Chiang Mai Areas

The Old City is the most interesting and historical part of Chiang Mai. Many small temples line the narrow streets, making it ideal to explore on foot. The area is well-known for top-end handicraft boutiques, antique shops, restaurants, bars and second-hand bookstores, and considered as one of the main commercial areas of the city. Every Sunday there's a Street Festival with concerts, buskers, a local market with stalls, and all kinds of street entertainment adding to the festivities.

The verdant mountains and beautiful waterfalls of Chiang Mai attract more than a million visitors every year. The National Park in North Thailand is a great place to escape from and heat at lower altitudes.  The most famous one in Chiang Mai is Doi Inthanon National Park. It has the highest mountain in Thailand, several waterfalls, gorgeous wild flowers, and amazing wildlife.

The Mountainside area of Chiang Mai on the outskirts of the city boasts world-class resorts in serene settings for an up close and personal experience of the region's mountaneous terrain. The area provides easy and quick access to the city; often with complimentary shuttle services offered by the resorts. From here it's easy to explore the national parks, yet not remote from the city.

The Night Bazaar is an area located between the east side of the Old City and the Ping River. The area is also the heart of shopping in Chiang Mai, featuring a night market that offers a wide range of products, handicrafts, souvenirs, clothing, apparel and everything else in between, Due to the area's popularity there's a plethora of hotels in every price bracket, guesthouses, beer bars, karaoke venues, internet cafés, retail shops, department stores a nd everything a tourist's heart desires.

It is a good location to explore the rest of the city from, and several historical attractions are also within walking distance. The area offers a convenient location for tourists, and local taxis make travelling around easy. For a short distance and novelty experience, catch a ride on one of the old-style 'tricycle'  taxis to enjoy the scenery.

Many top hotels are located on both sides of the Ping River. It is a great location for those who wish to unwind in an upscale, scenic and romantic environment. The area is slightly removed from the buzz of the city, yet all main attractions can be reached easily. Restaurants serving traditional Thai food and international cuisine are also lined along the river.

Try a 'Kantoke' dinner cruise, where a set menu of northern delicacies is served. Several of the restaurants here offer entertainment like live music and traditional dancing to the the sounds of Thai musical instruments. The Ping River originates at Doi Chiang Dao, flowing down to Chiang Mai and from here all the way to the confluence with the Nan River at Nakhon Sawan.

Only three hours' drive from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son is located in an area called the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Laos meet. It is much less developed than Chiang Mai, and very popular for sightseeing and adventure tours like elephant trekking, rafting and visiting hill-tribe villages.

Located northwest of Chiang Mai, the charming town of Mae Hong Son makes for a pleasant day trip. Small enough to explore on foot, it has a tranquil central lake, and interesting Burmese-style temples. It's also a good base for exploring the natural beauty of the region and boy unique local crafts.