Chiang Mai Monday Dec 15

Monday Dec 15 2025 - Chiang Mai

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STEPS

WEATHER

TOUR DAY 20 1/2 day tour

ITALICS TOUR DESCRIPTION

In the morning, after breakfast, you will meet your local guide for your half-day tour of Chiang Mai. Starting at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, one of the most sacred temples in northern Thailand, containing a holy relic of the Lord Buddha, you will get exhilarating views of Chiang Mai and its surrounding countryside. Driving back to the city, you will visit Wat Suan Dok, a temple erected in the late 14th century by the local monarchy. Nowadays, it houses several white Chedis, all containing ashes of Chiang Mai’s former royal family, and it features one of the most famous monk schools in the whole locality of Chiang Mai. Finally, you will reach Wat Jedyod, also known as the “Temple of the Seven Spires," a very unusual temple building built in the 15th century. Lunch time and afternoon free. (Breakfast)

We were up early for the buffet breakfast as our city tour started at 8 am. Our drive would take us to the temple on the mountain. The drive took about 45 minutes.

When we arrived we waited to take funicular to the temple.

Our first stop was the white elephant. In Buddhism it symbolizes purity, wisdom, spiritual power and the Buddha's destiny. According to Buddhist tradition, Queen Maya, the Buddhist's mother dreamed that a magnificent white elephant descended from the heavens, holding a lotus flower in its trunk. The elephant circled her three times and then entered her womb. This dream was interpreted by sages as a sign that she would give birth to a great being—either a world‑ruling king or an enlightened teacher.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple is doubtless Chiang Mai’s most venerated temple on the mountain called Doi Suthep. It is a sacred site for most Chiang Mai people. The temple is about 15 km from the city of Chiang Mai. From the temple, you have a fantastic view over Chiang Mai. The temple is said to have been founded in 1383. It is believed that the temple houses the relic shoulder bone of Siddhartha Gautama the first Buddha. Over time the temple has expanded and looks more extravagant with many more holy shrines added. Followers of the Monk Kruba Srivichai constructed a road to the temple in 1935. Doi Suthep mountain became a national park in 1981. The three main peaks are Doi Suthep, Doi Pui and Doi Buakha.

  

The buddha is the story of a 6th century BCE prince named Siddhartha Gautama from Nepal whose father wanted him to become a great king; shielding him from all suffering, surrounding him with luxury and comfort. Siddhartha eventually left the palace and encountered an old man, a sick man, and a corpse. These experiences shattered his illusion of a perfect world and awakened a deep spiritual crisis. At 29, he left the palace, wife and newborn, to seek a solution to human suffering. After years of study and austerity, he adopted a balanced approach between indulgence and mortification. Sitting beneath the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, he meditated deeply and attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha. 

Our guide took us to the viewpoints at the temple overlooking Chiang Mai. The temple sits about 1000 meters offering breathtaking panoramic views of Chiang Mai.

It was now time to leave and continue on our city tour. Since we had taken the funicular up the mountain, we were going to walk down the 348 steps of the naga staircase. The stairs represent the path of enlightenment; the rising from the human world and the ascending toward spiritual awakening and entering the presence of the Buddha's relic.(which Doi Suthep enshrines).

The naga serpents at the entrance and exits guard the boundaries of holy spaces. Their presence marks the transition between the ordinary world and the sacred  realm of the temple.

 

We got back in the van and headed for the remainder of our city tour. We were going to the Wat Chiang Man temple in the old city. It is considered to be the oldest temple and one of the most important. This temple was built in 1296-1297 BCE by King Mangrai, the founder of Chiang Mai. It was the first temple constructed in the new capital and sits on the site of the king’s former residence while he built the city. 

Chedi Chang Lom(Elephant Chedi) is the oldest structure in the complex. It is the first temple of Chiang Mai and home to some of the city's oldest Buddha images.

The next temple on the same site was Wihan (assembly hall) to see the Crystal Buddha, or Phra Sae Tang Khamani. The “Crystal Buddha” at Wat Chiang Man is one of the most historically important images in all of Chiang Mai. It’s small, ancient, and deeply revered. A small seated Buddha image carved from clear quartz crystal. Housed in a special shrine inside Wat Chiang Man. Considered one of the oldest Buddha images in Chiang Mai.  

These buddhas relate to the day of birth. Jackie was born on a Thursday and John on a Sunday.

Following this, we were taken to a food and flower market not far from our hotel.

We then walked through Chinatown and took a long meandering route back to our hotel taking about 30 minutes. When we visited the night market, we found Chinatown, where we were in the morning, only five minutes from hotel. 

Once back at our hotel, it was late lunch time, so we headed out to find a restaurant. Cafe De Siam was just down the street and had been recommended, so we stopped in for a bite. We ordered a couple beers, fried pork with rice, money bags (Dumpling deep fried with pork) and chicken satay(skewered).

After lunch we wandered and decided to head toward the old city. We came across another temple called Wat Dok Kham Wat Dokkham Temple) hidden behind a wall. Wat Dok Kham is a beautiful and peaceful temple near Chiang Mai’s Thapae Gate. It is small but has stunning architecture and well-kept grounds. The atmosphere is calm, making it a great place to relax, meditate, or take a break from the busy city. The temple has a long history, dating back to 1783, which adds to its charm. Because it is close to the city center, it is easy to visit while exploring Chiang Mai. Whether you are interested in history, spirituality, or just want to enjoy a quiet place, Wat Dok Kham is worth visiting.

Continuing on our walk, we came across several murals which I will cover later. Jackie  is fascinated with the monks, as such I photographed a monk walking along the old city wall. We stopped for sundaes whereby I had a scoop salted caramel and pistachio. Jackie had mango.

Then we headed back to our hotel. It was extremely hot so we decided to have a drink at the hotel bar. I had a tequila sunrise and Jackie had a gin and tonic. 

We had a late lunch at 3 pm so we decided to call it a day. We headed back to our room where Jackie read and I watched videos that I had downloaded on my phone prior to leaving home.