Moondigenous Tips: Chiang Mai - Diving into the most traditional Thailand

    

                                                                    Hi There! :)                                                                    

Before We Dive In: A Few General Tips 📋

(You can find them on the Bangkok post as well!)

• Traffic 🚗: People drive on the left side. Traffic seems chaotic, but trust the drivers — they know what they’re doing.

• Get the GRAB app! 📱 It’s basically Asia’s Uber. Cheap rides, both cars and bikes. In Bangkok, also try the Skytrain 🚆 — super efficient.

• Explore going around with the Tuk-Tuk! 🛺 

• Food 🌶️: Thai food can be spicy. If you’re not used to it, your stomach might feel upset 🤕. But don’t worry — street food is safe and delicious. 

• Street food is safe!!! Unlike other countries such as India, Thailand is well known for its street food markets, and you cannot leave the country without eating at them 🍢. You can definitely go to restaurants but I would say the real and most tasty Thailand is in the streets — small stands, family-owned, or Buddhist food restaurants — not in fancy places. 👉 It is so easy to get happily lost in markets...you find one almost in any corner.

• Temples (“Wat”) 🛕: Wat means temple. When visiting, cover knees and shoulders, and remove your shoes before entering.

• Clothing 👗: It’s warm year-round, but modest dressing is common, especially around temples and outside big cities. Pack light, long-sleeved clothes.

• 🍹 Fresh Juices: Thailand = smoothie heaven. Grab a fresh-squeezed juice or smoothie from a street vendor every day — seriously. It’s the best way to stay refreshed and beat the heat.

• 🌕 Red Moons: Keep your eyes on the sky! In Southeast Asia, it’s not uncommon to spot stunning red moons — and trust me, they are magical.

Chiang Mai Specific:

• 💆‍♂️ Massages: Chiang Mai is the land of Massage. Here I experienced the best massages I had in Thailand. You can read more here.

• 🔥 Burning Season! In Northern Thailand, farmers burn the fields after the harvest during the months of January til Aril with the peak in March. During this period there is haze and smoke in the air resulting in poor air quality. I strongly advice avoiding this season up North. Especially the month of March.

• 🛍️  ABSOLUTE MUST: Evening Market Strolls! Chiang Mai truly comes alive at night - Evening Market Paradise. Get lost in the maze of food, art, and crafts. Weekends are best.

• Chiang Mai Gate Market (weekday nights) – Street food paradise with smoothies, roti (Roti Pee Cha is a must), and mango sticky rice.
• Khlong Mae Kha Canal Village Night Market – A newer, trendy market by the canal with cute lanterns, artsy vibes, and lots of local snacks.
• Night Bazaar: A classic. Huge, lively, full of souvenirs, art, local crafts, and endless food options—perfect if you want to lose yourself in the buzz of Chiang Mai nights.
• Saturday: Wua Lai Walking Street Market – A lively weekend market, famous for handicrafts, silver jewelry, and delicious street eats.
• Sunday: Tha Phae Walking Street Market – The biggest and most popular night market, stretching through the Old Town with endless food, art, and music.
• 🎤 ANOTHER ABSOLUTE MUST: The Music Scene. Every night there is live music. I suggest you going for the jazz jams and the rock band whose lead singer is Toshi. They are AMAZING. Entrance is free, you do not need to consume to be in.

LET´S TALK CHIANG MAI

Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, but don’t expect a mini-Bangkok. This city doesn’t do skyscrapers or modern infrastructure. Instead, Chiang Mai is a cozy yet chaotic town where you can truly embrace traditional Thailand.

Many travelers use it as a base to visit the famous White Temple in Chiang Rai or to start the Mae Hong Son Loop, but I spent 5–6 weeks living there, and it’s a place that can truly make you feel at home.

WHERE TO STAY?

If you’re looking for a cozy and welcoming place, check out the hostel LIKE HOME. Nuy, the owner, does everything for everyone. It’s not perfect, but it’s clean and offers dorms with fans or AC as well as private rooms.

Breakfast and dinner are cooked by Nuy for all guests and included in the price. Laundry is also included, and you get discounts if you rent a bike through her.

Dorm beds usually cost 200–250 Baht (≈5–7 EUR per person), and private rooms are 400–600 Baht (≈10–15 EUR per room).

There’s a reason it’s called Like Home—Nuy works hard to make every guest feel warmly welcomed.

                 

                          Breakfast                          The Owner - Nuy

WHERE AND WHAT TO EAT?

Khao Soi

Probably the most iconic dish from Northern Thailand is Khao Soi. 

Here some places where you could taste it:

• Khao Soi Khun Yai (Grandma’s Khao Soi)
  Right next to the north gate of the Old City. Super local, simple place, often named the best Khao Soi in Chiang Mai. Go early (they close when they sell out).

• Khao Soi Mae Sai
  A bit outside the Old City, but very popular with locals. Rich broth and great value.

• Khao Soi Islam
  Near the Night Bazaar. Famous for generations, halal-style Khao Soi.

• Khao Soi Lung Prakit Kad Kom
  Near the Ton Payom Market. Spicy, flavorful, a little more rustic and authentic.

• For vegetarians/vegans:

• Free Bird Café (vegan version, really tasty and supports a social project).

• Aum Vegetarian Restaurant also does a great vegetarian Khao Soi.

• Min Kwan Vegetarian Restaurant

My favourite spot is Tien Sieng Vegetarian Foods. It is not only cheap, but delicious and with the best mushrooms in town! The soups are so good!

Noodles at Tien Sieng

I also found this blog suggesting the best spots where to eat in Chiang Mai!

DAY 1

Start your day early with free yoga at the park. Check the Facebook group Yoga In The Park – Chiang Mai (YITP Global Yoga Family) for the weekly schedule. Usually, they run every day from 7 AM until noon, with a new class every hour. It’s an amazing community and a beautiful way to begin your morning. No mat? No worries — you can rent one right at the park for 10–20 Baht.

                            

After yoga, If you do not stay at Like Home (breakfast included) or simply just want to have breakfast out, refuel at Smoothie Pal (delicious smoothies at Chiang Mai Gate) or try Cozy Caffè  (haven’t been yet, but it looks delicious).

One of my favorite temples — it has a simple yet magical atmosphere, with colorful details, softly ringing bells, and a gentle breeze that feels like it’s part of the temple itself. 

Not far from there, there is the Kalm Village Art center, modern wooden-and-glass cultural hub with free art exhibitions. Minimalist, fresh, and inspiring — perfect for a short wander.

Take the chance and try Tok Sen Massage and the nearyby temple Wat Pan Whaen. Tok Sen is ancient Northern Thai therapy using a wooden stick and mallet. The gentle tapping creates vibrations that go deep into your muscles and energy lines. It’s grounding and truly unique.

So now...food. I am vegetarian, and trust me, is easy to be vegetarian in Chiang Mai. Now, regardless of your diet, there are some vegan spots you CANNOT miss. Because it does not matter if you are vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore...these places are just delicious and very cheap! My top pick: Tien Sieng Vegetarian Foods. Meals here cost just 40–90 Baht (1–3 EUR) and taste incredible. Their mushrooms? The best ever.

More Temples to Explore

• Wat Panthao – A small, charming wooden temple with a peaceful vibe.

• Wat Chedi Luang – Home to a massive ancient stupa, one of Chiang Mai’s most iconic sights.

• Wat Phra Singh – Elegant Lanna-style architecture and a revered golden Buddha.

                                     

End your evening with an evening market stroll, preferably a weekend market, and if you have the energy, end your evening at The North Gate. After the main show, you can usually go upstairs for a more intimate performance.

                                      
                                  
If you are up for some party and dancing, go to Zoe in Yellow, maybe one of the funniest clubs.

DAY 2

Early morning: Head up to Doi Suthep Temple (Chiang Mai’s iconic golden mountain temple). Go early to avoid crowds and enjoy the view over the city.

In the afternoon, get refreshed at The Sticky Waterfalls (Bua Thong). You do not only get refreshed but you also get your fun "spiderman" moment by seeing how easy is to climb up these waterfall rocks.

                                           

Alternative afternoon options:

• 
  Elephant sanctuary – ethical ones only (e.g., Elephant Nature Park, or smaller family-run sanctuaries where there’s no riding).
• Hiking – Monk’s Trail (easy hike starting in the city, leading up to temples).

Evening: Experience the famous Supattra Blind massage. All the therapist are blind. Trust me, it is the experience. If you get the chance, book a massage with the owner. Anyhow, other therapist are great too.

For food, you can check the options described above or head to a night market.

If you have not been yet to The North Gate...then you have no other option for the rest of the night.

STAYING LONGER? 

I am focusing on a 2 days visit, however, you can definitely stay longer and have fun with some of the alternative suggested above. If you have just little extra time, why not trying another massage at Tisha Massage. Standard traidional Thai Massage (you might have read about this place in my post: A soul healing landmark ). These ladies are kind and strong. I had multiple massages here and all of them rejuvenated me.

You can also embark yourself in the adventure of the Mae Hong Son Loop or go on a day trip to visit the famous Wat Rong Khun White Temple in Chiang Rai.

Final hack! 👇

Chiang Mai is a paradise for organic and natural products. You can find them all at 7Eleven or for a fancier experience, go to Good Health Market. Cosy store plenty of selfcare products!

Sharing here the map with most of the places of interest mentioned in this post!

With love - A Moondigenous Culture Diver 💛