Top Reasons to Go

History: Two excellent museums chronicle Chiang Mai's history, which is vividly on display in the architecture of the Old City.

Temples and Monastery Gardens: The Old City alone has more than 30 ancient temples, where monks are happy to sit with visitors and explain the principles of Buddhism and their cloistered life.

Local Eating: Chiang Mai's restaurants serve the full range of northern Thai cuisine from menus that usually stretch to more than 100 individual dishes, often costing no more than two dollars.

Views for Miles: Chiang Mai allows easy access to spectacular mountain scenery, crisscrossed by trekking trails that lead to remote hill tribe villages where visitors are welcome guests. The mountainous region north of the city also offers dazzling leisure activities, from elephant trekking to white-water rafting and rock climbing.