Cultural Tours in Chiang Mai

1. Wat Chedi Luang One of the city’s most unique temples is Wat Chedi Luang. It’s most impressive component is its huge chedi (also known as a stupa), which refers to the tower-like structure on top of the temple. 

2. Elephant Sanctuary Elephant encounters are one of the most popular experiences for those traveling to Chiang Mai, and it’s easy to see why! When else would you get the opportunity to come this close to these amazing gentle giants?

3. Bua Tong Stick WaterfallsThanks to the limestone, which floats in the water, the rocks are not slippery, they’re actually sticky at this waterfall, and you can climb them easily without any equipment. You don’t even need shoes!

4. Chiang Mai CanyonAlso known as the Hang Dong Canyon, the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai is a beautiful canyon less than an hour from the center of Chiang Mai city where you can swim, sunbathe, and cliff jump (they have heights for all confidence levels).

5. Chiang Mai Night BazaarPerhaps the most popular night market, the Night Bazaar is open nightly and is located east of the old city. You can find every sort of vendor here from those selling typical souvenirs to those selling handmade artwork and jewelry.

6. Bumrung Buri Road The stalls of Bumrung Buri Road near the south gate of the old city is one of the best places for street food. Located right across from Bumrung Buri Market, the area is full of food carts serving delicious options at super cheap prices!

7. Doi Suthep The most famous attraction in all of Chiang Mai is Doi Suthep. Doi Suthep is about 12km outside of Chiang Mai and is a mountain that has a fantastic view over all of the city. Standing at 5400 meters, it also houses Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a 13th century temple that is home to a large white elephant shrine as well as a replica of the Emerald Buddha.

• Active wear - it’s likely that you’ll be pretty active during your stay in Chiang Mai so be sure to bring clothing that is comfortable and suitable for some outdoor activities!

• Swimsuit - there are multiple opportunities to swim in Chiang Mai with waterfalls, lagoons, swimming pools, spas and more! So definitely don’t forget this item. 

• Sarong - many of the temples require legs and shoulders to be covered. An easy fix for this is to carry a sarong and simply tie it over you before entering!

• Day bag - a small comfortable day bag to carry you’re belongings while you are out and about will definitely come in handy. 

• Bug spray - as Chiang Mai is less beach and more jungle, there can sometimes be a fair few bugs trying to bite! Some mosquito repellent will put them off and make you a bit more comfortable!

• Waterproof jacket - depending on what time of year you go, showers can be quite common here so being prepared with a lightweight rain coat is a good idea!