Chiang Mai With Kids
What Chiang Mai with kids really looks like, from a family that plans these trips for a living.
Nicole Damiano, ASTA Verified Travel Advisor with FG Luxury Travel
Is Chiang Mai worth it with kids?
Yes, and it may be the family favorite of a Thailand trip. Temples, an ethical elephant day, cool mountain air and gentle markets make it one of the most rewarding stops in the country.
How many days?
Three to four days for the temples, the elephants and the mountains. Longer if you are settling in, as many families do.
Do we need to book anything ahead?
Book a reputable, ethical elephant sanctuary ahead, that is the main one. A cooking class is worth reserving too, and the temples and markets you do as you go.
Do we need a car?
Not in the old city, which is a walk or a bike ride. Grab and the red songthaew trucks are cheap for getting around, and the sanctuaries and mountain trips include transport.
When should we go?
November through February for the cool, dry, comfortable weather. Avoid the smoky burning season of March and April, and the summer rains, so aim for the cool season.
Thailand’s Laid-Back Northern Heart
Chiang Mai is the gentle, green counterpoint to hectic Bangkok, a laid back northern city ringed by mountains, dotted with three hundred temples, and famous for its ethical elephant sanctuaries. It is one of the easiest, most rewarding stops in Thailand for a family.
You get a walkable old city inside a moat, golden temples on every corner, a mountain temple with a dragon staircase and a view over the valley, cooking classes and night markets, and a day spent bathing and feeding rescued elephants. It is cool, calm and endlessly kid friendly.
Getting Around
You do not need a car in the old city, which is a walk, and a bike or a stroll covers it. Grab and the little red songthaew trucks are cheap for getting around, and the sanctuaries and the mountains come with transport included. It is one of the most relaxed cities in Thailand to move around.
Neighborhoods worth basing in
The Old City
The old walled city inside the moat, a walkable square packed with temples, cafes, guesthouses and markets, the calm heart of Chiang Mai. This is where I would base a family, right among the temples.
Nimman
The trendy university district just west of the old city, full of cafes, boutiques and good food, a little more modern and buzzy. A fun base for families who want great coffee and dinners at the door.
Riverside
The leafy riverside east of the old city, greener and calmer with the nicer resorts and a lovely stretch of the Ping River. A gentle, restful base a short ride from the temples.
Four Seasons Chiang Mai
A stunning resort set in working rice terraces on the edge of the city, with buffalo, a pool and true calm, the splurge of a lifetime. A real treat, and the kids will feed the resident water buffalo.
Rachamankha
A serene boutique hotel of teak and courtyards right in the old city, warm and family friendly, temples at the door. Well priced for the character and the one I point most families to.
Ibis Styles Chiang Mai
Clean, cheerful and cheap in or beside the old city, an easy base for a family exploring the temples and the markets on a budget. It does the job and puts you in the heart of it.
The Three I Build Every Chiang Mai Trip Around
The Old City Temples
The old city holds hundreds of temples, and a few are unmissable. Wat Chedi Luang is a huge, half ruined ancient pagoda you can walk right up to, and Wat Phra Singh glows with gold. Wander the quiet lanes between them by bike or on foot, and let the kids ring the temple bells and meet the monks at a monk chat. It is calm, beautiful and easy.
An Ethical Elephant Sanctuary
The thing families come to Chiang Mai for is a day at an ethical elephant sanctuary, where rescued elephants roam free and you feed them, walk with them and help bathe them in the river, with no riding and no shows. Choose a genuine sanctuary that puts the animals first, and it is a gentle, joyful, memorable day for kids.
Doi Suthep and the Night Bazaar
Above the city, the mountain temple of Doi Suthep sits at the top of a three hundred step dragon staircase, gold and glittering with a view over the whole valley, an easy morning by songthaew. Down in town, the night bazaar and the Sunday walking street fill with food, crafts and lights, the best cheap dinner and a browse in one.
Family Time, Built In: Chiang Mai With Kids
Chiang Mai is the relaxed, feel good stop in Thailand, and families fall for it. Temples to wander, elephants to bathe, mountains to breathe, cooking to learn, and markets to graze. Slow the pace right down, base in the old city, and let the days unfold.
The harbor ferry to the beach
Sunday fish market
Paddle boats on the the moat
Planten un Blomen
the elephant sanctuary plaza
PARK & DOWNTIME PICK
The moat and the old city gates make a lovely evening stroll, and Buak Hard Park in the southwest corner has lawns, a pond and pedal boats for the kids. Or head up to the Huay Tung Tao lake at the foot of the mountain for a swim and a picnic on the water.
Five Things To Eat In Chiang Mai
Khao soi
Sticky rice
Sai ua sausage
Mango sticky rice
Thai iced teaNicole’s Perspective
Temples, elephants and mountain air
I taught social studies for eight years, and Chiang Mai is a window into the old kingdom of Lanna, a northern culture with its own language, temples and crafts, distinct from the Thailand of the south. A monk chat, a temple, a craft village, and a kid feels a whole different corner of the country.
I have planned and priced a lot of Thailand for families, and Chiang Mai is the one I add for families who want more than beaches, the culture, the elephants and the mountain air. It is the gentle, meaningful heart of a Thailand trip. When a family wants Thailand with soul, this is the stop I lean on.
The Day Trip: Doi Inthanon
Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand, about two hours away, a national park of cool cloud forest, waterfalls the kids can play near, and twin royal pagodas with gardens and a view above the clouds. Go with a guide or a driver, pack a layer for the cool air, and make a full day of the waterfalls and the peak.
Things I Would Tell A Friend Before They Booked
How Many Days
Three to four full days covers Chiang Mai, the temples, an elephant day and the mountain. That is Chiang Mai as a real, restful stop in a Thailand trip.
Day one, the old city temples by bike and the night bazaar. Day two, a full day at an ethical elephant sanctuary, the highlight of the trip.
Day three, Doi Suthep in the morning and a cooking class in the afternoon. Day four, the drive up to Doi Inthanon and its waterfalls.
If all you have is a night, wander the old city temples and eat your way through the night bazaar, and call it a strong taste.
Chiang Mai With Kids, Answered
Is Chiang Mai worth it with kids?
Yes, and it may be the family favorite of a Thailand trip. Temples, an ethical elephant day, cool mountain air and gentle markets make it one of the most rewarding stops in the country.
How many days?
Three to four days for the temples, the elephants and the mountains. Longer if you are settling in, as many families do.
Do we need to book anything ahead?
Book a reputable, ethical elephant sanctuary ahead, that is the main one. A cooking class is worth reserving too, and the temples and markets you do as you go.
Do we need a car?
Not in the old city, which is a walk or a bike ride. Grab and the red songthaew trucks are cheap for getting around, and the sanctuaries and mountain trips include transport.
When should we go?
November through February for the cool, dry, comfortable weather. Avoid the smoky burning season of March and April, and the summer rains, so aim for the cool season.
Ready To Put Chiang Mai On The Calendar
Send me your dates and your kids’ ages and I will build Chiang Mai into a Thailand trip that balances beaches, culture and elephants.
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