Chaing Mai - Things' To Do?

[dummy_plug]

There are guidebooks and websites that go into what to do in Chiang Mai, but I'd like to reach out to my fellas on the forum and get some input from recent visitors on the must to-do's in this city. I'll be heading there myself in a few weeks for some R&R. Nothing P4P-related please! Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!

PS: To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, it includes any activities, places to see, massage parlors (legit kinds), restaurants, etc.

[Guest]

I live in Chiang Mai = there's plenty to do. PM me and I can give a list of places to go.

[koykaeng]

My wife is from Chiang Mai, so I have visited numerous times over the past 15 years or thereabouts.

When we stay in the city, we tend to frequent these two places;

Kalare Food Centre, Chang Khlan Road (opposite the Night Bazaar Building), has a large open-air food court, featuring free Thai classical dance performances nightly. All food is paid for with coupons; most mains 20-50 baht.


Anusarn Market, Chang Khlan Road (same side of road as "Galare Food Centre" but much further up beyond Loi Kroh crossroad towards Sri Dornchai) is a busy outdoor night market with lots of little Thai, Indian and Western restaurants and food vendors. Great atmosphere.

Here's a couple of snaps from Kalare...

Cheers
Koykaeng

[perth_couple]

White water rafting, riding ATV's around like crazy people was heaps of fun for us when we were there Oh and the food is just awesome!

[strocube]

I had a great time in Chiang Mai.

There is huge temple complex above the city that's just amazing.

I also did a two-day excursion into a Karen village that was really cool. You hike into the forest for about five hours, then you meet up with some locals who take you for about the last hour and a half on elephants into the village. You get cleaned up, chill, eat, and crash. In the morning you get all your gear together and you get on these long bamboo rafts and you go down river for most of the day. Then you get to a really small little place that is the take off point for the white water. You get up the next day and get briefed and outfitted for the white water part. That lasts about three hours. All of this is in some of the most beautiful hill country you've ever seen, we're talking terraced fields, houses on stilts elephants and all kinds of animal life.
All of this, with meals and transportation included for less than $200 U.S.!

Also did "The Flight of the Gibbon." That's where you slide around the forest canopy on zip-lines some 150 ft. in the air. The place looks like an Ewok village from Star Wars. Really fun.

For people watching, some food and and drink and perhaps a bit of shopping for trinkets you should check out the night market.

If you're into the outdoor stuff you should talk to the guys at Siam River Adventures.
Jason took really good care of me and was super helpful with all kinds of information about Chaing Mai- hotels, food, transportation etc.

www.siamrivers.com

Siam River Adventures
17 Ratchawithee Rd. Chian Mai,
Thailand 50200

[thegame925]

Spend a day at the Elephant Sanctuary, learning about elephants - trekking on them for a few hours, and in one section (a little too touristy for me and I didn't like it but my GF did and children loved it)) watching elephants paint, play football, do tricks etc.

I'm working 40 minutes outside Chaing Mai at the end of the month for a week - If I get out of the compound and into the city I'll get some brochures on activities plus restaurant names and post again.

[dummy_plug]

Thanks for all the tips gents!

[Ivor Biggun]

Doi Inthanon is do-able in a day as well. Depends how long you are there, where else you want to visit, mode of transport, etc. I love the place but be prepared for it to be a bit chilly this time of year. I don't bother with organised tours but there's plenty of tour shops in the area of the moat at the top end of Loi Kroh road flogging different things.Even possible to rent cycles up there- the traffic is not as intense as Phuket or Patts. Check out Mikes Burgers for a decent bacon cheeseburger as well.