Overview
** CHIANG MAI, THAILAND **
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This is a great city for meeting fellow expats and black travelers. It’s a city rich with history, it’s affordable, and the locals are very friendly. The food is fresh and delicious, you can go to the elephant sanctuary, hike trails for beautiful scenery, or visit any number of temples. Their Son Kran festival is a experience you have to have at least once.
You cannot leave Chiang Mai without trying Khao Soi, a curry dish very well known in Northern Thailand. I had Khao Soi at the Siripanna Villa Resort & Spa which, even though it isn’t a restaurant, it buss down and it buss DIFFERENT. It’s creamy, its umami with a bit of sweetness, and it can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (trust me because you’ll want to eat it all day!). We also tried out one of the best spots to get it, Khao Soi Wulai and let me tell you!!! Delectable, delicious, don’t miss out! Here is a great list of restaurants to try khao soi at: https://achefstour.com/blog/the-5-best-khao-soi-joints-in-chiang-mai
Chiang Mai was such an eye opening and humbling experience. We stayed at a hotel where we were treated so nicely. They made sure we were comfortable at all times and continuously reach out and even went as far as helping us plan out our day. They provided us tips on where to go to eat and hidden gems such as the Bua Tong waterfall. What I got from my time in Thailand was how nice And caring everybody was to eachother. I enjoyed seeing all of the ancient temples learning about each one. A must see were the Doi Suthep and Wat Chiang Man. It is required that you are covered up, so shoulders must be covered and legs if you want to go into the temples. Some temples are more strict than others, you may have to cover up just to take a picture by the temple.
I recommend doing a day tour of the Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, it was the highlight of my trip.
I didn’t book any formal tours, but did it on my own with my mom. We did a lot of research and planning before heading out. And like I said, most likely wherever you are staying they will have brochures and would be glad to help with navigation and planning out your day. Chiang Mai is crazy cheap, so it’s nice to leave tips since the people do not get much income.
My husband and I recently spent 4 nights in Chiang Mai and 2 nights in Chiang Rai. We fell in love with Northern Thailand. We stayed at an air bnb in the Astra condo complex (next to the Shangri La) and we were shocked how affordable it was ($33/night). The complex has 24hr security guard and rooftop pool. Within a few minutes walk, there are multiple night markets and street food. We felt that the Ploen Ruedee night market was more catered towards tourists but the food was still great. Across the street is another night market that is even bigger and has a mix of locals and tourists. One of the best pad Thai we’ve ever had was from a makeshift restaurant on the street that has been in business since 1980. At 40 baht (vegetarian) 50 baht (with meat) you cant go wrong . That s less than 2$for a delicious plate of pad thai. I found the people genuinely nice and welcoming and I never once felt uncomfortable during my trip there. I strongly recommend the Doi Inthanon tour if you have time. It takes an entire day but totally worth it. The mini van picked us up from the air bnb. There are a few options and we opted for the one that had 2hrs trelking up the mountain. Qe visited the king and queen Pagodas, the wachirathan waterfall, a village where they make their own coffee (we bought some because it tasted so good). Lunch was also provided and the day costs 1600 baht per person.
Doi Suthep is also a must while in Chiang Mai. There are many ways to get there. There are tours that charge about 500 and up per person. However, we opted to take public transportation. Red bus cost 40 baht per person to get to the zoo and from there, we had to chnage and take another red bus that goes up to the temple and that was another 40 baht. We ended up paying 50 each because we didnt want to wait longer for the bus to fill up and the driver asked the 6 of us to pay an extra 10 baht per person and we all gladly agreed. With traffic, I’d say if you choose to go on your own plan of putting aside 5 hrs for this activity.
Another great activity we did was a cooking class. We booked it via air bnb as well and it was the experience of a lifetime. I strongly recommend Aromdii cooking class. Nok and Aek were great teachers and we learned how to make 5 different dishes. They also provided bags to take all the leftovers home and we left with a nice little cooking book we cant wait to use when we get back.
We will definitely come back to northern Thailand in the future. We feel that there were a lot more we could have done and 4 days was not enough. As a black traveler, I highly recommend visiting this city.
Chiang Mai is a beautiful city filled with culture, amazing food, and colorful temples. The accommodations are cheap but still comfortable. I stayed in the Niman area that was pretty close to the airport. It was lively neighborhood with a large shopping center and many restaurants. It was very easy to hop on the Red Bus to the night market which take place on the weekends. I visited the Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary where you can ethically enjoy the presence of elephants WITHOUT riding them, as shown in the picture. Doi Suthep is a beautiful temple thats reachable by red bus or even an Uber. The White Temple and the Blue Temple are amazing, highly detailed temples outside of Chiang Mai in a city called Chaing Rai. I did a tour that I booked through airbnb and it was about a 3 hour drive by minivan and the tour included food. Chiang Mai was very chill and I did not have any trouble Traveling While Black, theres actually a large population of black nomads in Chiang Mai. I would definitely recommend for travelers to make there way to Chiang Mai while in Thailand, it is a very different vibe from other parts of Thailand like Bangkok and Phuket.
I visited Chiang Mai in August 2019. This is the rainy season so pros are cheaper flights and accommodation, and fewer tourists. Cons of course the weather – it rained everyday I was there but it really didn’t stop me from doing anything I had planned because the rain never lasted more than an hour.
Chiang Mai is one of the most beautiful, interesting, friendly and just all around amazing places I’ve visited. I went solo and never once did I feel unsafe, and I was out late into the night most nights. It’s very affordable and accommodates all budgets. You can find amazing hotels and airbnbs in all price ranges and the service is unlike anywhere else I’ve been. For transportation I recommend tuk-tuks mostly but also download the Grab app (like Uber but you pay cash).
This city is known for its temples, and boy are there so many to see. They are so beautiful and unique, going from one to the next, it just never got old. My favorites which I recommend are Wat Chiang Man, Wat Doi Suthep (it’s outside of town on a hill, views are breathtaking), and Wat Chedi Luang.
Keep in mind there is a dress code to enter the temples: no shoes; knees and shoulders must be covered and generally no revealing clothing for women. It was hot and most days I was wearing a tank top or something that showed my shoulders, so I would keep a light scarf or jacket in my backpack and just cover up before going in.
The night markets are a must-do for food, entertainment and souvenirs. I ate mostly at the night markets just because there is much to choose from in one place and the prices are very reasonable. Also, you can chill at one of the outdoor tables, listen to live music and enjoy a beer or cocktail and people watch. One thing I’ll say about the food: it was absolutely delicious, but if you like spicy, make sure you tell them when you order because they make the food pretty mild, I assume to accommodate tourists palates. If you’re there on Sunday (try to be), the Sunday walking street should not be missed. There are a plethora of vendors selling everything from food, to souvenirs, art, clothing, you name it. It can get overwhelming just because of the sheer number of things to choose from, and it can get claustrophobic with the crowds in some areas where the lanes are smaller. Definitely wear comfortable walking shoes. When you get tired you can find a restaurant, bar or courtyard with live music to chill.
From Chiang Mai you can book excursions for activities all over Thailand, but some nearby ones I recommend: Elephant Nature Park is a rescue center doing great work, and I was told the Thai government runs another one close by too so may be worth checking out too; Chiang Rai day trip – keep in mind this a 3.5 to 4 hour drive each way, but one of the stops is the White Temple which is breathtaking. I would recommend this if you have more than 3 days in Chiang Mai, just because it takes up your entire day but worth it in my opinion.
Final thoughts: if you’re planning a trip to Thailand, Chiang Mai should most definitely be a stop on your itinerary. It’s a very tourist friendly city but still gives an experience of Thai culture in its sites, history, food and most of all the people.
We went to so many places in Thailand and Chiang mai was one of my favorit places to visit. There is so much to do we went to Mae Rim elephants sanctuary we payed 1400 bath for a half day tour. Where elephants are loved and respected. And it was amazing. We could feed them walk with them in jungle wash them in mud and bath them in the river. Quite amazing experience. We went to Baan Tong Luang Eco-agricultural Village I really loved this village we saw the giraffe woman and how they lived and learned some of the tradition. They also have a ricefield so beautiful. The village was so big you need a whole day to visit and it was so calming so much green. Overall the local people were friendly and the food was amazing if you go to the forest it can be a bit difficult for communication cuz the local people don’t speak English that wel. If you want peace, green and nature then you should go to Chiang Mai. They offer alot of activities and is really cheap compared to Phuket.
Prior to visiting Thailand, most of the hype from all of my research was primarily focused on southern Thailand, such as Bangkok, Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands, etc. After visiting, however, I quickly learned that northern Thailand is truly underrated. My visit to Thailand came during the week that Thai people were celebrating their New Year (Songkran), which falls during the month of April. April is one of the hottest months of the year, so it’s befitting that they would turn the Songkran celebration into huge water festival, where local people and lots of tourist are literally running around the streets of the old city with water guns and spraying each other for hours on end. It was literally the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.
Thailand is also known for its population of Asian elephants. To me, they are the most beautiful creatures on the planet. They have the largest brains of any land animals, making them highly intelligent, compassionate, capable of long-lasting memories, emotional, ferociously protective, and yet, kind. Their trunks contain tens of thousands of muscles used for a variety of inherent tasks, such as eating and drinking. I can understand why so many people would want to be in their presence. However, there is a dark side to the elephant tourism industry that I STRONGLY advise you educate yourself on and make the best judgement on the most humane way of interacting with these animals. Unfortunately, true sanctuaries no longer exists in Thailand. There is not enough space for Asian elephants to live freely without human interaction, so what then? Relax. Don’t get all caught up in the excitement and act ignorantly. Please, take time to learn how ugly the elephant riding industry is. Instead, I’d suggest visiting camps that house refugee elephants, such as @chailaiorchid, also available on @airbnb. Guests villas co-habitat, side-by-side, the elephant camps. For the most part, the villas are non-invasive to the dozen refugee elephants that live on property, and are complementary to the natural surroundings, Proceeds from the accommodations, restaurants, and humane elephant tours, assist in funding food and vet care for these beautiful animals. ? Employees at Chai Lai are also refugee women, who fled dire circumstances surrounding human trafficking.
I enjoyed every minute of my stay living side by side my favorite animals, as well as meeting staff and new friends, whose common goal is far greater and more meaningful than just going on vacation. So often when we travel, we take for granted the spillover costs of doing so. Choosing to support a company, who so brilliantly fuses humanitarian causes with tourism, I think, is a small way to give back to the country hosting you and giving you an unforgettable experience.
One of my favorite activities I’ve ever done was visit an Elephant Sanctuary with Karen Tribe Native Elephants. Their elephants are very important to their culture. This tour is actually more then just a visit to a sanctuary, they will actually put you to WORK but it’s in a fun and you’ll learn so much! They will teach you so much about elephants and how to care for them. They also have a baby elephant and is his funny and adorable!
If you like massages, they have massages all over the place and they cost 150-300 baht (4-9 dollars USD) for an hour and they have all different times.
The Night Baazar is the main market and they’re are smaller markets that branches off that market. Great place to get souvenirs, art and cheap eats. They also have a few bars for tourists.
Nimman Rd. is another area with a mall, bars, restaurant, street food but it more upper scale
UGH I LOVED CHIANG MAI. I went to Bangkok to chiang mai to phuket and wish I could’ve went back to Chiang mai. Everything was perfect. The airbnb we stayed at was about 150 USD for the two nights, the location and everything was great. Theres so much to do in chiang mai, at night they have the night bazaar which is a night market that is a few blocks long and is just awesome. You catch so many good deals and souvenirs. There was a tent that had even more tables where people were selling things and it was just awesome. Theres also the elephant jungle sanctuary. I enjoyed that so much because you can tell they actually care for the elephants. I don’t like elephant trekking and they dont support it either, which is a good thing as well. They truly just let them roam, eat and use the bathroom lol. We fed them, gave them a mud bath and then washed them and fed them again. After we went to the tiger kingdom, it was a little far out but still enjoyable. I played with the cubs and it was so exciting and fun. We had an awesome driver who drove us around and even asked if we wanted to stop at the long neck village, it was 500 baht entry but still pretty cool to see and venture around. If the Big Buddha was in Chiang Mai, I would rate Chiang mai the best city lol, but instead I saw it in Phuket. Overall Chiang Mai is such a beautiful city. I absolutely recommend going there and spending at least 2-3 days there.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17668631?guests=1&adults=1
First of all BED Chiang Mai Gate is the best place to stay. The staff knows hospitality and they care about your experience. They gave great suggestions and were willing to make reservations for you. This location is also great and it’s a quick walk to the night markets. Night markets are always booming but the weekends are the best. There are temples and several massage parlors within the area.
A good restaurant to try in the area…See You Soon Cafe Chiang Mai. It provides a mixture of western and Asian dishes but they also make the best Thai iced teas from a restaurant. If your looking for a cooking class you need to attend Siam Rice cooking class. The class occurred in the setting of someone’s home and it was perfect. The instruction was very funny and accommodating. We made 4/5 dishes and received a Thai cookbook at the end.
The elephant sanctuary is worth a visit. Do plan to spend the whole day. You will be able to interact with the elephants with a guide, learn about their endangerment and wash them in the river. Next hop over to the Tiger Kingdom. Tiger Kingdom is an experience as you get up close and personal with the tigers. I will add they are assumed to be drugged as they are calmed and welcoming to visitors.
Chiang Rai:
White temple… simply beautiful and is required a visit.
Blue Temple… spectacular and amazing u need to visit.
Black Temple…was nothing compared to the other too. I was not interested in going inside of this one but the lemon and pop restaurants nearby were definitely worth the drive.
Traveling while black is NOT a problem here. Let me say it again. TRAVELING WHILE BLACK ISNT A PROBABLY HERE. Everyone is welcoming in Chiang Mai. The atmosphere is a great mix of expats and natives.
Although Chiang Mai is smaller than Bangkok, it still offers many activities and was actually my favourite city in Thailand.
Around the city, there are many Buddhist temples (Wat) to explore and most of them are free. My favourite was Wat Chiang Man which is so beautiful yet small and had so many inspiring words of wisdom hanging off the trees.
There are other structures around town which have a lot of history including Tha Phae Gate which is part of the old city walls and the Three King’s monument, next to the arts centre.
Finally excursions are plentiful around Chiang Mai and I would recommend doing a couple: a cooking class (I went with Smile Organic Cooking School) and visiting an elephant sanctuary where there is no riding. We went to Dumbo elepahnt spa and got it play with baby Ellie the elephant!
If you can visit Chiang Mai whilst they have a festival going on, you’ll get to the city really come to life. We were there in November during Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals and they were amazing with the lanterns in the sky and boats on the river!
You can find more of my travels on roadtoculturedom.com
Chiang Mai is one of the cities in Thailand that has a lot of history. Besides a few night bars and tourist activities, there isn’t much to do there. If you plan on visiting, my biggest suggestion would be leaving the perfumes and sweet smelling lotions at home because they have a huge mosquito problem. As I was traveling throughout Thailand, Chiang Mai was the only city I got bit up in really bad.
They are also known for their Elephant Sanctuaries, which is an absolute must while in this city. The tour guides are down to earth and make your experience one for the books! Keep in mind, that when you’re in the elephant sanctuaries…poop is everywhere. So if bacteria is something that your body is sensitive to, skip out on the mud bath part.
Our most memorable moment is visiting the elephants at the jungle sanctuary in Chiang Mai. This all-day adventure was super fun! We were picked up at our airbnb’s and taken 2 hours away to the mountains. (Make sure to take dramamine or bring soda if you get nauseated easily cause the roads are very windy.) Our adventure began with us trekking through the jungle to meet our hairy friends at their homes. ? Once we arrived, we were given authentic garments to wear to protect our clothes from getting dirty. Next, we had the chance to feed, bathe, and make medicine for the elephants. ? We also were given a full meal to replenish ourselves when we were tired. ? The adventure was such a remarkable experience. I never knew how friendly a gigantic creature could be. The elephants are well-taken care of and not abused! I recommend everyone go to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary when they get a chance! They have multiple locations throughout Thailand.
Chiang Mai is hands down the best and most affordable location in Thailand. You know there are tourists everywhere but it doesn’t feel like a touristy place AT ALL. The locals are incredible. Everything is so intertwined. Between Chiang Mai and Bangkok, they are hands down the cheapest cities. Full meals for less that 2 or 3 USD (including drinks and desserts (sticky rice and mango)). The markets are insanely cheap. Depending on how long you stay, I’d defiantly just buy all of my clothes there dresses and flowy pants are 3-5 dollars. Tops are around the same. Without shopping, I’d buget 10 – 12 USD a day on food. That includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Accomdation is especially cheap if you stay in hostels (6-12$ a night). When people say the most expensive part of Thailand is getting there, believe them. I found an insanely cheap flight for 482 roundtrip. Chiang Mai will make you cringe when you go back home and have to pay regular price for less quality and smaller portions.
Best stop over to get your hair redone! Lots of stores selling natural products(coconut/ olive oil) and plenty of black expats that can hook you up with a retwist, a new protective style or anything else you can imagine!
I had a great time in Chiang Mai, although it was a short stay. I first went to Bangkok, Phuket, then ended my visit in Thailand in Chiang Mai, where I stayed within the city center. While there, I went zip lining and ended my trip with the best massage of my life. This area is known for great zip lining excursions as well as trekking tours. If you stay within the city center, there are plenty of restaurants and small shops that are all within walking distance. Chiang Mai is a smaller area of Thailand which is quieter with less things to do, but more for the nature lovers. I would still recommend it as a place to see while in Thailand, as it is a nice, refreshing change of environment/scenery from the other popular areas.
Chiang Mai is definitely one of our favorite places to go for many reasons. Chiang Mai is totally different from Bangkok. It’s much more calmer and slower. Greatly compared to the north vs south in America. The food is DELICIOUS!!! It actually taste better in Chiang Mai. The temples are beautiful and well taken care of. There’s so much to do in Chiang Mai. While we were there for a month we went to Tiger Kingdom well worth the visit and you can view tips about it on our YouTube channel (Carolina Travel Queens). You can also visit the sticky waterfall, do zip line, ATV, or visit Chiang Rai white temple. The most eventful moment in Chiang Mai for us was going to the elephant farm where we became the elephant trainer for the day checking their health,feeding, bathing,and riding the elephant bareback up the mountain. What an amazing experience!!! While visiting you may also seek opportunities to network and meet the black expats living there that gather often and have events on a weekly basis.We would recommend Chiang Mai and always excited to go back.
After the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, Chiang Mai is definitely more slow paced. It’s a beautiful, mountainous area and the resort, Ratilanna Riverside Resort and Spa was amazing. I only spent two days there, but the accommodations were top notch, staff extremely helpful and friendly and the food was amazing. Everything in Thailand is affordable, so even though this resort was pricey in comparison to some others, it’s was still a great deal compared to the US. I so happened to be in Chiang Mai over the course of the Lantern Festival and the resort hosted a beautiful gala dinner for the guests, which included us lighting our own lanterns. The overall experience in Chiang Mai was very relaxing and peaceful and I would absolutely stay at that resort again.
Went to the sticky waterfall. It doesn’t actually feel sticky. The rocks are easier to climb due to the limestone. There was not many tourists there. Took a cooking class at Basil Cookery. It costs $32. You pick 7 dishes that you would like to make. Everything was delicious and the instructor, Dew, takes you to get ingedients at the market and made the class fun. The class area was very hot. The fans didn’t do much to cool it. Went fishing for mekong catfish at Bo Sang with Big Game Fishing for $47. Caught a 66 lbs catfish. It took 15 minutes to reel it in and I was TIRED. In the evening, I went on a monk chat at Wat Suan Dok. There is no charge, but they accept donations. Be sure to dress appropriately. You are able to ask the monks questions and they share information about their daily lives. It gives them an opportunity to practice English. Be sure to go to the night markets. Had cheap Thai massages and tried a fish spa pedicure. It was very ticklish. Went to Tiger Kingdom. The aninals were not sedated, walking around the cages freely. I did not see any of them being harmed. Workers said they have the animals there as babies and continue to raise them. Took photos with a white and regular tiger. They do have lions as well. Tried durian because I was curious why this fruit is banned in cars and hotels. It was NASTY. Taste like old onions. If you try it, ask for a freshly cut one because it will taste better. Went on a day trip to Chiang Rai. Visited the blue temple (most beautiful), white temple, and black temple. There is a restaurant walking distance from the black temple that was very good. One of the staff taught me how to make Thai tea and some Thai words. Afterwards, I visited a village with 6 different hill tribes. They have different stations to buy souvenirs to assist with funding to all tribes. Some of them appeared sad.
Chiang Mai is so different from the usual tourist spots like Bangkok and Phuket. It’s more of a cultural experience here. We stayed at a hostel called Brick House hostel which was only $7/night. It wasn’t the best accommodations but it did the job for a couple of nights. It was in a perfect location and the hostel offered activities in the city such as the elephant sanctuary, cooking classes, etc. we signed up for the cooking class through the hostel and it was AMAZING. We signed up for Karen elephant sanctuary when we were in Bangkok just to ensure we booked our spots in advance. Also, we went out with everyone at the hostel to a club called Zoe at Yellow! It was so much fun.
My favorite place I have visited so far. I visited Chiang Mai after I had been in Bangkok for 3 days. The hotel was clean, nice, daily full breakfast. The hotel Aruntara Riverside boutique hotel was only $70 a night. This was in November. So many things to do. We went to Patara elephant farm. A full day of adventure., bathing the elephants, feeding, and riding bareback, No seat. And a full lunch was served. For about $150. A cooking class, wonderful, a spa day at the hotel. Best massage ever. I ate dinner for less than $1US. They have a night market. Food, shopping, live music. Entertainment. It was wonderful. If you’re visiting Thailand do all your shopping for gifts and souvenirs in Bangkok, you will get better deals and be able to talk them down.(not that you necessarily want to the items really aren’t expensive when you think about it) Chaing Mai had beautiful temples also, which I passed on since I saw 5 in Bangkok. But there is nothing to not like about Chiang Mai
Chang Mai is not like Bangkok or anywhere else in Thailand. When in Thailand you can actually afford this big name hotels and so we decided to stay at the Shangrila.
I will now list my top 7 things from that trip
1. Stayed at the bloody Shangrila for £120 per night in a beautiful room that overlooked the City it was fantastic
2. Visited a market nearby that did various local food and beer – I ate snails and drank Chang beer. Also ate a lot of pad Thai. Standard
3. Another food tip ( never enough of these) have the mango and sticky rice – this will change your life forever.
4. Bought clothes from the market, a gentleman sold me two skirts – his mum hand made them and he sold them. I still have it today, sure it’s a little tighter but it’s not from from forever 21 or H&M – support local!
5. So many arts and crafts bought my personalised passport holder again for about £9 including a tip – still have it today.
6. I love animals and this probably condemns some rule but go elephant riding. I bargained – bargain bargain bargain! They do it and so do we (Africans).
7. Splurge on an expensive hotel and always half what the tuk tuk man quotes you. I only spend two nights here and wish I spent more,l.
Chiang Mai will forever hold a special place in my heart. It’s a completely different vibe from Bangkok. The residents lives simple and peaceful life. The city is much more relaxed and there are many things to do. I had the pleasure of visiting an elephant sanctuary, the Maerim. It was absolutely awesome, as we were able to trek through the jungle with elephants and play in a “mud bath” with them. It was so up close and prisms and just amazing. The food was amazing also. There are many street restaurants where you can order and sit out on the deck and enjoy. Thai people are so inviting, although there is a language barrier they are still very warm. Chiang Mai also felt safer than Bangkok, and I was traveling solo so this meant a lot. I recommend Chiang Mai for affordability, things to do, and relaxation.
My friends and I went to several spots in Thailand, but Chiang Mai was one of the spots I would definitely return to! Booking my flight several months ahead of time really helped me save for the other adventures I wanted to do in Chiang Mai. The place is small and not really expensive. We did the Elephant Sanctuary “Ran –Tong”, which was really nice. Our tour guide was really interesting because he was from America for a month , so he was learning while we were too, but he was helpful! Some say don’t ride the Elephants because of what they read, but to each is own. I rode the elephants, bathe the elephants, and fed the elephants. My elephant was name Suryia (25 years) and was from Chiang Duo. They have all the facts about the elephants, which was cute! That night we went to the Sunday Market where we tried their food bought a few cheap souvenirs and enjoyed the music. The souvenirs were cute, unique, and cheap. I would def go back. OH how can I forget, I also went to the Tiger Kingdom. I was very scared but left with no scars in one piece. You have to do it!!
Me and a good friend did a Ban Thai cooking class while in Chaing Mai! We prepare 5 dishes of authentic Thai food! We first took a trip to the market and learned about all the food that we would be cooking, then we went to the home where the class took place. I had a total blast and the food was so good!! I would definitely recommend taking a this Baan Thai cooking class while in Chiang Mai!! The cost of the cooking class was 18.00 USD.
Chiang Mai was our first stop on the travels through the country in 2016. It’s a very quiet plce that comes alive at night. We stayed not too far from the big shopping mall, a lot of things were still under construction at the time though. I’m sure it looks completely different now though. Food was amazing, very flavorful and freshly cooked. We ended up going to the Grand Temple that on top of the mountain that overlooks all of Chiang Mai. At night you can check out the vibrant Night Market, so much there to see, buy and eat. Chiang Mai this is a DEFINITE must do.
Chiang Mai was a great starting point for my time in Thailand. I arrived solo from a flight out of Bangkok for less than $50usd. I did the Canyon Park, Zip Lining, Elephant Sanctuary, and seen a Muay Thai fight. The local food here was A1!!! The night market here was pretty good too and if you’re a good bargainer you’ll get some good deals. When I was lost, the locals were very helpful. I stayed at Stamps Backpackers for like $8/night. Chiangmai is a perfect place for solo travelers and for friends/families. I see why it’s one of the top places for expats.
I fell in love with Chiang Mai from the moment I landed. Compared to Bangkok, Chiang Mai just had a more relaxing feel. It was a breath of fresh air to me. The food was AMAZING. The temperature was much cooler since it was located near the mountains and the people were just more relaxed. I loved walking though the city and not feeling a need to rush. I could stop and look at the street vendor merchandise and grab a bite to eat without huge crowds surrounding me. There were plenty of beautiful hotels with pools to lounge around and there was a massage parlor on every street.
Chiang Mai was my favorite part of my Thailand trip. I flew from Miami to New York, then I stayed in Bangkok for three days. Afterwards I flew to Chiang mai, and finally I went to Phuket. My favorite was Chiang Mai, I went to the sticky waterfalls by a local driver. The waterfalls are easily climbed without shoes. The city is more laid back and you can see the mountains and go into the jungles and visit elephants. In Chiang Mai they have a great Saturday and Sunday market at night. The food is cheap between $2 and up. You can get massages for as low as $4-5! Chiang Mai is easily one of my favorite places from the food, temples, and atmosphere.
Chiang Mai Thailand has been home for the last year and I can honestly say that it’s been magical so far. The food, the culture, and the naturally positive demeanor of most of the locals make Chiang Mai unforgettable. I like the fact that I’m just a quick flight to popular countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Bali and most of the flights are relatively inexpensive. I spent less than $300 USD for a short notice round trip ticket to Bali just a few months ago. Before that I took a bus to Myanmar for less than $10.
Food is on every corner and even the pickiest eaters will find something they’ll love. Since Chiang Mai is rapidly being filled with Westerner’s the Thai people are starting to catch on to making everything instagram worthy and there is no shortage of great bars, coffee shops, and parks to get one of a kind travel photos.
If you’re a melanated traveler get ready for random people (usually Chinese) taking pictures of you with or without your consent. Remember that you’re in their world and customs are different. They don’t see the harm in taking a photo and will often do so even as you politely decline and ask them to stop. I usually pull out my camera and snap pictures back or just turn around and leave….. there’s just no need for confrontation. I also recommend staying away from tuk tuk driver’s if you don’t speak Thai and if you don’t like being taken advantage of financially. I do recommend taking a tuk tuk at least one time just to say you’ve done it though.
The night life has everything you’d expect from a growing Asian city. There are seedy areas where you can find your fill of sexual fantasies and perversions and other areas where you can go and club or grab food. Chiangmai is small but if you know where to look the city isn’t as sleepy as it may appear to the untrained eye.
Thailand is one of my favorite trips. There is so much to see and do. Going to Chiang Mai was a highlight of the trip for me. The Night Bazaar was heaven for a shopper like me. I had to buy a new suitcase for all the stuff I bought in Thailand. If you are looking for souvenirs, I would recommend going here. I forgot to mention that everything in Thailand is sooooooooooo cheap. I stayed in an airbnb that was down the road from the Night Bazaar so it was very convenient. The beds in Thailand are very hard. It felt like sleeping on a plank of wood. This was the only con for me. The street food in Thailand is AMAZING and I don’t like to eat street food. There is a food market down the block from the Night Baazar that was great. I mostly ate street food while in Thailand. I went to probably 1 or 2 restaurants, but none in Chiang Mai. To get around, my friends and I used Uber which worked well. I recommend going to an elephant sanctuary where you can wash and feed the elephants. You shouldn’t ride the elephants. It is really bad for their backs. You should also visit the Long Neck Village while in Chiang Mai. Getting a Thai massage in an obvious must. They are very cheap. Thai massages are not necessarily the most relaxing massages during the time but you come out of it feeling so good. The one day that we went to the elephant sanctuary, we got a tour guide that we found at the airport. He stayed with us all day, and took us to the sanctuary, ATV riding, and to the Long Neck Village for a decent price. Our guide’s name was “Mr. K Taxi”. You can find him on Facebook. I highly recommend. He was very nice. I spent 2 days in Chiang Mai. I wish I had stayed longer. I would recommend staying at least 3 days.
Chaing Mai is an amazing little town full of culture. I stayed in Chiang Mai during the Songkran celebration. Songkran is the Thai New Year’s national holiday. The celebration always starts on April 13 and last for a total of 3 days. The way the Thai’s celebrate Songkran is with a water festival. Specifically, everywhere in Thailand people have water guns, buckets, water pales, and hoses for the sole purpose of wetting any and everyone in sight. So my best piece of advice is if you don’t want to get wet, don’t go to Thailand during this timeframe! But it was an amazing experience. It was an amazing experience to say the least!
It’s also very easy to maneuver and get around Chiang Mai. There are so many little restaurants and bars on just about every street. Very fun place to visit!
Chiang Mai is my favorite Thai city. There’s one big square that wraps around the main part of the city and there are endless temples. You can just walk up and down the streets and see one after another. The most beautiful is up in the mountains called Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep which you can take a small bus to. Every night there are massive street markets full of food, music, massages and shopping. One night of the week there’s one MASSIVE night market.
Chiang Mai is one of my favorite cities of all time! I was there this time last year for a month. I got there from San Diego for $542 round trip and I originally planned to see the south but once I got there, the vibe kept me there. Chiang Mai is mad chill, from the people to the atmosphere. I stayed right outside the square and woke up and walked to it and alongside the moat every morning. It has everything you need. Going to try my hardest to stick to the category… things to! I’ll go with what I did. I ATV’d through the jungle, rafted a few miles down a river, spent a few hours with my own elephant, got $4 Thai Massages (everyday), went back to the jungle for more elephants, hiked to waterfalls, jumped from cliffs into Thailand’s “Grand Canyon,” took a few Muay Thai classes with Thailand’s very own Olympic fighter, watched Muay Thai fights a few times a week, ate everything in sight, explored the markets, took a 5 course 5 hour cooking classes for $23, explored a few temples, saw a ladyboy show, got lit out by Zoe In Yellow, spent the weekend participating in the worlds largest water fight aka Thailand’s New Year, Songkran! Then I took a two hour ride further up North to a small town just outside of Chiang Mai called Pai. I rented a motorbike and took it into the jungle for more adventures. But back to Chiang Mai, it’s such an amazing city, you won’t regret coming but you will regret not visiting if you choose to go to the more touristy south. If you have any questions or want more travel stories and experiences/ help creating your own, visit my travel blog: irinajonaa.com
-Olivia
Thailand is amazing and Chiang Mai may be my favorite city there (we also visited Phi Phi islands and Phuket)
There is tons to do.
-We started our trip with a trip to the Hug Elephant Sanctuary, AWESOME TIME.
You feed the elephants, bathe them in mud, rinse them off then hike to a waterfall to rinse yourself off.
The staff was great.
-We went to the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show which was hilarious. Males beware, they WILL touch and kiss you.
-The markets sell a lot of the same things, just be sure to haggle. You can usually get things for half of the price they start with.
-You have to get a massage, or 3 :) They’re way too cheap not to. My favorite was the hour head, back, neck, foot and shoulder massage for only $6! But of course when in Thai, you’ve also got to try a Thai massage. Even if you feel a bit beat up afterwards.
– We ended our trip and Baan Cooking School. I cannot commend this place enough! GO! GO! GO! And make sure you have an appetite, you’ll eat every dish you make.
This was absolutely my FAVORITE city I’ve visited in Thailand! The vibe here exceeded my expectations by far. I visited Bangkok and Phuket(very touristish….if you know what I mean). However, something about Chiang Mai makes you appreciate the true essence of Thailand even more. We started with a 6-hour cooking class (AMAZING!!). For only $35 USD we were picked up from our Airbnb…..taken to the local market to shop for our items to cook and learned the Thai Akha style of cooking. We make 11 authentic dishes that were so delicious! Then we did a Temple Tour stopping at the popular Doi Suthep, Bhubing Palace, and Chedi Luang. We booked a private tour with an English speaking guide who truly gave us all the back history of Northern Thailand. Being from the Caribbean….we even appreciated finding a bomb reggae bar (Root Rock Reggae) with an awesome live band playing all my favs. I’ll definitely visit here again and tell all my peeps to skip the highly tourist spots (Phuket & Bangkok) and dare not miss the beautiful Chiang Mai!
Chiang Mai is the central hub for everywhere in the North of Thailand. There are tons of street stalls to eat at, places to train in Muay Thai and adventurous places to see . You can take the monks trail up to the grand temple Doi Suthep, visit a Elephant Sanctuary or get up close and personal with Tigers at the Tiger Kingdom in Phuket. My favorite thing I would recommend to do is to visit the Grand Canyon water park not to far out from the town.
Changi Mai love love love changi mai. Definitely my favorite place in Thailand. Super cheap, locals are friendly, and the landscape is BEAUTIFUL. While in changi mai I stayed at the brick house hostel which was incredibly cheap and super clean and modern. I would highly recommend it to solo travelers and even couples. Free gym, computers, and a nice pool. It’s location was kind of hard to figure out but once you find it your in walking to everything.
I did a tour of Nothern Thailand. It was simply best way to end 2017. It started in Bangkok, then sukhothai, then Chang Rai, then Doi MAE Salong ( a beautiful village in the hills), Chang Mai then back to Bangkok. Thai food is great! The people are even better. If you’re an adventurer like me Northern Thailand is a GO!
Chiang mai was so beautiful. while there we visited Patara elephant farm for the elephant owner for a day experience, all the elephants are free to roam and they are happy .At this farm its not about riding them its a chance to learn about the elephants. I must say this is one day i will never forget . That night we went to “Choeng Doi Massage” for 3 1/2 hours other than my best friends eyebrows running down her face in the sauna lol ,we had an amazing time. My skin was baby butt soft for weeks .
Chiangmai has so much culture and activities to do. One of my favorite activities? Songkran!!
Songkran is Chiangmai Mai’s New Year celebration in April. Imagine a 3-day waterfight in the middle of a city where EVERYONE young and old celebrate. If you’re looking to stay dry during these days then I recommend you do not go to Thailand during the water festival but if you’re looking for adventure then you will NOT be disappointed. You will probably be soaking wet 30- seconds after leaving your hotel!
You don’t need to bring anything special in your luggage as there are people selling water guns and buckets on the side of the street so save your money. Wear things you don’t mind getting wet and water sandals and sneakers. You WILL get soaked.
There is music blasting in the streets, trucks going around the square with ice buckets in the back, people in taxis squirting water as they pass by. It’s truly something I would not miss.
It’s a beautiful experience that you and locals can experience together. Be sure to find bars that have cold ice buckets to torture each other with :)
Chiang Mai is another must visit if you are planning Thailand. It has temples and street food in abundance! Chiang Mai also have their own speciality dishes associated with that region. Make sure you try them ALL *drools in nostalgia*
It also has the famous night bazaar shopping market along the streets which was lovely to walk around and see everything. It’s easy to spend so much money unknowingly though as there is soo much to buy and choose from I started buying unnecessary things. There is also soo much food to buy and choose from, make sure you look for the cool ice cream rolls they make I can’t describe it well but I hope you get the jist. Chiang Mai is also home to the mountainous region of Thailand and there are loads of treks and day trips you can do which boast amazing views and if you have a good guide, you will learn so much about the place. Make sure you trek to visit the Wat Doi Suthep temple, it is located high above the hills and there are many steps up but it is very worth it, the views over Chiang Mai are breath taking.
Chiang Mai is a gem. Temples galore. Street food in abundance. It is Thailand’s best kept secret. Many of the temples were in walking distance of each other and accessible to foreigners even when the monks were gathering. It was a pretty cool experience. We made our way by foot and a scooter that we rented for 250 baht (or $8usd) for a 24 hr period. I also found my way to the Elephant Jungle Sanctury (#4) that I would recommend to everyone! The elephants were so friendly and just wanted to be loved ♥️ and fed, a lot lol. It proved to be the highlight of my trip. All in all, no trip to Thailand would be complete without a stop in Chiang Mai.
Thailand is a dream! Chiang Mai is definitely a place of adventure, history and food if you’re looking to travel to asia anytime soon. It’s also a two hour distance from the beautiful chiang rai temple!
Exploring Chiang Mai, Thailand during the Yi Peng Lantern Festival was the best decision we made. There was so much to do and see. Wee took advantage of everything that Chiang Mai had to offer and had so much fun. We stayed in Chiang Mai for 3 days and each day we got a massage. The massages are cheap ie. one hour foot massage for $10 USD. With all the walking that we did, we definitely made sure we jumped on this deal. There are so many temples and our driver was our tour guide and who gave us so much good information on the history of Thailand. One great recommendation when traveling to Chiang Mai is to get a driver, because it cuts back on lost time on trying to find a cab. We were able to experience the Chiang Mai Night Safari. This experience was amazing. To be able to feed a giraffe and be inches away from animals in their own environment was a great. We also visited an elephant sanctuary called Happy Elephant Sanctuary. Walking side by side with the elephants is a surreal experience. If there is any fear in being around elephants, you will get over it very quickly because they are super nice. The highlight of the trip is the lantern festival. You are engulfed in the culture of Thailand and it’s just so incredible to see everyone come together and see so much happiness and love.