Author:
Travel photographer, Inge Pincket @ingepincket and destinationexplorer.world
Thailand is an amazing country. We visited the North, Bangkok, Kanchananburi and the South. We had the opportunity to do this trip together with local friends which made it even more special and authentic. A trip to never forget.
Here are my tips and favourite places in the North.
How to get there:
As most people will be arriving in Bangkok, you have a few options to go to Chiang Mai.
The night train from BKK -> Chiang Mai (takes about 11 hrs/ cheap, but make sure to take first class): bookings
Flight from BKK -> Chiang Mai (takes about 1h./ very cheap with Airasia)
Car (hired) but then you will need to/can make a few stops, don’t miss Ayutthaya and Sukhothai (takes 10 hrs. without stops)
As I like to experience all kinds of public transport in a country, we decided to take the night train.
The train – pros and cons
Pros:
It’s an easy way to get to the North (when booking a first-class coupe) you will arrive early in the morning after a good sleep.
You don’t need to pay a hotel night
On board you have a toilet/shower and your bed is made up by the train staff
When traveling as a family you have the option of taking two coupes that are connected
Cons:
The train stops a lot, also during the night
As it is dark at 6.30 pm you don’t see much of the landscape outside
There was no food available on the train, so you need to buy it before getting on
Even in first class, sleeping isn’t very comfortable.
Chiang Mai
You need at least 5 days to get around. If you can, include a weekend, so you can visit the Weekend Night Market.
We stayed in Chiang Mai at Lamphu House and I would absolutely recommend it. This budget friendly hotel was very close to the city centre and the airport. Very clean rooms, industrial design, nice swimming pool and great breakfast. About 25 USD/ night/room breakfast included.
What to do:
Visit the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary . We did a lot of research to find an ethical and Ecological sanctuary where the elephants are well-treated. This elephant sanctuary convinced us because of the good work they have done to create a positive change in the perception of elephants. (no poaching, riding, overworking or abusing) We did the morning tour and had a lot of fun feeding, bathing and washing the elephants there. Pick-up from your hotel in Chiang Mai is included in the price and you get a well-cooked Thai lunch
Take a Thai cooking Class: We did the Akha Kitchen evening Class and loved it!
We cooked 11 dishes and could make a choice between several main dishes. If you like to buy your own ingredients at the local market, you better choose the morning class.
It’s a fun way to learn more about the Thai kitchen and taste different dishes. While cooking you learn more about the Thai kitchen and the history of Thailand. The Akha kitchen was delicious and it was a great cultural experience as well.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Doi Suthep is the most famous temple in Chiang Mai. As ‘Doi’ means ‘mountain’ you know this temple is to be found way up the in the mountains surrounding Chiang Mai. We visited in the evening, just in time to see the sunset. The view over the city is amazing from there.
Remember if visiting temples in Thailand: always take off your shoes arms and legs need to be covered
Chiang Dao
This small village is to be found at the end of Doi Chiang Dao Mountain (75 km from Chiang Mai). The most famous place to visit here is Chiang Dao Cave. This cave is almost 12 km’s long and can be visited by yourself, but only the lighted areas. If you want the full experience like us, you can go deeper into the cave with a guide and a small oil lamp. Beware of the many bats that live there!
Pai
Pai is a little village in the Northwest. There’s a cool, laidback atmosphere as it is a very popular with backpackers. The main street is full of shops and bars. In the evening the food stalls arrive with delicious street food.
Don’t miss: Yun Lai Viewpoint (10 minute’s drive) and the White Buddha Temple. A meditative walk up of 353 stairs leads to a majestic white Buddha overlooking Pai. Free entrance, open daily from 6 am to 6pm.
Doi Inthanon
A visit to this highest mountain (2565 m) of Thailand is a must. Doi Inthanon National Park also known as “The Roof of Thailand” covers an area of 482 km square.
As we visited Thailand in April, this visit was so welcome because the temperatures are always low here. We had around 16 °C during our hike. While hiking you will encounter some beautiful waterfalls, many bird species (around 500 different species have been spotted).
Entrance fee: 300 Baht, Car: 30 Baht
Opening hours: daily from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm (Except for Kew Mae Pan Trail: closed from June to October).
Sawadee ka!
Inge:
“To travel is not a verb, it’s a passion.”
My love for traveling started at a young age. After studying languages, I graduated as a bachelor International Tourism and Leisure. Organising trips all over the world is my favourite thing to do. Finding the best accommodation, things to see and do at a destination, discovering new places and of course the local cuisine and culture.
As I am working at the University College now, I am lucky to have a lot of holidays so I can explore new destinations mostly with my partner Bert, who is a trend watcher. We both love to travel, sometimes for work, but mostly to fulfil our dreams. Follow my adventures on @ingepincket and destinationexplorer.world