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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 an abundant Chiang Mai fruit cart with mango, mangosteen, rambutan, dragon fruit, durian and a young coconut, vendor slicing fruit
Food & coffee · June 17, 2026

A guide to Thai fruit: what to try in Chiang Mai

Cheap, abundant and ridiculously good — fruit is one of the daily joys of Chiang Mai. Here's what to try, when it's in season, and how to eat it like a local.

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Lanna-style illustration of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, its golden chedi and naga staircase on a forested mountain above Chiang Mai
Things to do · June 17, 2026

A weekend at Doi Suthep

The golden temple watching over Chiang Mai is the easiest unforgettable morning you can have from the house. Here's exactly how we'd do it.

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Lanna-style illustration of a family gently feeding bananas to a calm elephant at an ethical sanctuary, with a waterfall, jungle and a temple behind
Practical tips · June 17, 2026

Chiang Mai with kids: a family guide

Safe, relaxed, cheap and full of elephants and waterfalls — Chiang Mai is one of Asia's easiest cities for a family. Here's how to do it with kids in tow.

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Lanna-style illustration of the Sunday Walking Street night market in Chiang Mai's old city, lantern-lit stalls and street food by Tha Phae Gate
Local culture · June 16, 2026

The Sunday Walking Street: Chiang Mai's best market

Every Sunday evening the old city closes to traffic and fills with stalls, lanterns and street food. It's our favourite way to spend a Sunday night.

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Lanna-style illustration of San Kamphaeng hot springs with a steaming geyser, people soaking their feet and lowering egg baskets, gardens and misty mountains
Things to do · June 16, 2026

San Kamphaeng Hot Springs: an easy soak near Chiang Mai

Geysers, a warm foot-soaking stream and baskets of eggs you boil in the spring — San Kamphaeng is the easiest hot-springs escape from the city. Here's the guide.

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Lanna-style illustration of a small herd of elephants, including a baby, roaming freely in a green jungle valley near Chiang Mai
Things to do · June 15, 2026

Meeting elephants in Chiang Mai, ethically

Meeting elephants is on almost everyone's list. How you do it matters enormously — here's how to choose a genuinely ethical place, and what to expect.

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Lanna-style illustration of a helmeted cyclist riding a country lane between green rice paddies with Doi Suthep mountain and a golden temple behind
Things to do · June 15, 2026

Cycling & mountain biking in Chiang Mai

Flat rice-field lanes one morning, a lung-busting mountain climb the next — Chiang Mai is one of Asia's best cycling bases. Here's where to ride and how.

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Lanna-style illustration of the lush green Chiang Mai valley with rice paddies, mountains and Doi Suthep temple under a soft monsoon sky
Practical tips · June 14, 2026

When to visit Chiang Mai (and when to skip it)

Most of the year, Chiang Mai is wonderful. But there's one season we'll honestly tell you to plan around. Here's how to pick your months.

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Lanna-style illustration of hikers and a local guide on a jungle mountain trail with a waterfall and misty layered mountains in the distance
Things to do · June 14, 2026

Hiking & trekking around Chiang Mai

Forest trails above the city, hill-tribe homestays deep in the jungle, and Thailand's highest peaks — Chiang Mai is a trekking paradise. Here's how to do it well.

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Lanna-style illustration of the Yi Peng lantern festival in Chiang Mai at night, glowing sky lanterns rising over a temple with floating krathong on the river
Local culture · June 13, 2026

Yi Peng: the Chiang Mai lantern festival

Once a year the sky over Chiang Mai fills with golden lanterns. If you can time your stay for it, do — here's what the lantern festival actually is.

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Lanna-style illustration of a Northern Thai khantoke feast on a teak pedestal tray — curries, herb sausage, chili dips and a basket of sticky rice
Food & coffee · June 12, 2026

Northern Thai food: what to eat beyond khao soi

You came for the khao soi. Stay for everything else — the North has a whole table of dishes most visitors never try. Here's your order.

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Lanna-style illustration of the Pai valley, green rice fields with a bamboo bridge winding to misty mountains and simple huts
Things to do · June 11, 2026

Pai: a slow mountain escape from Chiang Mai

When Chiang Mai feels too fast (it won't, but bear with us), Pai is the answer — a tiny mountain town built for doing very little, beautifully.

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