Chiang Mai offers a city vibe both hip yet easy-paced. Browsing the city, between shops, fortune-tellers, massages and food spots, makes for a fun yet relaxing day. Northern Thai food is noted for creamy curries and fresh herbs, with sausages and/or chilli pastes taken with delicious balls of local sticky rice. For ambience, try Riverside Restaurant or Good View Restaurant along the Ping River. Baan Rai Yam Yen at Charoenrath Road and Baan Suan for local Northern Thai country music and food. For a unique evening, try a “Khantoke Dinner” at Khantoke Palace, a heady mix of traditional cuisine, music and dance.
The Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden is located at the foothills of the Doi Suthep Pui Mountain in Chiangmai. It’s Thailand’s oldest and foremost botanic garden and major center of scientific research, but it could be one of the visitor attraction as they can walk through beautiful interlocking trails winding through natural forest areas and the Garden’s systematic collections with the garden rising from 400 meters at the entrance up to 1200 meters the trails often overlook stunning panoramic views of the hillsides!

A gateway to IndoChina, Chiang Mai is a bustling handicrafts junction, serving up elegant lacquerware, lustrous silks and funky tribal jewellery. From Burmese jade umbrellas and carvings, to wicker, bamboo and ceramics, this is truly lifestyle central. Whether it be Bor Sang Umbrella Village, the bustling night bazaar of Chang Klan Road, the famous night bazaar at Walking Street or the Kalare Food & Shopping Centre, northern shopping is guaranteed to offer colourful entertainment. Bring a sense of humour, a will to bargain, and an empty suitcase.

FAST FACTS

Climate		Cool season: late October to the end of February. Average daytime temperature is 21 degrees Celsius with cooler nights. Hot season: early March to end of May. Average daytime temperature is 30 degrees Celsius. Rainy season: early June to end October, with most rain in September
Best time to go		Consider a visit during Loy Krathong and Sonkran, which are important festivals especially in northern Thailand
Flavours		Khao soi (curried noodles); khan toke (a meal consisting of several small dishes all served with sticky rice)
Currency		Thai baht (THB)
Activities		Shopping, hill tribe and mountain trekking, eating local cuisine, temple visits, foot reflexology and Thai massage.
Events & festivals		Bo Sang Umbrella Fair (January); Loy Krathong (November); Flower Festival (February); Song Kran Water Festival (April)