Chiang Mai is an absolute must when visiting Thailand as it is quite different from bustling Bangkok and the beach cities in the south. It’s lush, mountainous and rich in history while having a very spiritual and sacred feel to it. As the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom; the second-oldest Thai Kingdom after the Sukhothai Kingdom, Chiang Mai became a vital cultural and commercial crossroads city between Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Laos and China. A city and region well known for its cuisine, the first Thai culinary recipes, as identified by many ingredients that are still in use today such as lemongrass and galangal, have their roots in culinary use in the north and were perfected in the Chiang Mai royal courts. Needless to say, I had to try as much as I could in this lovely part of Thailand so I could report on all the wonderful vegan Chiang Mai chow!
I started my journey by checking into the Jirung Health Village. Located on the outskirts of town, this health and wellness resort is tucked away into the forest and feels like a real breath of fresh air. Offering everything from meditation to full spa services, detox and weight loss programs, Jirung is a great place to unplug.
The accommodations range from luxury rooms and suites to apartments and villas. I got to experience the beautiful villas and mine was right next to a waterfall so I spent a lot of time on my terrace and soaking tub enjoying it!
Jirung has a lovely dining room that overlooks the tree canopy below as well as a great coffee shop, Snow Buff Cafe (named after their rescued white buffalo!), both of which serve up superb eats no matter what your dietary restrictions. My meals and snacks were great and plentiful, I could have moved in for a month!
The spa services at Jirung are also notable as they treat you based on your element (Fire, Water, Earth, Air). They do a full consult and with every treatment be it a massage to a facial, they use products and techniques that complement your constitution for the best possible result! Cool, huh?
Well, after a few peaceful days at Jirung, it was time to explore the ancient city of Chiang Mai. My guide, Yuri, from Destination Asia, took me all over town from climbing the gorgeous steps to the temple at the top of the mountain to be blessed by a monk to a rickshaw ride through the city center visiting all sorts of temples and sites. Every single one was unique and beautiful.
After packing in so much site seeing, we dined at Paak Dang. A riverside eatery with serene ambiance, the menu was just as grand. Everything on the menu is made from scratch and to order so no matter your dietary restrictions, they can accommodate everyone. Every dish is fresh and full of flavor as they use local, seasonal ingredients and the setting just adds to the pleasant dining experience. I still dream of my vegan pineapple curry!
It goes without saying that I had sweet dreams that night and woke up with a hankering for something sweet and savory. Blue Diamond Breakfast Club was the perfect spot as they had organic coffee, vegan and gluten free baked goods and all sorts of incredible breakfast items. I had my usual vegan latte and devoured my avocado and tempeh sandwich. But I made sure to take some vegan and gluten free passion fruit muffins for a late morning snack!
My afternoon couldn’t have been better as I got to spend the afternoon at the breathtaking Dhara Dhevi resort. The tour of the grounds blew my mind as it was it’s own village within Chiang Mai. 5 gourmet restaurants, beautiful spa, it’s own rice paddy garden and the list goes on. But my favorite part was the Thai cooking class! I loved working with the young budding chef and learning about their local produce and ingredients as it was different than what I had used in Phuket. And might I say, the meal was fantastic! I must recreate it back home!
I’ve still got lots more in Chiang Mai for you so stay tuned!
* Special thanks to Tourism Thailand for the incredible trip!
