Once the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai is tucked into the hills of northern Thailand where ornate temples sit beside bustling night bazaars full of culinary delicacies and handcrafted goods from local artisanal makers. The cosmopolitan city and its vicinity encompass over 1.2 million people, but it feels significantly calmer than its sister to the south, Bangkok. Chang Mai is surrounded by emerald countryside where idyllic rice fields and lush tropical forests meet serene stre...
Once the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai is tucked into the hills of northern Thailand where ornate temples sit beside bustling night bazaars full of culinary delicacies and handcrafted goods from local artisanal makers. The cosmopolitan city and its vicinity encompass over 1.2 million people, but it feels significantly calmer than its sister to the south, Bangkok. Chang Mai is surrounded by emerald countryside where idyllic rice fields and lush tropical forests meet serene streams and cascading waterfalls. Much like most of Thailand, Chiang Mai is very gay-friendly. Although gay marriage is not yet legal in Thailand it has one of the most visible LGBTQ+ populations in Asia.
Chiang Mai's queer population is prolific, and there are numerous LGBTQ+ establishments throughout the city that range from relaxed dive bars where karaoke is king to club kid-filled discos to raunchy "boy bars" where gyrating Thai men will sure to entertain you throughout the night. If you're looking to relax after a long night of debauchery, Chiang Mai is known for its male-for-male massage parlors and gay bathhouses.
