Wondering what you should do on your holiday to Chiang Mai? The simple answer, there’s way too many things to try in Chiang Mai, but below is a list of things that I highly recommend. With a healthy tourism industry and backed by beautiful landscape, Chiang Mai provides a variety of activities for everyone. Here’s 7 things you should try in Chiang Mai.
Wat Phra Doi Suthep
A sacred temple located up in the mountain of Doi Suthep. The temple boasts extravagant shrines, pagodas, statues and bells. A convenient way to get to Wat Doi Suthep is by taking a Songthaew (also called red car). Note that there is a 30 baht entrance fee for foreigners. And follow the dress code: cover your shoulders and knees.
That being said, there are many tours at a reasonable price that will do hotel pickups and drop-offs. I did a night tour to Wat Phrah Doi Suthep and Wat Umong and I think the insights and stories from a seasoned guide is well worth the 600 baht (entrance fees and transportation included).
Muay Thai
With it’s history dating back to the 18th century, Muay Thai is deeply rooted in Thailand’s culture. It didn’t take long to realize just how popular the sport is in Thailand. Stand somewhere long enough and you’ll probably hear locals talking about upcoming fights. Watch a fight at one of the stadiums or learn the sport through one of the Muay Thai camps. fair warning though: many fights advertised are fake (think WWE). And don’t fall for tourist traps. If you want to watch a fight, book directly or compare prices through tourist booking centres. I went to see one of the fights on a whim and I ended up paying way more than I should have. The experience was still fun though.
Zip-lining
What’s a holiday without zip-lining? Chiang Mai has quite a few options on offer, with zip-lines going through jungles and valleys. We went to Eagle Track and chose the one that let us try all the zip lines. The guides were nice, helpful and safety-oriented. If you want to save some cash, it pays to do your research and compare prices. Some places offer an early bird price when booking directly; different tourist info centres offer different prices.
Elephant Sanctuary
This one can be a touchy subject. Now that more and more people are aware of the abuse elephants (and animals in general) go through to entertain a handful of tourists, the popularity of elephant shows have dwindled down. What took its place are elephant sanctuaries that lets visitors feed and bathe the elephants with the help of their mahouts (elephant trainer/ keeper). Keep in mind that not all elephant sanctuaries are created equal. Many are just as much a tourist trap as the elephant shows that the elephants have supposedly retired from.
Monk Chat
One of my biggest regrets is not making the time to join a monk chat during my stay in Chiang Mai. It’s an amazing opportunity to learn more from Buddhist monks. The best part is you can talk about anything and share anything. So a good idea might be to prepare a few questions before you go.
Silversmithing Class
Learning something new while on holiday is always an amazing experience. One of the highlights of my stay in Chiang Mai was taking a Silversmithing class at Nova. Unlike many tourist classes, the class i took was very hands on. I got to learn all the basics of silversmithing and felt like a big kid every time I used the torch. Not crafty? No worries! There are many other classes you can take in Chiang Mai: from Muay Thai to traditional Thai cooking, massage schools or even meditation. There’s plenty of things you can try in Chiang Mai!
Shooting Range
This was an uncharacteristic activity for me, being the awkward person that I am. I went to Chiang Mai Shooting Club in Mae Rim and it was an amazing first time experience shooting a gun. They seem to have a decent selection (Although, what do I know?). I decided on a 9 millimetre pistol. They provided one-on-one guidance. While I am a very skittish person who is always scared to try things for the first time, the instructors made me feel safe. Mind you it’s not cheap! But I suppose safety and expert guidance is not something you really want to cheap out on.
Planning your first trip to Chiang Mai? This First-timer’s guide might help.
