7 Day Trips from Chiang Mai
February 26, 2018
Chiang Mai Itinerary
June 1, 2018Northern Thailand Travel - FAQS
Travel to northern Thailand – the basics
When most people think of Thailand, they think of tropical beaches and palm trees. However, there is much more to Thailand than the beaches and islands of the south. If you travel 700km north of Bangkok you’ll arrive at northern Thailand, an area characterised by lofty mountains, thick forests, and diverse ethnic minority groups (hill tribes). For travellers seeking a more cultural and authentic side to Thailand, the north is the place to visit !
Northern Thailand Map
The provinces of northern Thailand
There are 9 provinces in northern Thailand :
1. Chiang Mai
2. Chiang Rai
3. Lampang
4. Mae Hong Son
5. Phrae
6. Nan
7. Phayao
8. Lamphun
9. Uttaradit
Each province has its own provincial capital of the same name. (The capital of Chiang Mai province is Chiang Mai city). For more about these cities please see our Top 5 cities of northern Thailand post.
The capital of northern Thailand – Chiang Mai
The capital of northern Thailand is Chiang Mai city, often affectionately referred to as the ‘rose of the north’. This is the cultural and historic hub, of the north. A low rise city ringed by lofty mountains and lush tropical countryside. At the center is the square-shaped old city, known for its historic Lanna-style temples and the red-brick ruins of an ancient wall and moat that surrounds it. Historically these ancient walls protected the city from being attacked by neighbouring Burma.
Beyond the old city, is a bustling low-rise urban centre. It has all the facilities and conveniences of any modern city, but unlike Bangkok its much slower paced and less congested. Travellers will be spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation and dining out.
Chiang Mai city
Chiang Mai as a base for your Northern Thailand travels
For most travellers, Chiang Mai is the best base to start your travels around northern Thailand. Popular activities here include; visiting an elephant sanctuary, trekking, visiting hill tribe villages (ethnic minorities), and cooking classes. It also has a wide range of soft adventure activities such as; ziplining, white water rafting, and ATV riding. There are also numerous cultural, historic and natural wonders ranging from historic Lanna temples, caves, waterfalls and national parks. It all depends on what your interests are.
Cultural Activity – Hill Tribes
The hill tribes of northern Thailand (it has over 7 ethnic minority groups) make up a large part of northern Thailand’s culture and history.
You can hire a guide to visit their villages and learn about their way of life. Here at Thailand HillTribe Holidays this is our specialty! So please contact us to learn more about how you can visit the hill tribes in an authentic and ethical way.
It is a common misconception that all hill tribe villages have been set up for tourists, and that visiting the hill tribes is like visiting a ‘human zoo’, this is not the case at all ! If you travel in the right way, with the right guide, then you can have a wonderful and culturally authentic experience. What’s more, your visit can directly support the hill tribes both economically and by fostering the preservation of traditional village life.
Karen Hill tribe, Mae Hong Son
Travel north to Chiang Rai
From Chiang Mai, you could travel north to Chiang Rai – the northern most province in Thailand. Another diverse and fascinating province, mostly known for the Golden Triangle and White temple. Most tourists only visit Chiang Rai as a day trip from Chiang Mai, which is a shame as there’s so much more to discover than this. You could easily spend a few days travelling through the Chiang Rai countryside, and exploring its fascinating and diverse hill tribe groups. The hill tribes migrated from Myanmar and Laos and dwell in the highlands living off the land. Many hill tribe villages remain very traditional, where homes are still a simple bamboo hut on stilts. Hill tribe villages, such as the Karen, Hmong, Akha and Lahu are scattered throughout the province. Other things to see in Chiang Rai include Mae Salong Chinese village, tea and coffee plantations ,and fruit orchards.
Click here for a Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Itinerary
Tea Plantations in Mae Salong, Chiang Rai
Travel West to Mae Hong Son
West of Chiang Mai is Mae Hong Son. A remote and mountainous frontier province bordering Burma, historically renowned for its vast teak wood forests and wild elephants. This is one of the most non-tourist and most authentic parts of Thailand. Mae Hong Son is best discovered on the ‘Mae Hong Son Loop’ route, a 600km road trip through the province which takes you through Pai, Mae hong Son and Mae Sariang and back to Chiang Mai. This is a road trip which traverses through the mountains, passing lofty mountain landscapes and some of the best views in the country. Travelling along this route will give you a glimpse into how locals really live. You’ll pass the rustic hill tribe villages that are scattered throughout the province, the predominant tribes here are the Karen and Lawa.
The distinctive cultural feature of Mae Hong Son, is the Shan –an ethnic minority group who originate from southern China and later migrated down to Myanmar and Thailand. Mae Hong Son is characterised by ornate Shan style temples, and ‘Poy Sang Long’ festival (novice monk ordination festival).
Click here for how to Travel the Mae Hong Son Loop
Mae Hong Son Loop – Northern Thailand
How many days do I need for northern Thailand ?
You could easily spend weeks exploring northern Thailand and not have covered it all. If you have less than 4 days, then its best to stick to Chiang Mai city. If you have 4 days or more then we suggest exploring Chiang Rai or Mae Hong Son province.
FAQS
1. Is it worth visiting northern Thailand ?
Yes ! If you want to see what real Thailand is like and to learn about its culture and people, then northern Thailand is definitely worth visiting. The area remains very authentic and part of its Lanna heritage can still be seen. In general, it remains less altered by tourism than some of the commercial tourist destinations in the south.
2. Should I go to the north or south of Thailand first ?
We suggest travelling to northern Thailand first and enjoying the cultural activities and mountains first. After all the activity in the north, it’s nice to rest and relax on the beach. This is the main reason we would travel to the north first. There are direct flights from Chiang Mai Airport and Chiang Rai Airport to destinations in the south such as Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui.
3. What is the best time of year to visit ?
The most popular time of year to visit northern thailand (for domestic and international tourists) is the winter time. This runs from November through to January and is also the tourism high season. During this period, the weather is much cooler (average daily temperatures around 28 degrees celcius) and the evenings and early mornings can be chilly.
Although this is the most popular time to visit, it’s not necessarily the best time to visit ! We think that the tourism-shoulder months (the months in-between high and low seasons) are often the best. This is when there are less tourists around. For example, the months of May, September and October are great months to visit. These are the start end ending months of rainy season. So whilst it might rain on some days, it rarely rains long or hard enough to interfere with travel. Even during the middle of rainy season (July- August) the rains are quite mild.
Basically, any time of year is a great time to visit northern Thailand with the exception of the summer months (March-April). This is also known as the ‘burning season’ in northern Thailand.
Conclusion
Northern Thailand has something to offer all ages and tastes. From national parks, to soft adventure activities and minority culture. What makes it special though is that it offers the chance to see the real Thailand, not the tourist version of it. Many travellers remark that it feels more authentic in the north, compared to other tourist destinations in Thailand. Another important aspect are the local people – northern Thais are renown for their gentle nature, kindness and hospitality. This could be a reflection of their peaceful surroundings in the mountains and nature.
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