chiang mai and golden triangle
 

Ok, due to leaving flight booking so late, rather than Laos, we are going to go to chiang mai and the golden traingle for a week as part of our honeymoon in January . Any tips for how to spend that week ?

We would like a bit of time to do a cookery class and explore chiang mai but we would also like some time in the countryside either on a trek or on a series of day treks from a nice resort. Any tips for a relaxing itinerary ? We would prefer not to hire a car.

Many thanks

There are a number of cooking schools in Chiang Mai, so finding a cooking class will be no problem. Do you want to stay in the city or in the countryside near Chiang Mai?

If you want some time in the Golden Triangle, consider the Anantara at the Golden Triangle - a beautiful resort which has a small division of the Thai Elephant Conservation Center on the grounds. I'd check right now and see if you can get a few days there, as it is getting late for booking January hotels.

There are also some places in Northern Thailand that are lovely, more country places, like Pai and Mae Hong Son, which still have lovely resorts you can stay at.

When you say you don't want to hire a car, I'm not quite sure what you mean. There is no need to self-drive, you can hire a car and driver for what a car alone would cost. And you'll need transport to get you out to the countryside.

When you say treking, are you thinking visiting hill tribes or are you looking for scenery?

What is your budget per night? We can give you hotel suggestions.

the anantara has an excellent cooking school...and its a very nice place for a few days....i would suggest that you have a car in CR and the general golden triangle area....driving is very easy and there is very little traffic

Be sure to see the White Temple when in Chiang Rai.

The "White Temple" is on the outskirt of CR.

Would you say that it would be sensible to spend two days on Chiang mai ? Then three days on a trek ( any recommendations ?), the treak i would like to focus on scenery and then two days chiling in a nice countryside resort?

Our budget is around 3500 to 5000 a nght so I am not sure we can afford the anantara as lovely as it looks

We dont want to drive ourselves but would be happy to use a driver

Just return this week. Chiangmai's the best to relax, lots of good resorts both downtown & countryside I suggest to chill out at Panviman in Mae Rim approx. 18km from Chiangmai, cooking class available there2. Chiangmai nearby attraction suggest Doi Inthanon-can be a day trip.

Went to Pai, nice scenery from Chiangmai drive to Pai, town itself not so special, a night market. Statyed at The Quarter (walk-in rate THB1800 incl. soso bfk) very reasonable price but happened no electricity for an hour! overall accept-able.

Sorry I don't trek but as Hanuman said most can be found from T.A.T.

I used www.journeycnx.com for car rental & day trip to Golden triangle, tour guide was pro.

Anantara is bit pricey. Anyway hotel booking you might want to check out www.sawadee.com www.agoda.com etc.

P.S. White temple is very beautiful & surprise me with what was painted inside a wat.