Chiang Mai Vacations, Chiang Mai Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Chiang Mai Vacation Guide

Thailand is the land of partying, relentless sunshine, beaches and alcohol served by the bucket, right? Well, in most cases you would be, but the northern city of Chiang Mai is an elegant, picturesque, culturally-lively exception, and one most Thai's are extremely proud of.

One of the first places to incorporate Thai self-rule, the old part of the city is guarded by a moat and walls, home to over 300 handsome temples and the peaceful gateway to many a northern jungle adventure. It’s also regarded as something of a chic Thai venue, with a large chunk of the increasingly popular Thai fashion scene's designers first findings their feet here. Chiang Mai is culturally vivacious, but it still hosts an altogether more downbeat take on being Thai than capital Bangkok, or beachside venues like Pattaya.

The temples here are a monster draw, and dominate the picturesque skyline with their sloping roofs and dumbbell spires. Wat Prathat Doi Suithep and its three-hundred-step entry and gushing waterfalls are a superb example; carry on further up the hill and you’ll get to the Phuping Palace and the National Park that surrounds it, home to exotic orchids, a tribal village and fantastic views back down to the city. Back in the center of town, What Chedi Luang – a 91-meter tall pagoda dating back nearly six centuries – is another must see.

While you’re here, it would be criminal to miss out on the astonishing local shopping scene, where handicrafts are both a bargain and the perfect exotic windowsill adornment for back home, or you can just grab a deep-fried insect followed by a soft drink served in a carrier bag to keep you going instead. When you’re done bargain hunting, there’s an ever-growing array of high-end boutique hotels in which to relax in international-class comfort.

It wouldn’t be Chiang Mai, though, without the hikes. Whether you choose to hop on the back of an elephant and walk through the jungle for a bath or clamber to an off-the-beaten track peak after days in the jungle, discovering your own rural Thailand, you can guarantee sites that more than match the infamous beaches, and add an adventurous element to the whole experience, too.