Chiang Mai Things to Do Tips by Rodan44

Visit an Ethnic Hilltribe Village Excursions Review

While in Chiang Mai or elsewhere in Northern Thailand, I highly recommend making a daytrip excursion to a traditional village of one of the local hilltribe ethnic groups.

Over 100 years ago, the Hilltribe peoples migrated south from China into what are now Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. The six major tribes are the Karen (Kariang, Yang), the Hmong (Meo), the Yao (Mien), the Akha (Ekaw), the Lisu (Lisaw), and the Lahu (Mussur). The main profession of all these tribes is farming, and all of them tend to migrate whenever they feel that the soil at their present location is becoming depleted. Each tribe is distinct, with its own culture, religion, language, art, and dress. With Thailand undergoing rapid modern development, it is difficult yet to say whether these tribes will continue in their traditional ways of life, or whether they will eventually be assimilated into mainstream Thai society.

When visiting a hilltribe village, remember show the utmost respect to your hosts and do not treat them like a human zoo. It is recommend to present small gifts or money to villagers who show you their homes or allow you to photograph them.

Directions: scattered throughout Northern Thailand, daytrips from Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai

Website: http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/hilltribes.html

Excursion to the Golden Triangle Excursions Review

From Chiang Mai, we were able to make a full-day excursion north to the infamous Golden Triangle region. A five hour drive brought us to the point on the Mekong River where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma) meet. This area has long been one of the world's biggest opium producing regions. Although Thailand has managed to wipe out practically all opium poppy cultivation on their soil, the same cannot be said for Myanmar, who remains the second largest producer after Afghanistan.

On our journey, we passed through Chiang Rai and visited a nearby Akha hilltribe village. We also visited the ancient temple ruins of Wat Jadeeloung in Chiang Saen. At the Golden Triangle border area itself, we visited the interesting Opium Museum, took a boat ride across the river to a tourist village in Laos, and then crossed a bridge at Mae Sai into Tachilek, Myanmar (see my Tachilek page for details of this side-trip).

Although the trip was quite long and exhausting (probably makes more sense to start from Chiang Rai which is much closer), it was still an incredible journey and well worth the effort.

Directions: 5 hour drive north of Chiang Mai, near Chiang Saen / Mae Sai

Maetamann Rafting and Elephant Camp Elephant Ride Review

Maetamann Rafting and Elephant Camp is about an hour north of Chiang Mai city by car. Similar to Maesa although smaller, this camp boasts dozens of Asian elephants, young and old. Tickets are sold as packages and can include the elephant show, elephant jungle trek, ox-cart rides, and river rafting on simple bamboo rafts. Along the trek, the elephants will make a short stop at a Lisu hilltribe craft village for some shopping. The baby elephants are incredibly sweet and gentle, making you wish you could take one home with you!

Address: 535 Rimtai Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, 50180

Directions: Mae Teng District, Chiang Mai Province
Hours: 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m

Other Contact: FAX: 53-297-283

Phone: 53-297-060

Maesa Elephant Camp Elephant Ride Review

Started 26 years ago, Maesa Elephant Camp is one of several elephant show camps in the region as well as the largest in Thailand. The camp currently boasts 73 Asian elephants and runs a breeding program at the Maesa Elephant Nursery. As part of the daily shows put on for tourists, these well-trained pachyderms will play soccer, musical instruments, dance, and even paint. Paintings created by the elephants can be purchased to take home. Elephant rides are of course also available.

Traditionally, Thai elephants were used as beasts of burden, primarily in the logging industry. When logging was prohibited in 1990, hundreds of elephants and their mahouts (elephant handlers) became jobless, and many took to begging on the streets of the big cities in order just to purchase the 150 to 180 kilograms of food consumed per day by an adult elephant. Though criticized by some for exploiting the animals, elephant camps such as Maesa have enabled both elephant and mahout to make a living and are extremely popular with tourists.

Address: 101 Moo.9 T.Maeram A.Maerim Chiangmai 50180

Directions: Mae Rim District of Chiang Mai
Morning Show : 8:00 a.m. and 9:40 a.m.
Afternoon Show : 1.30 p.m. (begins 1 st November 2000 until 30 th April 2001)
Elephant Trekking is available from 7.00 a.m.to 2.00 p.m.

Other Contact: Fax : 0-5320-6247

Phone: 0-5320-6247-8

Website: http://www.elephantcamps.com/

Wat Phra Singh Wat Phra Sing - Buddhist Temple Review

This lovely temple dates from 1345 and is one of the focal points of Songkran (Thai New Year) festivities each April when people bathe the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image. The temple compound includes the lovely Lai Kham chapel with its exquisite woodcarvings and northern-style murals.

Directions: Sam Lan Road, old city

Wat Umong Maha Therachan Wat Umong Review

Known as Wat Umong for short, this picturesque little meditation temple is noticeably different from Chiang Mai's other major temples and enjoys a bucolic forest setting. The ancient chedi is of particular interest as are the painted murals on the inside walls of the sim (main hall).

Directions: Suthep Road, old city

Wat Chiang Man Wat Chiang Man - Buddhist Temple Review

Chiang Mai's oldest temple, which probably dates to 1296. The temple was the residence of King Mengrai, who founded Chiang Mai. The most prominent features of this temple are the large gold-topped chedi supported by rows of elephant buttresses (see photo), and a small ancient Buddha image, Phra Kaeo Khao.

Directions: Ratchaphakhinai Road, old city

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Wat Phra That Doi Suthep - Buddhist Temple Review

The mountaintop temple of Doi Suthep sits 1676 metres above the city of Chiang Mai and is one of the most sacred sites in Thailand. Legend has it that in 1383 a fragment of bone from the Buddha was placed on a sacred white elephant and the elephant climbed up the mountain eventually dropping dead on this spot, upon which the temple was built to house the relic.

To reach Doi Suthep, you can take public transportation or a taxi to travel 16 kilometres northwest out of Chiang Mai, past Chiang Mai University and ascend the winding road up the mountain to the base of the temple. From there, either hike up the 300 steps to the temple gate (admiring the longest Naga staircase in Thailand on the way) or pay a small fee to use the cable car to reach the top.

The Doi Suthep temple is actually a part of the larger Doi Suthep National Park. The National Park encompasses 261 square kilometres of forest around the temple.

Directions: 16 kilometres northwest out of Chiang Mai

Wat Chedi Luang Wat Chedi Luang - Buddhist Temple Review

Wat Chedi Luang, Chiang Mai's largest monument, was built in 1391 during the reign of King Saen Muang Ma, 8th ruler of the Mengrai dynasty, to enshrine the relics of his father. The massive chedi (pagoda) was expanded over the centuries, until it reached its final form in 1475, when King Tilokarat made it the home of the Emerald Buddha, the most important cultural treasure in Thailand. At one point the chedi was 144 feet wide and 282 feet tall. Unfortunately, the pagoda was heavily damaged in the 1545 earthquake during the reign of Queen Mahadevi. The present chedi was restored by UNESCO and is about 60 meters high. In front of the ancient chedi is the viharn, or worship hall, which is a much newer structure.

Directions: old city Chiang Mai