1. Ride an elephant

There are more than 20 elephant parks close to Chiang Mai. Enjoy bamboo river rafting, watch the elephants play soccer and paint, take a lumbering elephant trek or even a traditional ox-cart ride. See maetamanelephantcamp.com

2. Visit the Night Bazaar

Crowded pavements make stroller access difficult but children who can bear walking for an hour or so will enjoy the action. For dinner, try Lemongrass restaurant on Loi-Kroh Rd.

3. Take time out in a café.

A family could try out a new coffee house or café every day for a year in Chiang Mai. Children will love the coconut milk or fruit-based smoothies which cost $1-$2.

4. Eat Thai Style

Explore Warorot, Sanpakoi or Somphet markets for fresh fruit, delicious local sticky rice and other goodies. Find a stall selling Som Tam (Salty and sweet papaya salad). Plain sticky rice suits fussy children – ours loved spring rolls and soups, grilled lemongrass chicken and pork buns. Say “mai sai prihk” – no chilli – and “mai sai pong chulot” – no MSG.

5. Tweechol Botanic Garden

Fill an afternoon at this recreational park with paddle boats, giant whimsical topiary animals, a petting zoo and bikes for hire. There is a café playground and beautiful public swimming pool on site. About $15. See tweecholbotanicgarden.com.

6. Handicraft villages

Our girls were fascinated by traditional “saa paper” being made from bark pulp, then transformed into the beautifully painted parasols for which the Bo Sang region is famous. Other handicrafts showcased and sold in the area include silk, silver, rugs and teak furniture. See absolutelyfantasticholidays.com

7. Chiang Mai Night Safari

Families can pat exotic animals such as white tigers and Malagasy lemurs, then ride on open-air buses to watch and feed hippopotamus, elephants, zebras and other animals. From $55 for a family of four. See chiangmainightsafari.com

8. Chiang Mai Zoo

A sprawling, clean affair, with a diverse combination of animals. About $10 a family of four, more to see the pandas, walk South-East Asia’s longest tunnel aquarium or have a mid-Thailand “snow” experience. See chiangmaizoo.com

9. Mae Klang Waterfall

About 30 minutes’ drive from the city. Safe and clean for a free afternoon of paddling in rock pools with local kids.

10. Trek to visit the hill tribes

An authentic trekking experience that suits families rather than 20-year-old backpackers is available through Villa Anneloi. Stay at the B&B or with Belgian Annelore and her husband, Loi, who is from the local Karen hill tribe, and their three boys in a homestay environment. Custom-tailored camping treks for families with children from four years. See villa-anneloi.com

 

Source: escape.com.au