Northern Thailand

Northern Thailand is the ancient kingdom of Lanna. It is home to former capitals, and host of numerous cultural attractions. From the spectacular remains at Sukhothai, to the cultural capital of Thailand in Chiang Mai. While Chiang Mai is normally used as the hub from which to explore northern Thailand, there is more to Northern Thailand. Chiang Rai offers an ideal gateway to the Golden Triangle, the former Opium producing region of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Mae Hong Son isn't easy to get to, but is well worth the effort with its traditional tribal villages. Lamphun and Lampang are charming old towns with numerous ancient temples to visit. The region has more mountains than other parts of Thailand, including Thailand's highest peak Doi Inthanon, and this means that the temperatures are often more bearable than in Central Thailand.