Chiang Mai Thailand is a really rad place with tons of things to do and things to see. Unfortunately by the time we got there I was experiencing a little travel burn out. And due to poor planning and sheer laziness I didn’t end up getting to do a bunch of things that I had wanted to do in Chiang Mai.

So here is a list of things I wanted to do but didn’t get the chance to do. And if you are in Chiang Mai you should definitely check some or all of these things out.

Elephant Sanctuary

I will admit, I was one of those people who thought, “I want to ride an elephant in Thailand”. That is until I did a little research and learned the “ugly truth” about the practice (for more on that, this is a good article). The much cooler and ethical alternative is to visit an elephant sanctuary to interact with the endangered Asian elephants. Places like the Elephant Nature Park and Elephant Jungle Sanctuary rescue abused elephants from trekking and tour operations. Both establishments allow visitors to basically hang out with elephants for a day, where you can feed, bath, and interact with these gentle giants.

Chiang Mai Grand Canyon/ Hang Dong Canyon

Just an hour outside of Chiang Mai is a gorgeous canyon where you can swim, sunbathe, and cliff jump. It’s perfect for getting out of the city for a little bit and into nature. The landscape looks amazing, and I’m sure the water is refreshing on a hot day.

The Sticky Waterfall

For more outdoor adventures the Sticky Waterfall looks pretty awesome. So what does “sticky waterfall” actually mean? Apparently all the rocks are covered in mineral deposits making them rough rather than slipper in the water. So that means you can actually climb up the waterfall without slipping which seems pretty cool. 

Doi Inthanon National Park

For nature, temples, and even camping Doi Inthanon National Park seems pretty rad. I really love being outdoors and the parks has tons of natural beauty and great views. For more on the park check out this post.

Wiang Kum Kam

So for an Indiana Jones type experience the lost city of Wiang Kum Kam is a must. The city was built in the 1200’s but was abandoned sometime around the 16th century due to flooding, and was only rediscovered in the 80’s!  You can hire a horse carriage to take you on a tour of the ruins of the city. Check out this post for more info.

Markets

There are several different markets to visit in Chiang Mai, the Gate Market and Night Bazaar probably being the most popular.

The Night Bazaar is on Chang Khlan Road on the eastern side of the city and is open from 6PM to midnight everyday. You’ll find all varieties of clothes, trinkets, homeware, and food there. The market is pretty large, taking up the whole street as well as a few side streets.

The Gate Market is located at the northern gate of the old city. Here you will find awesome street food and traditional Thai market fare.

So I obviously still have tons to explore in Chiang Mai so I’ll have to make it back there at some point.

What are your favorite parts of Chiang Mai? Let me know in the comments!