Things to do in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the capital of the north, an old walled city with more than three hundred temples, a relaxed café culture and the gold-topped Wat Phra That Doi Suthep looking down from its mountain. Evenings are for the night bazaar and the Sunday walking street inside the old moat.

The countryside starts quickly. Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain, is about two hours away, the forests around the city shelter sanctuaries where rescued elephants live without riding or shows, and a long day trip north takes you to Chiang Rai's extraordinary modern temples: the White Temple, the Blue Temple and the Black House.