14 EPIC THINGS TO DO IN CHIANG MAI - Digital Nomads Adventures

Chiang Mai is a cool mountanous city in Northern Thailand. This ancient capital of the Lana Kingdom surrounded by gorgeous National Parks is now home to hundreds of Buddhist Temples, Restaurants, Caffees, Thai Massage Spas, Sunday Night Market and it is definitely one of the top places to visit while you are in Thailand.

We’ ve spent a month in Chiang Mai and never ran out of epic things to do here. You can chat with a Monk, hike in Doi Inthanon National Park or Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, spend a day or a week with elephants in Elephant Sanctuaries, Climb the Sticky Waterfall, go crazy in Grand Canyon Waterpark or take a day trip to Chiang Rai and check out the stunning White Temple…

things to do

where to stay

how to get there

best time to visit

travel safety

1. Spend a Day with Elephants in Elephant Sanctuary

2. Chat with a Monk

3. Hike in Don Inthanon National Park

4. Have Fun in Grand Canyon Natural Waterpark

5. Go Bamboo Rafting in Mae Wang

6. Visit Long Neck Tribes

7. Explore the Temples of Chiang Mai

8. Buy Souvenirs and Eat Street Food at Night Market

9. Soak in Mineral Waters of San Kaphaeng Hot Springs

10. Release Lanterns at Loy Kratong Festival

11. Make Paper from Elephant’s Poo

12. Hike the Sticky Waterfall

13. Learn to Cook Thai Food

14. Visit White Teple of Chiang Rai

1. spend a day with elephants in elephant sanctuary

Elephants are majestic animals and we had a chance to spend an unforgettable day with them in ethical elephant sanctuary during our stay in Chiang Mai.

Thailand is home to more than 3000 Asian elephants and although we would all like to see elephants in their natural, wild habitat, this isn’t always possible. Some elephants have been rescued from the logging industry, temples, circuses or from maltreatment in other forms of captivity, others are injured or orphaned. For many reasons it would be dangerous for them to return to the wild and this is where sanctuaries come in.

While many Elephants Parks call themselves ethical they are far from it. Unfortunately, Thailand has a history of animal abuse to help boost the tourism economy. Activities such as visiting sedated tigers in the temples or riding an elephant only add to this cruelty and should be avoided.

I recommend you to do a thorough research before you book your adventure with elephants but here are a few ethical ones that we liked:

SAVE ELEPHANT FOUNDATION is a Thai non-profit organization that rescues, cares for and rehabilitates Thailand’s elephants. Riding elephants is prohibited, instead the park focuses on taking care and protecting these beautiful creatures. You can book a visit of the sanctuary here.

https://www.saveelephant.org/

ELEPHANT NATURE PARK is another sanctuary that is committed to education and rehabilitation. It’s a rescue centre for elephants that have been abused by the tourism industry over the decades. Here you can either visit the elephants in their natural environment or volunteer to help out around the sanctuary. Riding elephants is not allowed either and apart from 114 elephants the park is home to many buffalloes, cows, dogs, cats, rabbits and more. This park is the most expensive option for visiting elephants in Chiang Mai, but that’s because they are known to be the best company in town.

https://www.elephantnaturepark.org

MR. CHI JUNGLE MAN – this wonderful sanctuary with only a few elephants is a very special place. We walked with the elephants to the river where they had a bath and messed around in the mud. The elephants stopped to munch on grass any time they wanted. After the bath and a walk back from the river, we fed them bananas, made vitamin food for their digestion from mushed bananas and herbs and walked in the jungle with them. The elephants were leading the whole time. It was a wonderful experience to observe them in their natural environment. Riding is also forbidden here. The bond Mr. Chi has with the elephants and the way he comunicates with them are very heartwarming.

2. chat with a monk

There are many Monk Chat programs at different locations around town. Monk Chats are a great way to be part of an awesome cultural exchange and they are fun too. The monks are happy to practise English and you can ask them anything you want. The monk we talked to was very young, funny and curious about our way of life. We asked him why did he decide to become a monk, why do monks wear orange, what does his day usually look like, how does he maintain inner peace and many more questions.

Not all Monks become lifelong Monks or Monk school teachers. Our monk couldn’t wait to finish his studies and move to Hollywood to become an actor. We had such a good laugh together and agreed that if he ever comes to Europe, we will take him skiing and snowball fighting.:)

3. hike in doi inthanon national park

Doi Inthanon is one of the most popular national parks in Thailand. It is famous for it’s waterfalls, trails with viewpoints, sunrise hike when the fog from the mountains gives appearance to be above the clouds, royal pagodas, beautiful sunsets and cold weather all year long in higher elevations.

The highest point of Thailand resides at the altitude of 2565 metres above see level in Doi Inthanon Park also known as “The Roof of Thailand”.

The entrance to Doi Inthanon Park is about 70 km from Chiang Mai centre. We hired a driver for the day as the main attractions of the park are too far apart from each other by feet. You need a car or a motorbike to get around the National Park. It cost us 1500 Thai Baht. Alternatively you can rent a motorbike or join an organized group tour from Chiang Mai with a pick up from your hotel.

The entrance fees to Doi Inthanon National Park are 300 Baht for adults and 150 Baht for children 3 – 14 years old. Cars will be charged 30 Baht and motorbikes 20 Baht. For Kew Mae Pan Trail it cost 200 THB to hire a guide (it is mandatory) and the entrance to Twin Pagodas is 100 THB per person.

Doi Inthanon National Park is open from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm every day, all year round. The main trail of the park, Kew Mae Pan Trail, is open from November to May between 6am and 4pm, it is closed from June to October to allow annual forest recovery.

The most popular spot in the park is the summit of Doi Inthanon. While the Kew Mae Pan trail is popular for its sunrise views, the nearby spot of Two Royal Pagodas is more popular for watching the sunset.

There are few waterfalls along the road that are just a short stroll from the main road. Most of the waterfalls have a good flow of water all year round, but are especially abundant after the rainy season.

All of the spots can be seen in one day but you need a motorbike or a car to get from one to another as they are many kilometers apart. Alternatively you can book one of the organized day trips to Doi Inthanon National Park for a hustle free awesome day.

4. have fun in Grand canyon natural waterpark

One of the most unique waterparks we’ ve ever been to and top fun things to do in Chiang Mai was the Grand Canyon Waterpark. It’s a flooded limestone quarry where people used to swim and cliff jump. It’s now been turned into outdoor waterpark, and it’s an insanely fun place that we highly recommend.

Come early as you’ll need the whole day to make the most of this place. Between the cliffjumps, zipline rides, sliding, kayaking, climbing, falling into water, bouncing and jumping on the inflatable challenges you’ ll be wrecked and happy at the end of the fun filled day. You can take a break in the sunbathing area and grab a coffee or lunch at one of the restaurants of the foodcourt area, there is a good selection of thai and international dishes. If you still have energy to spare you can try wakeboarding for additional 450 – 550 Thai Baht.

Please note that no outside food nor drinks are allowed to be brought to the waterpark and your bags will be searched at the entrance. But the prices inside are pretty reasonable.

The entrance fee to the Grand Canyon Waterpark at the time we visited (november 2022) was:

650 THB for adults.
Students 550 THB.
Children 91-120 cm 500 THB.
Children 90 cm and under free.
Wakeboarding (if purchased once inside) 550 per hour.
Admission + wakeboarding 1,100 (you save 100 Baht).
Special discount: If you visit during your birth month, 30% off.
Locker rental 50 Baht + refundable 100 Baht key deposit.
Towel rental 70 Baht.
Waterproof camera rental 600 Baht.

To get there you can catch the red songthaew truck from Chiang Mai centre, drive yourself or call a Grab (Asian Uber). The Grand Canyon Waterpark is located about 25 min drive outside of the Chiang Mai city.

5. go bamboo rafting in mae wang

Mae Wang district near Chiang Mai is well-known for mountains, elephant sanctuaries and of course bamboo rafting. Bamboo rafting is a very unique natural relaxing and fun experience. The rafts here are made of long bamboo sticks and you get to sail down the river in the shade of the surrounding trees. You might even get a chance to navigate one yourself throught the small cascades of the river but it is harder than it seems. We had a blast.

Be aware that you’ll get wet through the gaps between the bamboos, so wear a swimming wear or bring dry clothes and waterproof pouch for your devices.

Mae Wang is located about 35 km from Chiang Mai and you can rent bamboo rafts at many riverside restaurants with or without a guide. The price per raft is about 500 THB and it can fit 3-4 people depending on your weight. The ride downstream can last 2-3 hours. We went bamboo rafting the same day as we visited the CHI JUNGLE MAN Elephant Sanctuary since the river was right across from Mr. Chi’s Sanctuary and he knew the people there, it was a great package deal. We opted for a much shorter 30 min ride only as we’ ve already spent the whole day with the elephants and it only cost us 100 THB extra. It was the perfect end of an unforgettable day.

6. visit long neck tribes

The Karen Long Neck Hill Tribe is a fascinating ethnic group that originated in the Thailand-Burma border centuries ago. The first time I’ve seen pictures of them in National Geographic Magazine I became fascinated and wanted to find out more about their culture. They are known for their colorful traditional clothing, intricate weaving & beautiful handmade crafts, the tribal women wear brass neck rings and are sometimes called “Giraffe Women”. Due to ethnic and political issues and military conflict in Burma, many Karens fled to Thailand in search of a safer life.

There is a lot of controversy about weather visiting the Long Neck Tribes is ethical. Some sources claim these tribes are forced to continue with the tradition of wearing neck rings against their will because the Thai government is forcing them to do so for the income from tourism. That the place is like a people zoo. Other sources explain in details how this is a misleading myth that bloggers just copy from one another and that noone is forcing the hill tribe women into anything. That they are refugees who were given a chance for a peaceful life and they choose to continue their tradition of colorful dressing, weaving, wearing neck rings and selling handmade products because it is how they support themselves and make their living. We decided to check it out and find out more.

Upon visiting the Karen Hill Tribe Village we saw the Tribe Women and children sit in their shacks, greeting us and inviting us to buy their handmade bracelets, scarfs, pencil cases, wooden carved statues and other souvenirs or they were in the middle of weaving. The village resembles a market similar to many art markets we’ve seen across Asia, where you would go and buy beautiful souvenirs. Karen men are working in agriculture within their villages and children are allowed to go to school, but apparently they have to learn thai language first. Educated people of the tribe are allowed to work outside the village.

Some women choose to wear the brass neck rings around their necks respecting their ancestor traditions and some don’t. The tradition or neck rigs actually started as protection from tigers. Several Karen tribe women were killed by tigers in the past. So the leader of the tribe decided to have women wear these brass neck rings to protect their tribe from extinction. According to the tradition, the more neck rings a woman carries on her neck, the more beautiful she is. Usually, girls start to wear long neck rings from the age of 5 – 6. They start with 5 rings around their neck and 2 extra rings are added every year. This can go up to 25.

Around the age of 15 girls are able to choose if they want to continue the neck elongation by wearing rings for a lifetime or if they will stop. After this age their neck would be too loose to hold on its own without the neck rings, so they would have to wear it all the time, even when they sleep. Wearing the rings around their necks is every Karen women’s choice.

So whats the conclusion? Is it better not to visit knowing that while noone is forcing them to wear the neck rings, their options of making money outside of their village remain limited or that their shacks are basic and their living conditions could definitely be improved? Would it help the tribal people if noone visited? Certainly if tourists only come here to take pictures of the people than I would say it is questionable weather it is ethical. But if selling their handmade products is the only way for them to make money isn’t it better to come and support them by buying their handcrafted souvenirs? We decided to support these beautiful tribal people by buying their products and I will leave the decision weather to visit or not up to you.

7. explore the temples of Chiang Mai

There are many gorgeous temples known as Wats in Chiang Mai, which give the city a serene and deeply spiritual feel.

You can spend the whole day strolling through the old city visiting various temples, each unique, serene and beautiful. The most famous temples are 1.Wat Phra That Doi Suthep 2.Wat Chedi Luang 3.Wat Phra Singh 4.Wat Sri Suphan 5.Wat Chiang Man 6.Wat Lok Moli and 7.Wat Phan Tao. All of them are located withing the old city centre so you can easily walk or bike to them.

It is important to know some etiquette and customs when visiting temples to avoid offending the monks and locals.

Always cover your arms, chest and legs and take off your shoes before entering the temples, never point your feet at Buddha when sitting inside the temple and naturaly be respectful and silent.

8. buy souvenirs and eat street food at Sunday night market

Chiang Mai Sunday Night market is one of the best markets in South East Asia and it gives the city an extra sense of lively evening atmosphere.

It is located in the centre of the town and it’s very colorful, vibrant and lovely with many stalls that sell handmade goods and mouth watering food. The air smells delicious from the many street food stalls and the live music adds to the lively athmosphere of the vibrant streets.

There are plenty of different souvenirs and items for sale like clothes, shoes, scarfs, paintings, candles, wood carvings, jewellery, coconut bowls, hand bags, wallets, lamps, art… You can get a foot massage, get your hair braided, get a temporary tatoo or enjoy a drink at one of the restaurants with live music.

I definitely advise you to come hungry to make the most of the variety of delicious options from Sushi, Pad Thai, Grilled local Sausages, Crepes, Popcorn Chicken, Japanese Takoyaki, all kinds of cakes, icecream, fresh fruit, waffles and more… you will eat to your heart’s content.

The night market can get quite crowded as the evening advances so it’s best to arrive just after 6pm.

9. Soak in Mineral Waters of San Kamphaeng hot springs

San Kamphaeng Hotsprings located just 40 km outside of Chiang Mai is the perfect place to relax, rejuvenate and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Most of the people come here for a day trip, but the hotsprings also offer bungalow accomodation and we stayed for 5 blissful days here.

You get to soak your legs in 30 – 45 degrees hot mineral stream, cook eggs in the boiling 105 degrees hot mineral spring, which makes the eggs taste insanely delicious or relax your muscles in a hot mineral pool with a waterfall massaging your shoulders. There is a good choice of food at the restaurant inside the San Kamphaeng Hotsprings grounds and they make the best Papaya Salad we ever ate in the foodcourt stalls. I got a neck and back massage twice here as it felt like heaven after the hot baths and in the evenings I listened to the Cicadas and journaled from our terrace. The place was so peaceful it felt like a true retreat surrounded by beautiful nature.

To get here you can catch the red songthaew from Chiang Mai, it’s only an hour drive. Alternatively you can rent a scooter or call a Grab (Asian version of Uber).

The opening hours are every day from 8:00 to 21:00. The admission is 200 THB per person but if you stay at one of their bungallows you don’t pay the admission, only accomodation. The bundalow price is between 1000 – 1500 THB per night depending on the type. If you’re up for camping, tent is 150 THB per person.

10. Release Lanterns at Loy Kratong Festival and Yi Peng Festival

Loy Krathong is one of the biggest festivals in Thailand celebrated by the Thai people on the full moon night of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar.

Thousands of floating lanterns are released into the sky and small, illuminated boat offerings made of banana leaves and coconut shells are sent into the rivers and lakes. The unforgetable sight of lights floating across the country’s rivers and canals attract visitors from all over the world each year.

The festival usually occurs in the month of November, though the date varies from year to year. Regardless of the exact timing, Loy Krathong is always an occasion for joy, gratitude, and new beginnings. People give gratitudes for what they have, ask for forgivess for any wrong doings, ask for blessings and send their wishes to the sky and down the river.

While most of the materials are dissolvable and made from natural materials, extensive cleaning up is done after the festival by the government and communities living around rivers and lakes each year.

We timed our visit of Chiang Mai purposely so that we can experience the Loy Krathong Festival, as it has been a dream of mine for years. Along with the locals, we hanged colorful lanterns with our wishes in the temples, lit candles with gratitude for what we have, asked for blessings sending our little banana leaf boats down the river and released our dreams with floating lanterns into the sky. The whole city shimmered in candlelight and became alive with musical parade in the streets and fireworks. It was an unforgettable experience!

11. Make Paper from Elephant's Poo

ELEPHANT’S POOPOO PAPER PARK is an awesome interactive eco-friendly, naturally built, outdoor park where you can learn about the unique steps involved in making the world famous paper products from elephant poop.

You get to try all the steps of the process during the hands on guided tour with a very funny guide. Then you can create your own masterpiece in the DIY Crafting & Art Studio. We made our passport covers here and everytime we travel we get compliments about them… and we get to tell people they are from elephant’s recycled poop! FUN:)

There is a cafeteria, playground and natural treehouse for the little ones and a beautiful gift shop, where you can buy one of a kind souvenirs, postcards, diaries and other handmade presents from recycled elephant’s poo paper. The park is playfully outrageous with a serious underlying message of sustainability and definitely one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai.

The opening hours are every day from 9am to 5pm but the last guided tour starts at 4pm as one tour last about 45 min. The admission is 100 THB per person but kids under 5 have a free entrance. Located 19km from Chiang Mai, the park is just 30 min drive away. We visited the ELEPHANT’S POOPOO Paper PARK the same day as Karen Long Neck Hill Tribes and the Sticky Waterfall as a part of a full day trip from Chiang Mai.

12. Climb the Sticky Waterfall

One of the most epic things to do in Chiang Main is to climb the sticky waterfall. The calcium-rich spring formes mineral sediments on the limestone rocks of the 100 meter tall waterfall, preventing algae to form, so the rocks are not slippery at all and easy to climb. We spent 2 hours here having fun climbing the 3-tiered waterfall over and over.

The Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall is located in Si Lanna National Park, 70 km from Chiang Mai. The drive here is about 1.5 hours so it’s best to add it to another itinerary of the day or make your visit of Si Lana National Park longer. We visited the sticky waterfall on the same day as Elephant’s POOPOO Paper Park and Karen Long Neck Hill Tribes as a part of a day trip from Chiang Mai, coz they are all in the same direction and close to each other. You can bring a picnic or have lunch afterwards at the restaurants above the falls. They also have lockers for your belongings so you can enjoy splashing around the waterfall hands free.

A popular trio for a day trip from Chiang Mai (1.Sticky Waterfall, 2.Elephant’s PooPoo Paper Park and 3.Karen Long Neck Hill Tribes Village:

13. Learn to Cook Thai Food

The Northern Thailand has some fantastic food, so it’s the perfect place to learn to cook local dishes. Most cooking classes include a trip to the local market with your guide, where you get to pick out fresh ingredients. Then you’ll learn how to cook delicious Thai dishes like Pad Thai, Khao Soi, Tom Yum Soup, Green or Red Coconut Curry, Spring Rolls, Stir-fried Pork with Basil or Mango Sticky Rice.

You get to eat all the delicious meals you cooked at the end. Prices range from 900 – 1200 THB per person and the cooking classes can last from 2.5 – 5 hours. It is a wonderful way to experience Thai culture and indulge on some of the best food you’ve ever eaten.

Learning to cook thai food was definitely one of the most epic things we did in Chiang Mai. You can check out some of the available Thai food cooking classes here.

14. Visit the White Temple in Chiang Rai

The White Temple or Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai is the coolest temple we’ve ever seen and arguably one of the most famous and most visited temples in Thailand. This contemporary Buddhist temple attracts people from all around the world with its unique pure white exterior and thousands of tiny mirrors in its design that make its beauty ethereal. The interior walls inside the White Temple surprised us with animated modern characters from movies like Avengers, Matrix, Harry Potter or Star Wars hidden among the Thai mythology wall murals. Even the statues are cool! We really enjoyed exploring this temple and the grounds around it.

The White Temple is open from 8am to 5pm on weekdays and till 5:30 pm on weekends. The entrance is 50 THB for foreigners, free for Thai citizens. Located in Chiang Rai, 3 hours drive from Chiang Mai, it is still worth the day trip to see it. Alternatively make your stop at Chiang Rai longer and explore the town for a few days. We spent 3 days in Chiang Rai as it is from here that we booked our 2 days-long boat trip down the Mekong River to Laos…

If you are staying in Chiang Mai and you don’t drive or don’t want the hustle of taking a bus for 3 hours to Chiang Rai and 3 hours back, you can book an organized tour with transport that will bring you back to your accommodation in Chiang Mai for a hustle free day and explore also Blue Temple and the Black House, which is a popular trio.

There are many hostels and hotels to stay in Chiang Mai ranging from cheap to more expensive.

By plane – Chiang Mai has an international airport with many connections within Asia, the airport is located just 10 minutes away from the city center.

By Bus – Much cheaper option than flying is to take the overnight bus from Bangkok. The roads in Thailand are getting better and the journey takes around 10 hrs.

By Train – By far the most popular way to get to Chiang Mai is to take the overnight train from Bangkok, the journey takes 11-15 hours.

getting around Chiang Mai

The centre of Chiang Mai is very walkable or you can rent a bike. To get outside of centre and go further, you can rent a motorbike, catch a Songthaew or call a Grab.

Bicycle – There are many places that offer bicycles for rent. Bikes are great way to get around town and soak up the athmosphere. The cost per day is around 3 USD.

Scooter/Motorbike – To get further away from town you can rent a motorbike. Price per day is around 150-400 THB (4.50- 11.50 USD) depending on the model. There are many rental shops but just know, you will have to pay deposit of 3000 THB (86 USD) or leave your passport.

Songthaew – A Songthaew is the typical red truck you’ll see everywhere, similar to tuc-tuc but bigger. You simply wave to them to stop, sit in the back with other passengers much like a public bus or you can rent one privately as a taxi for a higher fee. We paid 20 THB per person for a shared ride withing the city and 1500THB for the whole day private ride to and around Doi Inthanon Park. Its a great way to get around when traveling with kids or as a group of friends.

Grab – Grab is the best app ever for taxi and food delivery, we use it a lot, not just in Thailand but around the whole South East Asia. It works like an Uber and you can book a taxi for much cheaper than you would pay for local taxi.

Best time to visit Chiang Mai is between November and January. The rainy season has finished, the temperatures are cooler than the rest of the year, around 26- 28°C, which makes it perfect for exploring and hiking, the nature is lush green during this time and waterfalls are full of water after rainy season.

If you come between October and November, you can participate at the Loi Krathong Festival when thousands of lanterns are released into the sky and music parade fills the streets. You can join locals lighting a candle and hanging a lantern in any of the Temples or send a floating baskets with flowers and candles down the river together with your wish along with thousand of others.The whole city shimmers in candlelight while everyone gives thanks for their blessing and makes wishes for love, health, happiness and prosperity, it is an unforgettable experience!

Avoid visiting during the “burning season” between January and March when the air is full of smoke from the fires of nearby farms and ricefields.

Chiang Mai is a safe city. Many travellers, backpackers and nomads have visited this town and didn’t have any problems. We felt totaly safe here at all times.

Just use your common sense, leave valuables at the hotel and keep an eye on you wallet and phone, especially when visiting crowded places like the Sunday Night Market. Make sure you wear a helmet when driving a motorbike and always have a good health insurance.

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