Surrounded by a ring of mountains,
Chiang Mai has a rich and ancient seven hundred year history. You will never be bored in Chiang Mai as there are a plethora of things to do and see! You can
tour the old city, visit historic temples, go elephant riding, go nature trekking or visit a hill tribe village. Chiang Mai has a very distinctive culture, arts, festivals, and traditions as well as a thrilling mix of local, ethnic and expatriate communities from all over the world.
Chiang Mai has never been more exciting. In fact, the city has been
voted
as one of the top destinations to live in Asia and is a modern and cosmopolitan city, but still maintains its traditional old charm.
The city is home to over 300 temples dating as far back as the 13th century.
You can drive in any direction for thirty minutes and
find
many unique and stunning cultural attractions such as museums, ancient ruins, national parks, waterfalls, and mountain trails to name a few. You will never tire of the multitude of diverse delights as Chiang Mai offers something for everyone! Nature lovers, culture aficionados, sports enthusiasts and those who just wish to lie back and be pampered in a luxurious spa will love what Chiang Mai has to offer.
Shop 'til You Drop
Fabulous shops await you in Chiang Mai. You will find everything from inexpensive goods, amazing handmade products and art, to brand name designers. If you are searching for souvenirs or knickknacks you must visit the lively Night Bazaar.
They say that trends and products change with the wind and
at
the Night Bazaar things are constantly changing! It is always an adventure for locals and tourists alike to drop by and see what's available. The market is open daily between sunset and midnight.
Get Crafty
Located 13 kilometers east of Chiang Mai, Sankampaeng has literally
dozens
of craft industries and showrooms along the road. You will find an abundance of crafts, but Sankampaeng is not a tourist trap. The crafts here are quality traditional crafts such as silks, weaving, wood carving, silverware and lacquer ware.
For over 200 years the villagers of Bo Sang have been producing traditional umbrellas made from local materials such as silk, cotton, a paper from mulberry trees and bamboo. These
beautifully
crafted umbrellas come in all sorts of sizes and make wonderful keepsakes.
Be sure to stop by
the Lanna Arts Fair and Craftsmen
Walking Street. This market showcases art from 21 villages, including the Yong, a popular group from the north. The Yong are known for their unique handicraft techniques. They are famous for their elephant wood carvings, bamboo products, souvenirs, for drawing pictures on cloth, creating dolls made from cloth, and more. This fair opens every Saturday from 4 p.m.-11 p.m.
Culture
There are many
cultural
festivals including Loi Kratong which is held on the first full-moon night in November. Every year thousands of people assemble floating banana-leaf containers (krathong) decorated with flowers and candles onto the waterways of the city to worship the Goddess of Water. Lanna-style hot-air lanterns (khom fai) are also launched into the air. These are believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets.
Songkran is a favorite Thai holiday and is held in mid-April to celebrate
the traditional Thai New Year. Chiang Mai has become one of the most popular
locations to visit for this festival. A variety of religious and fun-related
activities (notably the good-natured city-wide water-fight) take place each
year, along with parades and a Miss Songkran beauty competition.
Of course
Chiang Mai is famous for the Flower Festival. This is a three-day festival held during the first weekend in February each year, this event occurs during the period when Chiang Mai's temperate and tropical flowers are in full bloom. The festivities include floral floats, parades, traditional dancing shows and a beauty contest.
Chiang Mai is a regional centre for many activities,
including Hill-tribe tourism and nature trekking. There are tour companies that offer organized treks among the local hills and forests on foot and on elephant back. Most also involve visits to the various local hill tribes. These include representatives from the Akha, Hmong, Karen, and Lisu tribes. The Karen tribes are those fascinating 'giraffe-necked' women who have their necks adorned with row upon row of jewelry.
