Although I am usually not a fan of “top 10” posts, I wish there had been a comprehensive list such as this before I left on the 22 hour flight to the other side of the world. Chiang Mai, referred to as “the rose of the north”, is the largest city in Northern Thailand. It is a place where past and present seamlessly merge. You can spend days meandering through the undiscovered soi’s within the walled old city or head out into the mountains to trek among the hillside tribes. No matter how you choose to spend your time in Chiang Mai, you will not be disappointed. The following is a list of my daughter and I’s favorite activities on our recent stay.
1. Elephant Nature Park
If you are heading to Chiang Mai, chances are you’ve heard of The Elephant Nature Park. If you haven’t, google it NOW! It is truly a life changing experience to spend a day at this sanctuary. My daughter and I booked an overnight trip, which allowed us the opportunity to spend hours with these gentle giants (as well as the over 500 resident dogs and cats). Waking up to the sounds of trumpeting elephants, priceless, Book your trip early because spots do go fast.
2. Take a Cooking Class
There is an abundance of available cooking schools to choose from in Chiang Mai. We chose the Thai Farm cooking school and were not disappointed. It was an all day experience, including stopping at a local market on our way to the farm to purchase some of the days necessary ingredients. Once at the farm we drank lemongrass tea and cooked enough food to feed us for days. Yellow curry with chicken, Tom Yam soup, Pad Thai, bananas in coconut milk. I am not super confident around a kitchen, but after a day spent at the farm I felt I could recreate these dishes pretty easily. As an added bonus we were each given a beautiful cookbook including all the recipes we made.
3. Experience Flying
That’s right, you will fly! The Flight of the Gibbon was my daughter’s favorite day spent in Thailand. For over two and a half hours you will fly through the trees, most of the time with your heart pounding out of you chest (that might just be me since I am deathly afraid of heights!) We did not see any gibbons but the surroundings were spectacular and the staff had us in stitches. Dress warmly (we did not). The mountains are significantly cooler than the city.
4. Get a Massage
There are almost as many places to get a massage as there are temples in Chiang Mai. So indulge. Options range from a half hour foot massage at the Sunday market, to an all day pampering at a deluxe spa, to dipping your feet in a tank full of Garra rufa fish. Although many people rave about the Women’s Massage Center By Ex-Prisoners, we chose a three hour package at the Kiyora Spa. For about $100 for the both of us (there was a 2 for 1 promotion) we enjoyed a kaffir lime foot bath, body scrub, body wrap and an aromatherapy massage. What a bargain! I will never again be able to get a massage in the U.S. again without cringing at the cost. The treatments ended with a lemongrass tea and mango sticky rice.
5. Watch the Sunrise at Wat Doi Suthep
Wat Doi Suthep and Chiang Mai go hand in hand with one another. A Thai saying goes, “if you haven’t tasted Khao Soi or seen the view from Doi Suthep, you haven’t been to Chiang Mai.” It therefore follows that it is often swarmed with tourists. A way to avoid this is to visit the famous temple at sunrise. You may not have it all to yourself but there will be far fewer people than if you visit at any other time of day. You will also have the added bonus of being of the first ones to catch a glimpse of the city as the day begins. Grab a quick coffee before you head out so you’ll have the stamina to climb up the 100 plus stairs waiting for you to climb.
6. Mrs. Pa’s Shakes
I searched literally every night at the food stalls outside the Chiang Mai gate for Mrs. Pa and her famous shakes. On our final night I finally found her (she had been on vacation) and her shakes were worth the wait! Armed with two blenders and a variety of fresh seasonal fruit, for 20 baht these shakes are the real deal!.
7. Art in Paradise
This is by far the coolest museum I have ever experienced! If you are looking for a place to escape the heat or rain for a few hours, this is the place to go. Art in Paradise allows you to actually immerse yourself inside the artwork. Ever wanted to ride a gondola in Venice? How about surf the waves in Hawaii. Well, here you can. In total there are 130 3D paintings on the walls. The museum does not include anything culturally significant and you will not leave having gained any historical knowledge but you will leave with a smile on your face. That I can guarantee!
8. Temple Hop
With a temple on nearly every street corner it would be very difficult to visit the city without at least experiencing a few. Early mornings or late in the evening are great times to take in a temple. If you’re lucky you will be able to experience the monks during their morning chants. A few of my favorites include Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Umong and Wat Phrah Sing. Always remember to respect the local culture by removing your shoes before entering any temple, wear appropriate clothes with your legs and arms covered, and if sitting on the floor do not extend your feet towards Buddha images.
9. Trek in the Rainforest
It seems as if every tour company offers some sort of Trek and each one offers loads of options. My head was spinning after looking at the list google had provided me with. I began sifting through them, cross-referenced them with the trip advisor forums, second guessed myself and finally settled on a one day trek with Untouched Thailand
On the tour we visited two waterfalls (Wachirathon and Sirithon), the summit of Doi Inthanon National Park (called the roof of Thailand), and enjoyed lunch at a Hmong hill tribe market. The real magic, however, took place after lunch. We were met by a member of the White Karen Hill tribe who then led us on a two hour trek through the rainforest. We passed secret waterfalls, fields and fields of strawberries, all while he pointed out native plants and flowers and widdled us spoons out of pieces of bamboo.
10. Shop at a Market
Thailand is known for its markets and Chiang Mai does not disappoint. There are four main markets; the Warorot Market, the Saturday Market, the Sunday Market and the Night Bazaar. Although they all offer great food and a variety of handcrafted goods and artwork, the Saturday Market (also known as the Wulalai Walking Street Market) was my favorite. It takes place every Saturday evening opposite the Chiang Mai Gate and I found it less crowded than the Sunday Market. Go early and watch the stalls being set-up, you might even get a great deal like we did on a painting by being the first sale of the evening! Remember to bargain, it really is expected.
