Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the principal city of northern Thailand, set in a broad valley at roughly 300 metres elevation and encircled by mountains. The old city is defined by a moat and remnant wall from the Lanna Kingdom era, enclosing a dense concentration of more than 30 temples including Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh. The city is a well-established centre for northern Thai arts — lacquerware, silverwork, woodcarving, and umbrella painting — with craft villages scattered along the road to San Kamphaeng. Cooler temperatures relative to Bangkok make it a preferred base for exploring the region.