How to plan a trip to Chiang Mai?
You can plan your holiday and enjoy a budget-friendly vacation in the heart of the picturesque Chiang Mai with our recommended tour packages. Thailand tour packages are tailor-made, itineraries are hand-picked, and prices are matched with the vacationers’ expectations and preferences.
You do not have to be religious enough to enjoy the land of over 300 ancient temples, but a keen eye to admire beauty is all that you need to truly enjoy the blissful place, Chiang Mai. The state-of-the-art Buddhist Temples have merged effortlessly with the fast sprawling modern city that is home to two tribal villages. And, there are remnants of the past preserved in the ancient walls and moats that signify the city’s importance as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom until 1558.
Soaked in natural beauty and blended in classical, as well as, contemporary culture, Chiang Mai is a city where old meets new. So, here we present to you the best of Chiang Mai, as seen through the eyes of passionate travel experts. The mountainous region has a lot of things to offer in its ala carte, other than temples, monasteries, and spectacular landscapes. So, without much ado, let’s begin our journey.
Engaging things to do in Chiang Mai
Right from temples to hot springs and indigenous culture to urban ways, along with a few activities to entertain our senses, the city of Chiang Mai offers a bucket full of places to check out. We begin our journey with –
A half-day tour of Wiang Kum Kam – The underground Empire
A famous archaeological site along the Mae Ping River, the historic Wiang Kum Kam received its final touches from King Mangrai the Great and dates back its origin to the 8th century the Haripunchai Kingdom. Board a horse-drawn carriage to ride around the ancient ruins to catch the remnants of the past in the remains of stone tablets with Mon inscriptions, Buddhist sculptures and architecture, earthenware and pottery, as well as, Wat Chedi Liam or Temple with an angular-based Chedi, Wat Chang Kham or the spirit house of King Mengrai and a learning center exhibiting Lanna objects and traditional Lanna-style houses.
A guided temples tour
Chiang Mai is a land of ancient temples as it houses nearly 300 such ancient places, each distinct and beautiful by its own rights. Most temples here are built in the style of ‘Lanna’ dating back to the period between the 13th and 18th centuries, easily characterized by curved wooden roofs pointing up at the top.
Some of the most noteworthy temples of Chiang Mai include Wat Phra Thai Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Suan Dok, Wat Phra That Doi Kham, and Wat Sri Suphan will truly bewitch your senses.
A day at Lampang or Phrao Village and the Lamphun Community
The ancient Lanna kingdom that traces back its origin to the quaint town of Lampang is definitely a place worth visiting. Here, you will experience the native culture of the people who still prefer horse-drawn carts to modern vehicles for traveling down the narrow streets. Pagoda-studded mountains of Wat Chalermprakiat located about an hour outside the town is another tourist hot spot. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, national parks and the Wang River Basin, doted by old temples and other famous architectures can make Lampang a miniature dream vacation for many.
Moving forward, we have Phrao village or the Lamphun District that are equally beautiful and stunningly mesmerizing. Lamphun is known as ‘the city of arts and culture’ and boasts of several interesting sites for tourists to enjoy.
With our recommended tour packages, enjoy a few days amidst the calm serenity of the simple village life as is practiced among the Lamphun community or in the Phrao village.
A few hours at the local markets
The local night markets are the epicenters of shopping and merrymaking. The Sunday Walking Street is definitely one of the highlights to watch. Even though these markets are swarmed by a heavy influx of tourists, you can still find something interesting or other to do here. Lined-up stalls sell everything, right from locally made handicrafts to apparel and a range of mouthwatering indigenous delicacies that are not available elsewhere.
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Sunday Walking Street, Wualai Walking Street, Warorot, and Ton Lamyai Markets are some of the best Chiang Mai local markets to visit if you wish to lay your hands on affordable bric-a-brac or taste some delightful Thai dishes.
Dip into the best hot springs of Chiang Mai
Hot Springs are rumored to be great sources of minerals that help to rejuvenate your body, reduce stress, and promote sleep. Chiang Mai is home to some of the great hot springs in entire Thailand. And, some of these springs are quite picturesque and camera-worthy. Sankampaeng, Pong Kwao, Theppanom, Pong Dueat, and Doi Saket hot springs are worthy of your time and money.
Time for some entertainment
If temples and hot springs are not your thing or shopping in the local markets is beyond your league, then a guided tour in the Mae Tang area can fill your cup. Or, a visit to Chae Son National Park will make your day. Our private guided full-day Eco Soft Adventure Tour in Mae Tang will quench your thirst for a wild getaway amidst the wild Nature of Chiang Mai.
The Eco Soft Adventure Tour in Mae Tang guarantees a complete day of bliss as you meander your way through the thick foliage atop an elephant. You can discard the elephant ride for a rickety ticket oxcart ride along the broken dirty track. Or, you can try white-water rafting down the Mae Tang River while admiring the lush green rice paddies from a distance.
On the other hand, Chae Son National Park is equally spellbinding, to say the least. Stretched for over 592 sq. km in Mueang Pan, Chae Hom, and Wang Nuea districts of Lampang Province, the Chae Son National Park is popular for its picturesque beauty. Covered in mist, the National Park is home to many hot springs and waterfalls, dotted by mysterious caves, eye-catchy viewpoints along the roads, and seasonal blossoms. Surrounded by mountains belonging to the Khun Tan Range, Chae Son is the favored nesting ground for myriads flora such as deciduous trees and exotic fauna that includes 140 different species of birds including the sapphire flycatcher and Himalayan bluetail, rare mammal species such as Indochinese serow, barking deer and boar, as well as, scary reptiles like Yunnan water snake and Pope’s pit viper.
It is advisable to take the help of an expert guide if you wish to make a complete swipe of this forest.
Let’s eat!!!
At the end of the day, your trip to Chiang Mai will remain incomplete if you fail to include Thai authentic flavors in your platter.
Even though Thai dishes are spicy to the general taste bud, the delicacies indigenous to Chiang Mai reflect a perfect blend of Burma and China flavors. And, Chiang Mai is known for its rich and flavorful dishes. But, the authentic taste you can only be found in the local markets and along the streets of the city.
Sai Oua or grilled spicy herb sausage, Khao Soi or egg noodle curry, Sticky Rice or Pad Thai are some of the delectable dishes you must try before you leave Thailand. Thailand tourism has lots to offer tourists with its places and can be rewarding for travelers coming to scout this corner of the world with friends and families.
Do share your travel experiences with us. Travel happy!
CHIANG MAI FAQ
Why plan a trip to Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is one of the most beautiful places in Thailand surrounded by beautiful temples, natural beauty, and mountains that give travelers the perfect holiday destination to enjoy.