Looking for things to do in Chiang Mai during your trip to Thailand? Chiang Mai is an awesome and very photogenic city in the north of Thailand known for its scenic beauty and peaceful surroundings.

There are many places to visit in Chiang Mai, whether you are seeking peace and quiet or activities for the more adventurous. This city is at the top of the list of places I would recommend when visiting Thailand.

Some of my favorite places to visit here are Wat Chedi Luang, an ancient temple within walking distance of many parts of the city; the magnificent Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, and the Karen tribal village. For nature lovers, a must-see is the Doi Inthanon National Park. And you just can’t go wrong just taking a leisurely stroll through the city’s renowned night bazaar.

Visit Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang is a fascinating (and free) place to visit right in the historical heart of the city. It really stands out architecturally and can make for some great photos.

Building was started on this temple in 1391 by King Saen Muang Ma to house the ashes of his father, King Ku Na, but after 10 years of work, it was still unfinished. After King Saen’s death, construction was continued by his widow; however, it took until 1475 for the temple to finally be finished.

The height of the temple rose to 280 feet (84 meters), but in 1545 an earthquake caused severe damage to the temple. Its current height is 196 feet (60 meters).

For a time, the temple housed the Emerald Buddha, one of most sacred objects in all of Thailand. After the earthquake, the statue was moved to Luang Prabang in Laos, and is now housed in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.

The temple is architecturally unique and there is no charge to enter. You can walk around and view all four sides of the temple. It’s especially beautiful in the evening hours, just before sunset.

One of the most interesting things you can do at the temple is to take part in the Monk Chats, where you sit with a group of monks and learn more about Buddhism while at the same time helping the monks improve their English.

The best times to enjoy this activity is early Saturday mornings, around 7:30 or 8:00 AM.

Getting to Wat Chedi Luang

Getting to Wat Chedi Luang is easy, as it’s right in the center of the city. You can most likely even walk there if your hotel is near the city center. The address of the temple is 103 Road King Prajadhipok Phra Singh, Muang District.

Tour the Lovely Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Another must-see place in Chiang Mai is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. It one of the most sacred sites in the north of Thailand.

The temple was believed to have been built starting in 1383 to house relics of the Buddha brought to the area by King Kue Na Thammikarat. The temple sits on top of a hill 3,450 feet (1,050 meters) high from which you can enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding areas.

Once you arrive at the temple along a road that was only built in 1935, be prepared to walk up over 300 steps to get to the temple. It’s not that rough at all, really, but if you feel climbing all those steps is not for you, you can take a cable car to the top for only 20 baht (US$.65).

At the top of the hill, you will first need to pay a small admission fee of 30 baht (US$.95) to help maintain the grounds. After entering the gate, you must remove your shoes. Also, as with all sacred sites in Thailand, you must be appropriately dressed to enter.

The most magnificent structure on the grounds is the original copper plated chedi (or stupa), which is the holiest part of the complex. There are also two main pagodas, shrines, bells, and a scenic and photogenic overlook of Chiang Mai. There is also a market at the base of the temple complex selling all kinds of souvenirs.

Getting to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

The temple is about 9.3 miles (15 km) outside of the city. Part of the journey to the top of the hill where the temple is situated takes you through scenic woodlands. Almost all hotels and travel agencies in Chiang Mai can book tours for you to this site, with various ranges of prices.

It’s best to get there fairly early, before the hottest part of the day and before the site gets too crowded with tour busses.

Have a Cultural Experience at the Karen Tribal Village

In addition to the Thai people, there are over 30 other ethnic groups found in Thailand. It’s very interesting to see how they live by taking a tour to a tribal village near Chiang Mai.

One tribe you can visit are the Karen (pronounced “ka-REN” and also known as the “long necks”). The women of this tribe wear brass rings around their necks, pushing their shoulders down, thereby making their necks appear longer.

The main profession of the tribal people of Thailand is farming, and this in fact has been the way they have made a living for a thousand or so years. Recently, however, the Karen have discovered a new way to augment their income by permitting tourism in their villages. They make money by selling hand-made items as well as posing for photographs with visitors.

You may hear of the controversy that surrounds tourism to the tribal villages. Some writers have even referred to it as promoting a “human zoo.” I don’t see it that way and I have personally been to the Karen village. The people there are just trying to make a living, just like all of us, and without tourism, they would struggle to make ends meet.

They certainly didn’t seem unhappy or oppressed when I was there and in fact were very warm and welcoming toward their visitors. I didn’t get the sense that they felt exploited at all. I think it’s all about the way one acts toward the villagers. If you just run in, snap a bunch of photos, and then rush back to the bus, well, that’s one thing. But if you show interest in the people and are respectful, then you’ll be A-OK.

At any rate, don’t listen to the hype. Do a little reading on the subject and make your own decision about how you feel.

The villages of the tribal people are in a beautiful and quite scenic part of the country and it’s worth going on the tour to not only get some great photographs, but also to experience a different culture and to see the natural beauty that surrounds the area as well.

Getting to the Villages

The Karen are very conscious of the threat to their traditional lifestyle and have become very guarded in order to protect their ways. I wouldn’t recommend going to the villages on your own. Only some villages welcome guests and even then, only a specific part of the village is open to visitors.

Thus, you should definitely book a tour through one of the many tour agencies in the city or through your hotel.

Doi Inthanon National Park

If you want to truly enjoy the natural beauty of northern Thailand, you should treat yourself to a visit to Doi Inthanon National Park. There are so many things to do in this park that you could easily spend more than one day visiting and taking in the scenery there.

The park is comparatively new, only being established in 1972. Its total area is 186 square miles (482 square km). Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand, with its highest peak measuring 8,410 feet (2,561 meters).

There are several waterfalls within the park. During the dry season (especially November through April), waterfalls in northern Thailand are not as spectacular as during the rest of the year but are still worth visiting.

Other attractions include visits to Karen and H’mong tribal villages, nature trails, caves, and scenic overlooks. Be sure your tour stops at the Napamaytanidol Chedi and Phra Mahatat Napaphon Bhumisiri, which is a magnificent monument built to honor the 60th birthday of King Bhumipol and Queen Sirikit, respectively.

Getting to Doi Inthanon National Park

The park is about 37 miles (60 km) from Chiang Mai. There are several tours that will take you there.

Be sure to check to see what the tour includes, as the park is so large and there are so many things to do there, that there are several variations on tours. If one tour doesn’t seem interesting to you, ask to see a different tour’s offerings or ask the tour agent if substitutions can be made.

More information about the park and a list of its major attractions can be found by visiting their official website.

The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

After a full day of seeing the beautiful sights in and around the city, one of my favorite things to do is to just enjoy a slow, relaxing stroll around the city’s night bazaar, one of the main attractions of Chiang Mai.

The bazaar has a long history, going back to the days when Chinese traders would stop their caravans in the city on the way to Burma.

Today, the market has become so large that there are actually several markets that have fused into what seems like one giant market. The original bazaar is on the west side of Chang Klan Road, but the Galare Night Market is just across the street.

You can find all variety of handicrafts, clothing, home decorations, antiques, touristy souvenirs, and food. Prices are not exactly a bargain, but be sure to haggle down on the price. Don’t ever just accept the first price that is quoted to you.

One thing you wouldn’t want to miss are the Thai cultural shows performed on stages at the far ends of both the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar and at the Galare Night Bazaar. Here you can see traditional Thai dances. There is no charge for the shows.

If you like people watching, the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is the place to go.

Getting to the Night Bazaar

Getting to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar can easily be accomplished on foot, depending on where your hotel is located. If you are anywhere near the center of town, just walk east (toward the river) on Loi Kroh Road (one of the main streets in town) to Chang Klan Road, then turn left.

You will see the vendors spilling out onto the street and the main building of the market is just about 1/2 block down on the left-hand side.