Places Near Chiang Mai

The mountains surrounding Chiang Mai have the scope for a lot of interesting discoveries- the villages of the local hill tribes are a storehouse of traditional arts and crafts, and most of the villagers are friendly, hospitable people who are more than willing to welcome you into their communities.

Doi Inthanon at 2565 m is Thailand’s highest peak. It’s situated to the west, 90 km from Chiang Mai, and lies amidst a national park. En route to Doi Inthanon are some of the north country’s most well known waterfalls: the beautiful Mae Klang, Siriphum and Wachirathan. The Mae Klang is a particularly popular picnic area.

Chiang Rai a three-hour drive from Chiang Mai is known for the spectacular mountains, which surround it- here are some exceptionally panoramic views. Chiang Rai lies in the heart of the `Golden Triangle’, the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers. Chiang Rai has a lot to recommend it- the Doi Mae Salong and the Doi Tung, two towering peaks, the forested slopes of which offer some excellent views of the countryside; temples such as Wat Phra Singh and Wat Phra Kaeo which is believed to have been the place where the Emerald Buddha, now in Bangkok, was originally kept; and a number of nearby tribal villages. The expedition to Chiang Rai and its environs can be fairly hectic if you fit it into a day, but it can be very enjoyable too.

But, when all’s said and done, probably the best `getaways’ from Chiang Mai are the unplanned, uncharted ones- all you need to do is hire a car (or a sturdier 4x4) and head into the mountains- you can discover a lot that’s interesting.