The Ada House journal
Stories from Chiang Mai
Local culture, hidden corners and practical tips — from the people who actually live here.
Learn a little Thai: phrases that go a long way
You don't need fluent Thai — just a handful of phrases to transform how you're welcomed. Here's the starter kit, food words first, plus where to learn more.
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Gyms & staying fit in Chiang Mai
Cheap gyms, world-class Muay Thai and a moat you can run laps around — keeping fit here is genuinely easy. Here's the lay of the land for a long stay.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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