In search for your next getaway destination? Good news, adventure seekers! There’s finally a direct flight from Manila to Chiang Mai, Thailand! Step into a city where breathtaking panoramic views meet extraordinary gastronomic delights.
If you don’t know where to start, SEA Wave has you covered! Check out these High Five activities for your first trip to Chiang Mai.
Hang Out with Elephant Friends
Photo from Chai Lai Orchid
Let’s address the elephant in the room—whenever someone says Thailand, elephants immediately come to mind. First-time visitors to Thailand may land in Bangkok and find elephants in temples and printed on souvenirs, but strangely absent from other aspects of daily life. Say no more, as Chiang Mai is the place to be for elephant sanctuaries.
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and Elephant Care Camp are some of the places you can ethically mingle with these gentle giants. Join tours to learn about these human-loving animals in the morning, then bathe and feed them to your heart’s content in the afternoon. If you can’t get enough of our tusked friends, then book a stay at Chai Lai Orchid—an elephant sanctuary offering overnight accommodations, so you can wake up to elephants peeking at your balcony. Make sure to book ahead since overnight rooms get sold out fast!
Wake Up Above the Clouds
Photo from Tramont
Dreaming of a nature retreat? You’re in for a treat. A quick drive from the hustle and bustle of the city is the Mae Rim district—home to cultural spots and adventurous activities. Mae Rim is located in the central part of Chiang Mai’s mountainous terrain, which makes for a unique lodging network situated atop the mountains. Experience a chilly evening amidst nature and wake up to a foggy morning with breathtaking views. Accommodations here range from glamping tents to luxurious villas with hot tubs by the balcony. This peaceful experience would surely make you want to stay longer in Chiang Mai.
Indulge in Northern Dishes
Photo from TasteAtlas
Thailand is a culinary tour de force with some of the best street food, noodles, and curries in the world. In the most recent TasteAtlas top 100 list, Thailand had four dishes in the top 20, with its highest-ranking dish at 3rd place.
When it comes to authentic Thai cuisine, you can never go wrong with Chiang Mai. This city in mountainous Northern Thailand allows for unique variations of Thai recipes that you’ve never heard of before. If you’re looking for a convenient location to eat, visit Khao Soi Khun Yai, a humble open-air restaurant known for the must-try Khao Soi noodles. We also recommend grabbing a taste of Chiang Mai’s take on fries—krabong or pumpkin fries—for something more familiar to the palette.
A Coffee Lover’s Delight
Photos from Thokoh Mhakan, Aumjumma and Patty Nongnapat
Whether you’re working remotely or just in it for the coffee fix, Chiang Mai has a lot of cafés to offer. Shop owners boast their creativity through various concepts you can only find in Thailand. Looking for something out-of-this-world? Visit either Mars or Pluto for a galactic-themed café experience with immersive interiors and impressive coffee. But save room for drinks after dinner, since these cafés turn into after-hours drinking clubs. If you’re up for a fancy brunch then the Versailles de Flore Cafe might be the choice for you, which is adorned with classic European architecture and a more diverse international menu. If you want to visit the lush forests of Northern Thailand from the comforts of a familiar café setup, then drop by Lalitta Cafe in the neighboring Chiang Rai for a pocket of nature in the city. Whatever mood you’re in, Chiang Mai and nearby areas might just have the coffee shop for you.
Visit Majestic Temples
Photo from Pixabay
Speaking of Chiang Mai’s neighboring city, Chiang Rai is home to magnificent temples you shouldn’t miss like Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) and Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple)—both massive and intricately designed that will keep you wondering how they were made. Aside from being home to architectural marvels like temples, Chiang Rai is also a tourist destination for its markets with authentic local finds and museums that will leave you wanting to learn more about Thai culture. You can also complete your trip with a visit to the Golden Triangle—a viewpoint where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet.
These attractions are easily accessible with car rentals, so you can control your time and pace. However, solo travelers and groups can find join-in tours more economical, given that these already include the top Chiang Rai attractions at a lower cost. A short day trip is enough to cover the top attractions in Chiang Rai, but no promises that Chiang Rai won’t make you come back for more.
We bet you didn’t know you could do all that in this underrated city. Previously, Chiang Mai was only accessible from Manila via a connecting flight to Bangkok. Lucky you, Cebu Pacific Air is now offering direct flights from Manila to Chiang Mai! The route from MNL to CNX and CNX to MNL flies three times a week starting October 29. Learn more at www.cebupacificair.com/en-PH/seat-sale.
Visited Chiang Mai lately? Share your recommendations down below!