Northern Thailand

You will probably know all about the wonderful beaches in the south of Thailand and the beautiful temples, pagodas, floating markets and canals too. The north of Thailand has something magical about it and you can find many activities for those having an adventurous side to them. Elephant trekking, four wheeled off road fun and white water rafting are among the activities to include on an itinerary. The north has a wonderful climate, more Mediterranean in its temperatures and without the high humidity. It is still 28 degrees in winter during the day so Christmas and New Year is a great time to go. A jumper or thin jacket will be needed for the chillier evenings of around 16 degrees. It is great trekking country but you don’t have to walk for miles to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. There are many waterfalls and parks as well as elephant talent shows. The hill tribe villages in the mountains are well worth a visit. The tribes emigrated from China over 100 years ago and each tribe has its own farming speciality and language too.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai or ‘New City’ is the capital of the north and the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Lanna. The old walled city with its picturesque moat is perfect for spending a few hours walking and absorbing the long history of Chiang Mai with its many temples. Doi Suthep is a mountain reached by road from Chiang Mai zoo at the base of the mountain. One of the most important temples in Chiang Mai, Wat Prathat, is located at the top of Doi Suthep. The views of Chiang Mai from the top are spectacular and make the journey well worth the effort but avoid the Buddhist holiday days as it is a major pilgrimage site and the road to the the temple at the top can be busy. Excursion agents in Chiang Mai can arrange tours to make it a relaxing experience. A great Thai tradition at the weekend is to close a complete street and adorn both sides of the road with market stalls selling souvenirs, local crafts and, of course, food. Walking Street in Chiang Mai is open every Saturday and Sunday from around 4pm to midnight on the Wualai Road (Saturday) and Ratchadamnoen Road (Sunday). Also, there is the Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road. Open daily and situated in the heart of the city, the Night Bazaar is surrounded by very decent, inexpensive restaurants, massage shops and even an Irish pub. There is a stage too, so you may catch some traditional dancing or a band. Imagine spending the Western New Year sitting outside a nice restaurant watching the celebration fireworks at midnight whist tucking into a large plate of freshly cooked 20cm prawns. If you fancy a real Lanna evening with traditional Lanna food, elegant dance and sword dancing then head for Khum Khantoke which is east of the city and near to the North Western University on the Superhighway to Lampang. It is not expensive (around 600 Baht excluding drinks) and you will be able to be photographed with girls in traditional costume (frame and photo is 200 Baht). It’s a great evening and you will get the chance to eat whilst sitting cross-legged and be asked to participate in the dances but thankfully not the sword ones. The photo is a great souvenir too. A pleasant day trip out of the city amid beautiful scenery en- route is to the Bo Sang umbrella village 10km to the east of Chiang Mai towards Lamphun on San Kamphaeng Road. The paper and silk umbrellas are hand painted with beautiful colourful designs and make great souvenirs. There are many craft stalls and shops in this area too. Having established that children are not too interested in umbrellas, even when exquisitely painted, they will certainly enjoy the nearby San Kamphaeng Hot Springs 4km away. A great picnic spot for eating lunch, there are eggs for sale with instructions on how long to leave them in the water depending how hard you like your boiled egg. Just relax with your feet in the hot spring whilst the children have their own version of Songkran in the water. Something both adults and children will like is the zoo at Chiang Mai which has over 400 species of animals. With a walk-through aviary and aquarium, there are animals as diverse as fur seals to giraffe and giant catfish. The government of China donated a pair of Giant Panda in 2004 as a gift to celebrate HM the Queen of Thailand’s birthday. In May 2009, the product of artificial insemination, a new Panda cub was the first to be born in Thailand. The zoo is situated in over 200 acres so there is plenty of space for the animals to roam in natural surroundings. The zoo is very large so there is a park bus or you can take your own vehicle into the zoo too. An experience not forgotten is the Chiang Mai Night Safari located in Doi Suthep National Park. Tiger, bears, crocodiles and leopards are some of the 800 residents on show from a tram which takes about an hour to go around the park. There is a bus service from the Night Bazaar and with a laser light and sound show at 8pm and 9pm, it’s not too late for young children. Just over a 30 minute drive north out of Chiang Mai is the Mae Sa Elephant Camp. Set in lush green forest of the Mae Sa valley just west of Mae Rim, the elephant shows include logging, football and the Guinness Book of Records famed painting. The numbers of Asian elephant are dwindling and this location is trying to conserve and has an ambitious breeding programme to try to counteract this. Now that heavy machinery is taking over from the elephant labouring in the logging industry of the area, there is an opportunity to watch these marvellous animals display their wonderful memories as they paint flowers and pandas. Sit at the front if you would like an elephant to put a hat on your head too. There are also elephant rides at the end of the shows which only run to early afternoon so do get there early. For the shopaholics, there is a very modern Mall, the Central Airport Plaza, with its fashionable clothes outlets and what could be better than to follow the shopping trip with a romantic trip on the Ping river on a restaurant boat.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is Thailand’s most northerly city and sits within some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. It has a ‘beach’, which is a row of huts on the riverbank of the Mae Kok river where you can order street food from the ‘nong’ (waitress) and just watch the boats going by against a backdrop of forested mountain. Chiang Rai’s most unusual attraction is the ‘White Temple’ Wat Rong Khun. The white represents purity and the glass, a form of wisdom. The site suffered from an earth tremor recently so it is unclear what will happen to this art masterpiece. Various representations of rebirth, impurity, as well as earth, water, fire and wind are visible in the complex architecture of this beautiful temple located 10km south of Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai is a smallish city but there is much to offer visitors and is a great base for seeing the many attractions in the area. The Golden Triangle, formed by the three countries of Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, provides spectacular views over the converging Ruak and Mekong rivers. Previously the centre of Opium production, it is now a major attraction in the North of Thailand. A quaint little town, Chiang Saen, nestling on the banks of the Mekong is a great place to stop for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the river. Chiang Saen has a long and political history, the old wall and moat can just be seen together with many ruins of ancient temples. After the photo session at the Triangle, a trip to the Hall of Opium museum provides an interesting insight into the horrific magnitude of Opium production and the effect it had on the people and the economies of both Thailand and China. With narrative in English and the many exhibits, it is a visit not to be missed when in the area. On the way to the Golden Triangle, a great diversion is the Doi Tung Royal Villa situated between Mae Chan and Mae Sai. Built as a residence for the late HRH Princess Mother, the architecture boasts a mix of Swiss and Thai design (the Princess Mother lived in Switzerland for a time). The Princess Mother was active in the Doi Tung development project which develops new ways for the hill tribes in the area to make a living now that opium is not an option. Opium production is banned in Thailand now and development projects by the Thai government give the hill tribes opportunity to grow 150 different types of crops. As well as seeing her room which has been left exactly as she left it when she stayed last, a visit to the beautiful spectacular gardens, Mae Fah Luang is something for the camera. (Taking photos in the Villa are not allowed but you can take them outside). The temple is well worth a visit too and if you have forgotten the Buddhist rule about uncovered shoulders and legs, then you can borrow suitable clothes at the entrance to the temple. Doi means hill or small mountain in Thai language and further up the mountain will bring you to Pa-Klua Hill Tribe Market. The locals grow a range of various crops and you can buy these and some of the other crafts that make great souvenirs. A visit to the North of Thailand must include a visit to Mae Sai, Thailand’s most northerly town adjacent to the Burmese border. With its very easy going atmosphere and fabulous markets, it is a great day out and the street food here is something not to be missed. For the more physically adventurous, Chiang Rai attractions with visits to the hill tribes and picturesque waterfall can be seen by cycle tours (or 4 wheel drive tours combined with some white water rafting). The cycle tours offer 2 or 4 day tours. If your visit is planned for the western New Year, the Chiang Rai flower show is quite spectacular with its floats, fountains and amazing beds of beautiful flowers. Usually starting on 25th December, the show carries on over the New Year into mid January. Highly recommended for a relaxing day out, with camera of course. A little tip here. If your hotel does not have a swimming pool (sa wai nam in Thai), most hotels will allow you to use theirs for a small fee. Usually around 80 to 100 THB per person. However, top quality hotels in the north of Thailand are very good value so why not stay and have good food, a spa or a massage.

Northern Thailand

You will probably know all about the wonderful beaches in the south of Thailand and the beautiful temples, pagodas, floating markets and canals too. The north of Thailand has something magical about it and you can find many activities for those having an adventurous side to them. Elephant trekking, four wheeled off road fun and white water rafting are among the activities to include on an itinerary. The north has a wonderful climate, more Mediterranean in its temperatures and without the high humidity. It is still 28 degrees in winter during the day so Christmas and New Year is a great time to go. A jumper or thin jacket will be needed for the chillier evenings of around 16 degrees. It is great trekking country but you don’t have to walk for miles to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. There are many waterfalls and parks as well as elephant talent shows. The hill tribe villages in the mountains are well worth a visit. The tribes emigrated from China over 100 years ago and each tribe has its own farming speciality and language too.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai or ‘New City’ is the capital of the north and the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Lanna. The old walled city with its picturesque moat is perfect for spending a few hours walking and absorbing the long history of Chiang Mai with its many temples. Doi Suthep is a mountain reached by road from Chiang Mai zoo at the base of the mountain. One of the most important temples in Chiang Mai, Wat Prathat, is located at the top of Doi Suthep. The views of Chiang Mai from the top are spectacular and make the journey well worth the effort but avoid the Buddhist holiday days as it is a major pilgrimage site and the road to the the temple at the top can be busy. Excursion agents in Chiang Mai can arrange tours to make it a relaxing experience. A great Thai tradition at the weekend is to close a complete street and adorn both sides of the road with market stalls selling souvenirs, local crafts and, of course, food. Walking Street in Chiang Mai is open every Saturday and Sunday from around 4pm to midnight on the Wualai Road (Saturday) and Ratchadamnoen Road (Sunday). Also, there is the Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road. Open daily and situated in the heart of the city, the Night Bazaar is surrounded by very decent, inexpensive restaurants, massage shops and even an Irish pub. There is a stage too, so you may catch some traditional dancing or a band. Imagine spending the Western New Year sitting outside a nice restaurant watching the celebration fireworks at midnight whist tucking into a large plate of freshly cooked 20cm prawns. If you fancy a real Lanna evening with traditional Lanna food, elegant dance and sword dancing then head for Khum Khantoke which is east of the city and near to the North Western University on the Superhighway to Lampang. It is not expensive (around 600 Baht excluding drinks) and you will be able to be photographed with girls in traditional costume (frame and photo is 200 Baht). It’s a great evening and you will get the chance to eat whilst sitting cross- legged and be asked to participate in the dances but thankfully not the sword ones. The photo is a great souvenir too. A pleasant day trip out of the city amid beautiful scenery en-route is to the Bo Sang umbrella village 10km to the east of Chiang Mai towards Lamphun on San Kamphaeng Road. The paper and silk umbrellas are hand painted with beautiful colourful designs and make great souvenirs. There are many craft stalls and shops in this area too. Having established that children are not too interested in umbrellas, even when exquisitely painted, they will certainly enjoy the nearby San Kamphaeng Hot Springs 4km away. A great picnic spot for eating lunch, there are eggs for sale with instructions on how long to leave them in the water depending how hard you like your boiled egg. Just relax with your feet in the hot spring whilst the children have their own version of Songkran in the water. Something both adults and children will like is the zoo at Chiang Mai which has over 400 species of animals. With a walk-through aviary and aquarium, there are animals as diverse as fur seals to giraffe and giant catfish. The government of China donated a pair of Giant Panda in 2004 as a gift to celebrate HM the Queen of Thailand’s birthday. In May 2009, the product of artificial insemination, a new Panda cub was the first to be born in Thailand. The zoo is situated in over 200 acres so there is plenty of space for the animals to roam in natural surroundings. The zoo is very large so there is a park bus or you can take your own vehicle into the zoo too. An experience not forgotten is the Chiang Mai Night Safari located in Doi Suthep National Park. Tiger, bears, crocodiles and leopards are some of the 800 residents on show from a tram which takes about an hour to go around the park. There is a bus service from the Night Bazaar and with a laser light and sound show at 8pm and 9pm, it’s not too late for young children. Just over a 30 minute drive north out of Chiang Mai is the Mae Sa Elephant Camp. Set in lush green forest of the Mae Sa valley just west of Mae Rim, the elephant shows include logging, football and the Guinness Book of Records famed painting. The numbers of Asian elephant are dwindling and this location is trying to conserve and has an ambitious breeding programme to try to counteract this. Now that heavy machinery is taking over from the elephant labouring in the logging industry of the area, there is an opportunity to watch these marvellous animals display their wonderful memories as they paint flowers and pandas. Sit at the front if you would like an elephant to put a hat on your head too. There are also elephant rides at the end of the shows which only run to early afternoon so do get there early. For the shopaholics, there is a very modern Mall, the Central Airport Plaza, with its fashionable clothes outlets and what could be better than to follow the shopping trip with a romantic trip on the Ping river on a restaurant boat.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is Thailand’s most northerly city and sits within some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. It has a ‘beach’, which is a row of huts on the riverbank of the Mae Kok river where you can order street food from the ‘nong’ (waitress) and just watch the boats going by against a backdrop of forested mountain. Chiang Rai’s most unusual attraction is the ‘White Temple’ Wat Rong Khun. The white represents purity and the glass, a form of wisdom. The site suffered from an earth tremor recently so it is unclear what will happen to this art masterpiece. Various representations of rebirth, impurity, as well as earth, water, fire and wind are visible in the complex architecture of this beautiful temple located 10km south of Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai is a smallish city but there is much to offer visitors and is a great base for seeing the many attractions in the area. The Golden Triangle, formed by the three countries of Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, provides spectacular views over the converging Ruak and Mekong rivers. Previously the centre of Opium production, it is now a major attraction in the North of Thailand. A quaint little town, Chiang Saen, nestling on the banks of the Mekong is a great place to stop for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the river. Chiang Saen has a long and political history, the old wall and moat can just be seen together with many ruins of ancient temples. After the photo session at the Triangle, a trip to the Hall of Opium museum provides an interesting insight into the horrific magnitude of Opium production and the effect it had on the people and the economies of both Thailand and China. With narrative in English and the many exhibits, it is a visit not to be missed when in the area. On the way to the Golden Triangle, a great diversion is the Doi Tung Royal Villa situated between Mae Chan and Mae Sai. Built as a residence for the late HRH Princess Mother, the architecture boasts a mix of Swiss and Thai design (the Princess Mother lived in Switzerland for a time). The Princess Mother was active in the Doi Tung development project which develops new ways for the hill tribes in the area to make a living now that opium is not an option. Opium production is banned in Thailand now and development projects by the Thai government give the hill tribes opportunity to grow 150 different types of crops. As well as seeing her room which has been left exactly as she left it when she stayed last, a visit to the beautiful spectacular gardens, Mae Fah Luang is something for the camera. (Taking photos in the Villa are not allowed but you can take them outside). The temple is well worth a visit too and if you have forgotten the Buddhist rule about uncovered shoulders and legs, then you can borrow suitable clothes at the entrance to the temple. Doi means hill or small mountain in Thai language and further up the mountain will bring you to Pa-Klua Hill Tribe Market. The locals grow a range of various crops and you can buy these and some of the other crafts that make great souvenirs. A visit to the North of Thailand must include a visit to Mae Sai, Thailand’s most northerly town adjacent to the Burmese border. With its very easy going atmosphere and fabulous markets, it is a great day out and the street food here is something not to be missed. For the more physically adventurous, Chiang Rai attractions with visits to the hill tribes and picturesque waterfall can be seen by cycle tours (or 4 wheel drive tours combined with some white water rafting). The cycle tours offer 2 or 4 day tours. If your visit is planned for the western New Year, the Chiang Rai flower show is quite spectacular with its floats, fountains and amazing beds of beautiful flowers. Usually starting on 25th December, the show carries on over the New Year into mid January. Highly recommended for a relaxing day out, with camera of course. A little tip here. If your hotel does not have a swimming pool (sa wai nam in Thai), most hotels will allow you to use theirs for a small fee. Usually around 80 to 100 THB per person. However, top quality hotels in the north of Thailand are very good value so why not stay and have good food, a spa or a massage.