Chiang Mai, Thailand's second-largest city, is the gateway to the country's north. Chiang Mai has grown rapidly into a large and dynamic city in recent years but it still retains a great deal of charm within its ancient walls and has much to offer visitors. Much more compact and easier to navigate than Bangkok, it is here that visitors come to immerse themselves in some of Thailand's extraordinary culture.

Whether chatting with Buddhist monks, observing the skilled artisans, riding bicycles through the surrounding villages, flying in hot-air balloons or white water rafting, there is plenty to do and see in the north of Thailand.

Exotissimo is one of few international standard tour operators that have a fully staffed office in Chiang Mai. Our team, which includes expatriates as well as local Lanna and hill tribe people, has developed many new and interesting sightseeing tours and round trips but have been working closely with local communities, lecturers and museum owners to develop tours where you learn and experience Chiang Mai rather than just see Chiang Mai.

A week in the region will give you time to see all the sights of Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle as well as to take in a 2 or 3-day trek. Or, if you are feeling independent, why not take a 5-day self-drive tour from Chiang Rai and along the mountain roads to Mae Hong Son, in addition to a few days of enjoying the delights of Chiang Mai?

Where to stay in Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai has plenty of accommodation choices, ranging from small, charming, boutique hotels to super luxury resorts.

The boutique offerings in Chiang Mai are numerous and although the designs and styles of these hotels are charming, great differences are found in the level and quality of service. For the perfect combination of style and service, we recommend Rachamanka, Puripunn, Yaang Come Village, and Tamarind Village. These properties are outstanding choices for lovers of boutique accommodation blended with a sense of home. They feature all of the comfort and luxury of a great little hotel.

At the top of the luxe list are the Oriental Dhara Dhevi and the Four Seasons Chiang Mai. Both are a little out of town and are high on luxury. The Oriental is top of the charts when it comes to facilities while the Four Seasons is considered by many a more authentic experience. If you are staying at these resorts you should balance your time in Chiang Mai so you can both get out and see the sites and spend some quality time enjoying the five-star services and facilities. The Chedi, with its compact design, is the in-town choice for the style-conscious, while the riverside Rati Lanna is another good deluxe option.

What to see in Chiang Mai?

If you are only spending a few days in Chiang Mai then a visit to Doi Suthep is a must. A morning with the monks is also a great way to discover the culture or why not take a biking trip, a balloon ride over Chiang Mai or even learn to become a mahout.

A visit to an elephant camp is an interesting day out, especially if you have kids with you. Chiang Dao Elephant Camp is our favorite as it is set in spectacular natural countryside and has fewer tourists than those close to town. There are also some smaller camps with just a few elephants such as Patara Elephant Farm on the foothills of Doi Suthep where the concept is really to act as if you were the tuskers' owner. The Elephant Nature Park is a unique project established with the aim to provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants in Thailand. The park is a project rather than a camp - the owner has rescued over 30 distressed elephants throughout the country.

In the evening, you should enjoy dinner by the river and then take a tuk tuk ride to discover the famous night bazaar.

Trekking and Homestays

Spending a night in a home stay village is one way to really learn and understand how the people live. Working with locals on community-based projects, Exotissimo has developed relationships with ethnic hill tribes to develop sustainable tourism projects with Thai and Shan villages in the mountainous areas of north Thailand. The facilities might be basic but the experience will be unforgettable and for just one night it should be possible to live without modern hotel facilities. A Shan Homestay at Tad Lod is one of our favorite places in Thailand. Spend a few days walking through the hills and learn how the Shan people live. Closer to Chiang Mai we highly recommend a night at Mae Kampong, a beautiful Thai village in the hills where you stay as guests of a local family in their teak house.

The trekking we are able to offer around Chiang Mai and across the north has also taken on a new dimension and is no longer an activity suitable for backpackers only. A trekking tour of two days/one night organized by Exotissimo includes a trekking guide, porters, all meals, and sleeping materials in a local village (basic but clean accommodation) and guaranteed an unforgettable experience. The trekking is not very difficult and can be done by anybody with a normal physical health and a bit of adventurous spirit. More comfortable but still rewarding home stay experiences can be found at Lisu Lodge or Khum Lanna, countryside resorts where the emphasis is on seeing, learning and experiencing. Hmong Lodge is also a nice out-of-town experience and recommended for families. We have a number of packages including these properties or you can simply ask us to include them into your tailor made itinerary.