Northern Thailand attraksjoner

Whether it’s dried durian paste and spicy bowls of hot curry or prayer beads and bath towels, the halls of Warorot Market definitely have a little something for everyone. The indoor hub for local ingredients and inexpensive clothing is a perfect place for travelers to sample local cuisine and stock up on handmade items and cheap souvenirs. The streets surrounding the market are also lined with stalls selling handicrafts and artwork from area hill tribes at a fraction of the cost.

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park protects a swathe of verdant forest and mountain ranges in Northern Thailand near Chiang Mai. Named after a hermit who lived in the forest before it became a national park, Doi Suthep Pui is perhaps most famous for the temple at the summit of Doi Suthep Peak, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

Founded in 1383, the temple is one of the most sacred in the North and affords some of the most spectacular views in Chiang Mai. The temple is reached via 306 steps leading up to the peak, but the climb is worth it for the views and the stunning temple itself. Other cultural attractions of note within the park include Bhubing Palace, the winter residence of the Thai royal family, as well as San Ku, an ancient earth mound dating back to the thirteenth century. While most visitors come to Doi Suthep Pui National Park to see the temple, it’s also a place of great natural beauty, where numerous nature trails wind through the forest and past several waterfalls.

Wat Suan Dok’s brilliant golden spire stretches high into the skyline of the northern Thailand city of Chiang Mai and has done so just west of the old city walls since the 14th century. The name roughly translates to "field of flowers," as the temple stands on a site that was once the garden of a ruling monarch. Today, the ashes of some of the royal family are tucked into the wat’s spires, as homage to leaders past.

Wat Suan Dok is a favorite among travelers, particularly photographers, who gather amid the temple’s ornate structures during sunrise and sunset to capture impressive photos filled with rose-colored light. A 500-year-old bronze buddha—one of the largest in the region—also makes this a popular stop. Aside from the structure itself, there is a Buddhist university at the site as well. Monks in training are often eager to share conversation and practice their English with visitors in informal "monk chats."

You can boil an egg in minutes in the 80 C water of the Mae Ka Chan hot springs located in Chiang Rai province. The water from the main geyser is too hot for bathing, so instead there are separate pools where you can soak your feet in the naturally warm water and relax amid the gardens.

Mae Ka Chan hot springs is a popular rest stop for people traveling between the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. In addition to the hot springs, you’ll find washrooms, souvenir shops, restaurants, food vendors, and people selling raw eggs to boil in the hot springs!

The Mae Ping River cuts through Chiang Mai just a few blocks east of the old city and night market. In central Chiang Mai the banks of the river have been developed and are home to hotels, open-air restaurants, and bars, while in the countryside the river retains its natural charms. The ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam is also set on the banks of the Mae Ping River south of Chiang Mai.

Sight-seeing tours and dinner cruises along the Mae Ping River available. For the more adventurous, kayaking and rafting trips can be arranged.

Thought to be the oldest wat in Chiang Mai, Wat Chiang Man is a typical northern Thai temple, with massive teak columns holding aloft the central sanctuary.

The wat has two important Buddha images; one on a marble bas relief, the other a crystal seated Buddha. They’re visible in a glass cabinet housed in a smaller sanctuary. The walls of the wat feature red stenciled murals, depicting scenes from the life of Chiang Mai's founder, Phaya Mengrai.

Tucked away in the forested hills just outside of Chiang Mai sits Mae Kampong Village, a high-altitude village founded more than 100 years ago as a tea orchard. Today, it’s still famous for producing pickled tea leaves, which in Northern Thailand are chewed much like betel nut.

Within the village, dozens of wooden cottages hug the hillside amid the dense forest. In recent years, some of the villagers have launched a homestay program to give visitors insight into the traditional local culture. A homestay in the village typically includes a night of accommodation in a family’s home along with three home-cooked meals.

From the village, it’s possible to trek to Nam Tok Mae Kampong (a seven-tiered waterfall) or the Mae On cave. The village also serves as a base for whitewater rafting and zip lining through the canopy.

Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar is perhaps the city's most popular must-do attraction. The colorful mix of regular shops and stalls create a unique market buzz.

You’ll find everything for sale here, from ersatz designer brands to embroidered hill tribes textiles, lacquerware, silver jewelry, carvings, silks, ceramics and antiques.

The best range of antiques is on the second floor of the covered market building called the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, to the north of the busy intersection near a narrow cross street.

Wiang Kum Kam is an ancient “lost city” located on the banks of the Mae Ping River. It was founded in the 13th century by King Mangrai and was the royal capital prior to Chiang Mai. Wiang Kum Kam was abandoned in the 16th century due to flooding, and was only rediscovered in 1984.

Wiang Kum Kam has been partly restored to its former glory and visitors can tour the ruins of ancient temples and see the carved stone tablets unearthed by archaeologists. Some of the sites have plaques with information in English and guides are available for hire.

This group of caves in the Chiang Dao region north of Chiang Mai is full of massive limestone and crystal formations. Though there are many caverns at the base of the Doi Chiang Dao mountain range here, these five in particular are interconnected and open to explore, with impressive stalagmites and stalactites hanging and growing from the ceilings and floors.

Buddha images on the walls of the caves are evidence of their use as shrines and meditation sites. Estimated to run seven miles (12 km) deep, the first two caves are well-lit, but you’ll need a guide and a lantern or flashlight to access the others. Seasonally, an underground river flows through some of the caves, along with many other natural wonders and cultural sights to be discovered and explored.

Seasonally there is an underground river flowing through some of the caves. There are both natural wonders and cultural sights to be explored; just be sure to bring some light or hire a guide who knows the way.

Beneath the shadow of Doi Suthep sits Huay Tung Tao Lake, a manmade reservoir popular as a swimming and picnicking area favored by locals and expats looking for a break from Chiang Mai. On a sunny day, it’s common to see groups of Thais sitting on the banks of the lake dining on steamed fish and cold beers.

Not many international tourists visit this hidden gem, but those who do will find grassy banks dotted with bamboo picnicking areas, shallow waters ideal for cooling off, paddle boat and inner tube rentals and vendors selling local favorites, like dancing shrimp -- a dish comprising live freshwater shrimp that jump around on the plate -- as well as sour orange catfish curry, sun-dried pork or grilled chicken.

Quiet swimming pools, well-kept bike trails, popular paddle boats, manicured gardens and pristine topiaries make Tweechol Botanical Gardens, just outside of Chiang Mai, a popular destination for travelers looking to escape the big town hustle and enjoy the slower pace of northern Thai life.

Visitors can walk through wild orchid displays and collections of unique succulents, or ride bikes through more than 100 varieties of palm trees on a visit to Tweechol. Travelers will also learn about the traditions of the Lanna people, and children will love the small but impressive zoo—home to dozens of animals including ostriches, deer, camels and peacocks.

This eco-agricultural village in northern Thailand is the present home of four hill tribe groups: the Lahu, Palong, Lahu and famous long-necked Karen tribe. Built in 2005 as a cultural preservation project, the village brought together the different tribes into one community and became accessible to visitors.

Set peacefully in the hills among rice fields and thatched-roof houses, the village grants the opportunity to experience hill tribe life in one place. Walk through the winding trails and see women wearing brightly colored textiles—many of them weaving and spinning clothes. Many of the tribes have migrated from nearby Myanmar (Burma) and maintain their cultural traditions, including the wearing of several brass rings around women’s necks. There are various handicrafts on display throughout, including jewelry, dolls and textiles—the sale of which provides income for the people here.

For a crash course in the history of Chiang Mai, pay a visit to the Arts & Cultural Centre in the heart of the old city. Using a mixture of labeled artifacts, audio recordings, photographs, and life-size dioramas, the centre’s multimedia exhibits take you on a journey from Chiang Mai’s ancient past as the Lanna Kingdom to its present as a modern, cosmopolitan city. Topics include royalty, religion, agriculture, and hill tribe people. There are also subtitled videos about the history of Chiang Mai that you can watch in air-conditioned comfort.

In addition, the Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre serves as a venue for special exhibits and cultural events. Enquire with the staff about upcoming events like dance or music performances.