Yet Thailand’s ‘second city’ offers a different perspective: a world away from Bangkok’s sleek skyscrapers and Phuket’s louche beach clubs, here you’ll find historic temples wrapped by swathes of dense rainforest, artisan markets, and swoon-worthy scenery worth exploring.
Early risers should follow the city’s famous Monk’s Trail high into the forest to reach Wat Pha Lat, an ancient temple complex balanced in the treetops, which offers postcard-worthy views of the city at sunrise.
A grown-up guide to Chiang Mai, Thailand: Where to eat, stay and what to see For first-time visitors to Thailand, buzzy Bangkok and the sun-soaked islands in the south promise perpetual sunshine and boundless fun.
Here you’ll find local artists and artisans peddling their wares: sweet boutiques selling hand-stitched linens, wood carvings, and Thai trinkets form a ramshackle warren of stalls and makeshift shops worth exploring.
Subtle Thai flourishes make themselves known: copper sinks forged locally in Chiang Mai, along with batik stamps and local hill-tribe skirts displayed as artworks.
