around in Chiang Mai ?
In Chiang Mai, there are almost all types of transport to get around (but no metro or tram): bus lines, songthaews, motorcycle taxis, samlaws (pedicabs) tuk- tuks and taxis. Red songthaews are the most used to get around the city and go to Doi Suthep. They are always cheaper than tuk-tuks. A ride in Chiang Mai will cost you between 20 and 60 baht.Prefer to ride in vehicles that already have passengers otherwise you will pay less. To get to Doi Suthep, if you are not a group, hiring a red songthaews to go directly will be the most expensive option. There are specific red cars to the temple. They usually fill up at a stop near Chiang Mai Zoo. So ask a siongthaew to take you to Doi Suthep bus station and then take on another red vehicle to go at the temple (but you will have to wait because it will only leave when it has enough passengers). The ascent costs 40 THB per person. And back down to the zoo is 40 THB, to the old city gates costs between 60 and 70 THB depending on the door.
At Chinag Mai Bus Terminal 2 (Arcade), you can take a red songthaew at the banner "Minibus". They only leave when they are full and take you to Thapae Gate, for 20 baht. Same from the train station parking lot. From Chiang Mai airport, a taxi will ask around 120 baht to take you to the town and a songthaew will ask for 60 THB only and 100 THB to go to the Bus Terminal. There are now also very practical new ''Smat Buses"one line going to the airport.
Of course, you can get around in Chiang Mai with taxis, privatize a red car or use apps like GRAB, BOLT or Indrive to order a car with driver.
Note that there is a free songthaew between several hotels in the city and Central Airport Plaza, a large shopping mall near the airport. To go to the nearby cities, you have to take the yellow, white or green songthaews. Many leave the Warorot market. You can also use GRAB app (similar to UBER but UBER does not operate in Southestern Asia any more) to order a transportation.
My practical videos about Chiang Mai
Festivals in Chiang Mai ?
Here is a list of the main festivals taking place every year in Chiang Mai. I mention their dates as soon as they are official on Thai Festivals page.
Bo Sang Umbrella & San Kamphaeng handicraft Festival (Chiang Mai)
This festival generally takes place in the month of January
Plus d'infos sur Bo Sang Umbrella & San Kamphaeng handicraft Festival (Chiang Mai)
Chinese New Year celebrations
This festival generally takes place in the month of February
Chiang Mai Flower Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of February
Festival de la Fraise
This festival generally takes place in the month of February
Lanna Saa paper Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of February
Chiang Mai International Balloon Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of March
Poy Sang Long
This festival generally takes place in the month of April
Visakha Bucha Day Walking Ceremony to Doi Suthep
This festival generally takes place in the month of May
Plus d'infos sur Visakha Bucha Day Walking Ceremony to Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai City Pillar Shrine Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of May
Chiang Mai Yee Peng Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of November
Chiang Mai Loy Krathong & Yee Peng Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of November
Plus d'infos sur Chiang Mai Loy Krathong & Yee Peng Festival
Wat Pan Tao Loy Krathong Candle Ceremony
This festival generally takes place in the month of November
Chiang Mai Ping Fai Festival
This festival generally takes place in the month of December
Other places to see in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai Zoo
just before the several kilometers rise up to the Doi Suthep mountain, it mainly famous because of its pandas couple and their baby. It is very large and has many animal species.
Wat Pan Tao
and its magnificent Lanna style teak building which was a royal residence before being transformed into a temple.
Wat Chiang Man
this is the first temple built in Chiang Mai and therefore the oldest one in the city.
Wat Suan Dok
not particularly interesting to visit but like in Wat Chedi Luang you can meet the monks to discuss with them
Wat U-Mong
(the one just outside the city. There is another temple with the same name attractive in the city center ). In the forest, with underground sanctuaries, in the nature and with one little lake, Wat U Mong is a very relaxing place.
Wat Ched Yod
just a little outside of town on the the highway,he has beautifully preserved stucco carvings.
Wat Chedi Luang
with its beautiful chedi. Here, you can meet and chat with buddhists monks in a dedicated spacee
Wat Buppharam
which has certainly a historical and architectural interest but is best remembered for his statue of Donald
Wat Lok Molee
small temple that is often missed but has a large brick chedi and beautiful a wooden hall.
Doi Inthanon
It is the highest mountain in Thailand and also one very interesting national park near Chiang Mai's. People like to go there especially for treks, discovering nature, birds, flowers, waterfalls, mountain villages and rice fields. And of course the two pagodas on the summit.
Huay Thung Tao Lake
This reservoir with mountains in the background is located about ten kilometers from the center of Chiang Mai and is a good place to relax with family, enjoy the lake and its activities (swimming, pedal boats, kayak ...) and eat good food. The restaurants serve very good Thai food at very affordable prices that you eat in small huts.
Wat Phra That Doi Kham
This temple full of charm is perched on a mountain and little known by foreign tourists. But is quite interesting and offers among other things a beautiful view over the valley where you can see the Royal Park Rajapruek. A nice place to couple with the visit of Rajapruek floral park .
Royal Park Rajapruek
This large floral park dedicated to King Rama IX is about ten kilometers from Chiang Mai. There are many plants and flowers including a charming orchid garden. The best time to visit it is from December to February when many flowers are blooming. You will also find a nice royal pavilion there.
Huay Kaew Waterfall
It is the easiest waterfall to reach from Chiang Mai city. Located at the foot of the Doi Suthep mount, it can be a pleasant stop after visiting the perched temple. Just be aware that at the end of the dry season, the water level can be very low and therefore the waterfall far less interesting.
Wat Phra That Doi Saket
This temple stands on a hill 27 kilometers outside Chiang Mai and looks a bit like Wat Phra That Doi Suthep with its golden chedi but is smaller and less touristy. A little further up, there is a temple which offers a magnificent view of the surroundings especially during the rainy season.
Grand Canyon
Natural Canyon filled with fresh water, 18 km from Chiang Mai, the place hosts two parks, a large waterpark with plenty of elements including inflatable ones and another quieter, more beautiful and cheaper where you can also swim and cross the canyon on a zippeline.
Muang On Cave
The interior of this cave on the road from Chiang Mai to San Kamphaeng Hot Springs is really impressive. This is a stop that I recommend you to do before diving into the hot mineral water pool a few kilometers further or when you go to see Bo Sang handicraft village.
Bhubing Palace
The interior of this royal palace can not be visited but people come for its gardens, its rose garden, its reservoir, its winter flowers, its centenarian ferns... Not a must visit in my opinion but that will interest flowers and plants lovers and it is not far from Doi Suthep temple.
Wat Ton Kwen
This small temple and its wooden hall located about fifteen kilometers from Chiang Mai does not lack of charm. Very fe tourists go visit it. Foreigners are really not numerous to go there since many of whom are unaware of its existence but it is a nice quick stop to add on the road to Rajapruek Park or Wat Phra That Doi Kham.
Wat Ban Den
This gigantic temple about fifty kilometers from Chiang Mai city located in the Mae Taeng district is quite famous. There are many buildings and amazing statues sometimes flashy colors. Many people say it is the most beautiful temple in the area. I have a different opinion but go there to make yours.
Kuan Im Chokchai chinese temple
You will not find this surprising little Chinese temple in any travel book guide. However, it is worth visiting it for its dragon and tiger statues crossed by corridors with colorful murals. An amazing visit that may change to all what you saw during your stay in Chiang Mai...
Wiang Kum Kam
Wiang Kum Kam is an ancient city in which there are ruins of temples that are 5 or 6 centuries old and others a little more recent. It is especially a god site for bike rides in its small streets, to discover its temples. Little known to tourists, this is not a must visit in Chiang Mai but a place that I personally like.
Warorot Market
It is the largest and most frequented market in Chiang Mai. On 3 floors in two large buildings separated by a street, there are many things to buy and tourists come for the curiosity to visit this amazing big market.
Wat Muen Ngoen Kong
Little known temple but not lacking in charm. It has a lovely lanna-style ordination hall, a golden chedi and a reclining Buddha in one of its halls.
Elephant Poopoo Paper Park
It's a nice place to visit especially with kids that shows you its process of turning elephant dung into paper. You can get your hands dirty and there are workshops to create products based on this paper.
Pha Chor Grand Canyon
This canyon located a 1 hour drive from Chiang Mai. It is famous for its rocky walls with columns shaped by natural erosion over centuries. People sometimes call Pha Chor, the Grand Canyon of Thailand despite its rather modest dimensions.
Wat Luang Khun Win
This temple lost in the jungle more than a 1h30 drive from Chiang Mai is a real little hidden gem that for the moment very few foreign tourists know about and yet it is worth a visit. Be careful, its access is a bit complicated, especially the last 5 kilometers of a dirt track in the forest.
Khlong Mae Kha
A small portion of the Mae Kha Canal in the city of Chiang Mai has been cleaned up and renovated and became since 2021 one of the new popular places in the city. Not the most unmissable visit in Chiang Mai but a charming place that hosts more and more events.
Fire massage village (Yam Khang massage)
The small village of Ban Rai Kong Khing is famous for an astonishing type of massage practiced by very, very few people: Yam Khang massage. Nicknamed fire massage, it is impressive but also has recognized virtues. The village, organized as a community, also offers other activities including cooking classes
Weather & climate in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has a humid and dry tropical climate, temperate. It is hot to hot all year long with possible waves of freshness in December-January during which it happens that temperatures drop below 20 ° C in the morning in the lowlands (between 14 and 18 ° C rarely less) and below 10 ° C (see barely above zero in the most extreme cases) on the peaks of the surrounding mountains. The monsoon begins in May and ends in mid-October. The rainiest months are August and September. But the monsoon remains here less abundant than in the South of the country at the same time.The best months to go to Chiang Mai are from November to April knowing that in March, April and May, it is very hot (average around 34 ° C in the warmest of the day but it happens regularly that it is 40 ° C and over). It is not directly related to the climate although the lack of rain amplifies the phenomenon but in March, the quality of the air is regularly very bad in Chiang Mai because of the fields burning in the neighborhoods. It sometimes already starts at the end of February and pollution reaches such levels that wearing an N95 anti-particle mask is often recommended.
How to ask in Thai to go to Chiang Mai ?
I want to go to Chiang Mai / Yak paï ti Tchiang maï.Where is Chiang Mai ? / Tchiang maï you ti naï ?
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