Things to Do in Northern Thailand

One of the most fascinating and enriching aspects of traveling to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand is the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of some of the local hill tribes. The Hmong, believed to be the first inhabitants of the Yellow River Valley in China, are today one of the most successful tribes in Thailand, and Ban Mae Sa Mai Village is one of the most accessible Hmong villages from Chiang Mai.

Only reachable via four-wheel vehicles, the mountain village is somewhat of a step back in time, as local residents often don their traditional garb and demonstrate to visitors what day to day life is like in a Hmong village. Since the village is frequented by tourists, the village houses a few shops selling Hmong handicrafts.

The mountainous border regions of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand come together in the exotically named Golden Triangle—a haven of Buddhist architecture, lush forest, and colorful riverfront villages. Located in the Chiang Rai province at Thailand’s northernmost tip, the Golden Triangle is thick with wonders, both natural and man-made.

Originally launched into notoriety by the opium trade, this sleepy part of Southeast Asia is now a popular jungle escape and jumping-off point for visits to hill tribe villages populated by the White Hmong, Akha, Karen, and Lahu people. Most regional tours start in Chiang Rai, although some also make the trip from Chiang Mai. On a full-day tour, discover cultural delights of Northern Thailand such as the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), the impressive Hall of Opium museum, and Chiang Saen’s ancient Buddhist ruins. You can also visit farther-flung rural villages, ride in a tuk-tuk, peruse local markets, and cruise the Ruak and Mekong rivers. Some longer tour options cross into Myanmar at the border town of Mae Sai, while other excursions venture into Laos via the Fourth Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge. 

 

The Golden Triangle’s official center is the town of Sop Ruak, located at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers. The capital city of Chiang Rai (the departure point of most Golden Triangle tours) lies roughly 113 miles (182 kilometers) north of Chiang Mai, a 3-hour journey by road. Multiple buses travel between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai daily, though most visitors travel by car or guided tour.

Winter is the most popular time to visit, when the days are usually dry and warm. Monsoon season lasts from late April through October, bringing rain and humid weather. 

 

Each traditional hill tribe community has its own style of dress, language, and cultural customs. Many villages retain their roots but also open up their way of life to curious visitors. Visitors should be respectful, always ask before taking photographs, and consider purchasing locally made handicrafts that support the village communities.

Beneath the shadow of Doi Suthep sits Huay Tung Tao Lake, a manmade reservoir popular as a swimming and picnicking area favored by locals and expats looking for a break from Chiang Mai. On a sunny day, it’s common to see groups of Thais sitting on the banks of the lake dining on steamed fish and cold beers.

Not many international tourists visit this hidden gem, but those who do will find grassy banks dotted with bamboo picnicking areas, shallow waters ideal for cooling off, paddle boat and inner tube rentals and vendors selling local favorites, like dancing shrimp -- a dish comprising live freshwater shrimp that jump around on the plate -- as well as sour orange catfish curry, sun-dried pork or grilled chicken

This group of caves in the Chiang Dao region north of Chiang Mai is full of massive limestone and crystal formations. Though there are many caverns at the base of the Doi Chiang Dao mountain range here, these five in particular are interconnected and open to explore, with impressive stalagmites and stalactites hanging and growing from the ceilings and floors. 

Buddha images on the walls of the caves are evidence of their use as shrines and meditation sites. Estimated to run seven miles (12 km) deep, the first two caves are well-lit, but you’ll need a guide and a lantern or flashlight to access the others. Seasonally, an underground river flows through some of the caves, along with many other natural wonders and cultural sights to be discovered and explored.

Seasonally there is an underground river flowing through some of the caves.  There are both natural wonders and cultural sights to be explored; just be sure to bring some light or hire a guide who knows the way.

A sanctuary for former ill-treated Asian elephants, the Elephant Nature Park encourages visitors to learn about the plight of these mammals and their habitat through activities, such as feeding and helping to care for the resident herd. Elephant rides are not offered at the park, a policy the park encourages in other elephant camps.

 

Most travelers visit the elephant sanctuary on a day trip from Chiang Mai. A daylong elephant experience includes the chance to observe the animals in the forest, feed them fruit from a viewing platform under staff supervision, and assist with bathing elephants in a nearby river.

 

Funds raised here support efforts to reforest habitats for wild elephants, and the park also houses a menagerie of other rescued animals from Northern Thailand, including dogs, cats, and birds. Food for the elephants is purchased locally to support area farmers.

 

The Elephant Nature Park is located just under 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Chiang Mai at 1 Ratmakka Road, Phra Sing. The journey takes about 90 minutes.

 

Full-day experiences at the park take place daily throughout the year, with hotel pickup early in the morning and drop-off during late afternoon. The best time to visit is between October and April, when the weather is cool and relatively dry.

 

While the single-day visit is the most popular option at the Elephant Nature Park, visitors can opt for longer stays as well, ranging from a short overnight visit to a full week of volunteering.

Located just 30 kilometers south of Chiang Mai, the quiet town of Lamphun offers travelers a charming escape from busier city streets. Shallow moats and the peaceful Rive Kuang border the capital of the Lamphun Province, where local longan fruits are said to be the sweetest in the country. In fact, each August the town comes to celebrate its harvest during the annual Lam Yai festival.

Adventurous travelers can head about 45 kilometers outside Lamphun to Luang Pha Waing Cave—one of the largest in northern Thailand. This network of underground tunnels is only accessible via a steep uphill climb, but visitors say it’s worth the journey—and the hike.

Art in Paradise is an interactive 3D art gallery in Chiang Mai. Visitors get to become a part of the art, interacting with paintings and installations to create various illusions and gain some unique photos opportunities in a family friendly environment.

From a ride on Aladdin's flying carpet to an exploration expedition of the deep blue sea, Art in Paradise encourages travelers to use their imaginations and tap into their inner child in order to create and complete the artworks on display. This three­-story gallery has various zones to explore with different themes, including an ocean area, a zoo site, a classic art theme and Thai and Egyptian areas. There's also a small cafe and restaurant on the ground floor of the gallery.

Located atop a hill in the lush countryside that surrounds Chiang Mai, the Araksa Tea Plantation is one of the oldest plantations of its kind in Thailand. Specializing in producing high quality black Assam tea, Araksa's rich soil and high elevation make for ideal planting and conditions, allowing for the cultivation of quality tea leaves.

Open to the public to explore, a trip to the plantation will give you an insight into the origins of Thailand’s loved beverage. Stroll through the tea plants, help pick the leaves, learn the art of brewing the perfect cup, and, of course, sample some of the aromatic Assam tea for yourself.

During your behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the tea plantation, you can also learn more about the history of tea-making in Thailand, from its traditions to the various production processes involved.

This historic town in the north of Thailand is known for its quaint streets and horse-drawn carriages. Travelers use this quiet area on the bank of the Wang River as a convenient jumping point for trips throughout the region, but it’s also worth exploring.

Visit the National Elephant Institute to learn more about the care and protection of some of the country’s largest mammals or head to the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang to check out traditional Lanna architecture. Travelers love the popular Gad Gong Tha weekend night market, and it’s impossible to leave this scenic town without experiencing the pleasure of a traditional Lampang carriage ride.

The Lanna Kingdom, an area in Northern Thailand culturally distinct from any other region, was founded in the 1400s and became a vassal state in the late 1700s. The Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, located just west of central Chiang Rai, houses the finest collection of Lanna art and artifacts in Thailand, including many teak pieces from across Northern Thailand.

Apart from the museum, the cultural park features several other points of interest dotted throughout its meticulously manicured grounds. Rising from the center is the Golden Pavilion (Haw Kham), a temple-like royal residence built in 1984 from the materials of 32 Thai wooden houses and presented to the Princess Mother on her 84th birthday.

Tucked away in the forested hills just outside of Chiang Mai sits Mae Kampong Village, a high-altitude village founded more than 100 years ago as a tea orchard. Today, it’s still famous for producing pickled tea leaves, which in Northern Thailand are chewed much like betel nut.

Within the village, dozens of wooden cottages hug the hillside amid the dense forest. In recent years, some of the villagers have launched a homestay program to give visitors insight into the traditional local culture. A homestay in the village typically includes a night of accommodation in a family’s home along with three home-cooked meals.

From the village, it’s possible to trek to Nam Tok Mae Kampong (a seven-tiered waterfall) or the Mae On cave. The village also serves as a base for whitewater rafting and zip lining through the canopy.

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park protects a swathe of verdant forest and mountain ranges in Northern Thailand near Chiang Mai. Named after a hermit who lived in the forest before it became a national park, Doi Suthep Pui is perhaps most famous for the temple at the summit of Doi Suthep Peak, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. 

Founded in 1383, the temple is one of the most sacred in the North and affords some of the most spectacular views in Chiang Mai. The temple is reached via 306 steps leading up to the peak, but the climb is worth it for the views and the stunning temple itself. Other cultural attractions of note within the park include Bhubing Palace, the winter residence of the Thai royal family, as well as San Ku, an ancient earth mound dating back to the thirteenth century.

While most visitors come to Doi Suthep Pui National Park to see the temple, it’s also a place of great natural beauty, where numerous nature trails wind through the forest and past several waterfalls. The park is home to some 300 bird species and another 2,000 species of flowering plants and ferns, making it a great destination for wildlife viewing.

Thailand is renowned for its variety and quality of orchids, and the Mae Sa Valley, north of Chiang Mai, is a place to go and see their beauty at the source. The Mae Sa Orchid farm is home to a large complex of thousands of orchids and an enclosure of live butterflies, and in addition to the 50-plus types of brightly colored orchid flowers to see, there are also tropical plant species and hybrid plants to explore.

Visitors can stroll through the peaceful gardens, breathe in the floral-scented air and see the orchids, which bloom year-round. Butterflies flutter overhead, as the farm doubles as a sanctuary for hundreds of them. Enjoy the variety of tropical species on display in their natural habitat, or have lunch at the onsite restaurant.

Chiang Mai Night Safari is a large zoo and theme park that is open throughout the day and night. Particularly popular with families, it is modelled on Singapore Night Safari but is twice the size; the site is sprawled across some 300 acres and is home to around 1400 animals.

There is a scenic daytime walking route called the Jaguar Trail that winds around the lake and passes all the most popular animal enclosures, but arguably the best time to visit Chiang Mai Night Safari is after the sun goes down. The nighttime area is split into two zones, the Savanna Safari Zone and the Predator Prowl Zone, both of which are open from 6pm daily. Visitors travel through the different zones from the safety of an open-sided tram, spotting such animals as white tigers, rhinos, hyenas, lions, cheetahs, wildebeests, giraffes, ostriches, zebras, bears, water buffalos, crocodiles, kangaroos and more.

In addition to the walking trails and night safari, there are a variety of other shows and attractions at the park. One of the most popular is the nightly Laser Light Show. There are two shows per night, one at 8pm and one at 9pm, and many visitors consider it one of the main highlights of their visit. It involves a stunning display at the site of a giant fountain, with the cascading water combining with clever light and sound effects to create a spectacular audiovisual experience.

For the most convenient way to visit Chiang Mai Night Safari, book a tour that includes round-trip hotel transportation and admission fees.

Insider’s Tip: You’ll need to plan your visit to the Chiang Mai Night Safari in advance, as the three animal zones have different opening times. The Savanna Safari and Predator Prowl are open from 6pm, while the Jaguar Trail is open from 11am.

Rising 8,415 feet (2,565 meters) above sea level, Doi Inthanon, situated in the center of Doi Inthanon National Park, is Thailand’s tallest mountain. While many visitors strive to see the views from its summit,  the surrounding forests, waterfalls, stupas—dome-shaped Buddhist shrines—and trails are just as impressive.

Doi Inthanon is one of the most popular day trips from Chiang Mai (the mountain is named for the city’s last king, in fact), and you’ll find plenty of tour options. Active travelers can trek through paddy fields to plummeting waterfalls, cruise down the peak on a mountain bike, or navigate the rapids of Mae Wang Valley, which sprawls out at the foot of the mountain. A guided small-group or private tour of the park often includes a trek to  the summit of Doi Inthanon, plus visits to a  hill tribe village, a Hmong market, and the twin King and Queen pagodas; you’ll also learn about the region’s ecosystem by exploring the Kew Mae Pan or Ang Ka nature trails.

The easiest way to get to Doi Inthanon is by joining an English-speaking guided tour of the park or hiring a private taxi for the day. Convenient public transportation to the park is lacking.

For the best chance of clear views from the summit, plan your visit for the dry season (between May and October). During the rest of the year, Doi Inthanon is blanketed in perpetual fog and sees almost daily rainfall. 

If you visit Doi Inthanon over New Year’s, you’ll likely be joined by locals coming to witness a phenomena known as Mae Kha Ning, or frost—a rare sight in a climate as warm as Thailand’s.