ACTIVITIES

OMG!!! Where do I start? There's something for everyone here, Thailand is famous for her natural beauty, and Chiang Mai is no exception. The Temples are amazing, some are hundreds of years old! There are also facilities for "Extreme Sports" and a teeming night-life!
Golfers are well catered to with over a dozen quality golf courses in Chiang Mai itself, and still more in neighbouring regions. Learn to cook exotic Thai cuisine! The Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School is owned and run by Thailand's famous international TV Chef 'Sompon Nabnian'.

Whatever you decide to do, we'll be happy to take you, or arrange a guide for you, we also have cars and motorbikes for hire, if you'd prefer to go by yourself.

I've started marking some of the attractions on our Map of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Sightseeing Tours

The Rose of Suthep Home Stay offers more than accommodation, May and I, or our friends, will also personally take you sight-seeing, or whatever... If you're into nature, Chiang Mai has a choice of activities like trekking, mountain biking, fishing, bamboo and white-water rafting, Jungle Flights (zip line) and of course there's The Thai Elephant conservation centre the Chiang Mai Zoo and the Chiang Mai Night Safari. If it's action and adrenaline you seek, bungy jumping, ATV and go-kart tracks, paint-ball fields and many other sources are available to get your blood racing.

There are numerous museums, parks and gardens and archaeological sites that offer visitors an insight into the history of Chiang Mai, the Lanna Kingdom and indeed, Thailand herself. Founded by King Mengrai The Great in the 13th century, Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand. Originally a walled city surrounded by a moat. Chiang Mai boasts a unique architectural style, a gentle culture and traditional handicrafts. Complementing this are the various exotic hill tribes dwelling in the high lands adding allure to the countryside.

The neighbouring province of Chiang Rai, is the northernmost province in Thailand. The province of Chiang Rai borders Myanmar in the West and Laos in the East. The Golden Triangle is where the boundaries of the three countries meet. Mae Sai, a bustling border town, is the northernmost point in the province while Chiang Saen was the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom.

Enjoy Chiang Mai, "The Rose of the North"
Here's a few examples, there's plenty more!!

or, the "it's-up-to-you" tour: up to 3 persons, starting rate B600 / hour
(hourly rate decreases as hours increase). Includes car, fuel, driver and guide, wherever, whatever. Larger parties by negotiation

IMPRESSION CHIANGMAI

Doi Suthep is a mountain, dominating the Chiang Mai city skyline, with Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, a Holy Buddhist Temple upon it. (That's Doi Suthep at the top of the page, pic taken from my bedroom window) Every Temple with a name starting with Wat Prathat contains Buddha relics and is therefore especially Holy to Buddhists.

About 600 years ago, the Buddha relics, to put inside the Chedi of the Temple, were put on the back of an elephant. Where the elephant stopped the site for temple was chosen, it is not the top of the mountain, but roughly halfway up. Wat Prathat Doi Suthep dates back to the fourteenth century. It is one of the most important remains of the Lanna culture in Thailand.

A Village of the Hmong hill-tribe is located on Doi Pui, the mountain that is the focal point of the Doi Suthep and Doi Pui National Park. The village is located about 4 kilometres from Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep.
Despite being a key tourist attraction, and therefore probably not as authentic as it could be, it still offers a glimpse at how some of Thailand's hill-tribes live. The villagers wear traditional Hmong clothes, sell traditional Hmong handicrafts, and live in traditional Hmong-style houses, with traditional Hmong satellite TV dishes visitors seeking a less contrived presentation of hill-tribe life will want to go farther off the tourist path... Still, worth a visit if you're at nearby Doi Suthep anyway.

In 1984, just outside the modern Chiang Mai metropolitan area, archaeologists uncovered the remains of an ancient city. Research concluded that this was the city of Wiang Kum Kam, one of many fortified cities built by King Mengrai as he consolidated his hold on the north. In fact, it appears that Mengrai may have lived at Wiang Kum Kam for a few years before Chiang Mai was constructed. Although most of the sites are not much more than platforms and ruined chedis, there are two working temples in the area that date from the city's heyday at the end of the 13th century. One is your logical starting point, Wat Chedi Liam. The other, more vibrant temple is Wat Khan Tom (also known as Wat Chang Kum), where in fact the spirit of King Mengrai is said to still reside.

Welcome to the Old Chiang Mai Cultural centre where you will enjoy a serene three-hour evening experience of the exotic Khantoke dinner, stage performances and hill tribes shows. A one evening sample of the culture of Lanna Thai, known as the region of elegance.

NATURAL LIFE

Lying south of Chiang Mai, The park covers an area of 48,240 ha. Its lowlands below 800 meters in elevation are warm and very dry during the dry season, but the summit of Doi Inthanon, at 2565 meters, has a climate more like Canada than Thailand. The temperature has been known to drop as low as -8º C. and frosts are not unusual during the cool, dry season. January is the coldest month: an average night time temperature is 5.5º C. At any season, Doi Inthanon is a comfortable reprieve from the heat of the lowlands.

Thought to be the highest in Thailand and is well worth the extra effort to get there. Park officials estimate that the Mae Ya River plunges more than 250 feet at this point. It is a beautiful, fanning cascade, dropping down an ever-widening series of steps -- without a doubt, a photographic favourite.

Two Chedi called Napamaytanidol Chedi were built to honor the 60th birthday of the King and Queen in 1987 and 1992 respectively. Set in immaculate gardens with a breath-taking view. Wander around and take pictures. The mountain and valley views from the terraced gardens are spectacular! Remove your shoes before entering either chedi, and please respect the monks.

The falls are reached by a short, easy trail from the parking area. Wachirathan waters tumble down granite escarpment, creating a misty veil of great beauty.

The words "Ob Luang" in the northern Thai language mean "canyon, grand" therefore this area has the nickname of "The Thai Grand Cayon".
Our point of call is a place where the river is forced by the earth, to squeeze through a narrow gap as seen in the picture.
Archeologists have determined that humans have lived in this region for 28,000 years or so! Many artifacts have been recovered from this area, carbon-dated and displayed at the museum in Krung Thep (Bangkok).

HAND CRAFTS and DECORATIONS

San Kamphaeng Road has been called the "Handicraft Highway," and with good reason. From the junction of Highway 11, and running 13 km east to the village of San Kamphaeng, you'll find dozens of shops specializing in antiquities, crafts, and ceramics. Watch craftsmen and women creating unique works then buy them, some will even arrange shipping to your home country. At the junction of Highway 1014, is the village of Bor Sang, famous for its painted parasols.

For more than 200 years, almost everyone in the small village of Bor Sang has been earning a living from the umbrella trade, silk and cotton umbrellas and paper parasols. Watch the umbrellas being made, then choose one from the variety of beautiful and colourful designs to take home as a souvenir. There is also an annual fair, held each January on the main street, which features an umbrella procession, beauty contests, exhibitions and the selling of umbrellas and other handicrafts.

ASIAN/AFRICAN SAFARI

The only place in the world when baby elephants go to school. The only place in Thailand where people can learn the way of elephants hands on? and watch elephants bathing, elephants show and elephant riding. Visit the elephants in the elephant hospital. You can even learn to ride an Elephant! Take a course of 2 or more days staying at the centre. (min 2 persons).

Predator Prowl Experience the thrill of watching wild animals up close. Animals such as lions, tigers, bears, hyenas and crocodiles. The transportation is by open style bus (don't worry there's a security system to protect you). Savanna Safari Enjoy the African Savanna atmostphere and view interesting animals such as elephants, giraffes and zebras. This tour is conducted on an open tram for you to experience the atmostphere of being outside. Jaguar Trail There are many more animals to be seen such as bear cats, the brazilian tapir, pygmie hippopotamus, spotted cats, water pigs (isn't that what a hippo is?) and flamingoes.

CHIANG MAI NIGHTS

Leave the city behind and relax awhile, carried along the cool waters of the River Ping. Enjoy the ever-changing scene: resplendent teak houses, rural greenery and sunny-faced kids scrambling into the water with shouts of glee.

The Night Bazaar offers a wide-range of handicrafts from open-air stalls on crowded side-walks to smart boutiques. The evening hours beginning 18.00 this the best one-stop shopping centre in town. Enjoy a good haggle, for the bargaining is the norm.

Enjoy a fabulous Thai dinner in a warm and relaxing atmosphere overlooking the Ping River and listen to Northern Style Folk-music by Thailands famous Soontaree Vechanont, the owner of the restaurant. And other artists. The website is all in Thai but you can still see pictures and listen to Khun Soontaree croon "Sao Chiang Mai" (Chiang Mai Girl)