The northern city of Chiang Mai has some of Thailand’s best temples – and a range of luxurious spas. Emily Bamber reports
It’s all about temples, shopping and spas in Thailand’s second city, the former capital Chiang Mai.
With a backdrop of green mountains, an ancient walled city dating back to the 13th century, and some of the country’s hippest hotels and spas, this is where to explore Thai history and hospitality at its best.
While life here is slower and more traditional than in Bangkok, Chiang Mai residents know how to have a good time – there’s a lively bar and club scene, and exciting festivals such as Thai New Year on April 13-15, when water fights, pranksters and fireworks fill the city’s streets.
If you’re staying longer, take an excursion into the surrounding hills and you can visit tribes such as the Karen or the Hmong, ride an elephant along the Mae Taeng River or hike in the green mountains around Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest peak.
Chiang Mai is the gateway to northern Thailand, and from here you can travel on to Chiang Rai or Nakhon, or over the borders to Laos or Myanmar.
Chiang Mai sights and activities
Shop for crafts in the narrow streets of the old town or homeware at one-off boutiques such as Oriental Style on Chareonraj Road. Boutiques are springing up around Nimmanhaemin Road – browse the clothes, antiques, ceramics and silver shops and stop for noodles at Tumlung on Soi 1. For all this under one roof head to the Sunday market on Ratchadamneon Road.
With prices as low as £4 for a 60-minute foot massage, there’s no excuse for leaving Chiang Mai without visiting a spa. Book a day at Oasis on Sirimuangkarajan Road or the Rarinjinda Wellness Resort on Chareonraj, or drop into Thai Hatawate near the cultural centre for something more rough and ready.
Chiang Mai has more than 300 temples, and the important ones can be done in a morning. Make sure you also leave time to climb the Suthep mountain, behind the city, to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. As well as breathtaking golden domes and endless figurines, you’ll get sweeping vistas of the city.
Chiang Mai dining and nightlife
The city’s vast night bazaar stays open well past midnight, and is one of the best markets in Thailand. The surrounding area is thick with bars and restaurants, making this a great area to start or finish your night – try one of the bars off the Chang Klan Road.
Just inside the city moat near the Thapae Gate, the Moon Muang Road is a great area for a bar crawl and most establishments have live music or DJs.
Upmarket party-goers should head to the Charoenrat Road – as well as funky international-style bars there are great restaurants serving Thai, Chinese and Western cuisine.
Chiang Mai hotels and resorts
The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi has just opened outside the city and is built in a lavish temple style surrounded by peaceful paddy fields. It has a superb spa and offers luxury serviced picnics in the estate.
For a similarly plush experience closer to the action, suggest the new Shangri-La Chiang Mai on Chang Klan Road with its CHI spa village.
Chiang Mai is dotted with boutique hotels – suggest the new De Naga Hotel off Moon Muang Road with its Lanna-style rooms (inspired by the textiles and heritage of the local Lanna tribe); converted monastery Rachamankha on a road of the same name or the Chedi on the banks of the Mai Ping River for minimalism.
If you’re staying longer, try the new Kantary Hills Hotel and Serviced Apartments off Nimmanhaemin Road – the self-catering units are supported by all the facilities of a smart modern hotel, including an excellent restaurant and a rooftop pool.
Sample holiday packages
Western and Oriental has a nine-night holiday in Thailand, including two nights at the Metropolitan in Bangkok followed by seven nights at the Rachamankha in Chiang Mai, for £1,224 per person including all flights and transfers in autumn.
Flight Centre has five-nights’ bed-and-breakfast accommodation in a deluxe room at the Chedi Chiang Mai, including return flights via Bangkok with Thai Airways and transfers from £1,099 per person in autumn.
Hotels4u.com offers bed-and-breakfast accommodation at the Rarinjinda Wellness Resort and Spa from £52 per person per night based on two people sharing this autumn. In-resort transfers through hotels4u.com cost £8.80 return.
Superbreak has a range of commissionable day excursions in Chiang Mai, including an elephant safari and river rafting in Chiang Dao for £43 per adult and £22 per child, a sundowner hot-air balloon flight for £117 per person, and Doi Suthep and temples tour for £33 per adult, £7 per child.
Chiang Mai travel facts
Getting there: Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Air Asia, Nok Air, Orient Thai Airlines, Air Andaman and Phuket Air all operate several flights a day between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. State Railways of Thailand runs express trains between Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station and Chiang Mai six times a day.
Travel time: The flight from Bangkok takes 55 minutes, it’s 11 to 12 hours by train or eight hours by road.
Currency: Thai Baht
Time difference: GMT +7
Weather: Chiang Mai has a tropical climate but is less humid than the rest of Thailand. The various monsoons lasts from May to November; December and January can be chilly, while temperatures in March and April can soar to 40C.
