What to see and do in Chiang Mai in two days

Chiang Mai It's a city that combines culture, nature, and gastronomy like few others in Thailand. With its relaxed atmosphere and rich history, it's a must-see destination.

In this article we tell you how to make the most of it two days in Chiang Mai, exploring elephant sanctuaries, iconic temples, and night markets. We also include a extra recommendation In case you have an extra day to explore the nature of northern Thailand, are you ready to discover everything this city has to offer?

How to get to Chiang Mai

To reach Chiang Mai There are different options depending on the site of origin. We leave you all the detailed information in the following post:

• How to get to Chiang Mai.

We did it by bus from Chiang Rai, since we first made a stop there. The The journey takes about 3 hours And the buses are pretty good. However, the road has some curves, so be prepared for motion sickness.

How to get around Chiang Mai

First we tell you the options available for get around Chiang Mai The best choice will depend on how much time you have and the places you want to explore. Here are the most common options:

• Rent a motorcycle For us, it's the best option if you're used to driving. It gives you complete freedom to go wherever you want at your own pace. It's what we used to get around Chiang Mai, and we sincerely recommend it. Rental costs around 300 baht a day.

• Songthaew These red shared vans are super typical in the area. For about 20-40 THB per person, you can travel for short distances. However, if you go to more remote tourist spots, they'll likely try to charge you more. For example, we were asked for 300 THB per person for a round trip to Doi Suthep. It's a cheap, fun, and different way to explore the city. We recommend trying them at least once.
• Tuk-tuk A classic and practical option for traveling short distances around the city. Prices vary depending on your bargaining skills, but a ride within the city center generally costs between 50 and 150 THB. If you're traveling with others, sharing the fare makes it more cost-effective.
• Grab: This is your best option if you prefer comfort and avoid haggling. A ride within the city costs between 80 and 200 THB, depending on the distance. It's more expensive than a songthaew or tuk-tuk, but much more practical, especially if you are in a hurry or carrying a lot of things.

Day 1: Elephant Sanctuary and downtown temples

Elephant Sanctuary

We already know that visiting an elephant sanctuary in Thailand is a very personal decision. In our case, we decided to trust Civitatis and make your half-day excursionHonestly, we weren't disappointed. Throughout the visit, we felt the elephants were very well cared for. It's true that the animals were somewhat "trained" to interact with people, but contact is minimal: you basically feed them and give them water.

The experience began early, when a they go shared picked us up at the hotel and drove us into the mountains. There we changed to a 4x4 to immerse ourselves further in nature. The journey was short but exciting, and upon arriving at the sanctuary, we received a very interesting talk about elephants: they explained that they were all rescued and how they were cared for.

First, we fed them bananas, and then we move on to mud Literally: we apply mud to their skin to protect them from the sun and insects, and we end up in a pond with them. It's all very fun, although you end up a bit dirty (luckily, they have some outdoor showers super pretty). To top it off, they served us a light lunch, perfect for replenishing our energy. In short, a highly recommended experience and something we'd never done before.

Temples in downtown Chiang Mai

After showering and resting a bit at the accommodation, we spent the afternoon exploring the most emblematic temples in the historic center of Chiang Mai. Downtown Chiang Mai is a historic gem surrounded by ancient moat and walls that form a perfect square. This area, known as the old town, is ideal for exploring on foot or by bicycle and getting lost among its temples, markets and charming alleys.

Chiang Mai is full of temples So here we leave you some of the most famous ones and then we'll tell you about the ones we saw:

• Wat Phra Singh: The most famous temple in the city, known for its impressive golden viharn and the statue of the Lion Buddha.
• Wat Chedi Luang: Notable for its huge, partially ruined chedi, which was once the tallest building in Chiang Mai.
• Wat Chiang Man: The oldest temple in the city, famous for its chedi with sculpted elephants and two Buddha statues.
• Wat Suan Dok: Filled with white stupas, this temple is a special place where the cremation of members of the Chiang Mai royal family also takes place.
• Wat Phan Tao: A dark teak temple, small but full of charm and a tranquil atmosphere.
• Wat Sri Suphan Known as the "Silver Temple", it has a façade and details completely crafted in silver (although interior access is for men only).
• Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang This temple houses the city pillar, considered a protective symbol for Chiang Mai.

We started with Wat Phra Singh, probably the most famous temple, with its majestic architecture and tranquil energy. Afterwards, we visited Wat Chedi Luang, which left us speechless with its ruined but impressive chedi. Finally, we made a stop at Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in the city.

These ones we saw can be easily explored on foot, so it was a good plan to end the day. Below is a map with all the temples marked. Afterwards, we had dinner at a restaurant we saw on the way to the hotel that had good reviews, and then we went to bed to recharge our batteries.

Day 2: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Chiang Mai Market

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

To start the day, we decided to visit the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of the most important and famous temples in Chiang Mai. At first we tried to negotiate to get on a shared red van, but it seemed expensive and they didn't want to haggle too much with us, so we opted to rent a motorcycle and climb on our own. It was a great decision, because the road to the temple is very beautiful, and it also gave us complete freedom.

The temple is on top of a hill, and to get there you have to climb a staircase with more than 300 steps decorated with a naga-shaped railing (mythological serpents). Once at the top, we were impressed by the golden chedi, which shines spectacularly in the sun, and the views of the city from the temple's observation deck. It's also a spiritually charged place, where you can see locals praying and making offerings.

Exploring beyond the temple

After visiting the temple, we continued climbing with the mountain bike. We were very surprised that on certain curves there were signs that indicated that you should touch the horn to warn other vehicles of your presence. It was quite an adventure, and as we drove on, we went deeper into nature, surrounded by jungle and tranquility.

We arrived at a beautiful viewpoint, where we stopped to rest for a while and enjoy the scenery. We really loved it because, once you pass the temple, there's practically no one around, and you have all the peace and quiet to explore. It was an incredible experience to be surrounded by nature, with the sound of birds and the fresh mountain air.

Going down, we found the sunset, which colored the entire landscape in orange and gold as we returned to Chiang Mai. It was a perfect moment to conclude our motorcycle tour.

Chiang Mai Night Market

Back in the city, we returned the bike and headed to the Chiang Mai Night Market, a gigantic night market that seems to have no end. You walk through the streets full of lights and stalls, and there are people everywhere. In some areas, it can be a bit overwhelming due to the number of people, but it's worth exploring.

We tried a lot of local food: the typical sausages from the north, the delicious khao soi (a curry with crispy noodles), and some coconut pancakes sweet and addictive. We also took the opportunity to buy some souvenirs, although the prices weren't as negotiable as we expected. The vendors know that tourists will pay anything, so they weren't very open to haggling.

Keep in mind that there are different night markets In Chiang Mai, our visit coincided with a Sunday and we could see this, Here we leave you the location. Although if you are in Chiang Mai you will surely see it because it is impossible not to see it.

Extra day: Doi Inthanon or Chiang Rai

Doi Inthanon

If you spend one more day in Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon It's a temple you can't miss. We couldn't visit it due to lack of time, but we're absolutely certain to visit it next time. It's one of those places that catches your attention as soon as you start reading about it. We're talking about the national park which is home to the highest point in Thailand, at over 2,500 meters. From what we've researched, it seems incredible, with waterfalls, viewpoints and nature like a beast.

This temple is located a little further from the center of Chiang Mai (almost 2 hours by car), so a very good option may be to hire a guided tourThey pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, so there's no need to worry.

One of the most characteristic things of this temple are the famous twin pagodas, which are at the top. Apparently, they were built in honor of the King and Queen of Thailand, and besides being super beautiful, they have amazing views.

The park is also known for its waterfalls, as Wachirathan y Sirithan. In addition, there are several hiking trails. One of the most popular is the Kew Mae Pan Trail, which has a spectacular viewpoint and seems quite easy to do, although you have to get up early to avoid the fog.

Another curious thing is that in Doi Inthanon there are villages of local communities as the Karen The excursion we mentioned above also includes a stop in these villages to learn a little more about their way of life.

To us, it seems like the perfect plan to spend a day surrounded by nature and disconnect from all the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai.

Chiang Rai

In our case we arrived in Chiang Mai after spending a couple of days in Chiang Rai, but there are those who choose to make an express round-trip visit. There are many day trips to Chiang Rai teaching you the typical temples (white, blue and Lady Buddha), but we sincerely recommend spending at least one night there if you like nature and exploring on your own. We have a post with the must-see places in Chiang Rai in case you're interested.

Where to eat in Chiang Mai

As good foodies I couldn't miss a section with what we ate or tried in Chiang Mai, we leave you all the details in the following post:

• Where to eat in Chiang Mai.

Map of Chiang Mai's must-see sites

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see and do in Chiang Mai in two days you can visit our posts about Thailand.