Chiang Mai with Kids: Where Thailand Slows Down
After the busy streets, traffic jams and endless energy of Bangkok, arriving in Chiang Mai felt like stepping into a different Thailand.
We had started our Thailand adventure in Bangkok, where every day seemed to bring another adventure. We explored the city with the children, wandered through colourful markets, discovered temples and ate our way through the streets. Read our story about Bangkok with Kids
By the time we left Bangkok, we had already experienced one very lively side of Thailand.
Now it was time for something completely different.
As soon as we arrived in Chiang Mai, we noticed the difference. The pace was slower, the streets felt greener and the mountains in the distance gave the city a completely different atmosphere.
And after the excitement of Bangkok, we realised that this was exactly what we needed.
We hadn’t come to Chiang Mai simply to tick another destination off our itinerary.
We had come to slow down, experience another side of Thailand and give ourselves some time to breathe.
And Chiang Mai immediately felt calmer.
The streets were greener, the pace was slower and there was a wonderful mix of ancient temples, local markets, delicious food and mountains in the distance.
It was exactly what we needed.
We had included Chiang Mai in our Thailand Itinerary because we didn’t want our trip to be only about beaches and cities. After Bangkok, we wanted to experience more of the culture and nature of Thailand before eventually heading south towards the beaches.
Getting to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is easy. You can take a bus, train or plane. Because we were travelling with the children and didn’t have unlimited time, we chose comfort and booked a short flight with Thai Airways.
Just over an hour later, we had traded the busy capital for northern Thailand.
And that change of pace turned out to be very welcome.
Our Chiang Mai adventure didn’t go exactly according to plan
We had actually planned to continue from Chiang Mai to Pai.
Pai sounded amazing. Mountains, waterfalls, beautiful scenery and that famous laid-back atmosphere.
But by the time we arrived in Chiang Mai, we were all pretty tired.
The jet lag was catching up with us, and there was another problem we hadn’t really planned for.
Evelijn had been suffering from motion sickness during a lot of our travelling.
And getting to Pai meant travelling along the famous winding mountain roads.
After seeing how sick Evelijn had already been during some of our journeys, we simply didn’t want to risk putting her through another long, winding drive.
So we made a decision that, as a family, we’ve learned is sometimes necessary when travelling:
We changed the plan.
Instead of going to Pai, we stayed longer in Chiang Mai.
And honestly, we were so glad we did.
We didn’t need another destination. We needed a little more time to slow down.
It also meant we changed hotels during our stay and ended up at the Shangri-La Chiang Mai.
And that turned out to be a very good decision.
The Shangri-La became part of the holiday
The Shangri-La had a huge swimming pool with a slide, which obviously made it an instant favourite with the children.
While they spent time in the pool, we could finally relax a little ourselves.
Around the pool were beautiful, comfortable cabanas where we could sit, enjoy the warmth and simply do nothing for a while.
After all the travelling, that felt like a luxury.
We weren’t rushing to the next attraction.
We weren’t packing our bags for the next destination.
We were just enjoying being in Thailand.
And the children still talk about the kids’ club at the hotel.
They made a fish out of bamboo, did activities and, most importantly, had popcorn.
It’s funny what children remember from travelling.
We might remember the temples, the markets and the elephants.
They remember making a bamboo fish and eating popcorn.
And honestly, that’s one of the things we love about travelling as a family. Everyone comes home with their own version of the trip.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel where you can combine exploring Chiang Mai with some proper downtime, we’d definitely recommend looking at the Shangri-La Chiang Mai.
Shangri-La Chiang Mai – Check prices and availability
Earlier in our stay we also stayed at My Chiang Mai Boutique Lodge, which was a completely different experience but a lovely base for exploring the city.
It had comfortable rooms, a swimming pool and a good location.
My Chiang Mai Boutique Lodge – Book here
If you’re mostly using your hotel as a base while exploring, My Chiang Mai Boutique Lodge is a great option. If you want the hotel itself to become part of your holiday, we’d choose the Shangri-La.
Chiang Mai gave us permission to slow down
And perhaps that’s what we loved most about Chiang Mai.
We didn’t feel like we had to constantly be doing something.
Sometimes we simply wandered through the old town.
We stopped at little cafés, discovered small temples, watched everyday Thai life happening around us and let the children take their time.
After Bangkok, it was wonderful.
And one evening we headed to the famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.
As the sun went down, Chang Klan Road came alive with lights, music, food stalls and local crafts.
We wandered around, looked at souvenirs and, of course, tried plenty of food.
Chiang Mai is famous for its food scene, and markets like this are such a fun way to experience it with children.
You can try something new, share dishes and simply see where the evening takes you.
Don’t leave without trying sticky rice, one of the region’s favourite foods.
And there was one other thing we became very fond of in Chiang Mai:
foot massages.
After all the walking and travelling, sitting down for a traditional Thai foot massage felt like the perfect way to end the day.
The children could relax.
We could relax.
And for a little while, nobody had to think about the next activity.
Just feet up.
It became one of those little holiday rituals that we still remember.
The temples of Chiang Mai
Of course, you can’t visit Chiang Mai without seeing some of its temples.
There are hundreds of temples in and around the city, but with children we didn’t want to spend our entire trip ticking temples off a list.
Instead, we picked a few that really stood out.
Wat Chedi Luang was one of them.
The enormous ancient chedi immediately catches your attention, and walking around the complex feels like stepping back in time.
Monks move between the buildings, people come to pray and there is a peaceful atmosphere despite being right in the middle of the city.
We also loved Wat Umong, the forest temple near the foot of Doi Suthep.
This one felt completely different.
The temple is hidden among the trees and is famous for its ancient tunnels. Walking through the forest, discovering the tunnels and seeing the old ruins made it feel almost like a little adventure.
It was one of those places that reminded us why we love travelling.
You discover somewhere that feels just a little bit magical.
Then came the elephants
One of our biggest highlights in Chiang Mai was visiting Baan Chang Elephant Park.
And this is where I have to admit something.
The children were both excited and scared.
And so was I.
These animals are enormous when you’re standing right next to them.
We had chosen Baan Chang because we wanted an elephant experience where the welfare of the animals was taken seriously. We wanted the children to learn about elephants and experience being close to them without turning the animals into a performance.
We learned about their behaviour and personalities and spent time simply being around them.
And eventually, we got to help wash the elephants.
There was a big pool of water where we stood with the elephants.
It was actually a beautiful experience.
Until one of the elephants decided it was time to…
poop.
In the water.
You cannot imagine how quickly Evelijn left that pool.
She was GONE.
She sprinted out of the water, absolutely disgusted.
Of course, we still wanted a family picture.
Because apparently, getting a family holiday photo sometimes requires a little parental persistence.
So I had to drag her back into the water.
She forced a smile onto her face for the picture.
And the second the photo was taken?
She sprinted straight back out again.
It was hilarious.
She then took a very long shower at the sanctuary.
And when we got back to the hotel, the bikini was absolutely not going to be worn again until it had been properly washed.
Not just rinsed.
Properly washed.
It’s one of those moments that still makes us laugh.
We remember how incredible it was to stand next to the elephants.
We remember how excited we were.
But we also remember Evelijn’s spectacular escape from the elephant pool.
You can book the same experience through our link and receive a 5% discount.
Baan Chang Elephant Park – Book with 5% discount
More things to do in Chiang Mai with kids
If you have more time in Chiang Mai, there is plenty more to do.
You can take a Thai cooking class, watch a Muay Thai boxing match, explore the countryside by bike or visit waterfalls and mountain villages around Chiang Mai.
If you’re visiting on a Sunday, the Sunday Walking Street Market is also worth experiencing. From around 5 pm, the old city fills with food stalls, music and local sellers.
It can be busy and touristy, but we still thought it was a lot of fun.
And if you’re travelling with children, you don’t have to avoid every tourist attraction.
Sometimes the colourful, busy and slightly chaotic places become the memories they talk about for years.
Is Chiang Mai worth visiting with kids?
For us, absolutely.
Chiang Mai gave us something we didn’t realise we needed when we planned our Thailand trip.
Time to slow down.
We arrived tired and jet-lagged.
We had planned to go to Pai but changed our minds because it simply wasn’t right for our family at that moment.
We stayed longer in Chiang Mai instead.
We found a hotel with a huge pool and a kids’ club.
We ate at markets.
We explored temples.
We had foot massages.
We stood next to elephants.
And we laughed a lot.
That is why Chiang Mai has such a special place in our Thailand memories.
It wasn’t about ticking off every attraction.
It was about enjoying where we were.
And that is something we would definitely recommend if you’re planning a Thailand family adventure.
Don’t try to squeeze every possible destination into your itinerary. Thailand has so much to offer that you could easily spend your entire holiday travelling from one place to another.
Sometimes it’s better to stay an extra night.
Sometimes you need to change your plans.
And sometimes the best travel memory is a child sprinting out of an elephant pool because someone pooped in the water. 😂
If you’re planning to combine Chiang Mai with Bangkok and the beaches of southern Thailand, have a look at our 2- Week Thailand Itinerary for the route we followed. If you’re heading south afterwards, our Phuket with Kids guide can help you plan the next part of your adventure.
And if you’re wondering what to eat along the way, our Thailand Food Guide: 25 Must-Try Thai Dishes is a great place to start.
Let us help you plan your Thailand adventure
Planning a family trip to Thailand can feel overwhelming.
How many destinations should you visit?
Where should you stay?
Should you travel by plane, train or car?
How long should you spend in Bangkok?
Is Chiang Mai worth adding?
And which islands actually work well with children?
We’ve travelled through Thailand as a family, made plans, changed plans and learned along the way what works and what doesn’t.
So if you’re dreaming about Thailand but don’t know where to start, we can help you plan it.
Tell us what kind of family holiday you’re looking for, and we’ll help you turn those ideas into a practical itinerary that works for your family.
Because the best family trip isn’t the one where you see everything.
It’s the one where everyone comes home with amazing memories.
Ready to start planning your Thailand adventure? Get in touch with Travelicious we’d love to help you create it.