Top 5 Rainy Season Activities in Chiang Mai
The rainy season in Chiang Mai typically lasts from June to October with the peak in August and September. People typically ask whether a visit to Chiang Mai is worthwhile in the rainy season and whether its possible to do day trips. The answer is definitely a yes! It is actually a beautiful time to visit the region with clean clear air, lush verdant forests and waterfalls being all the more impressive during this time. The temperature hovers around 30-33 degrees C (90 degrees F) and after a downpour can cool down significantly bringing a welcome respite to the hot weather.
The weather can be unpredictable, weather apps will generally say chances of rain are high every day but showers can be very localized so one area can be totally dry and down the road soaking wet. Rain tends to fall in the afternoon / evenings, so day trips are often unaffected but it’s not unusual to drizzle for a day or more, equally so its not unusual to remain dry for days on end so it shouldn’t be a reason to put of a visit to Chiang Mai. Some activities are certainly more suited to rainy season in Chaing Mai so let’s take a look at the top 5 rainy season activities in Chiang Mai!
Adrenaline Fueled Fun with Chiang Mai Mountain Bike Tours
Let’s start with the obvious! Mountain biking in Chiang Mai during the rainy season is amazing fun. Often you’re sitting atop the clouds with some breathtaking vistas and the steamy jungle creates an amazing atmosphere as you descend the mountain. Trailhead Thailand offers the best bikes in Chiang Mai, fully capable of handling the conditions, with full suspension as standard, dropper posts to make descending easier and chunky tires to handle the wet mud. Our café even has a shower so you can clean up while we prepare a drink upon your return. Learn more about our full day Chiang Mai mountain biking tours here https://www.trailhead.co.th/full-day-8-hr/
Immerse Yourself in Nature with Trekking in Doi Inthanon
Trekking in Chiang Mai is amazingly popular for good reason, there is an abundance of areas to explore with a variety of highlights such as highland villages, unique flora and fauna and beautiful landscapes. The jungle comes alive in the rainy season with a cacophony of animal sounds emanating from the forest interior. Trailhead Thailand offers a number of trekking tours in Chiang Mai with perhaps the Waterfall Wanderer being the most popular in rainy season. As the name suggests, the trekking tour includes stops at a number of amazing waterfalls varying in sizes, all the more impressive after a downpour! Don’t take our word for it though, TravelMag included The Doi Inthanon tour as one of the top 5 day trips from Chiang Mai! Check out the full day hiking tours from Trailhead Thailand here https://www.trailhead.co.th/full-day-hiking-tours-in-chiang-mai/
Serve Up Tasty Treats with a Cooking School in Chiang Mai
Ok, so it’s been raining all day and night and you really don’t want to head outside! Fear not because you can keep yourself occupied with a fun half day tour at a cooking school in Chiang Mai. Learn about some of the local herbs and spices which make Thai food so fragrant and delicious and cook several courses of classic dishes before the best part – eating them! A relaxing morning or afternoon at a cooking school is a great way to spend time with family and friends and learning a little about what is arguably the best food in the world (in our opinion anyway!) Trailhead Thailand recommends Asia Scenic, which is a friendly family owned business in the heart of the old town with experienced and caring teachers. Visit http://www.asiascenic.com/ for more information.
A Visit to an Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai
Top of most visitors list when visiting Chiang Mai is a visit to an elephant sanctuary – regardless of season. The most difficult decision to make is whether the sanctuary is an ethical one and we recommend doing some research online before making a decision as the term ‘eco’ is bandied around with little understanding or consideration as to what exactly is eco about the attraction. Whilst a portion of a visit to an elephant sanctuary will be outdoors, a rain jacket should suffice to ensure you’ll enjoy the experience. Some attractions will have covered areas so don’t be put off by the rainy season in Chiang Mai when visiting an elephant sanctuary. Our pick of most ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai goes to Kanta, a long established sanctuary allowing visitors the chance to spend quality time with elephants, whilst maintaining minimal disruption to their lives. Visit https://kantaelephantsanctuary.com/ for more information.
Experience the Finest Rafting in Northern Thailand
When is the best time to go rafting in Chiang Mai? The rainy season of course! Whilst rafting is possible in the dry season in inflatable kayaks, the river comes alive in the wet season with class 3 and IV rapids in several sections of the 10km route. The best white water rafting in Chiang Mai takes place on the Teang river, just over an hour north of the old town with the action along a beautiful stretch of water with large protruding rocks and thick forest either side of the river. There are several operators on this stretch of water but our recommendation is 8Adventures with their impeccable safety standards, top quality gear and most experienced guides in the business. Visit https://8adventures.com/whitewater-rafting-chiang-mai/rafting-10km/ for more information.
Bonus Mention! Kayaking tour in Chiang Mai
You’re going to get wet anyway so why not join a kayaking tour in Chiang Mai! There’s nothing quite like kayaking across a placid lake with it pouring down. Kayaking offers the opportunity to explore unique regions of Chiang Mai that are not accessible by any other means of transport and Trailhead Thailand even offer multi day kayaking and camping tours for a truly unique experience. Trailhead Thailand is the only company in Thailand offering tours on the amazing Oru folding kayak so find out more here and book your rainy season kayaking tour today.
We hope our list of top 5 rainy season activities in Chiang Mai helps and get in touch with any questions!