Chiang Mai, the rose of northern Thailand

Chiang Mai, the northern capital of Thailand, is a getaway from the bustle of Barngkok. It is known as La Rosa del Norte for the enormous beauty of the landscapes that surround it as well as for its rich cultural activity.

Here are located more than 300 Buddhist temples, Doi Inthanon National Park, the sacred mountain of Doi Suthep and the famous elephant reserve Elephant Nature Park.

If you are considering the idea of ​​taking a trip to Thailand in this brand new 2017, we suggest Chiang Mai as your destination.

Chiang Mai Location

It is located in northern Thailand, about 80 kilometers from the city of Chiang Mai, which in turn is located 700 kilometers from Bangkok.

It was founded in 1296 by King Mengrau who ordered the construction of a moat and a wall around the city to protect himself from the incursions of the Burmese. This wall still exists today and defines the old town of Chiang Mai where you will find many things to do.

Exploring downtown Chiang Mai

As I pointed out earlier, the historic center of Chiang Mai is surrounded by walls and a moat to defend itself from the Burmese. The center is a place full of life and movement, perfect to spend part of the day and get to know Chiang Mai on foot or by bike.

During the tour you will surely see many Buddhist temples because in this place there are more than three hundred. However, the most beautiful and famous is probably Wat Phra Singh built in 1345.

So many tourist routes whet your appetite, so we recommend you visit one of the street restaurants in Chiang Mai to taste a delicious pad thai, try grilled meat and drink a refreshing glass of fruit smoothie.

Knowing the local markets

Chiang Mai has plenty of markets to get lost in, so shoppers will be in for it. If the time comes to look for a souvenir to take with you from your trip to Thailand, we advise you to get a handicraft piece.

One of the most touristy is the Sunday Walking Street (Thanon Ratchadomnoen Street) which opens on Sundays from 16pm. until midnight. Another very interesting market to visit is the Warorot Market, located on the corner of Thanon Chiang Mai street with Thanon Witchayanon.

Learning Thai culture in Chiang Mai

To enrich the experiences lived during your trip to Thailand, we advise you to take a course related to Thai culture if you have time. In Chiang Mai there are schools of many kinds: cooking, languages, massages ... In addition, the city and its surroundings are known for spiritual tourism so you can also study some Buddhism.

Visiting Doi Inthanon National Park

Approximately 65 kilometers from Chiang Mai is located the wonderful Doi Inthanon National Park that houses the highest mountain in Thailand with its 2565 meters that is part of the Himalayas. The entrance costs about 300 Baht for foreigners and 50 for locals.

This Thai National Park is named after Inthanon, the seventh ruling prince of Chiang Mai, whose mortal remains rest near the summit.

Among its green mountains, the Doi Inthanon National Park hides beautiful waterfalls such as those of Wachirathan or Sirithan, trails surrounded by lush vegetation and typical rice fields as well as the beautiful King and Queen pagodas that were built in 1987 and 1992 to celebrate the Monarchs 60th birthday. Located in the heart of Doi Inthanon, they are very visited and photographed as they are surrounded by beautiful gardens, waterfalls and ponds and have spectacular views.

Likewise, In the Doi Inthanon National Park we can also find two communities living within it: the Karen and the Hmong. Both tribes live in simple houses and are dedicated to agriculture and crafts. In fact, the Hmong organize a traditional market every day to sell their wares to visitors in their colorful traditional costumes.

The best way to visit Doi Inthanon National Park is by hiring a tour with any agency in Chiang Mai. The price is usually around 900 baths per person although it may vary depending on the agency. These types of tours include a visit to the park, entrance fees, and food. However, it can also be visited on its own, with an entrance fee of 300 baht for foreigners plus 40 baht if you want to visit the pagoda enclosure. The price of food and transportation is separate.

Elephant nature park

It is one of the most popular pachyderm sanctuaries in Thailand. It is known for being a camp dedicated to the care of elephants (although they also welcome dogs and cats rescued from the streets as well as buffalo) equipped with all the comforts so that they can recover.

Elephant Nature Park was born for this purpose in 1990 and has since received numerous awards for its work. What's more, they have proposed to be not only a shelter for abused animals but also a center for raising awareness about other problems such as deforestation of forests or the preservation of local cultures, favoring the employment and consumption of local products.

For those who want to know Elephant Nature Park, they should know that they can do it by various modalities, mainly visitor or volunteer, and each of them has its own characteristics.

There are visits for hours, for a day, for several days or for a week and each one has a different price. Among the activities that can be carried out are to see the elephants bathe, feed them, take a walk through the reserve, meet local communities or learn about nature and agriculture, among other things.

Mount Doi Suthep Tour from Chiang Mai

The Doi Suthep-Pui National Park is made up of two mountains called Doi Suthep and Doi Pui. In the first there is a beautiful temple called Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, which is visible from Chiang Mai.

It is said that it was built around 1393 during the Lanna kingdom and legend has it that the place where it was built was chosen by a bank elephant carrying a relic of Buddha.

The best time to get to know this place is at sunset, which is when there are fewer tourists and you can enjoy the excursion quietly. In addition, the temple is perfectly illuminated which makes it even more beautiful if possible. For the excursion you can choose a tour or do it on your own. Entry costs 30 baths.


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