The Ada House journal

Stories from Chiang Mai

Local culture, hidden corners and practical tips — from the people who actually live here.

Lanna-style illustration of a week of Chiang Mai highlights — golden temples, misty mountains, lantern-lit night markets and a steaming bowl of khao soi

Things to do · June 24, 2026

One week in Chiang Mai: the perfect 7-day itinerary

Seven days, no rush. A first week in Chiang Mai that balances temples and mountains with cooking classes, markets and a slow morning or two.

Lanna-style illustration of people sharing tea and conversation around a low teak table in a Chiang Mai garden

Move here · June 24, 2026

How to make friends in Chiang Mai: a guide for newcomers

Landing somewhere new and not knowing a soul is the universal nomad fear. Here's how Chiang Mai turns strangers into your crew — faster than you'd think.

Lanna-style illustration of Chiang Mai handicrafts — hand-painted paper umbrellas, silverware, a loom with woven silk, and carved teak

Local culture · June 24, 2026

Lanna handicrafts: meaningful Chiang Mai souvenirs

Skip the fridge magnets. Chiang Mai still makes things by hand worth carrying home — and the people who make them are easier to find than you'd think.

Lanna-style illustration of highland ethnic communities of northern Thailand with their handwoven textiles and silver, rendered with dignity

Local culture · June 24, 2026

The hill tribes of northern Thailand: who they are, and how to visit with respect

The highlands around Chiang Mai are home to peoples with their own languages, dress and histories. They are neighbours, not attractions.

Lanna-style illustration of laptops, coffee cups and a fingerprint door lock arranged around a teak coworking desk

Move here · June 24, 2026

Coworking spaces in Chiang Mai: where nomads get work done

Chiang Mai didn't become a nomad capital by accident. Here's where to actually plug in, get focused, and meet your people.

Lanna-style illustration of Chiang Mai festivals — floating lanterns, water splashing and flower floats

Local culture · June 24, 2026

A year of Chiang Mai festivals: when to visit for the best ones

Chiang Mai throws some of Thailand's best festivals. Time your visit right and you'll see the city at its most alive.

Lanna-style illustration of a pale sun dimmed behind soft haze over the Chiang Mai valley, mountains fading into a smoky horizon

Practical tips · June 24, 2026

Chiang Mai's burning season: an honest guide to the smoke

For a few weeks each spring, the air here turns genuinely bad. We'd rather tell you the truth and help you plan than pretend it away.

Lanna-style illustration of a traveller buying a SIM card at a small Chiang Mai phone stall, with soft wifi-wave motifs and green mountains behind

Practical tips · June 23, 2026

SIM cards, eSIMs & internet in Chiang Mai

Good news for remote workers: Chiang Mai is one of the easiest, cheapest places on earth to get online. Here's how to sort your SIM, eSIM and wifi.

Lanna-style illustration of Mae Kampong mountain village in mist, wooden houses on a forested hillside, a stream-side shrine and a waterfall

Things to do · June 23, 2026

Mae Kampong: a misty mountain village near Chiang Mai

An hour up into the hills, the air turns cool and the pace slows right down. Mae Kampong is the easiest escape from the city into mountain Thailand.

Lanna-style illustration of a digital nomad working on a laptop in a leafy Chiang Mai café with plants, Thai coffee and Doi Suthep mountain behind

Move here · June 23, 2026

Why Chiang Mai is the digital nomad capital

Cheap, connected, friendly and now visa-friendly: Chiang Mai has topped digital-nomad lists for over a decade. Here's the honest case for why — and the catches.

Lanna-style illustration of the jagged limestone peak of Doi Luang Chiang Dao rising over misty forest with a cave-temple entrance at its foot

Things to do · June 22, 2026

Chiang Dao: caves, a limestone giant & quiet mountain air

A dramatic limestone mountain, a sacred cave lit by lanterns, and valley air so quiet you can hear yourself think. Chiang Dao is the city's great reset.

Lanna-style illustration of a Chiang Mai market stall where a customer pays by phone QR, a smiling vendor and baskets of produce under warm lantern light

Move here · June 22, 2026

Money & banking in Chiang Mai: cash, cards & ATMs

Cash is still king, ATMs charge a sting, and QR is everywhere — but not always for visitors. Here's how to handle money in Chiang Mai without overpaying.