Recommend Tourist Attractions In Chiang Mai?

[eddyxwb]

Where are the good places/tourist attractions that I should not miss while in Chiang Mai this June? I will be staying there for three to four days.

What about in-expensive hotel that is near night market?

Thanks

[ShopBoy]

Mae Sa Elephant Camp

It be better if you can give a budget for your hotel you will get better response.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Suggest to check out Tripadvisor.com

We're mostly grumpy expats here who don't see much outside the Computer screen / Pub / Supermarket -triangle.

(Hope that will invigorate some into action. If not then I'll add some suggestions later today. At that time I will also recommend against staying the Night Bazar area, which is touristy, away from the old city sights AND away from the much better Sunday Walking Street market near Thapae Gate. And for the one evening you want to check out the Night Bazar, it's a 5 minute tuk tuk ride from just about anywhere)

[WinnieTheKhwai]

> (Hope that will invigorate some into action.

Ack.. it's not working. Ok then:

* Do make it 4 days, or 5, so you have time to see the mountains and countryside; that's half the attraction of the North.

* So you could rent a car, get a map and drive around the North, for example looping past Pai and Mae Hong SOn, then back to Chian Mai

* Or book a trek, light-trek or tour. Avoid the most touristy stuff, which is anything that's a single day, anything that involves long neck Karen people, and anything that stays close to Chiang Mai including Mae Wang, Samoeng and so on, and anyting 'Golden Triangle'. It would be good if it included one overnight in a hilltribe village though.

* In town visit the Sunday Walking Street Market; this is much better than the very touristy Night Bazar. An alternative is the Saturday evening market on Wualai Road, near CHiang Mai gate.

* Visit regular markets; Talad Warorot (Kad Luang) specifically, and try to hit the place at different times of the day, ideally once in the morning and once in the evening.

* Do a morning walk through teh old town; there are an incredible number of temples, and early morning will see the most activity around temples and markets.

* Visit Doi Suthep and the temple on top. If possible take more time for this so you can stop at waterfalls on the way, and continue further past the temple. THis is easiest with your own wheels. (Motoribike or car) Pick a day (and time of day) where there's no cloud cover, so you have good views of town once up there.

* Consider if you want to do some of the well known tourist things: Elephant camps, Tiger Kingdom, zip-lining at Flight of the Gibbon, Night Safari.

* Among the elephant camps, the one in Mae Taeng is very good. That puts you close to Chiang Dao which is also an excellent day trip or overnight stay; consider staying at CHiang Dao Nest or other place nearby. Chiang Dao has caves, and you can do a trek/walk there as well, and there's rafting. Consider this especially if you're not going for the longer loop past Pai and Mae Hong Son.

* Nightlife: Nimmanhaemin Road is away from the tourist center and the trendy place for young THai people and non-geriatric, non-sex tourist Westerners. Or for a different vibe where younger Westerners and backpackers go, visit the Reggae Area near the Irish Pub off Ratwithee Road. Or for the naughtier side, head to Loi Kroh Road.

* Take a slow daytime train to Lampang, the ride is really scenic between Lamphun and Lampang. On the way back, you can stop at the Elephant Hospital off the main highway #11 to Chiang Mai, especially if you didn't do the elephants earlier in Mae Taeng.

* Mae Ngat Lake: A huge lake that's part of Sri Lanna national park; You can tent a boat who will take you around the lake, and you can have lunch and swim on one of the house-boats there.

* Mae Kampong is a small village past Mae On (Sankamphaeng), not too far from town but feels really remote. (This is where Flight of the Gibbon is located). It's really scenic and nature is beautiful, almost magical. It feels every bit as remote as Pai, but remarkably close to town and without the crowds. There's a resort there (before you hit Mae Kampong) and you can also continue on all the way across the hills to end up in Lampang Province. You will need your own wheels for this of course, but once in Lampang you can then stay overnight, or take highway #11 back (remmeber the elephant hospital is there)

* Phrae is also an awesome old Northern town, with almost no tourism. A minature old-Chiang Mai within the city walls.

* June should get some evening/afternoon rain, which means that one of those 4x4 Jeep tours become more exciting again. That also takes care of the 'seeing the mountains, waterfalls and hilltribes' part.

Random picks that you can insert in your schedule at any time:

* Wat Umong --> Off Suthep road, this is a forrested temple with an ancient tunnel building.

* "Wat Umong In Town" this temple features a Buddha statue that the monks there can make 'smile' by turning various lights on and off. (shadows create the effect). Best to do mid-morning or early afternoon, and ask monks to do the smiling Buddha thing. Leave a donation.

* Wat Chedi Luang -> Huge pagoda

* Pick some other random temples; many have something interesting architectually or otherwise, like Wat Ku Tao, Wat Ched Yod, Wat Suan Dok or any temple you happen to stumble upon.

* Wiang Khum Kam : old ruins of temples and pagodas, a bit South of town. Interesting how the ruins are intermixed with contemporary village life. You can take a horse carriage around the ruins.

* Huay Tueng Thao Lake: Sit on a raft, veg, eat, drink beer. Some downtime.

* Ob Khan Gorge: South of town, well off the Canal Road. The Khan river flows through a rocky gorge here that's really scenic, and you can swim there. Bring snacks. Need your own wheels. (or rent out a taxi or Red Bus)

* Thippanet Market: The sell amulets and other voodoo stuff there. Very interesting, and makes for interesting and inexpensive souvenirs.

* Airport Plaza Mall: Shopping mall, cinema, good food center

* Massage, spa, etc.

Food:

* Some nice Thai restaurants.. The ones on the river are always a good bet, and also a good nightlife option as they're popular with Thais and foreigners alike. (The Riverside restaurant, The Good View). Also Nimmahaemin has really good Thai restaurants.

* It's a bit cheesy, but 'kantoke dinner' which is a food buffet and traditional dance show can be good, especially as you have to eat anyway. Check if Huan Khajao is still in operation off Kaew Nawarat Road; this is a big old wooden house with restaurant in front, and they do the dance/cultural performance. Then you get to see the house wich has a lot of old antique-y things.

* Some street food, for example at Chang Phuak gate in the evening.

* Western Food: Georgio's (Italian), Chez Marco (French-Mediterranean), The Duke's (American)

Edited January 16, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai

[bristolgeoff]

the flower show is a good one to visit

[Lizard2010]

Plus on Tripadvisor.

I you querie any of the Destination Experts.

You get banned.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Plus on Tripadvisor.

I you querie any of the Destination Experts.

You get banned.

Yes, I felt right at home.

Edited January 16, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai