Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is a lovely city full of history and tradition. Here is a guide of thing to do in Chiang Mai.
A. TEMPLES IN CHIANG MAI
1. CHEDI LUANG: This temple was built in 1401 and despite the earthquake of 1545, the temple still having elephants carved on the sides.
2. DOI INTHANON: It’s the highest place in Chiang Mai with a view of the mountains. It’s 2 hours from Chiang Mai and it’s better rent a scooter to get there.
3. WAT BUPPHARAM: It’s close to China Town and unique architecture in the city due to Burmese influence. It costs 20 bath.
4. WAT CHIANG MAN: it’s the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, built in 1296.
5. WAT LOK MOLEE: It was built to be like a school for monks.
6. WAT PHRA SINGH: It’s one of the largest temples in Chiang Mai.
7. WAT PHRATHAT DOI SUTHEP: The Doi Suthep temple sits high on the mountain and is the main attraction in Chiang Mai. On the road a ladder protected by guardians leads to temple. Inside there are several statues of Buddha, some statues of dragons and elephants, an immense golden stupa, a small museum and the temple where the monk prays and blesses the visitors.
8. WAT SI SUPHAN OR SILVER TEMPLE: The silver temple is one of the most beautiful temples in the city. It all made of silver and aluminum carved by monks artisans of Chiang Mai. It is one of the best temples to do the monk chat as it is outside the Old City. On Saturday the temple is all lit up at night because of the Saturday Market.
9. WAT UMONG: It is the greenest temple of all. It lies literally in the middle of the forest at the foot of the mountain. Oomong means tunnel because the temple is in fact all done in tunnels built in the 14th century.
B. IF YOU LIKE NATURE
1. BAMBOO RAFT RIDE ON THE RIVER: The bamboo rafting more looks like a collective paddle standup in Mae Wang.
2. THAI THONG STICKY WATERFALLS: This waterfall is in Lanna Park and what sets it apart is that stones are a type of limestone that allows walking in the waterfall, even climbing. The path to it is not very easy, quite steep.
3. HANG DONG OR GRAND CANYON: It's an old mine that people love to go to cool off on hot days. Since it's not that big, people love to jump out of it in the water.
4. HUAY TUNG TAO LAKE: It is a lake that is at the foot of Doi Sthep mountain in Chiang Mai itself. To the side border there are a few cabanas for rent per day directly from the restaurants. It is expensive to eat there.
5. WHITE WATER RAFTING: Traditional Rafting in Mae Taeng Valley where there are lots of green, wildlife and where are the mountain tribes.
6. ZIP LINING: There are several options with long line zip, dozens of platforms and other activities that has a journey of up to 5km in the region of Chiang Mai.
C. OTHER OPTIONS AND ATTRACTIONS
1.COOKING CLASS: Forget the diet if you go to this class, because you will eat a lot.
2. BAAN KANG WAT OR DESIGN CRAF STUDIO: It is a design center with several quiet cafés, the best Thai tea in the city, there are several studios which offer crafts workshop, hand lettering, gardening, pottery, cooking classes with organic products picked right there, yoga, jewelry design, wood art, among others. Each studio has a class schedule. It is on the way to Wat Umong, about 15 minutes drive from the Old City.
3. MASSAGE: Massage is mandatory in Thailand. If you do not like Thai Massage, which basically consists of stretching with massage, you can try the foot massage that is usually combined (feet + head + shoulders).
D. SHOPPING: SHOPPINGS AND MARKETS
1. CENTRAL FESTIVAL (brands): It is the most complete mall in the city in terms of international brands of clothing, accessories, electronics, etc.
2. CENTRAL PLAZA AIRPORT (brands and electronics): It is a very complete mall with most major brands.
3. CHIANG MAI GATE MARKET (food): It is a street food market that extends along the street and inside the pavilion where there are fruits and vegetables. It's the cheapest place to try out various things in one place.
4. MAYA SHOPPING (brands): It is the mall where is the best cinema of the city, the international market and the co-working where the biggest of the digital nomads meet.
5. NIGHT BAZAAR (everything): It is the night market more tourist and expensive of all. As not everyone has time to go at the end of the week, this is the market that attracts more tourists and therefore prices are slightly more expensive and negotiations are not always so good.
6. NIMMAN ROAD (clothing and accessories): It is a street that has many cafes, but also some exclusive clothing boutiques and accessories of local designers. Many things even handmade.
7. PANTIP PLAZA CHIANG MAI (electronics): best place in town to find new, used, original and not so much electronics, accessories of all kinds and even make small repairs.
8. SATURDAY NIGHT MARKET (everything): It's a night market a bit smaller than the Sunday Market, but no less interesting. In this market there are more silver options due to the proximity to the silver temple, the Wat Si Suphan which is lit on Saturdays.
9. SUNDAY NIGHT MARKET (everything): No doubt the best night market in Chiang Mai that only happens on Sundays. It starts at Tae Paeh Gate and goes across several streets. Craftsmen and traders from various parts of northern Thailand sell their good in this market with great prices. It is the only market that takes place inside the Old City.
10. WAROROT MARKET OR CHINA TOWN (everything): It has everything imaginable and with many good prices, better than any other market. It's kind of thinking of the Chatuchak (the Bangkok weekend market), only straight from the factory.
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