Chiang Mai
The Authentic Thai Experience
If you’re visiting Thailand, you cannot miss out on Chiang Mai. In Chiang Mai you will get a chance to experience authentic Thai cuisine and culture. More importantly, you will be away from the hustle-bustle and chaos of Bangkok. Quiet streets, friendly locals, and a lot fewer cars. There is a laid back vibe here and it is an ideal place to stay if you are looking for a place to lay back and relax. Best of all, there is a good local Muslim population. Masjids and halal food are easy to find.
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Things To Do and See
Chiang Mai is a small city, however, despite the small size, you can find many things to do in and outside Chiang Mai. Here are a few I would highly recommend you check out.
Visit an Elephant Sanctuary
No trip to Chiang Mai is complete without a visit to an Elephant Sanctuary. This is the most sought out attraction in Chiang Mai and you will find tourist agents all over the city offering competitive rates.If you have the time and getting up close and personal with elephants is something you are interested in then definitely make time of this.
Here are a few Elephants sanctuaries that are known to provide amazing experiences but also known to take good care of animals.
Money Saving Tip: Rather than booking online, go to one of the many street vendors who are selling tickets. From my research, I noticed they provided more competitive prices and there is room for bargaining.
Sightseeing
My favorite part about Chiang Mai was walking around. Taking in the sights and sounds of the city was an experience like no other. Seeing the locals go about their day to day life, observing the many temples and window shopping were just some of the things I really enjoyed. Chiang Mai has an amazing small city vibe.
Visit Halal Town
Chiang Mai has a dedicated street filled with Halal restaurants. One of the best Khao Soi’s you can have in Chiang Mai is Muslim owned! There is even a Masjid in the area. Drop by Halal Town and meet the local Muslims.
Shop at the Many Day and Night Markets
- Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
- JingJai Market
- Saturday Night Market
- Mueng Mai Market
- Tha Pae Sunday Walking Street
Get a Thai Massage
Thailand is famous for their famous Thai Massages. You will find Thai Massage clinics everywhere. Usually, you can easily find a male or a female masseuse. Some higher-end places will even have private rooms.
Relax at Suan Buak Haad Park
Suan Buak Haad Park is located in the heart of Chiang Mai inside the Old City walls. It’s a clean and family friendly park. There’s a play area for children, workout machinery and a coffee shop. If you’re looking for a place to just relax, then Suan Buak Haad Park is worth the visit.
Where to Pray
Chiang Mai has a decent Muslim population. There are quite a few Masjids scattered all over the city, most of which are outside the Old City walls. Your best option is to find the one that you are closest to when you need to pray. Below is a list of some of the larger Masjids in the area.
Hidayatul Islam Masjid | Directions
Attaqwa Mosque | Directions
Masjid Chang Khlan Chiang Mai | Directions
Where to Eat
Despite the large Muslim population, Halal restaurants are not as abundant as one would think. Furthermore, many places do offer “halal” but sometimes the food contains pork items. This is something I noticed when trying to order from Grab.
However, that is not to say there is nothing available. Halal Town has plenty of Muslim owned, 100% Halal restaurants. Depending where you are staying, you can always take a grab ride and visit the different halal restaurants in the city.
Accommodation
Chiang Mai is notoriously known to be cheap. Accomodation is no diferent. You can find inexpensive places to stay fairly easily, especially if you look for place outside of the Old City walls.
I stayed at the Cozytel and had a great time. It’s a small 3-star hotel with friendly staff. Don’t have high expectations and you’ll be just fine. The washrooms and the rooms are a bit small but since I knew I would only be coming there to sleep, it did not bother my wife or myself. The hotel also provided us with a baby crib for our then 10-month-old.
How to Get Around
From the Airport to Hotel
The easiest way to get to your hotel from the Airport is via the many Taxi/Car counters you’ll see as soon as you exit the arrivals area. There are many inside the airport and all of them offer the same rates. They will ask you to make the payment and will provide you with a slip that you will give to the Cab driver when you exit the airport. It’s safe, economical and no need for haggling!
Within the city
There are multiple of ways of getting around when in Chiang Mai. Walking is a great option. Chiang Mai is small enough for you to walk around and explore. If walking is not an option then the easiest way to get around town is by using the Grab App. Prices are fixed and it’s a very safe option.
Other options that I think are worth trying out at least once for the experience are taking a ride on a Tuk Tuk and also hopping on a traditional Songthaew. You will find the red colored Songthaew all over Chiang Mai. You will likely experience a honk or two from them to get your attention. They drive around the city picking and dropping off people as they go. It’s a cheap option and worth a try at least once.
How to Stay Safe
Chiang Mai is safe. As a Muslim, traveling with my wife and son, I had no problems. The locals were friendly and we did not feel unsafe for being Muslims at any time. You will also come across many other local and foreign Muslims in Chiang Mai.
General Tips
- Eat lots of Mango Sticky Rice. It is a specialty that you will only find easily accessible in Chiang Mai.
- Chiang Mai is very touristy. This means many restaurants and chic Cafe’s are ridiculously expensive. Usually for no good reason. Avoid them and hunt out smaller, family-owned jointed for are more authentic and traditional experience.
- Be careful about where you eat Halal. Some restaurants might claim to be Halal but may have pork items in it. Due your own due diligence.
Fun Facts
- Chiang Mai has a Muslim population of almost 40,000.