Chiang Mai: Awesome Things to do
Chiang Mai I would say was one of my favourite parts of the trip but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It is of course much smaller and compact, but the city has this feeling that’s different to what I had experienced before. With so many things to do and places to see, from nature and temples, to local food and cooking classes. These are my top highlights that I’d really recommend adding to your own list.
Disclaimer: The following tours are my honest recommendations, and not in collaboration with the companies.
Temples to Visit
While we’re at it, we may as well start with the obvious sites you cannot miss:
Wat Lok Moli
The intricate Lanna architecture and peaceful gardens are stunning.
Wat Phra Singh
One of Chiang Mai's most famous temples, and for good reason. Its beautifully decorated prayer halls and rich history make it a must-see while exploring the Old Town.
Silver Temple
Unlike any other temple I visited. It may be smaller than some of Chiang Mai's famous landmarks, but the handcrafted silver details are absolutely incredible.
Wat Chiang Man
The oldest temple in Chiang Mai and an easy stop while wandering around the Old Town. It's quieter than some of the bigger temples but has a lot of history, making it well worth adding to your route.
Wat Lok Moli
Ultimate Day Trips for Your Bucket List
Chiang Rai's Temples Exploration Day Trip
Full day, €44
It is a long ass day (there's no getting around that), but visiting Chiang Rai on your own takes quite a bit of planning, so I actually found this to be the easiest way to do it.
The White Temple, in my opinion, lived up to the hype (and hyped it was, with many tourists). I'd seen countless photos before visiting, but it was even more magnificent in person and probably one of the most unique buildings I've ever visited. The Blue Temple was probably my surprise favourite, and I loved seeing how different each temple was from the last.
If you're already based in Chiang Mai and fancy seeing a bit more of northern Thailand with a little more ease, I'd definitely recommend it. Otherwise, overnight in Chiang Rai is probably better.
Doi Inthanon & Pa Pong Piang
9.5 hours, from €120
When you think of rice terraces, Thailand probably isn't the first country that comes to mind.
I certainly wasn't expecting to find some of the most beautiful ones I'd ever seen tucked away in the mountains of northern Thailand.
I'll be honest, this was one of the more expensive experiences I booked during my trip. But after looking into it, I quickly realised why. It's a private tour, and Pa Pong Piang isn't somewhere that's particularly easy to reach independently. Unless you're planning to hire a car and tackle the mountain roads yourself, it's by far the easiest way to visit.
The rice terraces were everything I'd hoped for—peaceful, incredibly green and without the crowds I'd expected. Combined with Doi Inthanon National Park, waterfalls and a few local stops along the way, it ended up being one of my favourite days in northern Thailand.
Would I recommend it? If you've got the budget and fancy seeing a side of Thailand that many visitors never do, then absolutely. It might not be the cheapest day trip, but it's one I certainly don't regret booking.
Shorter Activities & Experiences
Zabb e Lee Cooking Class in Chiang Mai
5 hours, €30
I first heard about Zabb e Lee from a mutual friend and knew I had to do it. My goodness I absolutely loved every minute of it. It was a really fun way to learn more about Thai food (plus you'll leave absolutely stuffed - you’ll get leftovers if like me, you cannot finish!). The thing that’s nice and I appreciated though, compared to other classes, was that everyone can chose their own things to make based on a selection. It’s rare to find that.
I’d even go as far to say just the location itself is worth booking for. The iindividual cooking ‘rooms’ are breathtakingly designed, in a kind of garden oasis.
Chiang Mai Evening Street Food Tour
2.5 hours, €35
By this point, you probably won't be surprised to hear that I booked another food tour... (yes yes, eye-roll).
But this one was a bit different. Instead of tasting usual Thai dishes, we ventured to a couple of local night markets at the different gates of Chiang Mai to try some of Northern Thailand's specialities. For someone who doesn’t typically like a lot of meat, the crispy pork was one of my favourite things I’d tasted.
As a summary, come very hungry... I’ve never known food tours to fill you up this much before than in SE Asia.
Café Hopping
As I’m sure you are aware, and as I more than likely discussed before, Thailand is infamous for its cafe culture: coffees in fairy-like gardens, huge koi swimming around and waterfalls in many areas. Some, if not most, are for the “trend” let’s say but I found a few little spots that aren’t too instagrammy but fantastic.
Smile Lanna
My favourites were:
Fern Forest Café
Smile Lanna
Baan Buri
Honestly, I could've spent an entire week just working my way around Chiang Mai's cafés.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're temple hopping, heading into the mountains or simply pigging your way around Chiang Mai (like meeee), I’m very grateful that each experience showed me a different side of northern Thailand and made me appreciate the region even more.
I hope you find these recommendations helpful and if you’re visiting soon, have a blast!