Things to do/see in Chiang Mai

Here is a quick overview of just some of the Chiang Mai activities available. There are more things to See and Do in Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand than most tourists have the time to experience. Check out our "Sightseeing Itinerary" page above for suggestions that cover a combination of just some of the activities to keep you occupied for a week or two when you visit Chiang Mai.

Abseiling (see comment for Rock Climbing below)
Bungy Jump (Jungle Bungy Jump) (Mae Rim area)
Butterfly Farms try Mae Sa Butterfly Farm & Sai Nam Butterfly/Orchid Farm (Mae Rim area)
Caves - Chiang Dao Cave & Muang-On Cave
Cooking Schools - Thai Farm Cooking School, Gap's Thai Culinary Art School, Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School,   Baan Thai Cookery School.
Cycling hire a bicycle on the Chaiyaphum Road, also try near the Tha Phae Gate
Eating - anywhere
Elephant Farms - Numerous elephant camps have been established to help protect the numerous elephants in the area. The camps put on elephant shows and activities for tourists where the elephants display their various skills. Most of the camps have elephant rides where tourists ride the elephants for an hour or two through the jungle surrounding the camps. There is the Mae Ping Elephant Camp, Patara Elephant Farm, Mae Sa Elephant Camp, Thai Elephant Conservation Center (near Lampang) and lots more.
Elephant Nature Park no rides or shows for tourists here. This is a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants. You can visit or volunteer to stay for days/weeks looking after the elephants. A beautiful place.
Festivals - Flower Festival (1st weekend in February), Songkran (Thai New Year) (13-15 April), Yi Peng (Thanksgiving) (three days of the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, usually in November)
Golf - 10 golf courses in the area, see Golf in Chiang Mai website for more information
Hash House Harriers - 5 hashes in Chiang Mai, see Chiang Mai Harriers website.
Language Schools - Pro Language School and the AUA Language Centre
Markets - (see "Markets" page for more information)
Motor Bike plenty of hire places along Moon Muang Road
Muay Thai Boxing - Clubs - Lanna Muay Thai & Muay Thai Sangha - regular Friday night matches at the Kawila  Boxing Stadium.
Museums - National Museum, Tribal Museum, City Arts & Cultural Centre
Para gliding - go to Chiang Mai Paramoto Club for a glide with a difference
Parks dotted all over the place
River Cruises - day cruises or night dinner cruises on Mae Ping River, Scorpion Tail River Cruises, Mae Ping River/Dinner Cruises
Rock climbing - and other outdoor adrenaline rushes see The Peak Adventure website.
Shopping - everywhere especially in Markets, also Tha Phae Gate area and along San Kamphaeng Road
Snake Farm visit the Mae Sa Snake Farm (Mae Rim area)
Tai Chi Chuan - For a healthy life - see Tai Chi Thailand website for current prices and calendar of courses.
Temples - (see "Temples" page for more information)
Tennis - The Anantasiri Tennis courts & Chiang Mai Land and Lanna Sports club
Thai Massage Schools numerous, try the Blind Institute, excellent.
Treetop Zip Lining - "Flight of the Gibbon" - includes 3 hours of exhilarating rides through the rainforest canopy on zip lines and skybridges high above the forest floor, have lunch and then spend time exploring an amazing 7 level waterfall. See Flight of the Gibbon website for more information. Great fun for all ages.
Tiger Kingdom - Get up close and personal playing with the tigers. Ultimate experience for lovers of the big cats. See Tiger Kingdom website for location, times and costs. Absolutely exhilarating.
Trekking Chiang Mai province was originally populated by many different hill tribe peoples. Many still are there today. Lots of tourists/travellers go on organized treks through the mountain regions to visit and even stay in the various hill tribe villages. You can see various hill tribe people around Chiang Mai daily, often at the markets selling their locally produced goods to support the families in the villages. See a tour operator for the different types of trekking activities available as trek lengths can vary from half a day to several weeks.
Wood Handicrafts - Hang Dong & Baan Tawai villages (15klms south west of Chiang Mai)
Zoos - Chiang Mai Zoo, Night Safari