On my first day renting a bike I spent most of the daylight activities in touring temples scattered around the city. The vibe and atmosphere around all the temples were calming and soul cleansing without realizing. I tried to cover as many temples as possible. Here are photos I've captured on my phone.

So I’m in CM right now. Been here over week. Working remotely for a couple weeks and then holiday (going back to the UK September 18th).

I had planned on maybe visiting an island + 1 week in BKK - but tbh I’ve just been really liking CM.

The food, the atmosphere, the weather (I like the rain mixed with warm weather), the nature. And admittedly I’ve met some great women here which probably plays a big part in me wanting to stay.

I’m just wondering if it’s common to stay here for this long as a traveller, and if anyone has done the same and later regretted not seeing more places.

It seems to me some hostels in Chiang Mai are typically 400 THB, a bunk bed shared room style one is like 1000THB, a pretty low tier hotel is 1500 and anything really decent is already pushing 2000 THB per night.

A big part for me picking out hotels is finding consistent review on the cleanliness of the hotel and Location.

Jomkitti boutique hotel
Moon dragon hotel
At Gate hotel

Will be visiting Chiang Mai from Dubai.

Is it advisable to carry Dirhams and convert into THB in CM or should I carry. $$$ !!! Thank you

I am only here for a short time. Where is a good place?

The standard list seems to be Doi Inthanon, the sticky waterfalls, Doi Suthep, an elephant place and a cooking class. I’d guess some of those are excellent and at least one is only popular because it’s easy to sell. For people who live there or have spent real time, which would you actually do again, and is there something off that list that visitors consistently miss?

I'm looking for a spot in or around town where I can set up a small portable BBQ grill this week to grill some burgers and whatnot, and even light a mini bonfire (contained in the grill) to toast marshmallows.

Any suggestions? I just need a spot where we're not gonna be bothered or break any laws.

(I actually need to get some in-action product shots of this grill for the factory that produces it, so once I find a place, anyone who wants to join me for some free food and drink and pose in some action shots is welcome to come along 😄 )

I'll be in Chaing Mai in September (my first time) and I was wondering if there are any events taking place this month that are nice to visit? Other recommendations also welcome, thank you!

I go to Sri Yon market (Bo Sang) almost every day. It has definitely the best collection of street food in Chiang Mai. It's cheap too.

Photo is of Isan store there. The best Isan food I've tried, though I've never been in Isan either.

I’m trying to decide how to get from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. One option is a “Super VIP” sleeper bus that leaves at 21:00 and is a two-story bus. The other option, listed as a “best seller,” is a 13-hour train with either a second-class sleeper or first-class sleeper. Is the bus ride relaxed and quiet? I know in Vietnam all driver constantly honk all the time Are these actually sleepers, and which one is more comfortable? On the train, would I have to share a cabin? Has anyone tried both the sleeper bus and sleeper train and can say which one was better?

What is the best way for me to get from one nimman area to sticky waterfalls and back for a day? Does anyone have a private driver company they recommend? TIA

Hi all,
I want to get my dear friends some thank you flowers for having welcomed me so wonderfully into their home in Chiang Mai.
Any suggestions as to where I can find some would be much appreciated!
Bonus points if you know of anywhere I can get a nice thank you card :)

Many thanks in advance

Hello.

My bf and I are planning our trip to thailand in november. Originally, we planned on attending the Yi peng festival at the beginning of our trip and then do everything from there (we had booked the last november week - the first 2 december weeks). Now, because my bf will start a new job beginning in december, we had to reschedule and have to rebook our already booked flights, which kinda makes travelling and the itinerary a lot more complicated.

We also wouldn't attend the official CAD festival but the alternative "Sky of wishes" festival which seems to be almost as big as the CAD one, just in a different location ( https://skyofwishes.com/ )

My bf lived in thailand for a little over half a year (about 10 years ago) and he always tells me how beautiful the yi peng festival is. But I know a lot has changed since then. But all his talks and the videos of all the lanterns look soooo, so beautiful that I really really wanted to see this. It looks like in Disneys Rapunzel, which is so beautiful...

But the question now is, is it even worth going through all the trouble to visit chiang my in the highest season possible with god knows how many tourists? Or should we just give up on the festival and go to Chiang Mai when there are a little less tourists and just enjoy the city like that?

It would be much easier for our itinerary but seeing all the videos of the lantern fest my heart cries a little thinking that I won't be able to see it then. But if it's not worth it then we would have a much better route we could take to see thailand.

Maybe you can give us a little advice. Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi guys,

My friends and I are traveling to Chiang Mai for the Lantern festival at Doi Saket Lakes. We booked our flights and stay but heard the free festival is canceled for lake maintenance activities? Is there anywhere else that we can release the lanterns for free? We checked out the paid events on Klook and Agoda the tickets are out of our budget unfortunately. It'd be swell if anyone could drop some suggestions on where we can release lanterns for free in Chiang Mai. Cheers!

Sorry for the travel related question, but first time really travelling ... Have planned a tight schedule and hoping to see some sites. Usually I stick with excursions booked through the hotel, but this time the plan is to do some sites that dont fit into a normal packaged trip. Also hoping to change it up a bit and do some trips that are longer than 8 hours. I am not looking to be cheap, but more looking for fair and trustable. Ive been considering this partially because I land so early and hotel check in is at 2 and also because I only really have the half day I land + the next day as a full day.

Schedule I am hoping for:

Have someone meet me at the airport morning landing time (probably 9 / 10 am), take me to a few spots (probably 3 - 4 hour round trip driving, not including time spent at the place), then drive me to the hotel. Not much luggage, but there will be a bag of clothes at least.

Then the next day do a longer trip 10-12 hours driving according to google with 4 ish stops not counting the time at each place ...

Is this something I am crazy thinking is feasible? I have googled and I know I can use the Gab app, but I am a bit concerned about distances, time inbeween while I explore some sites... I did google private drivers / excursions but I the reviews are so all over the place I am not quite sure I trust them.

Thank you anyone that has any guidance / advice / comments

Hi, I'll be visiting Chiang Mai end of the year. Just want to ask if there's any specific record stores that sells Vinyl for bands like Yellow Fang, Sqweez Animal, Freehand in Chiang Mai? I tried looking for them in Bangkok, but they mostly sell English / Japanese oldies.

Hiya! I'm looking to have some photos printed and framed, like A3 or a2 size? Does anyone have any recommendations? thanks!

Hey everyone, perhaps a bit of a strange one?

I prefer not hearing my neighbours, so I love thick walls. Any advice on quiet monthly, furnished condos or similar?

Would love hearing from people who’ve actually found and stayed in such places. ChatGPT also informed me about “moo-baan development”, which I understand to be villas in a gated community?

Thanks in advance.

Anyone know a fishing store that sells high quality bait knives? Been to a couple today and they didn’t have any for sale.

I stayed in Bangkok for the longest time postponing Chiang Mai because i was afraid id be bored , but boy i couldn't be more wrong. I absolutely fell in love with this city, it is incredibly beautiful and now i genuinely cant leave!

I'm looking for a cocktail bar in Chiang Mai that's good for dates—somewhere relaxed, with games to play, no loud music, and benches or couches. Any recommendations?

I’d like to ride the Mae Hong Son Loop on a 150–160cc scooter; I’ll arrive in Chiang Mai on November 9th, stay one night, rent the scooter, start the next morning.

Nov 10 -> Chang Khoeng, Mae Chaem via routes 108 & 1009.

Nov 11 -> Khun Yuam, routes 1088 & 108 via Mae Sariang.

Nov 12 -> Chong Kham, route 108.

Nov 13–14 -> Pai, route 1095.

Nov 15 -> Free day, maybe to Chiang Dao (?) or back to Chiang Mai.

Nov 16 -> Return to Chiang Mai.

Is this a good itinerary, or does it involve too many kilometers of riding per day?

I'm looking for a nice place I can reach by train from Chiang Mai in around three hours or less for a two-day or weekend trip. I'd love somewhere interesting to explore and see cool things, then take the train back—no driving. Has anyone done a trip like this from Chiang Mai? Where did you go, and what would you recommend?