Royal Thai Holidays
Chiang Mai
In Thailand
ABOUT CHIANG MAI
Chiang Mai literally means “new city” and has retained the name despite celebrating its 700th anniversary. Intriguing diversity among ethnic tribes, several cooking, massage schools, elephant camps, with enamours outdoor activities, A variety of handicrafts workshops, various cultural performances, and breath-taking scenery make Chiang Mai is one of the Asia’s most attractive tourist destinations. A day in Chiang Mai is enough to see things around town" was once a common expression. Today, two weeks in Chiang Mai may not be long enough for travelers to experience all that Chiang Mai has to offer.
Chiang Mai features an amazing array of accommodation choices, including dozens of mom-and-pop guesthouses, mid-range hotels, and some of the finest luxury resorts in Thailand.
Chiang Mai thrives on tourism, with its 700 years of history and numerous charming cultural sites in the old town and beyond. From the banks and gates of the moat to the ancient ruins of Chedi Luang and lofty heights of Doi Suthep mountain temple, there is plenty of sightseeing to be done in Chiang Mai. The old city is a virtual archive of ancient Siam, a square mile of lanes with temples dating back to the founding of this Lanna Kingdom capital in the 13th century. Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Chiang Man are just some of the beautiful temples, but there are many more colourful relics and ruins including the gates and corner bastions of the pretty moat.
The city of Chiang Mai has a wide variety of activities to suit all ages and preferences. Activities on offer include: trekking, mountain biking, walking, elephant riding, Water rafting and kayaking, soft adventure activities, ATV and motorbike trips, and extreme sports such as bungee jumping and even drift karting. There are also bowling, golf, tennis, swimming and walking and kickboxing camps. More sedate activities include cooking courses, meditation, yoga and tai chi.
Food is a highlight of any trip to Thailand, and Chiang Mai offers an excellent selection of good value restaurants. Be a little adventurous and try the piquant Tom Yum Goong (a seafood soup delicately balanced with salty, spicy, sweet and sour ingredients) or the Khaeng Khieo Wan (green curry) which is very famous. Then there’s the steaming Pla Jian (whole fish poached in ginger, onions and soy sauce), or Gai Phat Met Ma Muang (chicken fried with vegetables and cashew), or the perennial Thai lunch favourite Somtam (a spicy papaya salad with a myriad of herbaceous ingredients).
Chiang Mai is a shopping paradise because there is such a wide range of collective goods at affordable prices. Chiang Mai is one of the handicraft centers of Asia and many of the market traders from overseas come here to source their goods. Silver, clothing, Silk, rattan, ceramics, interior decor, antiques, Buddhist art, lacquer, and nielloware – the list of options is endless for shopping in Chiang Mai.