Chiang Mai Family Vacation Spots

Chiang Mai is a very nice city for travelling with kids, and is even more family friendly than Bangkok. It's easy to get around Chiang Mai with the kids and there are plenty of outdoor and indoor activities that are very inexpensive. We currently live in Chiang Mai. Therefore, we know this area very well. It is very small when compared to Bangkok, but it is growing at a steady pace.

Chiang Mai Family Attractions

Chiang Mai is filled with activities and entertainment which is suitable for all ages. I recommend you plan to spend at several days in the "Lanna Kingdom" or "Rose of the North". Below you will find a short list of our favorite places to visit in Chiang Mai. For more complete Chiang Mai Family Travel information for each attraction, visit The Chiang Mai Family Vacation Page.

Chiang Mai Elephant Riding

If you have time for nothing else, you simply must make the effort to ride an elephant while in Chiang Mai. It is an unforgettable experience and will be a favorite memory long after the ride is over. There are several elephant camps in Chiang Mai. The most popular one is Mae Sa Elephant camp. I recommend booking a tour which includes an elephant ride, elephant show and a ride down the Ping river on a bamboo raft. There are many good tour operators in Chiang Mai, but I suggest you use Gem Travel. Make sure you do not forget to take your camera along with you.

Chiang Mai Night Safari

Chiang Mai Night Safari is patterned after Singapore Night Safari and China Night Safari Guangzhou. Chiang Mai Night Safari has twice the land area of Singapore Night Safari and it is considered to be the most beautiful night safari in the world. There is a walking trail open each afternoon and two driving trails which can be viewed at night. Tickets can be purchased online.

Bua Tong Waterfall

Visiting waterfalls is a favorite pastime in Thailand. It is one way to "beat the heat" on a sunny afternoon. There are waterfalls all over Thailand, but one of our favorite is in Chiang Mai province. The waterfall is fed by a spring which is rich in calcium carbonate. The calcium rich water causes the falls to shimmer in different pastel colors and keeps the limestone rocks from getting slippery. Our kids love walking up the falls on the calcium covered rocks. The waterfall is located outside of Chiang Mai which means you will need to rent a car for a day trip.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

There is a saying Chiang Mai, "If you have not tasted Kao Soi (a northern Thai curry noodle dish) or visited Doi Suthep, you have not been to Chiang Mai." The temple on Doi Suthep is one of the most important temples in Thailand. It is an important pilgrimage destination during major Buddhist holidays. Located near the top of Suthep mountain, it can be seen from any location in Chiang Mai city. It is very easy to get to, as any taxi driver in Chiang Mai knows Doi Suthep. To reach the temple, you must climb a long staircase with 309 steps. We know, our son counted them. It is a fun activity for a fourth grader. If you just can't climb the staircase, there is also a cable car which will take you to the top for a small fee.

Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain peak in Thailand. The summit rises to over 8,300 feet and stands in the middle of Doi Inthanon National Park. The temperature at the top remains cool all year round and can dip below freezing during the cold season. The park is about a 90 minute drive from Chiang Mai city, so it is best to reach the park by rental car. The road makes it possible to drive all the way to the top. There are several waterfalls within the park which can be visited along the way to the summit.

Chiang Mai City, The Moat Area

One of Chiang Mai's best attractions is its old city. Chiang Mai is one of the few cities in the world with such a well preserved moat, and Chiang Mai city tours by foot or bicycle are highly recommended for your family. Spanning roughly a square mile, this pretty water feature dates from the founding of the city in 1296 and is lined with shady trees, grassy banks and historic walls. Take a tuk tuk ride around its perimeter to admire the four bastions on each corner and to photograph the pretty fountains. By entering the old city through one of the five restored gates you can explore its quiet lanes, lined with traditional shop fronts and old Thai-style teak houses. By night the moat takes on a different character as it comes alive with illuminated colour.

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