Chiang Mai, Thailand with Kids – Mountains, Temples, and a Taste of Adventure!
Thanks in large part to how modern media portrays it, Thailand has a bit of a reputation as a paradisical beach and party scene filled with 20-something nomads in search of a good time. And, well, that’s definitely something that’s there, for those who are looking for it. But if you’re willing to travel a bit deeper, Thailand has so much more to offer than a comfortable spot on the beach!
Located in north of the country and surrounded by mountainous forests and local villages, Chiang Mai offers a different take on Thai tourism, for those who really want to see what this beautiful country has to offer.
Chiang Mai is the second-largest city in Thailand (next to Bangkok) and has all of the malls, coffee shops, and modern conveniences that you would expect from any major Thai city. However, it also has a centuries long history dating back to its founding as the new capital of the Lan Na Empire after leaving Chiang Rai to the north.
That rich history, coupled with the city’s easy access and beautiful surroundings, has made Chiang Mai into one of the best cities in Thailand for visitors to explore!
Exploring Thai Culture and History in Chiang Mai
Travel is, at its core, about learning more about this wonderful world we live in, and exploring other culture’s and their history is one of the best ways to do that!
Old City Temple Tourism
Chiang Mai is a city of temples, many of which date back 100s of years. A large number of Chiang Mai’s temples are located within the ‘Old City’ district and can be explored in a single day either on your own or with a guided tour.
A map featuring Chiang Mai’s Old Town temples
Obviously, with so many temples in such a small area, I can’t list them all out here, or else we’ll be here all day! So, here’s a sampling of some of the most popular temples in Chiang Mai’s Old Town to visit.
Wat Chiang Man
Chiang Man is the oldest temple in all of Chiang Mai, dating back to the year 1297 CE. It features interesting architectural features like:
- the Elephant Chedi. This is a beautiful gold and white building that looks like it is being supported on the backs of 15 elephant statues.
- The Main Wihan. This is one of two sites that houses monks in the temple and features a Buddha statue that is thought to be the oldest in the Lan na Kingdom, dating back to 1465 CE.
- The Phra Sila. This is a bas-relief carving of the Buddha taming the elephant, Nalagiri. This carving features prominently in Song Kra celebrations.
Wat Chedi Luang
Located near the center of Chiang Mai’s Old City, Chedi Luang dates back to the year 1391. For many years it was the home of a Buddha statue made from Emerald known, appropriately, as the Emerald Buddha. However, the temple was damage in a major earthquake in the year 1545, and it was decided to move the Emerald Buddha to Luang Prabang, Laos.
- Former home of the Emerald Buddha
- Damaged in major earthquake
- Still a very beautiful temple!
Wat Phra Singh
Phra Singh Temple is an excellent example of Lanna-style architecture, featuring gleaming golden stupas and intricately carved decorations. It was originally a royal temple, built to hold the ashes of the king Kham Fu. However, in 1367, the Phra Singh Buddha statue was moved here and the temple’s name was changed to reflect that. Today, it remains one of the most prominent temples in Chiang Mai.
As I mentioned before, you can definitely visit these temples (and more!) on your own, but if you really want to understand the significance of these locations, I highly recommend booking a Chiang Mai Temple Tour like the one I’ve linked below.
This 3-hour walking tour through the heart of Chiang Mai's Old City takes you to some of the city's most popular temple locations with an experienced guide who knows the history and cultural significance of each spot!
Temple Hike through the Mountains – Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
One of Chiang Mai’s most popular (and beautiful) temples is actually located 9 miles (15 kilometers) outside the city, on the mountain, Doi Suthep.
Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is thought to have been founded in 1383 CE to enshrine what is thought to be a relic of the Buddha, namely, his shoulder bone, which is kept in the temple’s chedi. Today, the temple remains a popular location for pilgrims and tourists alike, thanks to the beautiful temple that has grown up over time and for the spectacular view of Chiang Mai from above!
However, it’s the chance to hike the “Monk’s Trail” up to the temple that really sets it apart from the other temples in the area!
The Monks Trail hike leaves from Chiang Mai and runs 3.2 miles up into the mountain jungles, ending with a challenging 300-step staircase to reach the temple. The path itself starts off fairly easy, but ends up being much more difficult in the second half. If your kids are old enough, and into hiking, it can be a fun half-day trip up to the temple!
However, if you’re more into the temple than the hike, it’s quite possible to grab a tuk-tuk or songthaew up to the top or book with a local tour.
True, 309 stair steps up the side of a mountain may not seem like something you'd want to do first thing in the morning, but getting the chance to see sunrise from the top of Doi Suthep might just make it worth it.
Add in a tour of some of the surrounding temples in the area, and this trip's a winner!
Thai Food Tourism
I’ve written before about how street food can be an amazing way to learning about a culture, but Thailand food tourism is on another level! Tasty street food, expansive markets, and, for the truly epicurious, cooking demonstrations and lessons so you can recreate your experience at home!
Street Food
Without a doubt, Thai street food is among the best in the world! And I personally love night markets for the ability to easily find food for the whole family, without needing to agree on a specific restaurant. Pad Thai, papaya salad, or grilled meat skewers are all easily available at almost any night market, alongside food stalls serving almost any cuisine you could want. That means that I get to try local fare even when my kids are feeling picky and insisting on pizza. Gotta love that!
Chiang Mai has a huge number of night markets to choose from, and I can’t list them all here, but it’s worth exploring a few, if you have the time. Here’s a few suggestions to get you started:
- Warorot Market – A local market open throughout the day. You can get fresh foods for cooking, souvenirs, and home goods here, but it’s also an excellent place to get street food during the day.
- Chiang Mai Gate Market – A popular night market for finding great street food in the evenings. It’s known for having a busy vibe and excellent food options.
- Tha Phae Sunday Night Walking Street – If you find yourself in Chiang Mai on a Sunday night, this is the night market to visit. It features a huge variety of souvenir stalls and great eats, though its popularity does make it a bit crowded.
You can definitely get plenty of enjoyment from just picking a night market and wandering around, but if you want to get the best possible night market experience, it can be worth joining up with tour at least once during your stay.
Listen. I get it. You can do street food on your own and have a great time. But with three different Michelin ranked dishes to try on a guided tour through the best local markets in town?
Well, this is one tasty tour.
Thai Cooking Lessons
As wonderful as eating good street food can be, there’s a lot to be said for making a meal for yourself! Cooking for yourself allows you to be more particular about what goes into your food, gives you a sense of accomplishment, and in many cases will save you money! (Though, that last one doesn’t always happen in Thailand. Street food here is cheap!)
But what if you want the benefits of cooking your own meal and a chance to experience authentic Thai culture? Well, that’s where getting a cooking lesson from a local chef comes in!
Granted, cooking lessons aren’t the cheapest food experience you can find in Chiang Mai, but they are a learning experience that can have a lasting effect on your dining habits for years to come. Learning how to make an authentic Pad Thai from a local chef is a perfect souvenir of your time in Chiang Mai!
Cooking classes are the tour that keeps on giving, especially in the case of a class like this!
Choose your pick out of several classic Thai dishes and learn how to make them from scratch using ingredients straight from the local market.
Visiting Indigenous Villages in the Area
While they can definitely be an educational and fun field trip opportunity, I do have mixed feelings about tourism focused on minority or indigenous people groups. There are times where it feels like tours to see people living “village life” are forcing those people to choose between bettering their lives or getting the easy money that comes from that tourism. On the other hand, seeing these villages is one of the only ways that many visitors can learn about the culture and history of these smaller people groups.
And when you add to that the fact that the conditions that these indigenous people live in can be vastly different from country to country, or even village to village…. it’s not a super clear-cut answer one way or the other.
Ultimately, I would encourage you to do your own research on every location that you consider visiting and make an informed decision on whether or not to go. If you do go, I recommend buying locally-sourced souvenirs directly from the people of the village. Look for things that you haven’t seen in other souvenir markets. And remember that the people that you are visiting are people, not exhibits.
That said, there are a couple different places around Chiang Mai where you can visit indigenous villages. If you choose to do, I would encourage you to visit by booking a Grab there, rather than going with a tour group.
The Karen People Group
The Karen people are a smaller people group that are known internationally for the way their women wear a long, metal coil around their necks to make them appear elongated. There are a couple Karen villages in the area surrounding Chiang Mai, like this one on Google Maps. We visited a different village, to the north of Chiang Rai, so I can’t give you specific details on this one.
If you go, expect to pay an entry fee to get in. (I’ve seen the price listed 500 baht per person.)
The Hmong People Group
The Hmong are a fairly large indigenous group that are spread across a wide range of countries, including Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and China. My family did a walking tour of a Hmong village in Sa Pa, Vietnam and an Indigo Batik workshop with a Hmong family in Luang Prabang, Laos, but we did not visit the Hmong village in Chiang Mai.
If you do choose to visit the Hmong in Chiang Mai, there is a village in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park that is especially noted for its winter cherry blossoms! The Hmong are know for their crafting skills, especially their indigo textiles and detailed silverwork jewelry, so be sure to bring cash if you visit!
Exploring Thailand’s Natural Beauty around Chiang Mai
As fascinating as the Thai culture and history in Chiang Mai can be, the natural beauty of the mountains and forests surrounding it is also worth a look! Thailand has a huge number of national parks preserving their country’s natural beauty, and Chiang Mai is right in the middle of several that are worth visiting.
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park
Doi Suthep-Pui is the closest national park to Chiang Mai, as well as the most accesible location for getting a nature-fix while in town.
The park has an extensive network of trails, many of which can be great for the whole family! The most popular one is definitely the Monks Trail that I mentioned in the culture section, but there are several others in the park, including several that include waterfall view points.
If you plan on doing a lot of hiking on your trip to Chiang Mai (or anywhere, really), I recommend signing up for an All Trails account. Not only do they have the best trail maps anywhere, but they also do a great job of telling you what to expect on your hike, and whether the trail is going to be worth your time.
Royal Park Rajapruek
Royal park Rajapruek is a sprawling botanical garden located near the base of Doi Suthep Hill. It features several different themed gardens, spread out across around 200 acres, and a Royal Pavilion dedicated to King Bhumibol.
These gardens feature a huge variety of plant life, both local and foreign, cultivated to emphasize their beauty. This is easily one of the more peaceful venues in the area, and a great place to get outside with kids and enjoy some time exploring!
The entrance fee of 200 baht includes access to the park’s trams to help you get around. Plus there’s a playground for the kids to explore!
Doi Inthanon National Park
Located a little les than 2 hours southwest of Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park is another great option for families looking to get into nature.
The highlight of the park is Doi Inthanon’s summit, for which the park is named. It is the highest point in the entire country and offers an incredible view of the surrounding landscapes! The summit is also home to the Twin Royal Pagodas and their surrounding gardens, which is worth checking out while you’re there.
Other fun things to do in the park include checking out beautiful waterfalls (like Wachirathan waterfall) hiking scenic trails (like the Kew Mae Pan trail), and just generally soaking in some time away from the city!
If you have your own transportation, it’s fairly easy to visit the park on your own, though some parts of the park, such as the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail, do require a guide to see.
Be sure to bring a jacket, as the higher altitude can result in surprisingly cooler temperatures!
This is a full-day trip to Doi Inthanon including a hike on one of the park's many trails, a visit to the summit, and a stop at the park's most popular waterfall, Wachirathan.
Sri Lanna National Park
Sri Lanna National Park is located about an hour from the city, but it’s a particularly popular park to visit for its sticky waterfalls hike!
The sticky waterfalls are a small set of waterfalls that flow over an area of porous limestone that grips the skin in a unique way. That “stickiness” makes it easier to walk on the stones in the waterfall flow, so it has become super-popular as a location to walk up the waterfall!
Of course, while the waterfall is typically the main attraction for visitors, there are also trails to hike and a lake where you can rent a kayak for some fun on the water!
The biggest benefit to checking out the Sticky Waterfalls on a guided tour is that it makes arranging travel easier! But this particular tour throws in a visit to Wat Ban Den, a beautiful temple located to the north of Chiang Mai.
Chae Son National Park
I have a bit of a soft spot in my heart for hot springs, so when I find places where we can visit natural hot springs, I take notice.
Unsurprisingly, the main draw to Chae Son National park is definitely the Chae Son Onsen area, where you can soak in the naturally hot waters found in the area and cool down in the nearby river. However, there is also a beautiful, if small, waterfall in the area!
An educational book on Hot Springs!
One of my family’s favorite ways to add education to our outings is to have the kids read a book on a topic related to our trip.
Sometimes those books are fictional stories, and other times we use non-fictional books filled with fun facts, like this one on hot springs!
And, I can feel doubly good about this particular book, because I’m the author!
Definitely check it out!
