I mentioned that there are many, many temples in Chiang Mai. But the most famous one, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, is actually just outside the city. It’s worth the trek.
There are a few ways to get there, but sadly, it’s a bit too far out of the city for public transit to be an option.
The easiest (and probably the cheapest, especially if you’re traveling solo or in a group of two or three) is via a songthaew that just goes back and forth between the city and Doi Suthep. I think you can find these at various points throughout the city, but the one I took picked everyone up from the 7-Eleven just across from the North Gate.
You don’t have to book in advance (though you might be waiting a while for them to gather up the requisite ten people if you don’t come at a peak time), and it costs sixty baht each way (just about $2.50 Canadian).
I will say that the ride, which goes up winding mountain roads to get to the temple, made me feel profoundly car sick — but then I get motion sickness very easily, so that’s not something a normal person will have to worry about.
The temple itself isn’t particularly mind-blowing (and as you can tell from the photos, it’s crazy popular), but it’s definitely more impressive than the ones I saw in the city, so if you have some time, it’s worth checking out.
I actually took a video walking around the temple, which gives you an idea of what it’s like (and what the crowds are like early in the afternoon on a Saturday).
You can also take off your shoes and check out the inner part. No video here; it was a bit too packed. But this was probably the most impressive part.
Location: Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
How to find it: See above for the easiest (and cheapest) way to get there.