Chiang Mai is the largest city in the north of Thailand and is a magnet for thousands of tourists every year. With its walled centre, ancient temples, bustling markets and great accommodation, it’s easy to understand why. In 1938, Reginald Le May described Chiang Mai as one of the loveliest cities imaginable, and even through Thailand has moved on since then, Chiang Mai is still worth visiting.

Mountains surround the city to the north, west and east, enclosing a large and rich bowl of rice fields drained by the Ping River. The city is centred on a square moat and defensive wall built during the 19th century. The city has an eloquent and colourful history which is evident in its architecture and with more than 300 wats, it has a rich tradition of arts and crafts. Not surprisingly, given Chiang Mai’s turbulent history, many of the most important and beautiful wats are within the city walls. Chiang Mai has developed into a major tourist centre with a good infrastructure, including excellent hotels and restaurants and has some of the best shopping in the north.