Northern Thailand is a mountainous region bordered by Myanmar to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, and the central plains of Thailand to the south. This is a land of great beauty that is now being explored and discovered by tourists. It contains some of the oldest cities and towns of Thailand. Northern Thailand has its own culture, cuisine and architectural style, which bear closer similarity to Laos than to Bangkok.
The main city and base for most visitors, is Chiang Mai, the capital of Northern Thailand. A smaller number of visitors use Chiang Rai to the northeast as their base. Both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai were once capitals of ancient kingdoms and are not incorporated into Thailand. They have many temples, old buildings and fortress ruins waiting to be explored. This website offers you a glimpse of what is there to see in Northern Thailand, while at the same time providing you a bit of knowledge about its history.
The map below shows the geography of Northern Thailand. The main city, Chiang Mai, is represented by a red pin. Main tourist destinations are shown with green pins while minor attractions with yellow pins.
Wooden house, Northern Thai architecture
Wooden house, Northern Thai architecture
Hill tribe cultural show
Exploring Northern Thailand
To properly explore Northern Thailand, you would require a minimum of two weeks. In that way, you can spend a few days getting to know Chiang Mai, before venturing out farther afield. Each of the pins represent a day trip from Chiang Mai, or preferably an overnight stay. What we have described above is an ideal situation. Most visitors to Northern Thailand spent less than a week here. If that is the case for you, we suggest that you start by exploring Chiang Mai. Then select to explore one or two areas denoted by the green pins. These places are the main tourist destinations, and you will easily find tours provided for by local travel agencies in Chiang Mai to take you there. However, if you want to get everything planned and in place well before you step into Northern Thailand, we have found tours that you can book online:
Places mentioned in this website that are not covered by the above tours are also unlikely to be covered by local travel agencies in Chiang Mai, simply because they are local sights without any tourism infrastructure. These include towns like Nan, Phrae and Phayao off the beaten path, and are best explored on your own. You best option is to hire a car (with driver preferably, or self drive), or a motorcycle. Getting a car with driver does not cost significantly more than driving it yourself - your driver will be more familiar with the roads and local customs than you, saving you time. He takes care of his own meals and sleeping arrangements - usually in the car itself. As for yourself, you may need to look for book accommodation in these small towns. We have found these accommodation in Northern Thailand towns that you can book online:
As you travel through Northern Thailand, you will notice many place names with the words "Chiang", "Wiang", "Muang". A "chiang" is usually an old capital, a place where a king or prince lived. If it is a fortified town, but the king/prince lived elsewhere, it is called a "wiang". A "muang" is a semi-independent city state or principality. In the modern context, muang is translated roughly as "district". For example, you will notice Muang Nan being the state for the town of Nan.
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When you travel to a distant, exotic destination such as Thailand, it is important to use a reputable tour operator. It will save you time, money, and headaches. Here are some local tours of Thailand which you may want to consider. As an independent traveler, you have the freedom to create your own vacation according to your own schedule. The tours are arranged by Viator, a big and reputable tour organisation, so you can peace of mind when placing your booking.
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