What to do in Chiang Mai?

Tours, activities and festivals to do in Chiang Mai

Here you will find a selection of things to do in Chiang Mai in addition to the suggested visits listed in the section''To visit in Chiang Mai''.

Looking for ideas on what to do in Chiang Mai on your next trip to Thailand? The historic capital of the Lanna Kingdom, this city captivates with its unique blend of culture, spirituality, and nature. Whether it's visiting iconic temples like Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, exploring local markets, trekking in the surrounding mountains, or taking a little immersion stay with the Karen, or taking Thai cooking classes or meeting Thailand's elephants in an ethical and respectful way.

There are so many activities to do in Chiang Mai!

And I also offer you, at the end of the page, a suggestion for a travel program and Chiang Mai itinerary perfect for discovering this destination, let's go, follow the guide and also consult the page on places and visits to do in Chiang Mai to organize your stay in the Rose of the North.

Tours & activities in Chiang Mai and around

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Tours from Chiang Mai

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Things to do in Chiang Mai

• Leave for treks in the mountains or the jungle or to meet the hill tribes. We are not big fan of the tribes villages because the one agencies amke you visit are often "human zoos" where everything is set up for tourism and mercantile purposes.
  Ask at your hotel or the dive clubs and travel agencies for information.
• Festival of Flowers the <strong> [url =.. / a-voir/flower-festival-chiang-mai.php] Flower Festival [/ url] </ strong> takes place in February, the first weekend of the month.
• Spend the day with elephants but not anywhere !

  Many elephant camps in Thailand do not treat their elephants with the respect they deserve, even though there is a collective awareness driven by a tourist demand that is increasingly turning towards more respectful interactions. Avoid all the so-called sanctuaries that offer elephant rides. Instead, watch them, accompany them on walks in the jungle, as is notably offered by this 2-day stay with the Karen in the mountains of Chiang Mai. As for me, even bathing with 4 or more tourists around an elephant, or even climbing on them to use them as a diving board, even if it looks great and is widely offered, is too intrusive an activity. The more the sanctuary lets them live their lives as elephants, albeit domestic, the more you come and meet them with the respect they deserve.

• Fire massage , this massage technique called yam khang massage is still practiced by very few people, including 3 people in a small community a little outside the city of Chiang Mai. It is impressive but also has recognized therapeutic virtues. So if you are up for it, see the file on fire massage in Chiang Mai.
• Havng dinner at Chiang Mai's Walking Streets , the Saturday one held on Wualai Road and the Sunday one that takes place on Thapae Rod and spills over a bit into the parallel streets. For me, it's definitely one of the must-sees in Chiang Mai. You have to do at least one. And personally, I have a slight preference for the Saturday night walking street because there are very interesting ceremonies that welcome foreign tourists on Saturday nights in the nearby Silver Temple. Otherwise, you can enjoy the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar every day, but it caters more to foreign tourists, while the Walking Streets are very busy with locals and Thai tourists. All three are good places to buy souvenirs of your trip to Thailand.

Experiences to live in Thailand