chiang mai is one of the few places in thailand where it is possible to find in the heart of the city century old chedis and temples next to modern convenience stores and boutique hotels. the original city layout still exists as a neat square surrounded by a moat with vestiges of the fortified wall and its four main gates offering prime access to the old town.
for years, tourists have mistaken chiang mai as the northern junction and the base from which they can explore other provinces. the phrase "a day in chiang mai is enough to see things around" was common. today, tourists are surprised by the fact that there is always something new to discover in chiang mai. intriguing diversity among ethnic tribes coupled with breathtaking scenery makes chiang mai one of asia's most attractive tourist destinations.
the old city of chiang mai with its fascinating indigenous cultural identity such as diverse dialects, cuisine, architecture, traditional values, festivals, handicrafts and classical dances is a prime location in its own right. in addition, the presence of hill tribes and their wealth of unique cultures enhance chiang mai's distinctive diversity.
chiang mai is also blessed with pristine natural resources of mountains (dois), waterfalls, and other nature-based tourist attractions. at the same time, chiang mai residents are warm, gracious and congenial providing authentic hospitality making visits memorable and meaningful. moreover, visitors from all walks of life can collect handicrafts of silk, silver and wood produced locally as timeless souvenirs. chiang mai is a place where luxury tourists can enjoy themselves to the fullest.
chiang mai, with an altitude of approximately 310 meters above sea level, is situated approximately 700 kilometers from bangkok on the mae ping river basin. surrounded by high mountain ranges, the city covers an area of approximately 20,107 square kilometers and is the country's second largest province. chiang mai borders myanmar on the north, lamphun and tak provinces on the south, chiang rai, lampang and lamphun provinces on the east and mae hong son province on the west. the terrain is mainly comprised of jungles and mountains, which are home to the hill tribes. in addition, wildlife and exotic flora may be found in the national parks.
most of chiang mai's mountains are oriented from north to south. together they create a multitude of streams and tributaries including mae chaem, mae ngat and mae klang. one of chiang mai's distinctive features is doi inthanon, thailands highest peak, which is 2,575 meters above sea level. in addition, the province boasts flat, fertile valleys, which spread along the banks of the largest and most important river in chiang mai mae nam ping (ping river) which originates from the chiang dao mountain range.
chiang mai overview
chiang mai is where thailand's past meets the present, and where a country's past traditions meet its future aspirations. as well as buzzing, modern areas such as the chang klan road, where the dusit D2 hotel is located, at chiang mai's heart is the walled old city where visitors will find numerous wats (temples) and the imposing structure of the tapae gate, which was originally constructed as part of the city's defences.
the towering skyscrapers of chiang mai are not far from nature's own skyscrapers in the form of the mountains at doi ang khang and doi intanon national park. the magnificent temple wat phra that doi suthep overlooks chiang mai from a peak in the doi pui national park, but guests only need take a short walk from the dusit D2 hotel to find temples such as wat ku tao, with its watermelon-shaped pagoda, and wat chedi luang.
the diversity of chiang mai is well expressed through its shopping options. the dusit D2 hotel is located very close to the chiang mai night bazaar on the chang klan road where visitors can test their bargaining skills on everything from traditional thai handicrafts to designer goods. the markets at bo sang and san kamphaeng are the place to find the famous, hand-painted bo sang umbrellas, thai silk and sa paper, while major department stores across chiang mai offer VATrefunds for tourists.
one of the best ways to uncover the unique nature of chiang mai is to take the short trip from the dusit D2 to the chiang mai cultural centre. the teak houses of the centre contain fine examples of thai art and evening visitors even have the option of enjoying a northern-style khan tok dinner. numerous hill-tribe villages are located near the chiang mai cultural centre so you can get a real taste of corthern thailand within a small distance of the dusit D2.
chiang mai attractions close to the hotel
- night bazaar
- doi intanon national park
- chiang mai old city
- wat chedi luang
- bo sang / san kamphaeng
- wat ku tao
- chiang mai cultural centre
- butterfly and orchid farms
- elephant show
historical places of interest
- wat ku tao
this temple was formerly called wat veru vanaram, so named because of its uniquely shaped pagoda, which looks like five watermelons piled on top of one another. - wat chedi chet yot
wat chedi chet yot is remarkable for an indian-style stupa, supported by beautiful sculptures at the base, representing the prosperous lanna thai art. wat chedi chet yot, also called wat photaram viharn, is one of the oldest temples in chiang mai. king tilokarat had this temple built when he hosted the eighth world buddhist council, which was convened to purify the scriptures. unfortunately, the results of the conference were lost. - chiang mai national museum
the chiang mai national museum was established by the fine arts department as an education and conservation centre for the art and culture of chiang mai and the northern region. the museum building was built in modern lanna thai architecture, showcasing the priceless collection of lanna heritage. - wat chedi luang
among the several ancient temples in the city of chiang mai, wat chedi luang is distinguished with the largest chedi in the province and the most beautiful man-made nagas in the north. wat chedi luang was built in the reign of king saen muang mak, the seventh king of the mengrai dynasty. - wat suan dok
dating back to the 14th century, wat suan dok is closely connected to the lanna thai monarchy. this beautiful temple houses the ashes of chiang mai's former royal family, a relic of holy buddha and much-revered buddha images. - doi suthep-doi pui national park
the famous doi suthep-doi pui national park is a must for all visitors to chiang mai. covering an area of 262 square kilometres, the magnificent national park offers not only fascinating natural scenery, but also religious attractions and historical and cultural sites. nature lovers and adventure seekers will enjoy the sightseeing opportunities provided by the verdant forests, mountain ranges and beautiful waterfalls. the national park is home to various species of flora and fauna, ideal for such eco-tourism activities as trekking, rafting, mountain biking and elephant riding. - op luang national park
op laung national park offers spectacular scenery and is notable for the wild river that flows through a narrow gorge. a sunset scene at op luang gorge will stun you with its striking beauty. op luang national park covers an area of 553 square kilometres and is teeming with many species of plants and animals. it is worth visiting at any time of the year. - wat chiang man
wat chiang man is chiang mai's oldest temple, featuring traditional lanna thai architecture. the temple was the former residence of king mengrai, the founder of chiang mai, and houses the much-respected holy buddha images phra kaeo khao and phra sila khao. wat chiang man probably dates from 1296. when the construction of the new city of chiang mai finished, the king donated the palace for use as a monastery. - wat phra sing
the historic wat phra sing's temple compound is an exquisite example of northern thai architecture. the temple is a focal point during the songkran festival, when people process the revered phra phutthasihing buddha image that is enshrined there across the town for traditional bathing. the splendid scripture library provides visitors with an exquisite example of lanna art, consisting of a wooden building on a tall base and a magnificent bas-relief.
cultural attractions
- chiang mai cultural centre
chiang mai cultural centre provides a rare opportunity to enjoy both a northern-style khan tok dinner and spectacular cultural shows. chiang mai cultural centre is the source of lanna art and culture. beautifully adorned with crafted wood, the marvelous northern-style thai teak wood houses display a gorgeous collection of lanna thai art. tourists can also visit the hill-tribe villages in the neighbourhood. souvenir shops are available within the area. - trekking tour
the shady forests and high hills of chiang mai provide an exquisite setting for nature treks. visitors can explore the beautiful countryside and experience the exotic hill-tribe culture in the northern highlands. popular treks usually take tourists through forested mountains, high valleys and meadows and include visits to remote hill-tribe villages. there are six major hill-tribes who inhabit the northern highlands: karen, meo, lahu, yao, akha and lisu. each tribe has distinctive ceremonial attire, rituals, language and culture. - bo sang / san kamphaeng
bo sang and san kamphaeng villages are renowned for handicrafts. the area is well known as a major source of silk and cotton weaving, as well as umbrella making. the bo sang / san kamphaeng area is home to many handicraft factories and souvenir shops, selling a wide range of products. thai silk, cotton, earthenware, lacquerware, silverware, ceramics, leather products, umbrellas, woodwork, jewellery and antiques can all be found along this road. - traditional cotton weaving village
the traditional cotton weaving village is notable for its distinctive cotton designs. the beautiful fabric produced by the villagers is a popular souvenir for visitors to chiang mai. the local people of this district are very skillful in weaving teen chok cotton. this traditional fabric is unique in colour and design. around 150 households produce this distinctive cotton, and each has its own cotton weaving machine, or loom. visitors can watch the weaving process then shop around for the fabric, which is available at value-for-money prices.
shopping
- night bazaar
the chiang mai night bazaar is a lively shopping spot for bargain hunters. here, different department stores, shops and vendor stalls display all sorts of products, from traditional thai handicrafts, silverware and antiques, to designer goods and many other products. starting from a simple, three-storey building, the night bazaar is now the largest shopping venue in chiang mai. - handicraft villages
aside from bo sang and san kamphaeng, chiang mai also features different craft villages, each famous for a particular product, which are well worth a visit. these villages have been creating various types of crafts for decades and are promoted by the industry promotion centre.
sports
there are a number of golf courses in chiang mai, ranging from 9- to 18-hole greens. to name a few, the best courses are:
- chiang mai golf and country club
this scenic and relaxed 18-hole, par 72 course has a pleasing valley setting deep in the countryside. designed by denis griffiths, the course has excellent, pretty terrain. - lanna golf course
tel: +66 53 221 911
a lovely old 18-hole, par 72 course, overlooking the racetrack and with distant views of chiang mai's doi suthep temple. it is owned and managed by the royal thai army. - chiang mai gymkhana golf course
tel: +66 53 241 035
one of the oldest member clubs in thailand, which was established in 1898 and is situated on a 101-rai piece of land. it has beautiful, landscaped gardens with plenty of shade from large trees, some of which are more than 100 years old. it's the only sports club in town. - mae sah resort golf course
tel: +66 53 248 180
a residential course designed for local and mainly military use. it has pleasant surroundings and is quite close to a couple of chiang mai's excellent new championship courses. the greens and caddy fees are cheaper on weekdays than at weekends, with a few driving ranges charging between baht 25.00 and baht 30.00 for a tray of 50 to 60 balls.
