Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand but completely different than Bangkok. Chiang Mai was originally founded in 1296. It served as the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom (Kingdom of Northern Thailand) until 1558. All around the old city center you will find remains of the ancient walls, moats and lots of old and active Buddhist temples. And remember, this list is really just the start. That’s not as long as I was living in Chiang Rai, but long enough to get to know Chiang Mai beyond its old city walls. Here you will find 12 great places to visit near Chiang Mai that you cannot miss. I’ve spent about four months exploring Chiang Mai. If you are planning a trip to Chiang Mai then you’ll definitely want to read on. It is a much quieter city that is surrounded by stunning mountain ranges with thick rainforests, countless waterfalls, wild animals, hot springs, and small villages.

In this article, you will get to experience a bit of the old and a bit of the new Chaing Mai.

The mountain ranges near Chiang Mai have been inhabited by the hill tribes (Akha and Hmong) for many years. It is easy to get there either by taxi, tuk-tuk, or motorbike. Wat Umong is located about 20 minutes west of Chiang Mai’s old town. Wat Umong is one of the most unique temples I have ever visited, with at least part of the temple being built inside a cave (or series of tunnels). In more recent times coffee and tea plantations have become a booming industry in the mountainous areas around Chiang Mai. In this article, you will get to experience a bit of the old and a bit of the new Chaing Mai. It was originally constructed in 1297 by King Manglai of the Lan Na Dynasty. The temple is open from 6am to 5pm. While entry to the temple grounds is free there is a small charge to get into the tunnel section. This temple is built at the foothills of Doi Suthep, that huge mountain just outside of Chiang Mai.

You should also take the opportunity to try the popular northern Thai dish known as Khao Soi.

Baan Mae Kampong is a peaceful, small village located in the mountains about 50 kilometers east of Chiang Mai. You will find traditional wooden houses on either side of the steep road which ascends its way up the mountain. Make the most of your experience and spend a night in the village at the traditional Mae Kampong Homestay. The village is around 100 years old, with most of the inhabitants having migrated here from the Doi Saket District. A small creek runs through the village, and in between some of the houses. You should also take the opportunity to try the popular northern Thai dish known as Khao Soi. This is a rich creamy soup with slow-cooked chicken legs, crunchy noodles and topped with pickled onion and chili. Towards the top of the village, you can visit the Mae Kampong Waterfall, the Wat Mae Kampong temple, and a couple of nice coffee shops. It’s one of my favorite dishes in Thailand!

• Chae Son National Park
• Ao Phang Nga National Park
• Sgt. Maj. Thawee Folk Museum
• Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
• Doi Inthanon National Park
• Baan Mae Kampong
• Flight of the Gibbon

We found the Chae Son National Park completely by accident. There are also hiking trails, waterfalls, hot springs, and a stunning lookout. Up in the Chae Son National Park, you will a nice clean campground where you can hire camping gear from the national park headquarters. Camping in the mountains is an awesome overnight escape where you will enjoy the cool mountain air. While we made it up to the top in a small 1.6L Toyota hatchback, it is highly recommended to use a proper 4WD to get up here. The small winding concrete road is seriously steep, resorts near Umphang and quite poor quality in some sections. We were actually on the way up the mountains to The Giant Chiang Mai Tree House when we got lost and ended up in the neighboring Lampang Province. The Chae Son National Park lookout is located way up in the mountains. If you want to get out in nature, then the Chae Son National Park is one of the must visit places near Chiang Mai!