Outdoors · Chiang Mai · Thailand
6 best outdoor things to do in Chiang Mai
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kingkidton, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls, Wat Umong and Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 16–22 hours across 5 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 16–22 hours
- Areas
- Old City, Doi Suthep foothills and Doi Suthep
Outdoors in Chiang Mai
Historic site · Old City
1.Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls
Walk or cycle the moat in the early morning; the gate's square hosts events at Songkran and Loy Krathong.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Religious site · Doi Suthep foothills
2.Wat Umong
Combine it with Baan Kang Wat artists' village, a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Doi Suthep
3.Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail
Start early, wear proper shoes and carry water; the trail is marked with orange monk's robes tied to trees.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Experience · Mae Taeng
4.Elephant Nature Park
Choose a sanctuary with no riding or bathing shows, and book a day visit that includes transport from your hotel.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Zoo · Doi Suthep foothills
5.Chiang Mai Zoo
Use the tram or a golf cart for the steep sections, and go in the morning before the heat.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · Mae Rim
6.Huay Tung Tao Lake
Go on a weekday afternoon and order food to your hut; bring sun protection.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
- Food
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old City | Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls | 1 hour |
| Doi Suthep foothills | Wat Umong and Chiang Mai Zoo | 1 hour + Half a day |
| Doi Suthep | Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail | 2–4 hours |
| Mae Taeng | Elephant Nature Park | Full day |
| Mae Rim | Huay Tung Tao Lake | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 3 free, 1 low cost, 1 mid-priced, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Elephant Nature Park. The longest visit is Elephant Nature Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Elephant Nature Park: Visits must be booked in advance and sell out in high season.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Old City and Doi Suthep foothills): Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls → Wat Umong, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Doi Suthep foothills): Chiang Mai Zoo, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Doi Suthep): Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Mae Taeng): Elephant Nature Park, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Mae Rim): Huay Tung Tao Lake, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- December: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 1 rainy days, very busy crowds. Sunny days and cool nights; the busiest and most expensive time, with Thai holidaymakers heading to the mountains.
- January: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 1 rainy days, very busy crowds. Sunny, dry days and cool nights, colder in the mountains; peak season with clear skies.
- February: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm and dry; the flower festival brings parades, though haze from burning may begin late in the month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Old City — Temple-filled square inside the moat, with guesthouses and quiet sois
- Mae Rim — Countryside resorts in the hills north of the city
More of Chiang Mai
All things to do in Chiang Mai · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Chiang Mai?
Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls. The rebuilt brick gate on the eastern side of the moat is the old city's best-known landmark and a meeting point for festivals and markets.
+Which of these are free in Chiang Mai?
Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls, Wat Umong and Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail.