Chiang Mai is one of the prettiest spots in Thailand and it’s very easy to see the appeal of heading here for a trip – whether you’re spending some time travelling around the north and using the area as a base, or whether you’re stopping through on your way to another city or country. When you’re planning a travelling itinerary, it’s perfectly normal to take a look at the various sights and to build your plans around the options available to you. This is a short guide to five of the most incredible reasons why you need to head to Chiang Mai immediately. Take a look at Travezl’s Chiang Mai Tour Page as well if you’re after some inspiration for the things to do when you’re in the area.
It’s visually stunning
The city of Chiang Mai is nestled in the north in the mountains. As a result, this spot is lush, green and all around beautiful. Home to some hill tribespeople, it’s also a very culturally significant spot to explore. You will be spoiled for choice when you head to Chiang Mai as part of your next trip. After all – a large part of your travel in Thailand will revolve around exploring the beaches and taking in the bustling and busy sights of the south of Thailand. While all of Thailand is well worth a look, there’s also something really lovely about heading off the tourist trail and into the wild a little bit. Chiang Mai certainly delivers on that front – and everyone who goes there comes home with a camera full of pictures which are each worth blowing up and putting on the wall – and heart and head full of memories. It’s a great spot.
You can do all of the touristy stuff here too
If you want to take a cooking class, you can do that here. Riding in tuk tuks? Yep, that too. Chiang Mai may not be the drawcard of the beaches but it certainly has its own tourist flavour here. You’re going to love it – so be sure to schedule a whole slew of activities when you arrive to ensure that you don’t miss anything out.
You’ll get to eat Khao Soi
You can eat the national dish of the north – Khao Soi. This tasty and fragrant broth is well worth making the trip for alone. It’s made with red curry, a fair whack of coconut, chicken and has plenty of spicy, fragrant elements to it making it a delectable dish to enjoy.
You can give an elephant a bath
It’s widely known that elephants have been mistreated here in Thailand for far too long. Luckily, there are a whole heap of people who are taking the steps to do something about it. One such place is the Elephant Nature Park, a great organisation where you can get a great education and some interaction with these giant grey pachyderms. You can bathe the elephants too, and it’s a fantastic way to enjoy the beautiful creatures without damaging them any further.
You won’t find anywhere as all-encompassing or friendly
When you take the time to sit back and think about what makes Chiang Mai so great – it’s the fact that there’s no one certain thing that makes this spot a must-see. No, it’s the fact that there’s just so much to do, and the fact that the people are just so friendly, that earns this spot a big tick for me. You must include this mountain destination on your Thailand travel list. You won’t regret it!
Enjoy the sights and experiences of Chiang Mai and don’t forget to stay safe!