Travel Tribe

Northern Thailand is renowned for its mountainous forestry, caves, waterfalls, temples, and so much more. This region is a completely different experience to the south of Thailand where one dives into the island life. Northern Thailand is a great place for outdoor fanatics who love adventure, hiking, water activities, and exploring an array of Buddhist temples.

1. Chiang Mai

You can’t talk about North Thailand without mentioning Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai’s Old City is centred in the middle of the city surrounded by a small moat where you can find great Thai food and numerous temples. My best advice is to get lost in the windy streets of the Old City with no plan, you’ll always find something extraordinary! Not everything is centred in the Old City though! Make sure to visit outside the moat to discover multiple markets, restaurants, cafés, and more! Be careful at the markets, they will try to charge you more for what you’re getting! Make sure to negotiate your prices as much as you can.

There is so much more to do outside of the city. Rent a bike or get a bus to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, this is a must see temple when visiting Chiang Mai as it is one of the most important and legendary temples in all of Thailand! Another activity outside of the city is the Elephant Sanctuaries where you can feed the elephants, bath them and play with them, and go trekking in the mountains with your guide! But DON’T RIDE THEM! Make sure to book a Sanctuary where the elephants are treated with kindness and love.

2. Pai

Oh, Pai. This town is full of good vibes, fun people, and amazing energy! Come to Pai to chill out. After having a hectic few days in Chiang Mai, Pai is only a 3 hour drive away and very doable for amateurs on a bike! I spent 3 days in Pai but I honestly could have stayed for 3 months! There are so many options for food, street markets, and bars in the town. If you’re a solo traveller, it’s so easy to integrate in Pai, everyone is so friendly and you are guaranteed to make a new friend within your first few hours in Pai! Pai is a big hippy town and extremely chill, so don’t be expecting too much craziness!

There are other sites to see around Pai, loads of caves, hikes, waterfalls, you name it! Pai Canyon is a beautiful area to watch the sunset. You can explore the paved stairway looking over the mountains, and then find a comfy spot to relax and watch the sun go down. The Big Buddha is another great spot for a sunset. It’s only a short bike trip from the town but could take a while to walk if you’re not biking. Also, don’t be afraid to hitch a bike ride in Pai, it’s completely normal! And a great form of transport if you travelling solo.

3. Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is a slightly smaller city to Chiang Mai, but still chock-full of markets, restaurants, and more! I spent 2 days in Chiang Rai for the reason that there is not much else to see other than the 3 main temples/houses – The White Temple, The Blue Temple, and The Black House. Wat Rong Khun, or otherwise known as the White Temple is a stunning Buddhist temple to get some noteworthy instagram pic! You have to pay to enter the main temple on the grounds but there are other surrounding temples that are free to roam around! Wat Rong Seur Ten, known as the Blue Temple that is distinguished for its blue colouring and outstanding artwork and carvings on the inside and out. Its so peaceful to walk around the grounds, listen to the locals play music and gander around the markets. Lastly, the Baan Dam Museum, a.k.a. the Black House showcases a collection of wooden buildings created by Thawan Dunchanee and other contemporary Thai artists. There are some quirky carvings that would catch your eye from a mile away. The grounds are amazing, you could spend hours here appreciating the artwork and incredible buildings of Thawan Dunchanee.