Chiang Mai is the largest city in the north of Thailand. Counting over 200,000 inhabitants, more and more foreigners and expats are settling here, contributing to a multicultural and welcoming atmosphere.
More than 300 temples in and outside the old city walls add to a wide range of activities to do around Chiang Mai.
Among the most popular excursions are tours to the Elephant Sanctuaries, trips to Pai, to Chiang Rai’s white temple, and to Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- How to get to Chiang Mai
- Wat Doi Suthep Temple
- Wat Chedi Luang
- Tours to see the elephants in Chiang Mai
- What’s an Elephant Sanctuary?
- Interacting with the elephants
- Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
- Hotels – Where to stay in Chiang Mai
- Conclusions and useful links
HOW TO GET TO CHIANG MAI
Chiang Mai is about 700 km from Bangkok. It takes about an hour to fly, or you can travel by land for less money and save a night on the overnight train. Depending on the season, there are also flights from Chiang Mai to Phuket in the south of the country.
The 3 most common ways to get to Chiang Mai are:
- by plane from Bangkok or neighbouring countries: domestic flights usually depart from Don Mueang Airport (DMK), while international flights depart from Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Look here for flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
- by night train from Bangkok: travelling by train in Thailand is a very interesting way to get to know the country and its people. We talk about our experience on a night train in Thailand in this article. Search here for prices and times of the Chiang Mai – Bangkok train.
- by bus/minivan from Chiang Rai or arriving from Laos: if you’re travelling by land in northern Thailand, there are many companies that connect the most visited areas, above all Chiang Rai and Lampang. Search here for a bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai.
WAT DOI SUTHEP TEMPLE
The first temple we visited in Chiang Mai is Wat Doi Suthep.
This temple is located on top of a hill, about 45 minutes drive from Chiang Mai. Legend has it that the ashes of a Chiang Mai governor were placed on the back of an elephant, which was left free to roam.
The elephant eventually stopped on this hill, where it was decided to build Wat Doi Suthep.
You have to climb 300 steps to reach the highest point of the temple, from which you can admire a splendid view of Chiang Mai.
The main attraction of the temple is the golden stupa, completely covered in gold leaves.
Entrance to Wat Doi Suthep costs 30 baht (0.90€) per person, open between 6am and 6pm. We recommend visiting early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the hottest hours. It can be reached by motorbike or tuk-tuk, or with a guided tour to Wat Doi Suthep from Chiang Mai.
WAT CHEDI LUANG
Back within the walls of the old city, the temples are countless. In Chiang Mai, there are golden roofs and facades everywhere! The Old City is enclosed between four sides of walls and canals that form a perfect square around the sacred centre of Chiang Mai.
The most famous temple in town is Wat Chedi Luang, which stands out in a unique and unmistakable way, higher than all the others. Partially collapsed due to an earthquake, Chedi Luang remains the most important place of worship in Chiang Mai, frequented by many monks.
Wat Chedi Luang is open every day until 6 pm. Entrance costs 40 baht per person. There are also guided walking tours in Chiang Mai, to visit the city within the walls with a local guide.
We were lucky enough to be in Chiang Mai during a festival. Returning to Wat Chedi Luang in the evening, we found it open and lit up. The celebrations with music and dance all around the sacred area were due to Inthakin, the festival of the city pillar (held in a nearby temple).
Of course there are many people around, but one of the things we loved the most is that you just need to walk a few steps away to find yourself in peaceful boulevards, surrounded by temples, trees, monks, nature, silence…
TOURS TO SEE THE ELEPHANTS IN CHIANG MAI
By consulting the manager of our budget Dutch Guest House (below we recommend where to stay in Chiang Mai), we inquired about the various options for elephant tours in Chiang Mai.
Although elephants, like any animal, should always remain in the wild and be seen in their habitat, this isn’t always possible.
Over the centuries, elephants were first used for work and construction needs. Later, with the arrival of the westerners tourists, it became a profitable attraction for locals.
Between those who claim to save elephants from exploitation, those who work as volunteers, those who take care of elephants because they are no longer able to live in the wild, it isn’t easy for foreigners to understand what really happens behind the scenes.
The money from the tours is used to buy food (250 kg per elephant per day!), but you never know how much the managers “skim off” and how much the workers are paid.
If you have any doubts and want more information about elephant tours in Thailand, we talk about it in depth in our article.
WHAT’S AN ELEPHANT SANCTUARY LIKE?
That said, meeting and interacting with elephants is a truly incredible experience. Even just admiring them while they eat with the help of their trunks, and seeing them walk majestically, is a unique spectacle.
Today there are many centres where you can meet elephants, more or less expensive, more or less ethical. These places are called Elephant Sanctuaries. For example, this tour costs from €21 per person, lasts 4-5 hours, and you feed the elephants. While this €40 tour lasts all day and also includes the path to the waterfall and bathing the elephants.
We decided to spend a little more (1400 baht each, about €35) and we found exactly what we were looking for. In our limited-number tour there were 4 of us, with a couple from Germany. In total, there were 6 elephants in the sanctuary, 4 of which were completely free, and a mother in a special enclosure with her newborn calf.
At the time of our first visit (way back in 2016!), this sanctuary received two groups of tourists, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. During the tour you interact with the elephants, feeding them and bathing them. We rode on the backs of the elephants for a short distance to the river.
Today some sanctuaries do not allow to ride the animals anymore, depending on the physical condition of each elephant in each sanctuary.
For example in Koh Samui in 2023, we visited a small sanctuary that houses only two elderly elephants. There you feed, walk, and bathe the elephants with water hoses, but you never touch the animals.
INTERACTING WITH THE ELEPHANTS
During our visit in Chiang Mai, the staff were very friendly and nice. The guide is the only one who speaks good English, the other Thai mahouts take care of one elephant each.
Each mahout can only have one elephant in a group, the relationship between the two is very close and confidential, the animal may not listen to orders from other people. Some elephants live very long lives, even longer than humans. We were told about an elephant who lived 96 years and outlived 3 different mahouts in his life.
The mahouts live with the elephants every day, tourists or not. They take them to the river 4 times a day to refresh them and give them water. After spending about 3 hours at the camp, around 5pm, and after having fed them one last time, we say goodbye to these fantastic creatures.
In the evening, we plan the excursion to Pai and Mae Hong Son, which we will do the next day. We talk about our motorbike loop to Pai and Mae Hong Son in this article. Back from this adventurous tour, we still have one last night plus half a day to spend in Chiang Mai.
CHIANG MAI NIGHT BAZAAR
The most popular place in Chiang Mai in the evening is undoubtedly the Night Bazaar. Despite its exotic name, the Night Bazaar today is nothing more than a large night market where you can find a bit of everything.
Here there are stalls selling food and goods of all kinds. As always, keep an eye on the prices, and be ready to bargain. Thais love a good bargaining session with jokes and laughter!
Inside the covered market it can get very hot. Alternatively, we also recommend the Wua Lai Walking Street Saturday Market if you’re in Chiang Mai during the weekend.
In addition to classic Pad Thai, another dish not to be missed in northern Thailand is Khao Soi. A soup made with chicken, curry, turmeric and coconut milk, with excellent egg noodles that remind us of our tagliolini!
HOTELS – WHERE TO STAY IN CHIANG MAI
There are plenty of accommodations in Chiang Mai, for every budget and type of traveller. We recommend spending at least 4 days and 3 nights in Chiang Mai to appreciate northern Thailand.
Low budget:
- Dutch Guest House: Affordable no-frills rooms, among the cheapest places in town. Possibility to eat on site and book tours and scooters.
- Chiangmun Boutique: Very central location within the walls of the old city. Friendly and helpful staff.
- Blue Moon House: Nice inexpensive hostel, offering nightly rates plus excellent breakfast included.
Mid-range and ideal for families:
- Sathu Hotel: Cool hotel with modern Thai architecture and outdoor pool, great staff.
- The Empress Hotel:: Large reliable hotel, attentive staff and beautiful outdoor space with swimming pool.
- Lanna Oriental Hotel: Very convenient location within the walls but close to the main roads, clean and well-kept rooms.
- Verbena Chiang Mai: Beautiful rooms in a new, modern structure. Almost luxury category, but with excellent discounts if you travel off-season.
Luxury:
- Rarin Jinda Wellness Spa Resort: Gorgeous rooms with pool view, excellent Spa services, massages and relaxation in a luxurious ambience.
- 99 The Heritage Hotel: comfort and convenience in the Old City of Chiang Mai, but at the same time surrounded by a quiet and relaxing environment.
You can book all your stays in Chiang Mai and Thailand with free cancellation here.
CONCLUSIONS AND USEFUL LINKS
On our last morning in Chiang Mai it rains again. We visit Buak Haad Park, a quiet green area just inside the walls. After lunch, we collect our backpacks from the guesthouse and take a tuk-tuk to the station. From there, the overnight train will take us south to the ancient city of Ayutthaya.
Chiang Mai and its surroundings were a beautiful stop for us.
The area is obviously very different from the capital Bangkok and the beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui in the south. To fully understand and appreciate the culture of the country, don’t miss the north of Thailand!
ENJOY YOUR TRIP TO CHIANG MAI!
Plan your trip to Thailand here:
- 20 Days Thailand Itinerary
- Chiang Mai – Pai – Mae Hong Son 3-Day Motorbike Loop
- The White Temple of Chiang Rai
- Hiking to Bridge on the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi
- The 8 Most Beautiful Temples of Ayutthaya
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We never leave home without a reliable travel insurance. Better safe than sorry.
Here are two options for you to compare.
Get a quote with World Nomads here, and get up to 15% off your travel insurance with Heymondo here.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
COMPARE PRICES, BOOK FLIGHTS + STAYS
Did you know? Besides hotels, you can now compare and book your flights + stays in one place on Booking Flights. Search hotels and flights with Booking here.
Save on average 8-12% on flights and hotels with Trip.com.
WANT TO MAKE MONEY WHILE YOU TRAVEL?
We’ve been using Travelpayouts to monetize our travel content and wanted to share it with you.
Sign up here: https://www.travelpayouts.com/?marker=634810
Disclaimer: this post contains links to products and services for which we may be compensated, at no additional cost for you. Thanks for your support that helps us keep our blog free and operating!
