The last stop on our three week Thailand adventure; Chaing Mai sparked a shock to the senses as we transitioned from the blue on blue landscape of the southern islands to the mountainous northern city.

Located: Thailand’s largest northern city, Chaing Mai is a 1-hour flight from Bangkok

Don’t leave before visiting: Doi Suthep Temple & Doi Inthanon National Park

Best for: Temples, markets, wildlife & culture

The sun was cooler on our skin, the beaches were traded for murky rivers and lush jungle greenery, and a new backdrop of cloud skimming mountains surrounded us. The unofficial second capital after Bangkok, Chaing Mai is a bustling northern city with markets stalls lined one after another laid with trinkets and sizzling authentic foods.  Similar to Bangkok in terms of its vibrant contrasts, Chaing Mai is a forefront of bustling markets, eateries and pop-up bars, nestled in front of endless rural jungle and historical monuments. A city built in tradition, Chaing Mai offers a densely cultural and religious experience. A city known foremost for its glistening temples and its rich history.

Discover trinkets and treasures at the Sunday Night Market

Thailand is known for its eclectic and eccentric markets that stretch from the early morning and often carry on throughout the night seducing bustling city dwellers and evening wanderers with treats to taste and trinkets to adorn themselves with. Although Chaing Mai offers a calmer and more laid-back atmosphere to Bangkok, Chaing Mai’s walking night market leads the way in terms of a bustling and vibrant shopping culture. If you’re looking to scour Thailand for unusual and authentic trinkets to take home with you, head to Chaing Mai’s Sunday Market (as long as swarms of people don’t bother you) where you will find hand-crafted colourful journals, delicate and vibrant anklets and intricate crocheted clothing.

Smell the flowers in Chaing Mai’s Gardens

Chaing Mai is adorned with beautiful temples, mountainous backdrops, and lush gardens. One of the most vibrant and visually enchanting areas you can travel to, Chaing Mai’s beauty is undeniable. Wonder around the city’s sky-high gardens and surround yourself with the spectrum of vibrant and beautiful flowering plants. A perfect place to start is The Doi Inthanon National Park where you can take in the view of meticulously designed gardens overlooking the whole city from the mountains. While we also stumbled across the most stunning cascading garden landscape visiting the Hmong Hill Tribe.

Take in the views from the mountain top at Doi Inthanon National Park

Doi Inthanon National Park is situated at the sky-scraping heights of the mountain peaks. On our way down from the highest point in Thailand (a disappointing venture in itself as the trees shielded any real views) we were blown away instead with the views from the King and Queen Pagodas. Nicknamed the ‘roof of Thailand’ the peak soars to 2565m above sea level. The blue sky bled into the blurring pastel mountain silhouettes and it was in that moment we realised why we had left island life behind us.

Wander the glistening temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

There are hundreds upon hundreds of temples in Chaing Mai, with the most popular being Wat Phra That, located on Doi Suthep (mount Suthep), a beautiful sacred Buddhist temple situated amongst the mountains. Intricately designed, vibrant and glistening to the eye, the Thai architecture is truly unique. Every detail is meticulously designed even before you reach the temple with an impressive 309 stairs flanked with a mosaic serpent to climb in order to reach the temple gates. Quietly explore the sacred space as Buddhist visitors peacefully light candles and display rows of flickering light throughout the temple.

Immerse yourself in local hill-top tribe culture

Chaing Mai sits next to Chaing Rai, where the indigenous long-neck tribe reside. During our short four day visit we didn’t make the fairly lengthy trip from Chaing Mai to this area, however, we did visit a nearby hill-top tribe known as the Hmong Tribe. It’s a unique moment to witness different cultures and experience a new way of life first handed. We also discovered the most beautiful gardens and views from the Chaing Mai hill tops. Northern Thailand offers the perfect opportunity to discover new cultures and learn about Thai tribe tradition, an essential for the curious traveller.

Care for a friendly giant at an elephant sanctuary

We missed the opportunity to visit the Elephant sanctuary in Chaing Mai as we had found ourselves visiting the gentle giants elsewhere in Thailand and wanted to soak up as many new experiences as possible during our stay. However, from talking with other travellers it seems that the most fulfilling, eco-friendly and sustainable way to get up close with these beautiful creatures is via the Elephant Nature Park or Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chaing Mai. Sanctuaries dedicated to caring wholly for elephants, you can help wash, feed and care for them first hand – a truly rewarding experience not to be missed.

Cook up authentic pad-thai at the Basil Cooking School

The floral scents and the spicy notes found in Asian dishes are world-famous, so whether you’re home-cook-challenged or a pro in the kitchen, spending a day learning about Thai cuisine is a must. We took a class at the Basil Cookery School, where we slaved over a hot stove, grinding herbs and smashing garlic to create six courses. Your arms ache but your taste buds are dancing. As an inexperienced chef (my hands are up) I enjoyed the opportunity to create authentic dishes from scratch. The day began scouring ingredients at the market and ended with full bellies and a recipe book to take home. We are yet to have whipped up any Thai dishes since returning but if we ever appear on Come Dine With Me – this is your spoiler alert.

Climb the wild waterfalls

I agree with TLC on the no scrubs deal but when in Chaing Mai definitely do chase waterfalls (sorry – couldn’t help myself there). A highlight of our time in Chaing Mai, we visited two natural waterfalls (Wachirathan and Siribhume) both of which were breath-taking for different reasons. It’s the untouched, out of plain sight natural treasures that I find most beautiful. If you choose to visit the powerful sky high Wachirathan waterfall shun the selfie with the sign crowd and climb down into the rock pools where the water comes crashing down. Jumping from rock to rock and dipping your toes into the flowing stream with the sound of crashing waters behind you creates a far greater memory that watching from the sidelines.

Experience a sky of lanterns at the Festival of Lights

Sadly, as we visited Chaing Mai in January, we missed the annual Festival of Lights, which takes place every year in November. Nevertheless, the festival had to make into onto this list of ‘must-dos’ as it’s such a unique, and cultural Thai experience. The Yi Peng festival as it is known, sees the sky turn ablaze with glowing jelly-fish like lanterns floating gracefully into the night sky to sit alongside the winking stars. Signifying the ‘letting go’ of problems and worries, the Festival of Lights is a religious ceremony like no other and a symbolic tradition of Chaing Mai culture – a reason in itself to visit the culture-rich northern city.

Have you visited Chaing Mai before? What were your highlights?