Make sure to add Chiang Mai to your travel itinerary If you’re planning a trip to Thailand or Southeast Asia anytime in the near future! My husband and I were recently planning our honeymoon and we knew wanted to go to Thailand, so in the process of researching where to go I couldn’t shake Chiang Mai out of my head. It quickly became what I was most excited for about our trip. And there is no doubt that my expectations were far exceeded.

Walking around this city you feel a strong sense of tranquility and calmness that will leave you craving more. After experiencing Chiang Mai it's now even more stuck in my head!

Heres a quick snapshot of some facts and vital history to know about when visiting Chiang Mai:

• Chiang Mai is located in the Northern mountainous region of Thailand - about 435 mi north of Bangkok.
• Founded in 1296 by King Mengrai, the 25th King of modern Chiang Saen District, Chiang Mai penned its name which means the “new city” due to becoming the new capital of the Lan Na Kingdom.
• Sitting closely to the Ping River, Chiang Mai holds historical importance for becoming a favorable area for trade.
• The city was once surrounded by moats and brick walls (gates) used primarily for defense from Burma and the armies of the Mongol Empire. Originally, six gates were built based on ancient military and astrological beliefs to protect the city. To this day, four gates remain and the moat is now a beautiful place to walk beneath lush trees to escape some heat.
• Chiang Mai is home to over 300 Buddhist temples, or “wat” in Thai, and just within a few minutes of walking inside the gates of Chiang Mai you’ll quickly see how much culture and history there is to see.
• The famous Loi Krathong festival occurs in Chiang Mai during the full moon the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. This usually falls in the month of November in the Western calendar. This festival is best known by the Lanna-style sky lanterns that are launched into the air to represent ridding of troubles for the locals.
• Chiang Mai is commonly known as the “digital nomad” capital of the world. The cost of living here is probably the most alluring aspect for digital nomads — Chiang Mai was ranked as one of the cheapest places to live among an online digital nomad community.

Top Sites and Activities in Chiang Mai:

Wat Chedi Luang

One of the most well known temples is Wat Chedi Luang sitting in the centre of the city. Construction of Wat Chedi Luang began in the 14th century and wasn’t fully finished until the mid-15th century. This temple used to be home to the Emerald Buddha, which holds incredible significance to the Buddhists as it is considered a protective image for the Kingdom of Thailand. An earthquake in 1545 caused the upper structure of the Wat to collapse causing the Emerald Buddha to be moved in 1551. The southern face of the temple has five elephant sculptures, four of which are reproductions since most were destroyed during the earthquake but one original elephant still remains. This is a beautiful structure not to be missed!

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Situated on the mountain of Doi Suthep, this Wat is probably one of the most visited temples in Chiang Mai. With breathtaking views of Chiang Mai, climbing up the 309 steps to reach the pagodas is well worth it. Once you are inside the temple grounds you’ll find multiple aspects drawn from both Buddhism and Hinduism within the pagodas, statues and shrines.

Elephant Sanctuaries

Chiang Mai is one of the few places in all of Thailand to be home to ethical elephant tourism. If you are planning to visit Southeast Asia with the hopes of seeing or riding an elephant, please do your research and be wise about which one your money goes to. One of the most well known elephant sanctuaries is the Elephant Nature Park located in the south-west of Chiang Mai. Here you can feed the rescued elephants, walk in nature with them, bathe them and become educated about elephant tourism and conservation.

Night Bazaar

The famous Night Bazaar is shopping heaven for those looking to haggle a deal for knock-off designer labels and souvenirs to bring home to family and friends. The streets of Th Chang Khlan from Th That Phae to Th Loi Kroh become filled with vendors and street food that is well worth waking through the crowds. When visiting the night markets, be prepared to negotiate prices with the vendors!

(Photo is of the markets on Doi Suthep)

Thai Massages

If anyone knows anything about Thailand, they usually are aware that its the place to be for amazing massages for the best price you could imagine. And this is no joke. Getting an authentic Thai massage will make you question why you haven’t moved to Thailand already. There are countless massage parlors that you’ll pass just walking the streets of Chiang Mai making it a must do activity on your itinerary.

I could probably go on and on talking about what to do and where to go in Chiang Mai. But personally I think one of the best ways to experience this tranquil city is by foot — don’t plan too much. Just walk around and enjoy the incredible amount of culture around you!