Chiang Mai, the northern province of Thailand, is a city to escape from the hustle and crowds of Bangkok. During my week visit there I spent my time exploring the cultural riches the area had to offer with my partner.
I partnered with three tours to explore Chiang Mai to the fullest.
For the Spiritual Seekers: Temple Tour with a Former Monk
Interested in Buddhism? There’s nothing like visiting the temples with a former monk to answer all of your Buddhist and Thailand cultural questions. Join the Chiang Mai Temples Visit Walking Tour with Ex-Monk Guide Part 1 with tour guide Katoon.
What the Tour Consisted Of
The tour began in the front of the Three Kings Monument where the group met up. We went over the history of Chiang Mai’s location before heading to the first temple.
The tour visits five cultural sites including: Wat Chedi Luang Varavihara, Wat Phan Tao, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Sadeu Muang.
We learned how to meditate in the correct form in front of the Buddha statue, made offerings at temples, and explored the spiritual make up of Chiang Mai.
Highlights of the Tour
Throughout the tour I was able to see some fabulous sights like a cat sleeping in Buddha’s arms, being blessed by a monk, and snapping photos of a woman celebrating her birthday in style.
This tour is great for history buffs and those interested in Buddhism’s impact in Thailand.
For the Adventurous Aficionados: Sticky Waterfall Tour
What the Tour Consisted Of
Thailand’s natural beauty is exemplified through the Sticky Waterfall tour. This calcium rich waterfall, an hour drive out of Chiang Mai, contains minerals that allow for walking on the rocks without slipping easily.
The tour starts with a pick up at our accommodation before heading out to the Mae Taeng area. Our tour guide, Annie, greeted us as a small cafe in the area before we head to the waterfalls. I received water shoes and a phone guard to protect against the water.
Once the group made it to the park, we trekked over to the waterfall entrance. We climbed over rocks, got splashed with cool water, and took so many photos. The lush landscape recharged my soul. Plus there were so many beautiful dragonflies fluttering around which was pure magic.
Highlights of the Tour
The special moments of the tour were the spiritual grounds. Annie and her assistant, Pom, explained the importance of spirituality in Thai culture. Thai people honor their ancestral heritage and deities by offering snacks, drinks, fruits, and flowers. I was able to drink from the sacred pool and hike up to the Bua Thong cave to witness a giant Buddha statue.
Book the tour here.
For the Focused Foodie: Chiang Mai Food Tour
What the Tour Consisted Of
Hungry for more tours? Try the Chiang Mai Food Tour from A Chef’s Tour. The tour starts with a few bites like roasted pork and chicken, leading into family style meal with larb (minced meat), curries, and fermented pork. Next, food stalls with local bites including fresh sugar cane juice. The tour included roasted crickets and silk worms as well (which was definitely not expected from me on this food tour!) In total, the tour lasted for four hours and had fifteen choices of bites to enjoy Northern Thai cuisine.
Shopping at the market credit: Sonjirose Chin
Highlights of the Tour
Flavors of Thailand are so apparent on the tour and my favorite had to be the lemongrass spiced sausages. The gorgeous clay pots roasted meats were prepared in during the first spot. Seeing the local people going about their day was another highlight, reminding me of people watching in NYC.
Book the tour here.
