Chiang Mai Travel Stories

Nov 27, 2023 • 6 min read

From lakeside pampering in Huay Teung Tao to hilltop hiking around Doi Inthanon, here are five of the best day trips from Chiang Mai.

Nov 27, 2023 • 6 min read

Discover bustling night markets, glimmering temples, fabulous flavors, superb cafes, and many other incredible things to do in Thailand's Chiang Mai.

Apr 2, 2020 • 6 min read

From elephant interactions to temple etiquette, here's how to travel responsibly in Chiang Mai.

Oct 29, 2019 • 4 min read

Children and Chiang Mai: a match made in heaven. From playgrounds to yoga classes, here are some of the best activities for kids to enjoy in the city.

Sep 27, 2019 • 5 min read

Thai cuisine is a feast for the stomach and senses. Vegetarian and vegan Chiang Mai visitors can expect superfood smoothies, meat-free fast food and more

Sep 18, 2019 • 6 min read

Filled with monks, markets, massages and meals on repeat, here’s our guide for how to spend a perfect weekend in Chiang Mai.

Sep 5, 2019 • 5 min read

Between meditation trainings at Buddhist temples, local and visiting healers, and the famous traditional Thai massage, the northern hub of Chiang Mai naturally…

Aug 23, 2019 • 4 min read

You’ve seen the photos: hundreds of floating fire lanterns lighting up the sky as small banana leaf boats with flowers, incense and candles drift down the…

Jun 24, 2019 • 5 min read

You’ve spent the perfect day in Chiang Mai discovering glittering wats, savouring your fill of kôw soy (famous noodle soup) and fitting in a foot massage…

Jun 17, 2019 • 4 min read

Tired of large bottles of Chang and buckets of SangSom? While sinking shots with the rest of the backpackers is a rite of passage for many travelling in…

Jun 14, 2019 • 6 min read

Contemplating an Asian escape? Lonely Planet’s travel experts have combed the charming beach towns, scoured the cloud-snagging skylines and poked around…

Feb 25, 2019 • 5 min read

Chiang Mai may not be able to compete with Bangkok’s myriad wining and dining establishments, but what it lacks in options it makes up for in charm and…

Feb 18, 2019 • 5 min read

Lonely Planet Local Alana Morgan first moved to the northern Thai town of Chiang Mai thinking she would stay six to eight months. Seven years later and…

Feb 7, 2019 • 4 min read

Move over, Melbourne. Thailand’s burgeoning cafe scene is grabbing firmly onto the spotlight. With hundreds of cafes, locally-grown beans and plenty of…

Jul 31, 2018 • 5 min read

If you're planning to shop in Thailand, Chiang Mai is the place to bring an empty suitcase. The Rose of the North's reputation for shopping extends back…

Jul 18, 2018 • 4 min read

On the east side of Mae Ping in Chiang Mai is the Wat Ket neighbourhood. Home to enterprising locals, foreign missionaries and Chinese traders who brought…

Jun 6, 2018 • 5 min read

Chiang Mai has been heralded as an arty and mellow alternative to Bangkok for decades, and its popularity continues to grow. University students, locals…

Feb 15, 2018 • 10 min read

Buddhist New Year is the time to see Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second city, at its most animated, from the religious processions to the water-warring,…

Jul 21, 2015 • 4 min read

Thailand’s ubiquitous and scrawny scooters may not exactly inspire Easy Rider-style notions of freedom on the open road. But they’re actually one of the…

Dec 12, 2014 • 3 min read

Take squiggly wheat-and-egg noodles, a rich, fragrant curry-based broth, sides of crunchy pickled greens, sliced shallots and lime, and you have kôw soy …

Dec 10, 2014 • 3 min read

The laid-back city of Chiang Mai is an endearing mix of old and new: the moated, walled old quarter shelters ancient temples, while a traveller-friendly…