Chiang Mai - The Rose of the North - เชียงใหม่
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Chiang Mai is Thailand's second city, but in terms of quality of living and tourist attractions, it's second to none in Southeast Asia.
The centre of the once-powerful Lanna kingdom, the northern Thai province of Chiang Mai is a favourite destination for tourists and backpackers alike and is also a tremendously popular province amongst Thai holiday-makers. Relatively mountainous and layered with a selection of National Parks, Chiang Mai is a nature-lovers paradise with ample opportunity for those wanting to explore the hinterland during their holiday.
The city is famous for her friendly people, refined handicrafts, hill tribes, 'cool' climate and stunning mountain scenery. More than three-hundred temples, among them some of the most beautiful and revered in the entire Buddhist world, give the city an atmosphere of calmness and timeless elegance.
The quality of living is unsurpassed. Accommodation and food are of the highest standard at very attractive cost, often under half of a comparable quality in Bangkok. Entertainment is plentiful with numerous festivals and many free outdoor activities.
Chiang Mai has a distinct international atmosphere with many foreign businesses and organizations locating in the city over the past decade due to her excellent infrastructure with international direct flight connections to all countries in the region including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and more. There are also direct regional daily flights to Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Rai, Ma Hong Song, Sukhothai and other cities in the region. The province is also developing a reputation for health and spa resorts that are beginning to pop up along with a burgeoning real-estate business as the backpackers from yesteryear return to retire in this comfortable northern Thai climate.
The eponymous provincial capital is Thailand's second most frequently visited city but has a population of only around 200,000. An abundance of temples are spread throughout the city, which is fairly easily navigated on bicycle or motorbike. The influence of the plentiful middle-aged tourists who flock here is strongly felt in the town, with a vibrant alternative-lifestyle community providing everything from jewellery-making to yoga classes.
Chiang Mai's hotel scene is developing apace with some truly luxurious hotels now peppering the city's skyline along with the excellent choice of budget guesthouses and hostels that have existed her for decades.
Genuine adventure is to be found in the immediate vicinity of Chiang Mai with jungle tours, rafting, elephant riding and hill tribe villages to visit.
Chiang Mai is a Golfer's dream with some of the best golf in Asia in fantastic surroundings and at great prices. Shopping is great. Great deals can be made, be it for handicrafts, clothes or luxury items. Everything can be found at great prices in stores ranging from small family-run shops to world-class luxury outlets and 5 large shopping malls, and 3 of these are newly opened in 2013 and 2014. Eating out can also be done at amazing prices, often 50-70 % cheaper than a comparable meal in Bangkok or Phuket, another favourite Thai tourist destinations.
The centre of the once-powerful Lanna kingdom, the northern Thai province of Chiang Mai is a favourite destination for tourists and backpackers alike and is also a tremendously popular province amongst Thai holiday-makers. Relatively mountainous and layered with a selection of National Parks, Chiang Mai is a nature-lovers paradise with ample opportunity for those wanting to explore the hinterland during their holiday.
The city is famous for her friendly people, refined handicrafts, hill tribes, 'cool' climate and stunning mountain scenery. More than three-hundred temples, among them some of the most beautiful and revered in the entire Buddhist world, give the city an atmosphere of calmness and timeless elegance.
The quality of living is unsurpassed. Accommodation and food are of the highest standard at very attractive cost, often under half of a comparable quality in Bangkok. Entertainment is plentiful with numerous festivals and many free outdoor activities.
Chiang Mai has a distinct international atmosphere with many foreign businesses and organizations locating in the city over the past decade due to her excellent infrastructure with international direct flight connections to all countries in the region including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and more. There are also direct regional daily flights to Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Rai, Ma Hong Song, Sukhothai and other cities in the region. The province is also developing a reputation for health and spa resorts that are beginning to pop up along with a burgeoning real-estate business as the backpackers from yesteryear return to retire in this comfortable northern Thai climate.
The eponymous provincial capital is Thailand's second most frequently visited city but has a population of only around 200,000. An abundance of temples are spread throughout the city, which is fairly easily navigated on bicycle or motorbike. The influence of the plentiful middle-aged tourists who flock here is strongly felt in the town, with a vibrant alternative-lifestyle community providing everything from jewellery-making to yoga classes.
Chiang Mai's hotel scene is developing apace with some truly luxurious hotels now peppering the city's skyline along with the excellent choice of budget guesthouses and hostels that have existed her for decades.
Genuine adventure is to be found in the immediate vicinity of Chiang Mai with jungle tours, rafting, elephant riding and hill tribe villages to visit.
Chiang Mai is a Golfer's dream with some of the best golf in Asia in fantastic surroundings and at great prices. Shopping is great. Great deals can be made, be it for handicrafts, clothes or luxury items. Everything can be found at great prices in stores ranging from small family-run shops to world-class luxury outlets and 5 large shopping malls, and 3 of these are newly opened in 2013 and 2014. Eating out can also be done at amazing prices, often 50-70 % cheaper than a comparable meal in Bangkok or Phuket, another favourite Thai tourist destinations.
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Surveys rank Chiang Mai as one of the most liveable city in Asia, and Chiang Mai have now for years been ranged among the 10 most liveable cities in the World. Everyone visiting or living here would attest that it's in fact number one.
Chiang Mai is a big province. Buy a map, hire a motorbike or car and go exploring -- you'll be surprised just how much you'll find.
In the past, Chiang Mai was popularised as a temple town that doubled as a launching point for hill tribe treks into the hinter hand, but over the years, it has developed into a destination all of its own, with some outstanding bars and restaurants, shopping, sightseeing and spa-ing to keep even the most industrious busy.
While a small city when compared to big-sister Bangkok, it still pays to pick the right part of town to stay in, if, for no other reason than to save you the dizzying experience of going around and around and around Chiang Mai's legion of one-way streets and sois.
For the eaters and drinkers, you'll never go hungry, nor thirsty in this town. There are three main areas for bars and restaurants in Chiang Mai, though there are loads of other spots spread across town. The Tha Phae Gate and Loi Kroh area contain some of the longest running tourist haunts, with the former catering to budget tourists and backpackers, the latter to a predominantly male trade looking for company with their beer. Going east of here you'll reach the Ping River with its famous collection of riverside restaurants and bars -- don't forget the further north or south you go along the Ping River, the better the offerings get. On the other side of town around the Nimmanhaemin Road area is a bunch of Thai-focussed bars and restaurants -- some of which are outstanding -- don't be intimidated by the lack of foreigners, these are well worth exploring.
For shoppers, the Night Bazaar in eastern Chiang Mai has long been the epicentre of the Northern Thailand shopping experience and while there is loads of good stuff there, there are two other strips -- the Sunday Walking Market which offers a mind-boggling range of products (whose range continues to grow), running through the centre of the old city, and Nimmanhaemin Road, known for its chic and stylish (and expensive) Thai furnishing, running north to south along the western edge of Chiang Mai. So the moral of the shopping story is threefold -- it doesn't matter where you stay as you'll find good shopping opportunities almost everywhere; you will need to travel to get to the other shopping areas, and don't make the mistake of choosing a place near the Night Bazaar solely on its proximity to that market. If you're a shopper -- stay anywhere!
The 3 new additions to the Chiang Mai shopping experience in 2013 and 2014:
Central Festival Shopping Mall MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Promenada Resort Mall
Chiang Mai is a big province. Buy a map, hire a motorbike or car and go exploring -- you'll be surprised just how much you'll find.
In the past, Chiang Mai was popularised as a temple town that doubled as a launching point for hill tribe treks into the hinter hand, but over the years, it has developed into a destination all of its own, with some outstanding bars and restaurants, shopping, sightseeing and spa-ing to keep even the most industrious busy.
While a small city when compared to big-sister Bangkok, it still pays to pick the right part of town to stay in, if, for no other reason than to save you the dizzying experience of going around and around and around Chiang Mai's legion of one-way streets and sois.
For the eaters and drinkers, you'll never go hungry, nor thirsty in this town. There are three main areas for bars and restaurants in Chiang Mai, though there are loads of other spots spread across town. The Tha Phae Gate and Loi Kroh area contain some of the longest running tourist haunts, with the former catering to budget tourists and backpackers, the latter to a predominantly male trade looking for company with their beer. Going east of here you'll reach the Ping River with its famous collection of riverside restaurants and bars -- don't forget the further north or south you go along the Ping River, the better the offerings get. On the other side of town around the Nimmanhaemin Road area is a bunch of Thai-focussed bars and restaurants -- some of which are outstanding -- don't be intimidated by the lack of foreigners, these are well worth exploring.
For shoppers, the Night Bazaar in eastern Chiang Mai has long been the epicentre of the Northern Thailand shopping experience and while there is loads of good stuff there, there are two other strips -- the Sunday Walking Market which offers a mind-boggling range of products (whose range continues to grow), running through the centre of the old city, and Nimmanhaemin Road, known for its chic and stylish (and expensive) Thai furnishing, running north to south along the western edge of Chiang Mai. So the moral of the shopping story is threefold -- it doesn't matter where you stay as you'll find good shopping opportunities almost everywhere; you will need to travel to get to the other shopping areas, and don't make the mistake of choosing a place near the Night Bazaar solely on its proximity to that market. If you're a shopper -- stay anywhere!
The 3 new additions to the Chiang Mai shopping experience in 2013 and 2014:
Central Festival Shopping Mall MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Promenada Resort Mall
Things to do in Chiang Mai Thailand When deciding on a base in Southeast Asia we carefully thought about where to go. Soon it became a no brainer that Chiang Mai would be the perfect fit. Considering how affordable it is to live there in tandem with the amazing dining options certainly won us over. Moreover, the Chiang Mai offers numerous top attractions and things to do. In our latest travel guide we attempt to highlight as many of our favorite attractions in Chiang Mai as possible:
1) Chiang Mai is famous for its night markets. We suggest starting off at the Sunday Night Market which is best explored from Thapea Gate. From handicrafts to silverware and from souvenirs to silks, you'll shop until you drop. In my opinion, an even better thing to do at the market is to indulge in as much Thai street food as possible.
2) Elephant tourism runs rampant in and around Chiang Mai. Unfortunately, the well being of the elephants is rarely a consideration. Visiting the Elephant Nature Park, known as an elephant sanctuary and rehabilitation center, is somewhere you can go to interact with elephants knowing full well they are being taken care of and not exploited. A trip to the park is a memorable experience that is both incredibly fun and extremely educational.
3) From the roof of our apartment building we had often unobstructed views of Doi Suthep. It was only a matter of time before we decide to take a Songthaew up to explore it on foot. Although it is very touristy, it is still well worth a visit - especially for the views of Chiang Mai!
4) Few cuisines are more famous around the world than Thai food. While you're in Chiang Mai be sure to take a cooking class to learn how to make all of your favorite Thai dishes. An even better idea is to go to the countryside where you can have a more authentic and rural cooking experience.
5) Although I love the Sunday Night Market my favorite night market in Chiang Mai happens on Saturday. Possibly because it is only a stone throw away from where we lived in Chiang Mai, I just enjoyed wandering through the maze of people and shops to eat as much Thai street food as possible.
6) You can't visit Chiang Mai without trying its most famous Northern Thai dish - Khao Soi. Crispy and soft noodles float around in a coconut milk base with various vegetables. It's delicious and one of the cheapest meal options in the city!
7) When you have time - and a friend to go with - reserve a table at a restaurant that specializes in Khantoke sets. Served with sticky rice and a plethora of small dishes you'll get a real sense of what Northern Thai food is all about.
8) Wander around the neighborhoods outside of the city center. A big part of why Chiang Mai is so charming has to do with its various neighborhoods. Get off the beaten path and just go explore around. Here we show you our neighborhood, which is not far from Chiang Mai South Gate.
1) Chiang Mai is famous for its night markets. We suggest starting off at the Sunday Night Market which is best explored from Thapea Gate. From handicrafts to silverware and from souvenirs to silks, you'll shop until you drop. In my opinion, an even better thing to do at the market is to indulge in as much Thai street food as possible.
2) Elephant tourism runs rampant in and around Chiang Mai. Unfortunately, the well being of the elephants is rarely a consideration. Visiting the Elephant Nature Park, known as an elephant sanctuary and rehabilitation center, is somewhere you can go to interact with elephants knowing full well they are being taken care of and not exploited. A trip to the park is a memorable experience that is both incredibly fun and extremely educational.
3) From the roof of our apartment building we had often unobstructed views of Doi Suthep. It was only a matter of time before we decide to take a Songthaew up to explore it on foot. Although it is very touristy, it is still well worth a visit - especially for the views of Chiang Mai!
4) Few cuisines are more famous around the world than Thai food. While you're in Chiang Mai be sure to take a cooking class to learn how to make all of your favorite Thai dishes. An even better idea is to go to the countryside where you can have a more authentic and rural cooking experience.
5) Although I love the Sunday Night Market my favorite night market in Chiang Mai happens on Saturday. Possibly because it is only a stone throw away from where we lived in Chiang Mai, I just enjoyed wandering through the maze of people and shops to eat as much Thai street food as possible.
6) You can't visit Chiang Mai without trying its most famous Northern Thai dish - Khao Soi. Crispy and soft noodles float around in a coconut milk base with various vegetables. It's delicious and one of the cheapest meal options in the city!
7) When you have time - and a friend to go with - reserve a table at a restaurant that specializes in Khantoke sets. Served with sticky rice and a plethora of small dishes you'll get a real sense of what Northern Thai food is all about.
8) Wander around the neighborhoods outside of the city center. A big part of why Chiang Mai is so charming has to do with its various neighborhoods. Get off the beaten path and just go explore around. Here we show you our neighborhood, which is not far from Chiang Mai South Gate.