A Half-Day Model Course for a Girls' Trip in Chiang Mai: Art, Cafés, and Temples
チェンマイ坂田"My Chiang Mai trip is booked, but I don't have a concrete plan yet — what should I do?"
For you, I — a Chiang Mai local — present the ultimate half-day model course I've refined while showing friends around.
In this article, we visit places to find lovely, quintessentially Chiang Mai souvenirs, a café where you can spend a pleasant time, and a temple with a mystical atmosphere. Do use it to plan your Chiang Mai trip!
Who this article is for
Those unsure what to do in Chiang Mai
Those who want an efficient way to see Chiang Mai's highlights
Those looking for hidden gems that aren't too mainstream
目次
0. The area of this model course
The model course introduced here is on the west side of Chiang Mai city.
It may look a bit far, but it's only about a 10–15 minute drive from the Old Town and Nimmanhaemin area where tourists usually stay. Getting there by taxi is recommended.
For an area-by-area guide to Chiang Mai sightseeing, see here.
The map below shows the model course enlarged.
On this course you'll hunt for one-of-a-kind souvenirs at a craft market called Baan Kang Wat, take a break at No.39 Cafe, pay your respects at the mystical Wat Umong, and finally have dinner at the renowned northern-Thai restaurant Han Thun. Each stop is about a 10-minute walk from the next. You can walk, or if you get tired, a ride-hailing app is recommended.
Assuming you start in the afternoon and allowing for time, the schedule looks like this. Use the suggested durations as a reference and adjust as you like!
13:00 Souvenir hunting at Baan Kang Wat
15:00 A break at No.39 Cafe
16:30 Be enveloped in the mystical space of the meditation temple Wat Umong
18:30 Dinner at the celebrated northern-Thai restaurant "Han Thun"
Now, let me walk you through the highlights of each place!
1. Souvenir hunting at Baan Kang Wat, where tradition meets art (13:00)
Often called the "Kyoto of Thailand," Chiang Mai is a treasure trove of artists' work — handmade clothing, crafts, and more.
Baan Kang Wat in Chiang Mai is a lush eco-village where nature, art, and traditional culture come together. It's perfect for souvenir hunting — just looking around is fun, and it feels like you might stumble upon a fated find.
Drawn first by its cute exterior, we headed to the craft skincare shop "Be ALLA."
The whole group was glued to the many skincare goods!
Next we visited "Kaptoe Store," a shop of cute goods made by a Chiang Mai-born creator.
All kinds of goods line the shelves. A bag with Thai (R-ROI), Japanese ("oishii"), and northern-Thai script is so cute!
Next we visited a candle shop, lined with candles combined with Thai fruits and herbs.
We were thrilled by the distinctive scents you won't find in Japan!
Baan Kang Wat has a lovely atmosphere, like strolling through a little town. There are cute cats, too.
| English name | Baankangwat |
| Thai name | บ้านข้างวัด |
| Hours | 10:00–18:00 (closed Mondays) |
| Web page |
Baan Kang Wat has so much to see. Holding back the urge to linger, we walked on to the next café.
2. A break at No.39 Cafe (15:00)
"No.39 Cafe" is an especially popular café in Chiang Mai. From a hideaway entrance surrounded by an emerald-green pond and green vines, an open, otherworldly space unfolds. You can spend a relaxed time over coffee and cake.
It's also nice that you can enjoy not just coffee but sweets and light meals.
This time we ordered the "Thai-tea roti"!
The sweetness of Thai tea melts just right into the piping-hot roti — addictively good. Roti is sold at street stalls, but Thai-tea-flavored roti is rare, so do give it a try!
A shot with the emerald-green pond in the background. There are many other photo spots too — find your favorite shot!
| English | No.39 Cafe |
| Hours | 8:30～22:00 |
| Link | No.39 Facebook |
Holding back the wish to relax a little longer, we headed to the next destination, "Wat Umong."
3. Enveloped in the mystical space of the meditation temple Wat Umong (16:30)
"Wat Umong" is an ancient temple in the Suthep area, a quiet temple surrounded by dense trees.
It was founded by King Mangrai, the first king of the Lanna dynasty, and later King Anantamikkarat ordered caves dug for meditation practice.
Known as the "temple of caves," it has grown into the practice center "Suan Buddhadham." Visitors can join the meditation program too — a place to reset your mind in a quiet, nature-filled setting.
Entering the cave from the entrance, a truly dreamlike atmosphere drifts around you.
We toured the cave and paid our respects to the Buddha statues.
Atop the cave stands a Burmese-style stupa.
Visiting at sunset is also recommended.
Inside the temple there's even a statue that reminds you of Japan.
Wat Umong is a beloved temple with a quiet, mystical charm on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. Its historical background and nature-surrounded setting make it a must-see for travelers to Chiang Mai, so do go.
| English | Wat Umong |
| Thai | วัดอุโมงค์ สวนพุทธธรรม |
| Hours | 5:00–20:00 (open daily) |
| Link | Website |
4. Dinner at the celebrated northern-Thai restaurant "Han Thun" (18:30)
If you want to savor authentic northern-Thai cuisine in Chiang Mai, "Han Thun" is a must. Selected by Michelin several years running, it offers a rich menu of over 200 dishes — whatever you choose is reliably delicious.
In particular, dishes using fresh vegetables grown in the field right out back change with the day's harvest, so there's a new discovery every visit.
Han Thun sits in a green, nature-rich setting, with open-air tables divided by area.
The triangular-roof area especially has a great atmosphere and is popular. An evening visit is recommended — it gets so busy it fills up as the sun sets.
There's plenty of authentic northern-Thai cuisine. When in doubt, start by ordering "khantoke," a platter packed with the signature dishes of northern Thailand.
You can also try a northern-Thai specialty: red ant egg (khai mot daeng) soup.
"Larb," a Thai dish familiar to Japanese diners, is delicious too.
And Chiang Mai's specialty, khao soi.
| English | Han Teung |
| Thai | ฮ้านถึงเจียงใหม่ |
| Hours | 9:00–20:30 (closed Fridays) |
In closing
Chiang Mai is famous for its distinctive culture, history, and food.
Art-filled "Baan Kang Wat," the hideaway "No.39 Cafe," the history-steeped "Wat Umong," and "Han Thun" for authentic northern-Thai cuisine are the perfect spots to experience Chiang Mai's many faces.
Each represents a different charm of Chiang Mai, and visiting them lets you touch the city's deeper appeal. Walk the streets of Chiang Mai, feel its history, enjoy the local flavors, and make unforgettable travel memories.
If anything in this article is unclear, feel free to reach out below.
Other model courses are here
ManiTabi 
チェンマイ観光モデルコース：旧市街＋西エリアの1日プラン
チェンマイ観光の初心者向けモデルコースを紹介。旧市街や西エリアを巡り、有名寺院からチェンマイならではの地元のグルメを満喫する1日
Bonus
Chiang Mai area map
Getting a rough grasp of the areas before your Chiang Mai trip makes it even more enjoyable!
Recommended apps for traveling in Thailand
Before traveling to Chiang Mai, we recommend downloading the following apps.
Chiang Mai food
Our 50 recommended spots — compiled from what the author gathered firsthand, on foot and by taste — are here 👇
Experience local life
This site, "Mani Tabi," is a travel service offering "real local-life experiences."
Based in Chiang Mai, Thailand's ancient capital, we create unique tours that value interaction with locals and contact with nature.
If you've grown tired of the standard tourist spots or want to know Chiang Mai more deeply, check out the tours below!
■ Beginner-friendly day-trip to 1-night tours
【少数民族ツアー】自然と共生するカレン族の暮らし体験
チェンマイの自然豊かなカレン族の村で、少数民族の伝統的な暮らしや自然を感じるツアー。料理からハーバルサウナ、染色体験も楽しめます！
■ Tours for those wanting a deeper 1- to 2-night experience
Feel free to contact us via the inquiry form below or our official WhatsApp.
