Thailand : Experience the Variety

The province of Chiang Mai, located 700 kilometers north of Bangkok and served by both air and rail services from the capital, epitomizes the charm and attractions that typify northern Thailand.
Here you will discover a landscape of high forested hills and river valleys, while the cities, towns and villages of the region display a distinct culture arising from a long and separate history. At the same time, deluxe hotels and mountain resorts provide all modern comforts. The city of Chiang Mai, situated on the banks of Ping river, it a treasure trove of ancient temples, fascinating for their distinctive northern Thai architectural style and rich decorative detail, while on the outskirts is the farmed hilltop temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Chiang Mai is equally famous for its wealth of traditional handicrafts-in silk, wood, silver, ceramics and more-which the city a veritable paradise for the shopper.
Beyond, the countryside beckons, offering adventure travel by trekking, elephant-back, river rafting or four-wheel drive safaris into a natural wonderland, where the traditional villages of colorful hilltribe people are a unique feature in the landscape.

Mae Hong Son
The remotest of the northern provinces, lying west of Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son is the ideal destination for those who love wild hill country and who seek the thrill of sweeping valley vistas.
Candled in mist-shrouded forested mountains on the border of Myanmar, Mae Hong Son town is one of the most enchanting settlements in the entire north. A superb hill retreat, it is both readily and enticingly remote.
Mae Hong Son is served by flights from Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and the ease of getting there is complemented by a good choice of accommodation. And yet the place appears reluctant to change and Mae Hong Son manages to offer travelers’ comforts without disturbing an enduring sense of a lost world. Sights include a lively morning market and a handful or temples with multi-tiered roofs typical of Burmese religious architecture.
Beyond Mae Hong Son, journeys of discovery and adventure lead you into breathtaking mountain scenery dotted with the villages of Karen, Lisu, Meo and Lahu hilltribes. Alternatively, the little of Pai provides a tranquil escape amid stunning scenery.

Chiang Rai
This is Thailand’s northernmost province, a region of rugged mountains and fertile valleys, where the relaxed provincial capital of Chiang Rai offers excellent accommodation to serve as the perfect center for exploring the far north.
Two high forested peaks, Doi Mae Salong and Doi Tung, are located just a few kilometers north

of the town and both afford easy access into quite spectacular hill country. Of the two, Doi Mae Salong presents the wilder scene, while Doi Tung has been extensively and well developed as part of a royal project conducted under the auspices of the late Princess Mother. A revered temple at the top of Doi Tung adds and Oriental fairytale setting to the splendid views. Northeast of Chiang Rai is Chiang Saen, on the banks of Mekong river. The site of an ancient and once powerful settlement, it is full of historical interest as well as being the nearest town to the famous “Golden Triangle”, where the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers forms the border between Thailand, Myanmar and Laos-a famous and spellbinding spot.

Sukhothai
Situated at the lower edge of the northern region, bordering the central plains, Sukhothai was the cradle of the Thai nation. Here, in landscape of low wooded hills, the first capital city was founded in the 13th century. Today, the extensive ruins of Sukhothai, as well as those of its nearby town, Si Satchanalai, are preserved in well-kept historical parks that have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
At the center of Sukhothai stand the magnificent remains of Wat Mahathat, which was the administrative and spiritual heart of ancient Kingdom. Spreading out from Wat Mahathat, over an area of some 70 square kilometers, are the ruins of more than 20 other major monuments attesting to the glory that was Sukhothai.
Si Satchanalai, 56 kilometers to the north, is a smaller, though nonetheless impressive site, where a cluster of ruined temples are attractively backed by wooded hills.