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The mountainous Northern region of
Thailand draws plenty of visitors who
invariable leave with enchanted memories
of its wonderful natural environment,
impressive legacy of history and culture,
and undeniable value for money. Much of
the area remains unspoilt wilderness with
a lazy pace and humble, friendly people.
The kingdom of Lanna, which encompassed
much of Northern Thailand, was one of the
first established states in this region and
predates the rise of the powerful Siamese
kingdoms of Ayuthaya and Sukhothai by
several hundred years. The manifold
mountains helped defend the area, while a
flourishing society occupied the Ping, Wang
and other broad fertile valleys which today
are widely populated.
From Chiang Mai, the chief city in
Northern Thailand and former Lanna capital,
visitors launch trips into the mountains;
trekking to remote mountain villages, riding
elephants, relaxing in plush, isolated
resorts and seeking out the wonderful
waterfalls and breathtaking views of the
many national parks nearby. One particularly
distinctive character of Northern Thailand
is the presence of the colorful and unique
minority hill tribes whose simple
subsistence way of life adds fascination to
the tourist appeal of the North.
Chiang Mai itself is an
historic city with a 700-year-old town
surrounded by a pretty moat, preserved gates
and ramparts, and dotted with beautiful and
ancient temples and chedis (pagodas). The
atmosphere is decidedly laid-back, the
shopping at the famous Night Bazaar and
handicraft villages nearby presents
excellent value, and the enormous spread of
entertainment and great-value hospitality
options make this city one of Asia's most
appealing tourist destinations.
A popular multi-day trip from Chiang Mai
is to the isolated frontier town of
Mae Hong Son - nestled among
mountains on the Myanmar border. The
five-hour journey follows a spectacular
rollercoaster ride over rugged mountains and
through the delightful bohemian town of
Pai - a popular backpacker
hang-out astride a pretty river. The return
journey via the southern route passes
through the lovely Doi Inthanon
National Park, which boasts
Thailand's highest peak and some fantastic
waterfalls.
Heading north from Chiang Mai is a
rewarding drive as you come upon the
unmistakable peak of Chiang Dao
- another lofty mountain with a remarkable
complex of caves buried beneath it.
Continuing north, you can turn off the main
route and meander through mountain passes to
seek out Doi Angkhang - one
of the last wildernesses in Thailand before
the Shan State hills of Myanmar roll out
before you. However, a popular option is to
continue on to Tha Ton and catch an
overnight raft trip to the older and quieter
Northern Thailand city of Chiang Rai.
Others prefer to seek out the intriguing
tea-growing Chinese immigrant communities
clustered on the hilltops around Mae
Salong. From here, it's not far to
the touristy Golden Triangle,
where the mighty Mekong demarcates the
border of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. Nearby
is the ancient port city of Chiang
Saen.
South of Chiang Mai is sleepy
Lamphun, also boasting a moat and
historic temples, and once the centre of the
ancient Haripunchai kingdom which predates
Chiang Mai. Farther south is Lampang,
another town that attracts some tourists to
its important temples. To truly escape the
tourist path of Northern Thailand, you may
wish to venture farther to the unspoilt
provinces of Nan in the
east. Hiring an Enduro bike is one popular
way of doing this.
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