Chiang Mai: Six Must-do Activities

January 29, 2024
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6 Outdoor Activities You Can Do in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai quickly became my absolute favorite place in Thailand! There’s so much to do, and I wish I could have spent more time there. It’s one of those cities that always leaves you wanting more.

Thanks to its strategic location, you can do a lot of excursions and activities in nature parks in a single day. To help you make the most of your time here, I’ve put together a list of activities and excursions in Chiang Mai.

For your convenience, I’ve added a map with all the locations I talk about here. And remember, the list could grow depending on how long you plan to stay there!

1. Excursion to an Elephant Sanctuary

If you’re looking for an amazing experience in Chiang Mai, an excursion to an elephant sanctuary is a must! There are so many wonderful options, but I’d love to share the one I did. It was truly incredible, and I’d highly recommend it for the kind treatment of the animals and the experience.

About the Elephants

First, let me tell you a bit about the history and why I think everyone should visit an elephant sanctuary. In Thailand, the elephant is considered a sacred animal. Previously, elephants were used for work and mistreatment was common.

However, as of today, there are laws in place that prohibit the mistreatment of elephants and the use of elephants for work. Unfortunately, elephant rides are still very much a tourist activity. Hopefully they will soon ban all such activities, so that we can all enjoy the elephants in a way that is kind to them.

Lots of lovely sanctuaries have been set up in Chiang Mai province to care for the elephants. Each elephant needs a personal caretaker to feed, bathe and keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t escape. At the sanctuaries, the animals are free and well cared for. An elephant needs to eat between 170kg and 250kg of food a day, which can be grass, bamboo or even bananas. They absolutely love bananas!

Why These Tours Are Important

Now, we all have to ask ourselves: how do they pay the caretakers and get so much food every day?

That’s where we get involved! Depending on the activity, a trip to an elephant sanctuary can cost between €30 and €70. This money pays for gas (as the journey to the sanctuary is included), food (food is usually included) and, most importantly, the keepers and food for the elephants. It’s very good value at an all-inclusive price!

During the pandemic, the sanctuaries really suffered. They lost a lot of tourists, and the elephants lost a lot of weight due to malnutrition. In search of food, some of them escaped from the sanctuaries and entered the city. The locals have been a great help to the sanctuaries, giving the elephants food from their fields. It’s so wonderful to see how everyone is coming together to help these beautiful creatures!

My Experience

The trip I went on was really cool. They picked us up in Chiang Mai and took us to the shrine, which is outside the city. We spent some time with the elephants, feeding them, touching them, and taking pictures. It was so much fun!

Then we sat down to eat. They had prepared a delicious Pad Thai for us! After lunch, we went to give the elephants a bath and play with them in the water.

Finally, we left the sanctuary and hiked to a nearby waterfall about 15 minutes away. It was a very busy day, but it was so worth it! We all went home with very special memories of that day.

2. The Monk's Trail

The Monk’s Trail (Wikiloc track here) sends you on about a 30-minute hike to reach Wat Pha Lat, a beautiful temple built in the surrounding countryside.

You can reach Doi Suthep Temple by following the route. However, keep in mind that due to a high elevation gain, this next destination is much more difficult.

Personally, I stayed at Wat Pha Lat and did the excursion to Doi Suthep on the same night. I rented a bike to get to the start of the route as it was close to the city centre and I wanted to explore the surrounding area that day. You can also get there by car or motorbike, there is a car park on one side of the road.

The route has a beautiful setting. The path is used by monks to walk to the temples, hence its name, The Monks’ Trail. I would recommend wearing appropriate footwear for this hike. Although, if you want to experience it the same way as the monks do, they walk barefoot! Above all, don’t forget to wear appropriate clothing when entering the temple area.

3. Huay Koew Waterfalls and Hike the Nature Trail

The Huay Koew waterfalls are about 15 minutes by bike from the start of the Monk’s Trail, a perfect combination for a day of outdoor activities in Chiang Mai.

These waterfalls are about 5km from the city centre and next to the Chiang Mai Zoo.

Entrance to the waterfalls is free. There is a small car park at the entrance where you can leave your bike or motorbike. It is a 5 minute walk to the swimming area, pools and waterfalls. A quiet place, surrounded by nature, easy to reach and, above all, a beautiful place.

It is well signposted and there are signs for the Nature Trail, a 10-minute walk that takes you to the top of the waterfalls where there are more waterholes. This short route is highly recommended and allows you to combine sport with time to relax in the warm waters of the waterfalls.

4. Wat Umong and Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the most famous temple in Chiang Mai and one of the most revered in Thailand. Built at the end of the 14th century, its main feature is a gilded chedi covered in filigree gold leaf. A white elephant statue welcomes us at the temple entrance. Legend has it that this elephant carried a relic of Buddha up the mountain until he died, and that the site of his death was chosen to build this temple.

Built on the top of a mountain, it can be reached by funicular or up the 309 steps of its staircase. The stairs are worth the climb, to experience it 100%.

How and When to Go

There are several ways to get to Doi Suthep Temple, including walking (the Monk’s Trail), taking a Red Cab (public transport) or a taxi. I went on a sunset tour which included a visit to Wat Umong temple, the only forest temple with tunnels and caves in Chiang Mai. Wat Umong is a very curious temple well worth a visit. The good thing about visiting the temples with a guided tour is that it gives you the opportunity to learn about the history of these temples.

We arrived at Wat Doi Suthep just at sunset, an experience that gave us an unbeatable view over Chiang Mai. Seeing this temple by day and by night are two very different experiences and I really enjoyed seeing it at night with its illuminations.

I did not book the tour on the internet, but found it in the brochures at the reception of my hostel. There are several tour agencies in Chiang Mai. I would advise you to check online reviews of these agencies before booking as not all of them are good.

5. Day Trip to Sticky Waterfalls

I didn’t have time to do this, but it’s on my to-do list for my next visit to Chiang Mai. Sticky waterfalls get their name from the rock on which the water falls, which allows you to walk over it without falling.

Located just outside Chiang Mai, these waterfalls can be reached by car or motorbike. There are also a number of excursions that will take you there. If sports and adventure are your thing, this is the trip for you– a combination of boat ride, cave visit, bike ride and swimming in the waterfalls. A full day to enjoy the National Park.

6. Day Trip to Doi Inthanon Natural Park

I didn’t have time to do this, but it’s on my to-do list for my next visit to Chiang Mai, along with the previously mentioned excursion.

Doi Inthanon is a natural park in the south of Chiang Mai, full of waterfalls and mountains. A wonderful environment for nature lovers. There are several excursions you can do to see part of the Doi Inthanon Natural Park in one day, but I would recommend this one. In one day, departing from Chiang Mai, you can swim at the Sirithan and Wachirathan waterfalls, interact with the Karen tribe in Sobhad village and visit the highest point in Thailand. A complete experience and highly recommended!

You can also hire a motorbike or a car to explore the park on your own. If you are on your own, my advice is to have a clear idea of your points of interest and to follow signposted routes, thanks to Wikiloc, for example.

My Opinion About Traveling in Chiang Mai

As I have said before, Chiang Mai was my eye-opener of this trip. I spent three days in the city, and regretted not having more days in the schedule.

To really enjoy the area, I think about 5/6 days would be enough. Renting a motorbike or a car would be ideal to get out and explore the surrounding areas.

If there is one city I would visit again on my next trip to Thailand, it would definitely be Chiang Mai to complete all the activities I had left to do.