Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort

There’s something rather relaxing about a walk around Old Chiang Mai. Perhaps it’s the cooler, northern location, far from the hot and steamy beaches of the south. Or maybe it’s more to do with the surrounding mountains where hill tribe villages and hiking trails entice travellers into the jungle. Whatever it is, you’ll find there’s only one way to visit Chiang Mai and that’s to slow down, smile and soak it all in.

From the sizzling street food stalls around Chang Phuak Gate to the brightly-lit night bazaar in the centre of the city, Chiang Mai is the perfect place to browse, pause and watch the world go by. Book yourself into a traditional Thai cookery class, or a massage for an afternoon, and you’ll instantly become enveloped in the essence of northern Thailand. Borrow a bike and cycle through rice paddies and over dusty forest lanes for a bit more of an adventure. Or head off for a hike in the jungle-clad mountains for a meeting with local tribes’ people that you’ll never forget. Whatever you get up to in Chiang Mai, don’t forget to take it easy and go with the flow.