What to Wear in Chiang Mai

Packing for Chiang Mai means dressing for three different environments in a single day: humid tropical sunshine at midday inside the Old City moat, strict modesty rules inside dozens of working Buddhist monasteries, and surprisingly chilly mountain air if you head up to Doi Suthep at dawn or Doi Inthanon.

Temple-ready clothing and slip-on footwear

• Covered shoulders and knees by default: because you will pass an inviting temple every two blocks inside the Old City, it is much easier to dress temple-ready from the morning rather than carrying spare wraps. Loose linen or cotton trousers, long culottes, midi skirts and lightweight short-sleeved shirts keep you cool while meeting every monastery dress code; thin spaghetti straps, vests, short shorts and see-through sarongs are turned away at main gates such as Wat Phra Singh and Doi Suthep.
• Easy slip-on sandals or loafers (plus socks): you must remove your shoes at the foot of the steps before entering every temple assembly hall (viharn), as well as many independent cafés, massage parlours and craft shops. Choose supportive walking sandals or slip-on canvas trainers without fiddly laces, and keep a thin pair of cotton socks in your bag because sun-baked temple courtyard tiles can get hot by early afternoon.

Highland layers, elephant sanctuary gear and seasonal extras

If you visit between November and February, pack a lightweight fleece, sweatshirt or packable windbreaker: early mornings on a red songthaew up Doi Suthep are brisk, and the summit boardwalk at Doi Inthanon (2,565 metres) regularly drops into single digits at sunrise. For a day at an ethical elephant sanctuary or hiking the Monk's Trail to Wat Pha Lat, bring closed-toe trail trainers that can handle red forest mud, quick-drying trousers, high-factor sunscreen and DEET or picaridin mosquito repellent for shaded jungle streams. Travelling between May and October? Slip a compact umbrella or light rain poncho into your daypack for late-afternoon showers. Check seasonal weather before you fly.