Chiang Mai for $200
Experience a traditional Thai breakfast of parboiled poached eggs or duck egg custard into which you can dip pla tong ko (Chinese style deep fried dough sticks). Head to Cafe Kai Luak on Kong Sai Road. Put aside $10 for your meal, but it should be well under. Next, jump in a Rot Daang — a red truck that functions as shared taxis — and head to some of the city’s ancient highlights. View the exquisite 19th Century wall paintings at Wat Phra Singh, the wooden temple of Wat Phan Tao and the ruins of Wat Chedi Luang. $5 should cover transport, entrance fees and donations. Just around the corner, you’ll find Chiang Mai’s best coffee at Akha Ama, which brews local, direct trade beans. $5 Spend the afternoon taking a relaxing cruise down the Ping River with Mae Ping River Cruise — it departs every hour from the jetty at Wat Chai Mongkol. You’ll take a two-hour journey north out of the city and see the rural sights, before reaching your destination at the Thai Farmer’s House, where you can learn more about local agriculture. You’ll also get to try Chiang Mai’s signature dish for lunch — a delicious bowl of Khao Soi, wheat noodles in a rich curry soup. Prices start at around $25. After your cruise, experience an authentic Thai hot compress massage at one of the most renowned spas in Thailand, the Oasis Spa. A one-hour massage will cost around $55. Go upmarket for dinner and head to Ruen Tamarind, which specialises in Northern Thai delicacies. Dinner and drinks here should set you back around $50 . As the evening gets cooler, go for a stroll around the
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, which is open every night. Pick up some off-budget souvenirs and grab some sticky rice with mango or icecream from a street food stall for dessert. $5 For evening drinks, check out the hipster
Yayee rooftop bar, located on top of the boutique Yayee Hotel. Owned by Thai model and actor Ananda Everingham, it serves a wide selection of drinks, including beers, wine and cocktails. Put aside $30 for a couple of cocktails. Check out some classic Thai kickboxing. Kawila Boxing Stadium is the easiest arena to reach by taxi. Expect a mixed crowd of tourists and locals, and it’s a roll of the dice as to whether you’ll see any decent bouts. Either way, it’s a cheap hour or so of entertainment. $28