Discover The Jewel Of Northern Thailand

After the floating bungalows, Full Moon Parties and tuk tuk rides through Bangkok during a week with ThaIntro, a visit to Chiang Mai offers a sublime adventure in a beautiful city.

A laidback pace mirrored by stunning ancient temples that stand silently in the foothills of Northern Thailand resides next to a vibrant nightlife and social scene that make it one of the world’s best travel destinations.

Chiang Mai is 700 years old, so it’s home to temples, monuments, houses and narrow lanes in a range of conditions, all of which are cherished by locals and respected by visitors. The Old Town is the best place to familiarise yourself with the city’s past, including Wat Pra Singh, Wat Chiang Man and Wat Chedi Luang.

Whether you have room in your luggage or not, you have to check out Chiang Mai’s shopping. From the Night Bazaar Market along Chang Klan Road to the handicraft mecca of Ban Tawai, there are hundreds of unusual and beautiful goods to browse and purchase. With silk scarves, ceramics, antiques, art and more at great price, definitely save your spending for Chiang Mai.

Then there’s the food. An endless stream of street vendors cook and sell food right in front of you for super convenience. From bite-size snacks to curries, you can pick something up and eat as you wander the streets and markets – perfect when there’s so much to see. There are sit-down restaurants both alfresco and with air-conditioning, and the ambience is something they take pride in for the ultimate dining experience.

Chiang Mai is a city surrounded by mountains, jungle and national parks, so it’s a good idea to head outside of the city to where some of its best attractions and experiences lie. Adventurous travellers can enjoy mountain trekking, mountain biking, white water rafting, zip-lining, kayaking and more. There are also elephant camps and sanctuaries that offer rides through the jungle on the back of these beautiful beasts, as well as the chance to bathe and feed them.

It may seem hard to believe when viewing them from afar, but the lush mountains surrounding Chiang Mai are the foundation for hilltribes villages. If hiking around these parts, chances are you’ll come across a village, which allows a precious and eye-opening window into local lifestyle.

You can add on a trip to Chiang Mai after a week with ThaIntro. During these extra four days, you’ll get to trek through the jungle and spend a night with a hill tribe, try bamboo rafting and zip lining, and spend a full day at an elephant sanctuary. This means you get to see even more of Thailand and extend your experience with a great team.

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Images courtesy of Stefan Fussan, Alexander Klink and LannaPhoto