Cheap Chiang Mai Vacation Packages
The largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. The city is perched astride the Ping River, which is a primary tributary of the Chao Phraya River. Chiang Mai was once the capital of Lanna Kingdom and is now a major attraction for backpackers and tourists of all kinds. In the city, there is an energy that captivates those who explore, whether they are in quest of a trekking adventure or a spiritual awakening.
Places of Interest in Chiang Mai
Wat Prathat Doi Suthep
One of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, Wat Prathat Doi Suthep is a mountaintop temple boasting a much-revered seated Buddha. Tourists can reach this temple by hiking up the mountain hopping into a songthaew, or renting a motorbike. The gallery of the temple is adorned with statues of Buddha in the Sukothai and Chiang Mai styles.
Doi Pui
A tourist oriented area, Doi Pui is a small Hmog village featuring a small exhibit of a traditional hill tribe home and information on the background of several groups that have settled in the Thai mountains in past. Tourists can also dress up in ethnic attire for a photo shoot. In the village, there are lots of shops where visitors can purchase handmade jewelry, hand-woven textiles, and other goods.
Doi Inthanon
The highest peak in the country, Doi Inthanon is surrounded by the national park filled with some of the wonderful natural wonders making the city such a draw. Tourists can hike or trek the mountain, or enjoy a leisurely route around the park. Some of the other draws of the area are a hill tribe village, several waterfalls, and two pagodas built to honor the King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit.