Chiang Mai: Temples, Night Markets and the Doi Suthep Sunrise

Elijah Tours Team August 29, 2026 6 min read

An hour's flight north of Bangkok, Chiang Mai is cooler, greener and slower than the capital. Inside its moated old city are dozens of teak temples; outside it are mountains, elephant sanctuaries and the villages of the hill tribes. It suits travellers who have already seen the beaches and want something quieter.

Three days in Chiang Mai

Day one, the old city on foot: Wat Chedi Luang with its ruined brick chedi, Wat Phra Singh, and the Sunday Walking Street market along Ratchadamnoen Road if your dates allow. Day two, up the mountain before dawn to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, where the gilded chedi catches the first light, then the Bhubing Palace gardens and a Hmong village on the way down.

Day three, an ethical elephant sanctuary that allows feeding and bathing but no riding, followed by the Night Bazaar in the evening for crafts and food.

When to visit

November to February is cool and clear, the best months by far, with the Loy Krathong lantern festival in November. March and April are the burning season, when agricultural fires fill the valley with smoke and air quality drops badly; avoid those months, especially with children or anyone with asthma. The rainy season from June to October is green and quiet, with showers mostly in the afternoon.

Halal food and getting around

The area around the Chiang Mai Mosque on Charoen Prathet Road has a cluster of halal restaurants, and the Night Bazaar has clearly marked halal stalls. Songthaews, the red shared trucks, cross the city for a fixed fare; Grab works well for anything further. Our Thailand packages add Chiang Mai as a two- or three-night extension to a Bangkok itinerary.