New Year's in Chiang Mai

Make your wishes take flight with the magical experience of launching lanterns to start the New Year.

Nestled in the lush mountains of Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai stands out as a cultural gem with a rich history. Originally founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai has witnessed many changes to the Thai civilization. The city is home to many ancient temples that reflect the architectural and artistic influences of the Lanna period. Over the centuries, Chiang Mai has been a flourishing center for trade, arts, and spiritual practices, serving as a crucial hub along the historic Silk Road. It has weathered the rise and fall of kingdoms, the colonial era, and periods of cultural resurgence. Today, Chiang Mai seamlessly blends its storied past with modernity, captivating visitors with its vibrant markets, traditional festivals, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere making it an essential city on your Thailand itinerary.

When to visit Chiang Mai?

Keep reading to find out where this is!

The best time to visit Chiang Mai is during the dry season, which typically extends from December to April. This period ensures sunny days and minimal rainfall, providing ideal conditions for beach activities, water sports, and exploring the the country's natural beauty. The months of June to September constitute the monsoon season, characterized by heavy rains and rough seas. While the island's landscape becomes lush and green during this time, it may not be the most suitable for outdoor activities.

How to get to Chiang Mai?

To reach Chiang Rai, you can take a direct flight to Chiang Rai International Airport or opt for a long-distance bus from other major cities like Bangkok.

How to get around Chiang Mai?

A common way to get around in south east Asia is to use the app Grab, which is similar to Uber. It is the way to go here in Thailand, and we had no issues in Vietnam either. Rates are very affordable and we never had to wait long for the tuk tuk or car to show up. You can also use it to call scooters if you're travelling alone.

What to do in Chiang Mai?

Day 1: Explore by Foot

If you're staying in a central area, then Chiang Mai can be quite accessible by foot, if not the main attractions are only a short tuk tuk ride away. Our first stop of the day was Wat Chiang Mun, the city's oldest temple. Built in 1296 by King Mengrai, the temple served as the residence for the early Lanna kings. Its main attraction is the revered Buddha image, Phra Sila or Crystal Buddha which is housed within the Viharn Lai Kham. The temple grounds have ancient chedis or stupas, well-maintained gardens, and intricate Lanna-style architecture. Since we were visiting over a holiday period, we even got to see the monks parading for their alms.

From here we went to the Three Kings Monument which is a symbol of historical significance and cultural pride. It's not an exceptionally beautiful statute, but it is located in the heart of the city at the intersection of the Old City's main streets which means it's an area you shouldn't miss. The monument commemorates the three kings—King Mengrai, King Ramkhamhaeng, and King Ngam Muang—who played pivotal roles in establishing and expanding the Lanna Kingdom. Locals and visitors alike gather at this iconic landmark to pay homage to the city's history.

Next up, is another temple, slightly newer, this Buddhist temple dates back to the 14th century. Wat Phra Singh is known for its stunning architecture and religious significance, the Lanna-style craftmanship features stunning murals, golden chedis and multiple ornate buildings. It also houses the sacred Phra Singh Buddha image (a giant golden buddha) who symbolizes grace and tranquility. Make sure to take time to explore the grounds and admire the dragon-lined staircases. You can even pop across the street to visit it's monastic school and admire more buildings.

Day 2: Cultural Tour

For our second day of Chiang Mai, we chose to hire a tuk tuk driver for a cultural tour of the area. Your hotel should be able to help find and negotiate a driver if you need one. We often use Grab to get to our accommodations and then if we like that driver we ask if they're available for day hire and negotiate from there.

Our first stop was the iconic long neck Karen Village, I'm sure you have seen pictures or heard stories of the rural women who elongate their necks with coils. These women are actually refugees from Myanmar and tourism is their main source of income. The coils actually push down their collarbone, contrary to popular belief they can be safely removed and often are for cleaning. While the neck coils are not as common as they once were, they are still seen favorably as they are a way to provide for the family.

There are multiple villages to choose from for your visit, many reviews will say it's not an authentic experience so keep that in mind. Their village is set up as a tourist attraction, with the majority of the women selling handmade goods to help provide for their families. You will have to pay an entrance fee and bring cash if you'd like to purchase souvenirs. Please be respectful and ask before taking photos, we found many of the women spoke English and there were opportunities to ask questions and learn.

Just down the road from the Karen Village we visited is Poo Poo Paper, a small compound dedicated to a unique and environmentally friendly product. Can you guess from the name what it is? If you guessed paper made from elephant poop, then you're right. We weren't originally going to go visit here but we're glad we did! This is a fun for the whole family experience that should be on your itinerary. This company not only provides a sustainable way to utilize natural resources, but also promotes awareness about elephant conservation and environmental sustainability. We got an interactive tour of the compound where we were able to participate in turning the poop into paper! Here is the process we learned:

1. Dry out the poop. Elephants eat a lot of fibrous food so it's excellent for making paper, any herbivore poop can be used.

2. Clean the poop. All non-fiber materials such as pebbles, dirt/mud, and leaves need to be removed.

3. Boil the poop. The poop needs to be literally boiled to a pulp, this can take 4-6 hours.

4. Colour the pulp. This is done using environmentally friendly dyes, FYI the finished product is safe to eat!

5. Screen the pulp. Using a screen the paper maker can evenly distribute the pulp, this method hasn't changed since paper was invented.

6. Dry the paper. The screens are placed in the yard to use sunlight to dry before being cut into final products.

After the interactive experience, there is an opportunity to buy and decorate your own Poo Poo Paper. You can choose from picture frames, notebooks or even birthday cards. They have stencils and cutting tools so you can be as creative as you'd like.

We also made a quick stop to a local umbrella factory, Chiang Mai is renowned for its vibrant umbrella-making and painting traditions. Here you can watch as skilled artisans meticulously handcraft the umbrellas from bamboo and mulberry paper. They will then paint the umbrellas, creating intricate designs inspired by traditional Thai motifs, nature, and folklore. You can enjoy watching the masters at work or even purchase your own umbrella to paint!

The artists also offer their painting services for other canvases. They'll paint your hat, cell phone or any other surface you'd like!

Wat Ratcha Monthian also known as the Royal Monastery, was constructed during the reign of King Mengrai. This temple is adorned with elaborate Lanna-style craftsmanship featuring intricate wood carvings, and majestic murals that depict scenes from Buddhist teachings. This is not only a spiritual sanctuary but also a place where visitors can immerse themselves in the artistic and historical treasures of Chiang Mai, making it an integral part of the city's cultural tapestry.

I'm sure you've noticed that most temples in Thailand have dragons on them, especially along the staircases. In Buddhist temples, they are symbolic guardians that safeguard the treasures of Buddha.

Wat Sri Suphan or the Silver Temple is a very unique temple to visit. This religious site is entirely crafted from silver, showcasing intricate silverwork that includes panels, statues, and detailed reliefs. The shimmering facade reflects the artisanal skills of local silversmiths who have meticulously adorned the temple with symbolic imagery from Buddhist teachings making this temple an architectural marvel. It is an important site religiously still, and only men are allowed to enter the temple itself.

Chiang Mai is known for it's exquisite silversmithing tradition, and is a great place to pick up some unique souvenirs!

Bonus: Launching lanterns!

The highlight of our time in Chiang Mai, and a big factor into why we went when we did, was of course releasing the lanterns for New Year's. The tradition of launching lanterns in Thailand holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. Historically, releasing lanterns symbolized letting go of negativity and misfortune, inviting positive energy and good luck into one's life. This symbolism makes it a perfect New Year's tradition, as the lanterns ascend into the night sky, they carry away that year's troubles and bring blessings for the new year.

The main place to launch them is at the night market, giving you opportunities to shop and eat too!

Tips for launching the lanterns:

• Remember your lighter or buy one at 7-11 for about 50 cents.

• Don't hold the lantern directly over you, the hot wax will drip.

• Wait until you feel a strong pull from the lantern to let it go, don't throw it!

• Keep an eye out on your surroundings, if lanterns are launched too soon they'll fly really low.