Chiang Mai at a glance
Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand, built around a moated and walled old city that dates back more than 700 years. It has its own airport, Chiang Mai International, with frequent flights from Bangkok, so it works as an easy add-on to a Bangkok-based itinerary without a long road transfer.
The city's mountain setting gives it a noticeably cooler climate than Bangkok or the southern islands, especially from November to February, which is also when the old city's temples and surrounding hills are most comfortable to explore on foot. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, on a hilltop overlooking the city, is the temple most clients want to see, alongside Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh inside the old walls.
We position Chiang Mai for clients who want culture, nature and a slower pace than Bangkok or the beaches - an ethical elephant sanctuary visit, a Thai cooking class, a hill-tribe village trip and the weekend Sunday Walking Street market are the activities that fill out a 3-4 night stay.
Top experiences
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep - a hilltop golden temple overlooking the city
- Old city temples - Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh, both inside the moat and walls
- Ethical elephant sanctuary visit - feeding, bathing and observing elephants without riding
- Chiang Mai Night Bazaar and Sunday Walking Street - the city's main evening and weekend markets
- Thai cooking class - a half-day, hands-on introduction to northern Thai cuisine
- Doi Inthanon day trip - Thailand's highest peak, with waterfalls and hill-tribe villages
- Yi Peng lantern festival (November) - thousands of paper lanterns released into the night sky
Yi Peng and Loy Krathong fall on the same November full moon and are the single biggest driver of hotel rates and availability in Chiang Mai - flag these dates early when quoting.
Practical information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Best time to visit | November-February (cool season); hot March-May; rainy June-October |
| Nearest airport | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), about 1 hour 10 minutes by air from Bangkok |
| Currency | Thai Baht (THB) |
| Typical stay | 3-4 nights, usually combined with Bangkok |
Our packages featuring Chiang Mai
Every Chiang Mai itinerary can be resequenced or extended with Bangkok - share your client's dates and group size and we will return a day-by-day plan with hotel options.