Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is Thailand's northern jewel — a laid-back, culturally rich city surrounded by forested mountains and home to over 300 ancient Buddhist temples. Founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, it retains a historic old city enclosed within a moat and crumbling city walls. The Night Bazaar and Sunday Walking Street draw shoppers with hill-tribe crafts and Thai textiles. Elephant sanctuaries, cookery schools, and jungle trekking make Chiang Mai a hub for active and cultural travellers. The Doi Suthep temple crowns a mountain above the city with panoramic views. Yi Peng (November) sees thousands of paper lanterns float into the night sky — one of Asia's most magical spectacles.