Tourists can opt for a variety of activities in Chiang Mai like visiting the city’s parks, the rural areas of Mae Ping and the Naga Staircase situated at Doi Southep. The Ping River cruise, which takes guests to a local village to understand the local way of life and history of the river, is also popular with guests.
The Thai massages offered by massage parlours located within traditional wooden Thai houses are also popular with tourists. In Chiang Mai, tourists can also opt for activities like swimming and aerobics.
Swimming has recently become quite popular with tourists and venues like the Centre of the Swimming Pool and Resort, Chiang Mai Land Swimming Pool and the Seven Hundred Year Stadium offer swimming lessons to tourists and locals. Lake Huay Tung Tao is another popular spot for swimming. Apart from swimming, tourists can also visit Cineplexes like the Major Cineplex and Chiang Mai Vista Cinema.
Chiang Mai also provides options for rafting on the Maetang River and other activities like mountain biking and elephant riding. Outside the city, visitors can trek past the mountains and Doi Suthop along the Mae Kompong Waterfall. Tourists can also explore the monolith known as Crazy Horse Buttress, situated to the east of Chiang Mai, at a distance of 22 km.
Chiang Mai has numerous shopping malls and marketplaces selling local handicrafts and branded commodities. The most popular shopping centre of the city is the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.
Tourists can taste a variety of cuisines in Chiang Mai. The most notable among them is the Khantoke dinners that provide tourists the flavour of the Northern Thai cuisine and culture. Most dining places in Chiang Mai provide dance performances along with dinners.
Visitors can also enjoy the festivals held in Chiang Mai like the Bo Sang Umbrella and Sankampang Handicrafts Festival. This festival takes place at Ban Bo Sang, from 20th to 22nd January. It is held in the form of a ‘street fair’ and the stores are decorated with traditional lanterns and umbrellas, in the Lanna style.
A number of exhibitions, contests, local entertainment, cultural performances, shows, meals, grand procession and Miss Bo Sang pageant are held during this festival. Various flower festivals like the Royal Flora Exposition, the 2nd Orchid Fair and Chiang Mai Flower Festival are regularly organised in this city.
