Visiting the largest city in the Northern region is an absolute must on any Thailand itinerary. With temples, elephant sanctuaries, and a rich culture to explore, there’s plenty to see and do in Chiang Mai. 2 or 3 days is enough to see to main sights, but 5 days gives you plenty of time to see everything without feeling rushed. Let’s take a look at how to spend 5 days in Chiang Mai. 

Day 1 - Cooking Class

When you arrive in Chiang Mai you should go to a cooking class to learn all about Thai foods. The earlier you do this on your trip the better as it will help you understand Thai menus when you’re dining out later on. Most courses offer a half-day course or full-day course, I’d recommend the full day to get fully immersed in the Thai food. You’ll usually take a trip to the market to learn about the ingredients, then cook classic Thai dishes like Red, Green, Massaman and Panang curry, Pad Thai, Khao Soy (a northern Thai dish), and sticky mango rice for dessert. This is a fun activity and a great way to spend your first day in Chiang Mai.

Day 2 - Sunrise at Doi Suthep 

You should wake up to catch the sunrise at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on your second day in Chiang Mai. If you’ve hired a scooter then you can ride all the way to the top of the mountain, or get a tuk-tuk to take you there. Make sure you leave plenty of time as there are a fair few steps you’ll need to walk up to reach the top of the temple. There’s a viewing area where you’ll see the sunrise rise between the mountains. Once the sun has risen, enjoy the quiet of the morning to explore the temple. On your way back, you can visit some of the shops and cafes in the village, or continue further up to Doi Pui Viewpoint for another beautiful view of the mountains.

Day 3 - Elephant Sanctuary 

A popular activity to do in Chiang Mai is to visit an elephant sanctuary. It’s a magical experience to get close to the elephants, learn about them, and feed them. It’s very important you only visit an ethical sanctuary that does not promote elephant riding as this causes harm to the animals. Elephant Eco Care, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, and Elephant Rescue Centre are a few great sanctuaries where you can get close to the animals in an ethical way. Choose between a half-day or full-day trip where you’ll drive into the jungle to feed and pet these friendly giants.

Day 4 - Temples and Markets

Your next day in Chiang Mai should be spent exploring the temples and then visiting the Sunday night market. There are many temples located across the city, just wander down the street of the Old Town and you’ll find them. Some temples to visit include Wat Chiang Man, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Sri Suphan. There are plenty of temples to see so spend as long or as a little exploring them all. While you’re visiting the Old Town, you should definitely stop to check out some of the cafes and coffee shops to have some lunch. You should plan your trip around a Sunday so you can visit the Sunday night markets in the evening on this day. Take a walk from the centre of the Old Town to the Three Kings Monument, this is where the markets start. Stalls and stalls fill the streets, with food vendors, local produce, crafts, and souvenirs. It’s an amazing market with lots going on and arguably one of the best to visit in Thailand.

Day 5 - Visit Chiang Rai

On your last day in Chiang Mai, you can take a day trip to visit Chiang Rai. There are a few different things to do in Chiang Rai so you could stay here overnight for a couple of days, but if you’re tight for time then a day trip will allow you to see the main sights. Chiang Rai is famous for the White Temple, it’s a beautiful temple with intricate designs and one you shouldn’t miss. There’s also a beautiful blue temple which is another great place to visit.

There’s plenty to do when visiting Chiang Mai, it’s one of the places you cannot miss when you visit Thailand. The best place to stay is in the Old Town as there are plenty of nice accommodation options for all budgets and it’s centrally located for your activities. You’ll find numerous great restaurants to choose from and other outdoor night markets. Chiang Mai also boasts a great nightlife with lots of bars and live music to choose from.

Once you’ve explored Chiang Mai, you should definitely head further north and check out Pai, a laidback mountain town.

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