From Chiang Mai's local community
Find your way around Chiang Mai
Practical ideas for temples, food, nature, markets, motorbike trips, and the small details that make a visit easier.
Pick your kind of day
Start with a direction, not a packed itinerary
Choose one of these, then use Explore to find a route that suits your time, transport, and energy.
A half-day in the city
Temples, coffee, a museum, and a slow evening market.
Food and market time
Fruit shakes, cooking, local meals, and weekend wandering.
Nature and water
Waterfalls, fresh air, and an easy day away from traffic.
A mountain day trip
Mae Kampong, Doi Inthanon, or a drive with room to stop.
A rainy-day plan
Nimman, a massage, food, and places that work when plans change.
Start with these guides
Useful local plans, already mapped out
Day trips
Mae Kampong Day Trip
A slower mountain day from Chiang Mai, with a village walk, waterfall, local food, and a route that makes the drive part of the plan.
Waterfalls and nature
Sticky Waterfalls in Chiang Mai
How to visit Bua Tong Sticky Waterfalls north of Chiang Mai, what makes the rock climbable, and what to pack for a safe day out.
Markets and food
Jing Jai Market Chiang Mai
A weekend market north of the Old City for local food, crafts, coffee, and an easy morning away from the busiest streets.
Useful before you go
The practical details make a difference
A few minutes of planning can save a long detour, a bad weather day, or an awkward arrival.
Getting to Chiang Mai from Bangkok
Compare flights, trains, buses, and driving for the journey north.
Air quality in Chiang Mai
Understand the smoky season and where to check current air quality before your trip.
Explore Chiang Mai
Browse guides to places, food, markets, day trips, and activities around the city.
Local activities and partners
Choose an activity that suits your day
Start with locally shared ideas, then check availability, prices, and any booking details directly with the provider.
Private trips in Northern Thailand
Meet a local guide for a flexible day or a longer trip shaped around the places you want to visit.
Find out more
Nature and outdoor days
Waterfalls, elephant visits, treks, and mountain routes around Chiang Mai.
Find out more
Local guides
For a private day or a trip outside the city, explore local profiles and see how to get introduced.
Find out moreVehicle rental
Need a motorbike, bicycle, or car?
See the rental options, then contact Mai Phare directly for current vehicle availability. What To Do In Chiang Mai does not handle rental questions or reservations.
From the blog
Current reading for a better trip
Travel planning, seasonal notes, and useful local context when you need more than a map pin.
Visit the blog
Travel planning
Train Travel in Thailand
What to know before taking the train between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, from choosing a service to arriving rested.
Travel planning
Air Quality in Chiang Mai
A simple guide to Chiang Mai air quality: when haze is most likely, how to read the AQI, and how it can shape your trip.