Chiang Mai province has enormous choice when it comes to recreational facilities and boasts a multitude of easily accessible tourist and recreational attractions. These include the famous Chiang Mai Zoo and Tribal Research Center in the city center and the many attractions to be found along the so-called 'Samoeng Loop' - which takes in the beautiful scenic areas of Mae Sa and Mae Rim, as well as Samoeng.

The most renowned attractions in these areas being the many splendid orchid farms, butterfly farms, snake farms, elephant camps, botanical gardens, nurseries, antique and handicraft shops.

The Mae Sa Snake Farm is situated at km 3 on the Mae Rim to Samoeng Road. The farm not only displays snakes from all over Thailand, but also regularly carries out in depth studies and research concerning snake breeding. Every day there are an assortment of snake shows put on for the many visitors to the farm. Included in each thirty-minute show are demonstrations of how snake venom is extracted from the various snake species.