Chiang Mai Itinerary

After months (really, even a few years) of planning this trip to Chiang Mai, this is what we ended up doing (below).  It helped that we set aside 8 full days.  Typically, tourists spend 5-7 days in Chiang Mai.  Some even do abbreviated trips - 3 days - so they can cover a few other surrounding towns.  There's so much to do in Chiang Mai, and it's a bigger city than you realize.  To do it right, you really need 7-8 full days -  and that's if you decide to stay pretty active.  But if you include some of the other activities we ended up not doing, 10 days is best, honestly.  I like quality experiences over quick and rushed, especially the older I get.  I pencil in lots of time to rest (and recover) and get massages.  For me, since I had been to Chiang Mai a couple of times before, I wanted to approach this trip as though it was my last time there.  Overall, I'm very satisfied with what we did.  And if I truly never return to the 'Rose of the North,' I'm now content.

Wednesday, June 14

*Chiang Mai South Gate Market

*Coco Mango
*Massage

Thursday, June 15

*Warorot Market (Kad Luang)
*Thapae Grill restaurant
*Writer's Club & Wine Bar
*Drink Rooftop Bar
*Cannibas Shop

5 miles walked

Friday, June 16

*Laap Ton Yang restaurant
*Wat Phan On
*Wat Umong Mahathera Chan
*Wat Pan Ping
*UN Irish Pub
*Kad Kongkao Walking Street Market
*Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

2.6 miles

Saturday, June 17
*San Patong Buffalo Market
*Wua Lai Walking Street
*Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)
*Drinksmith
*Bitter Truth

6.89 miles

Sunday, June 18

*Tha Phae Sunday Walking Street
*Wat Muen Lan
*Wat Si Koet
*Wat Tung Yu
*Wat Phra Singh

4.4 miles

Monday, June 19

*Chang Phuak Gate Night Market

Tuesday, June 20

*Kum Sang Dao restaurant
*Huen Phen restaurant
*Massage

Wednesday, June 21

*Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
*Chiang Mai Gate Market

3.8 miles

Thursday, June 22

*Lung Prakit restaurant
*Old City Temple Walk - 8 temples

4.56 miles

Friday, June 23

*Check out
*fly back to Bangkok

Things we considered, but didn’t do:

Bars:
*THC Rooftop Bar
*HardCockTail
*The White Rabbit

*48 Garage Bar
*Zoe in Yellow
*Sylvis Add Oil Bar

Markets:

*Explore smaller night markets near Chiang Mai Night Bazaar:  Anusarn Night Market, Pavillion Night Market, Kalare Night Bazaar and Ploen Ruedee Night Market.  Chill Square food court at Anusarn Night Market is a nice place for dinner.  Kalare Night Market also has a great food center.  
*Lanna Square Night Market

Activities:

*Elephant Sanctuary

*Doi Inthanon National Park

*Hike to Jungle Temple

In time, I will add links to vlogs, websites and blogs that aided my planning.