The Old City of Chiang Mai has narrow streets filled with temples, traditional houses, and vibrant markets. You can experience the city on foot or hop on a motorbike to discover all the hidden gems.

WHERE TO STAY IN CHIANG MAI?

The city has many affordable and luxurious hotels, but our top favourite choice is Aksara Heritage. The rooms are comfortable, and the staff is amazing. When we come back to the city, we will definitely stay here again. It is not the cheapest, but a true oasis in the Old City of Chiang Mai.

->Check the availability here. 

Chiang Mai is our favourite city in Thailand, and here are the best 10 things to do on your trip:

1. VISIT ELEPHANT RESCUE PARK

The Elephant Rescue Park was built especially for elephants that live with them permanently. When you visit the rescue park, you see how well the elephants are treated here. They purchase and rescue elephants from circuses, the logging industry, mistreatment camps, hardworking sites, and unfortunate accidents.

You have half-day tours and full-day tours. It is a place that cares for the elephants. Here is the official website. There are many different sanctuaries around Chiang Mai, but not all of them are really good for the elephants. This was my favourite and one of the most memorable experiences from visiting Thailand.

2. SUNDAY NIGHT MARKET IN CHIANG MAI

My absolute favourite thing you have to do is visit the Sunday Night Market. Chiang Mai is known for its night markets, but this one is the best I have ever visited. A big part of the Old Town gets closed, and the locals put out stalls with everything you can imagine.

With the most delicious Thai food, souvenirs, and massages. It is packed with tourists and locals both enjoying the evening.

3. STICKY WATERFALLS

Sticky waterfalls, also known as Bua Tong Waterfall, are a little bit out of the city centre of Chiang Mai. The waterfalls are unique and something you can’t find elsewhere. It is something that you need to experience to realize how special it is. The waterfalls are like the name says, sticky.

You can walk upstream easily, and it is a very fun activity to do. You can walk on sticky waterfalls because of the limestone deposits found in the water and on the rocks. The limestone creates a rough and porous surface that provides excellent traction.

You can rent a car and drive yourself there, or you can take a guided tour with Pon Tours. Check the availability here. 

4. VISIT POEN RUEDEE NIGHT MARKET AND THE NIGHT BAZAAR

There are so many markets in Chiang Mai that it is hard to choose which ones to visit. One of the best ones is Poen Ruedee Night Market. It is very touristy, but there are a lot of different food options.

Just a few steps away, there is also the Night Bazaar that comes to life in the evenings. The Night Bazaar offers shopping, some restaurants, and if you are lucky, even live music. 

5. TAKE A COOKING CLASS IN CHIANG MAI

Thailand is famous for its delicious Thai food. In Chiang Mai, you can take a cooking class and learn so much about ingredients and food preparation. Most of the popular classes have the option to choose what dishes you would like to learn.

You can choose to have a half-day class or a full-day cooking class. My best recommendation is with Grandma’s Home Cooking School. You can check the program here. 

6. WAT CHEDI LUANG TEMPLE

Wat Chedi Luang Buddhist temple is right in the Old Town. It is one of the city’s most historically significant and visually impressive temples.

Wat Chedi Luang is home to the city pillar, which is considered to be the spiritual guardian of Chiang Mai. The city pillar is located within a shrine on the temple grounds, and it is an important place for traditional ceremonies and local beliefs. There is also a big gong that you can play by striking it.

7. WAT PHA LAT TEMPLE IN CHIANG MAI

One of the most fascinating temples in Chiang Mai is Wat Pha Lat. The temple’s architecture beautifully blends with the natural surroundings. The temple is surrounded by lush greenery, moss-covered rocks, and a small waterfall. This creates a beautiful atmosphere.

To get there, you can take the Monk’s Trail. The trail is taking you through beautiful nature. It is around a 30-minute forest walk, so we recommend wearing sneakers and do not forget to have a sarong or long pants to cover your legs when you get there. 

8. FOOD IN CHIANG MAI

Chiang Mai is a wonderful place if you are a foodie. The city offers a vibrant food scene with many amazing restaurants.

Our favourite dish from this area is the famous Khao Soi. You can find it in most of the traditional restaurants, and it is a dish you cannot skip on your visit to Chiang Mai. Don’t forget to try some delicious desserts like mango sticky rice and coconut ice cream!

9. DAY TRIP TO CHIANG RAI

Chiang Rai is about a 3-hour drive away. The easiest way is to rent a car for the day and go on a road trip, but you have to start early in the morning because the drive is long. You can visit two famous temples: The Blue Temple and The White Temple.

There are also organized tours provided by TripGuru; you can check availability here.

10. THAI MASSAGE

Thailand is famous for its Thai massages. After all the amazing things you can do in Chiang Mai, you have to relax at one of the spas and massage salons in the city.

Our best but most expensive recommendation is to go to Zira Spa. For a mid-range option, you can go to Calm Massage and Spa.

SEE ALSO: From Temples to Tropical Paradise: The Ultimate 14 Day Thailand Itinerary for Every Traveller’s Dream

The post Discovering Chiang Mai: Top 10 Must-See Attractions for First-Time Visitors appeared first on Vegan Friendly Travel.

Chiang Mai is a charming city nestled in northern Thailand. The city is known for its rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality. Chiang Mai offers you a blend of traditional and modern experiences.

The Old City of Chiang Mai is full of narrow streets filled with temples, traditional houses, and vibrant markets. You can stroll around the old town on foot or hop on a bicycle to discover hidden gems at your own pace.

WHERE TO STAY IN CHIANG MAI?

The city has many excellent hotels, but our top favourite choice is Aksara Heritage. The rooms are luxurious, and the staff is fantastic. There is also a beautiful pool. It is a true oasis right in the Old City.

VEGAN FOOD IN CHIANG MAI

Chiang Mai is a wonderful place if you are a vegan foodie. The city offers a vibrant vegan food scene with many amazing restaurants.

Don’t forget to try some delicious traditional snacks like mango sticky rice and coconut ice cream!

PURE VEGAN HEAVEN

It is a vegan restaurant located between Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham and Baan Kand Wat art village, so it is in an excellent location for lunch between sightseeing.

They have a great variety of food. You can choose between poke bowls, wraps, pasta, and many others. I tried rice curry, and it was very good.

GOODSOULS KITCHEN

It is a nice vegan restaurant in the Old Town. We stopped there for breakfast, but you can also have lunch and dinner.

They have vegan pizza, burgers, wraps, and traditional Thai dishes. We tried tofu scramble and oats.

AUM VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

It is one of my favourite choices in the city because the atmosphere and food are amazing. The prices are also very affordable and most of the things are vegan.

Their menu is wide with many different healthy dishes and juices to choose from. I had my beloved dish, Khao Soi.

REFORM VEGAN CAFÉ

It is a vegan garden restaurant and plant-based hotel in Chiang Mai. It has an amazing atmosphere, and the food is delicious. You can go there for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They have Asian dishes as well as some of the Western favourites.

It was the first restaurant where I tried Khao Soi in Chiang Mai, and it blew my mind how something can be so delicious. From that moment on I ate Khao Soi everywhere I could find it vegan. It is a traditional Northern Thailand dish.

V SECRET VEGAN CHIANG MAI

The restaurant is in the Poen Ruedee night market. You can choose from different dishes like Pomelo salad, drunken noodles, rice noodles with cream curry, cabbage rolls, and many more.

RAD RABBIT VEGAN PIZZERIA

It is the first fully vegan Western restaurant and pizzeria in Chiang Mai. For starters, you can have cauliflower wings, sweet potato fries, garlic bread, and bruschetta.

They have various pizzas, sandwiches, and wraps. You can even build your own vegan pizza.

CHADA VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT CHIANG MAI

It is a vegetarian restaurant with many vegan options. You can choose between traditional Thai dishes like Pad Thai, Fried rice, Massaman, Green curry, and many more.

Thailand is the destination for foodies and Chiang Mai won’t leave you disappointed.

HOW TO GET TO CHIANG MAI

Usually, your trip starts at Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) airport which has the best connections for travelling in Thailand. I recommend that you take the domestic flight to Chiang Mai right away.

Many different airlines are flying back and forth every day so you can find the one which has the best connection for your international flight arrival. Chiang Mai is also well connected with other parts of Thailand.

WHAT TO DO IN CHIANG MAI?

There is so much to do and see in Chiang Mai. If you are not a beach person, you could easily spend more than 5 nights in this area. If you have more time, you could stay in Chiang Mai for weeks.

The Elephant Rescue Park was built especially for elephants that live with them permanently. They purchase and rescue elephants from places like circuses, the logging industry, mistreatment camps, hardworking sites, and unfortunate accidents.

You have half-day tours and full-day tours. It is not the cheapest activity, but it is worth it. Here is the official website. There are many different sanctuaries for Thai elephants, but not all of them are good.

Sticky waterfalls are a little bit out of the city centre of Chiang Mai. The waterfalls are like the name says, sticky. You can walk upstream easily. This is a very unique experience you cannot skip.

MARKETS IN CHIANG MAI

The number one thing you have to do in Chiang Mai is to visit the Sunday Night Market. Thailand is known for its night markets, but this one is the best one we have ever visited. The market is every Sunday.

At this market, you will be able to find the most delicious vegan Thai food, souvenirs, and massages. There are so many tourists and locals enjoying the evening.

There are so many other markets in Chiang Mai. It is hard to choose which ones to visit. One of the best ones is Poen Ruedee Night Market. It is very touristy, but there are a lot of different food varieties and vegan options. Just a few steps away, there is also the Night Bazaar.

TEMPLES IN CHIANG MAI

There are so many different temples in and around the city. Wat Chedi Luang Buddhist temple is right in the Old Town.

One of the most fascinating temples in Chiang Mai is Wat Pha Lat, and to get there,e you can take the Monk’s trail. The trail is taking you through beautiful nature. It is around a 30-minute walk, so I recommend you go in sneakers.

Nearby is also a temple called Wat Umong Suan Putthatham, which is worth visiting, and when you are in the area, you can also go to the Baan Kang Wat art village.

DAY TRIP TO CHIANG RAI

Chiang Rai is about a 3-hour drive away. The easiest way is to rent a car for the day and go on a road trip. There are two famous temples you can visit: The Blue Temple and The White Temple. There are also organized tours provided by TripGuru; you can check availability here.

You can also drive to the Golden Triangle, but it is a lot of extra driving if you are visiting for only one day.

Thailand is famous for its delicious Thai food. In Chiang Mai, you can take a cooking class and learn so much about ingredients and food preparation. Most of the popular classes have the option to choose vegan recipes, but just to be sure, check before booking.

In conclusion, Chiang Mai is a paradise for vegan food lovers. The city offers a wide range of vegan options, from traditional Thai dishes to international cuisine. You will definitely not be hungry here!

SEE ALSO: Is Koh Phangan a True Vegan Paradise? Unraveling the Island’s Vegan Food Gems in a Tropical Wonderland

The post Discover the Magic of Chiang Mai. The Perfect Vegan Travel Guide to Thailand’s Cultural Capital appeared first on Vegan Friendly Travel.