What must do and Where to go in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is basically Thailand’s second town – the lesser, more relaxed answer to the madness of Bangkok. It was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, but now is a most important draw for backpackers and visitors of all kinds, not to indication retiring ex-pats and humanitarians. Scores of who arrive here come back again and again, or break for years when they had meant to break only a few weeks. There’s an power in the ctit town that captivates those who visit, whether they hunt for a trekking adventure or a non secular arousing as they vacation from temple to temple. The town by itself gives plenty of things to do in the way of cooking classes, wat visits, street food, and traditions. But ahead of its boundaries, you will get environmental perfection, awe inspiring animals, & rare communities deep into the hill. It is a exclusive city with much to recommend, and these are some of the best tourist points of interest to explore.
1) City & Temples
Temple tours of Chiang Mai are a good way to familiarise yourself with the city’s past. Within the old town you will discover some of the city’s most prestigious temples, as well as many more equally appealing Buddhist sanctuaries. Wat Pra Singh (end of Ratchadamnoen Road) is perhaps the most important. It contains the much revered Phra Singh Buddha which dates from the early 1400s, and has an exquisite maroon interior. The oldest temple in Chiang Mai is Wat Chiang Man, which was supposedly ordered built by King Mengrai at the time of the Chiang Mai’s founding. Wat Chedi Luang is conspicuous for its huge ruined chedi. This temple complex dates from the 1400s and was once home to the highly sanctified Emerald Buddha.
2) Get pleasure with elephant
Get real close to the elephants. Watch the elephants demonstrate their skills at the elephant show before embarking on an elephant ride After Lunch you will try your hand at ox carting before boarding the bamboo rafts for a leisurely trip down the Mae Tang River. This is an ideal tour for the family and those who do not want to trek up hill and mountain.
On this trip you will witness the traditional techniques still used in the training process. Wonder at the delicacy and preciseness of such gigantic creatures in action. For a small fee, the adventurous can also enjoy the short but unforgettable elephant ride!
3) Chiang Mai Treks
Get real Chiang Mai trekking adventure experiences from real trekking tour programs, Be cool in the nature.
Discover the jungles, mountains and hill tribes around Chiang Mai on a hill tribe trek. Whether it is a single or multi day trek we have something to suit everybody. Maybe you just want to trek through the jungle or maybe you really want to get away from the crowds we have something to suit. We can combine most treks with other activities such as elephant riding, whitewater rafting , mountain biking and bamboo rafting.
4) Outdoor Adventures in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has a wide variety of activities to suit all ages and preferences. It’s certainly one of the draw cards of the city, offering a far greater choice than any other tourist centre in Thailand. Activities on offer include: climbing, mountain biking, walking, elephant riding (and mahout courses), whitewater rafting and kayaking, ATV and motorbike trips, soft adventure activities and extreme sports such as bungee jumping and even drift karting.
5) Learn Thai Cooking Courses
Chiang Mai is the most popular place in Thailand for cooking classes, offering a great variety of classes and amazing deals. You begin your class by going to the market and learning about Thai produce before heading back to the kitchen to cook a few dishes and eat a lot of food.
6) Doi Inthanon Nation Park
Amidst Its rugged mountain, the national park houses the country’s highest peak Doi Inthanon. Its mountain range is watershed that originates many rivers, as well as Ping River that fills up power-generating Bltumiphol Dam. In its lush jungle, the park has many natural attractions including MneYa Watefall which is considered the country’s most beautiful waterfall.
7) Khantoke Dinner
Khantoke restaurants are a fairly new but popular feature of Chiang Mai, combining great food with cultural entertainment. Kantoke restaurants get their name from the low tables on which the food is served, called Khantoke in Thai. Diners sit on the floor, propped up by sumptuous cushions, and sample a variety of unique northern dishes. Accompanying the traditional food is a performance of traditional Lanna music and dance.
8) Thai Massage and Spa
Enjoy the exotic Thai way to relax your body and soul with Thai massage and Spa. Thai massage is also known as passive yoga and can be very good when done by a skilled practitioner and it is absurdly cheap by western standards.
9) Enjoy Shopping
Shopping is one of the premier activities in Chiang Mai, where nearly every souvenir product found elsewhere in Thailand is available for sale. The advantage of shopping in Chiang Mai is that visitors may learn about handicrafts production by watching artisans making the products firsthand.