Chiang Mai, Thailand — Things to Do
Sightseeing in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a magical wonderland for visitors to explore and with so many breathtaking natural and cultural attractions travelers will be hard-pressed to know where to begin. The best time of year for sightseeing in Chiang Mai is between November and May when the cooler weather makes for perfect days spent outdoors.
A must while on vacation in Chiang Mai is the Maesa Elephant Camp where visitors can enjoy an elephant ride and even watch them play football or paint a picture, and check out the Mae Sa Waterfall in the Soi Suithep-Pui National Park, while the Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center will teach visitors about the region, its culture, religion and its history. And if you're into the cultural thing, check out the Lisu Hill-Tribe display at the Hill-Tribe Research Institute Museum to learn about the lives of the hill-tribe people.
There are plenty of temples to visit too, such as Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, which overlooks Chiang Mai from the slopes of Mount Suthep and Wat Phra Singh, the city's best-known temple which houses the Phra Singh statue, which dates back to between 1385 and 1400.
Shopping in Chiang Mai
Shopping in Chiang Mai is an extremely rewarding experience! There is a vast array of goods available, most often at very good (if not dirt-cheap) prices. As one of the handicraft centers of Asia, Chiang Mai is the place to buy anything from silk, silver and ceramics to antiques and Buddhist art. DVDs, CDs and electronic equipment are also readily available, although sometimes of dubious origin.
The first stop has to be the Night Bazaar on Chang Klan road, with stalls and arcades offering all kinds of Northern Thai handicrafts including silk, cotton, wooden carvings, silver and saa (mulberry) paper. During the day, there are also some vendors around selling crafts and food. Another good market is held on Ratchadamnoen Road, in the old city. Near Chiang Mai, Bor Sang village also sells its famous colorful umbrellas.
In the center of Chiang Mai there are numerous shops trading in fabric, shoes, antiques, jewelry and hill-tribe products. Gadgets, western-style clothes and multimedia goods are best stocked at the Kad Suan Kaew mall and Airport Plaza, while computer equipment can be found at the Panthip Plaza.
Attractions for Kids
Far more family friendly than Bangkok, Chiang Mai is a great place to take the kids while on vacation in Thailand. The national way of life of sanuk(fun) is enough to keep the kids on their toes. Couple that with the friendly, child-loving and sometimes even child-like quality of the Thais, and you've got a recipe for a fun-filled holiday with the family in Chiang Mai.
Take the kids to watch the animal shows in the Mae Sa Valley where monkeys ride tricycles and play basketball, hold a cobra at the Mae Se Snake Farm, enjoy the views from an elephant's back at the Elephant Conservation Center on the Chiang Mai-Lampang road, swim and play under a waterfalls in the Soi Suithep-Pui National Park, go fishing in a local pond, or visit Chiang Mai Zoo's two giant pandas from China, Chuang Chuangand Lin Hui.
Be sure to make sure the kids have plenty of sunscreen on and kit them out with a sunhat as the temperatures can be searing. With all these attractions and more, children on vacation in Chiang Mai will be entertained from dawn to dusk.
