Chiang Mai, Thailand
chiang mai mad monkey
KPD
doi suthep
nong buak head public park
chaing mai night market
doi inthanon park
art in paradise
warorat market
The phae boxing stadium
Mae kampong east of changi mai about a hour
Elephant nature park, sticky waterfalls & night markets.
We booked a tour with Elephant in wild Sanctuary . It was very good . It included pick up from the hotel , visit to the elephant sanctuary,lunch a hike towards a beautiful waterfall and river rafting /canoeing.
Here are a few of the day trips I usually recommend to friends. Many may have already been suggested by other posters; they are somewhat organized by vicinity; you can google them and see if they are of interest to you:
*temples in the same general direction on the outskirts of Chiang Mai; Wats Umong (Tunnel Temple) Sri Suphan (silver), Suan Dok (chedis hold the ashes of Royal Lanna Family members), Doi Kham (HUGE Buddhas).
*morning half day at Elephant Nature Park, then Bua Tong “sticky” Falls and Dantewada in the afternoon; Wat Ban Den if there’s time before returning to Chiang Mai
*Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and the Monk’s Trail hike to Wat Pha Lat; Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens and Canopy Walk
*Mae Kampong village
*Mon Jam village with stops at Mae Sa Waterfall and Pongyang Jungle coaster and zip line
*Doi Inthanon NP with waterfall hike into Mae Klang Luang village; Twin Pagodas, Wachirathan Falls, and Summit; stop at Pha Chor Canyon on the way to or from Doi Inthanon
*For those with more time, a night in Lampang via the train through the historic Khun Tan Tunnel, and a visit to Wat Chalermprakiat
*Chiang Dao and Cave
Things I NEVER recommend:
*visit to Longneck villages (my reasons are long and involved).
*day trip to Chiang Rai for White/Blue temples. THREE HOURS each way to see “artsy” temples with no historical significance (Blue opened just 9 years ago). Most tours include the “Golden Triangle” which is a nothing burger tourist trap.
*any so-called elephant “sanctuary” that allows tourists to bathe the elephants, or offers to bring elephants to your bungalow for feeding (often referred to as “wake up calls”); any facility that allows interaction with tigers.
😊