Reasons to visit Chiang Mai

Whilst we were planning our trip to Thailand this time last year, I was keen to include a variety of different stops – the first being bustling Bangkok, the last being the beaches of Khao Lak – all we needed was something in the middle. After some research I came across Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, supposedly the ‘rose of the north’ and somewhere that numerous digital nomads and fellow bloggers highlighted as a great place to visit. I soon found a myriad of reasons to visit Chiang Mai, and was sold. We had our middle stop!

Located in the north of Thailand Chiang Mai is an ideal alternative to the chaos of Bangkok. Despite being the biggest city in the north, Chiang Mai is extremely tourist friendly and is definitely more navigable than the capital, offering tourists a variety of attractions within a short walk or drive of the city centre. It is also the perfect base to explore the rest of northern Thailand from and is famous around the world for some of its fascinating festivals. Here are plenty more reasons to visit Chiang Mai:

It’s easy to navigate

Chiang Mai is a relatively compact city and the majority of tourist attractions are within walking distance of each other. The historic Old City is surrounded by a moat and is only 1.5km square in size so you can easily get around – it only takes 20 minutes to drive from one side of the city to the other and there are plenty of tuk-tuks on call if your feet do get weary from all the sightseeing.

The laid back vibe

The city’s population of less than 1 million, means that in comparison to Bangkok where the traffic is crazzzyy, Chiang Mai is quite laid back, less chaotic and does not have as many problems with smog and pollution. After our few days frantically exploring Bangkok we were pleased to have a few days of relative quiet!

Allll the temples

If you visit Chiang Mai you will be faced with over 300 temples to visit, many of which are smaller and older than those in Bangkok. If however you only want to visit a couple (or are restricted on time) the most significant are Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Chiang Man. These are also all located closely together in the Old City. The most impressive temple, although slightly out of the city, is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep which stands at 5,400 meters atop the neighbouring mountains. The temple is home to a replica of the Emerald Buddha and also a shrine to the white elephant. If you’d rather not climb the 306 steps to reach the top, cable cars are available!

Coffee culture

Chiang Mai is known in Thailand for the best coffee in the country and the city has an almost European-like coffee culture. The coffee beans are sourced directly from local coffee farmers so you can enjoy freshly made coffee from freshly harvested coffee beans. You’ll find coffee shops on virtually every corner within the city so pop into one to enjoy a drink!

Delicious food

I liked Thai food before our trip and now, after our visit to Chiang Mai, I love it even more! Due to the city’s history and proximity to neighbouring countries, the cuisine is quite different to the rest of Thailand and offers almost fusion type food bringing tastes from China, Thailand and Myanmar together to create some of the most delicious flavours. A definite favourite and something you have to try is Khao soi – a mix of chicken, curry broth, soft egg noodles, and spicy coconut milk. Another highlight is thai roti – a thin parcelled crepe filled with bananas and egg, with an optional topping of drizzled chocolate, condensed milk or nutella. Yum!

Value for money

In general Thailand offers great value for money, but we found Chiang Mai to be even more affordable. Whether you are buying food, booking hotels or the famous Thai massages, your money will go further in the city. Jack and I treated ourselves to the luxury of the Shangri-La whilst we stayed in the city and paid the grand total of £40 a night, which included breakfast!

The pleasant climate

Thanks to its location Chiang Mai is less humid and certainly cooler than Bangkok. Although we visited in April, the hottest month in Chiang Mai in the so-called ‘burning season’ the still-hot-temperatures (41c) were far more bearable than the hot and sticky 30s in Bangkok.

The festivals

Chiang Mai is the centre of two of the most iconic thai festivals – Songkran and the Yee Peng Lantern Festival. The Yee Peng Lantern Festival takes place in mid-November when thousands of paper lanterns are released into the sky, symbolizing letting go of misfortune. Songkran is a very different experience altogether and is celebrated on April 13th every year. During the festival of Songkran (thai New Year), water is splashed onto friends and family, which often symbolizes a wish for blessings for the new year ahead.

The nature.. and elephants

Not only is Chiang Mai’s city centre fascinating and full of history, but the city is also located close to idyllic countryside and nature. If, like me, you are interested in visiting one of Thailand’s elephant sanctuaries, Chiang Mai has some of the very best and most ethical in the country (if not the world) on its doorstep. (Read about our visit to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary here). The city also hosts the Chiang Mai Night Safari and Flight of the Gibbon, a sort of jungle zip lining experiencing. All great reasons to visit Chiang Mai.

A base for exploring northern Thailand

Even though we have visited Chiang Mai, Jack and I are desperate to return already. Not only did the city win us both over but it is the perfect base for exploring more of northern Thailand. Next on the list is Chiang Dao, also known as ‘city of stars’, Mae Salong, a tea-lover’s paradise and Chinese village located 4.5 hours north, Pai, a tranquil, hippie-ish town surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and only 3 hours northwest, and finally Chiang Rai, home to the famous White Temple, is 3 hours northeast. So much to return for!

The historic heritage

As the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom, which once ruled Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai offers its visitors a host of well preserved ancient structure. As well as the numerous temples, the city also has many ancient carved houses and structures which are very beautiful and well worth visiting.

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Here’s a sneak peek at what else we got up to in Thailand:

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

Flights

My usual go-to for booking flights is Skyscanner, the flight search engine. What I love about Skycanner is that you have various options depending on your situation. If you know where you want to go it’s easy – all you need is to search for your destination and dates, and you are provided with all flight options to choose from. If you haven’t decided on your next trip yet, you can use the Everywhere tool for inspiration and to find the cheapest places to fly to.

Accommodation

Whenever I plan my travels Booking.com is my best friend. The website is super easy to use and provides a whole range of accommodation from fancy resorts to budget hotels. Jack and I also regularly use Airbnb – in particular, for staycations in the UK.

Things I can’t travel without

As a travel blogger and keen photographer I never travel without my trusty technology. Always packed are my

Canon EOS M3
GoPro Hero5 Black
I’m also saving for a DJI Mavic Pro

Travel Insurance

It is so important to be prepared for all possibilities when travelling and you simply shouldn’t travel without insurance. When looking for cover I would personally recommend World Nomads or the Post Office – both are affordable and certainly won’t break the bank.