I have been lucky to lead a group of study tour group to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and returned just two weeks before the outbreak of Covid-19. I would say Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai is truly charming. There are few places, I would recommend people to go when they are at northern parts of Thailand as per my own experience, as international visitor.
In Chiang Mai: consider Wat Pra that Doi Suthep (for golden stupa and lookout of the city), Mae Kompong homestay (for rural village stay), stop somewhere at San Kompheng hotspring for hotspring experience. If you are young and dynamic - try Doi Inthanun trekking up on top of the mountain (very cold)
In Chiang Rai, so many things to see such as Blue temple (better go at night), White temple and Chui Fong tea plantation (for a bit of tea experiences) for in town! Outside of town, consider Golden Triangle, if you have time take the boat to see part of Lao. For Burma, perhaps go through land border at Mae Sai has more to see/buy: big market at both sides of Thailand and Burma. We also went to guava farm which is very closed to Burma and visited the biggest Buddha statue made from Bamboo. Then, visit Mae Fah Luong Flower garden & Doi Tung. Up from this garden, there is another interesting border points between Thailand and Burma with favorite Instagram photo.
@SvitlanaChurina thank you very my dear for your comment. It has many other places to go but I only highlighted the important ones. My trip was almost 10days so we got chances to see local villages in those areas.*
@Austinelewex@Sophia_Cambodia Wow, you have been to many places in those provinces. I have also been to some of them, long time ago and also recently. I like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai too. I wish to visit them again soon. Thank you so much for sharing your nice experience here.
Great post with great photos @Sophia_Cambodia . You have given good information about the places. Tips are also useful. Temple photos are really great. Thank you so much for sharing it with us .
@Aruni thank you Aruni. I have been to Thailand many times but mostly Bangkok. It was my first time for the northern parts. I kind of love it more. It was so cold at that time. At night, it was 5 - 6degrees only. We also went to see the elephant village and Karen village, but we did not like those places at all. But, we love the farm trip to Guava farm and silk village homestay (I don’t remember the name). I have not been to Doi Inthanun - as members from my trip mostly senior, they couldn’t do it!*
@ABTAHIAJWAD thank you my friend. Actually, just before Covid-19, there are direct flights from Siem Reap/ Phnom Penh to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai that you don’t need to transit in Bangkok. I was happy because we can just go, but then with this, they halted it. I mean if you are in these areas, Cambodia is not far away and vice versa. You can visit both countries at the same trip. They have their own charms!*
Both the white and blue temples looks magnificent, especially the water pool in-front of white temple is stunning with a beautifully designed fountain @Sophia_Cambodia
@fasi6083 you are right. The decorations are so magnificent especially when you look closely into those designs. It took gradual time and efforts to make them happened. I admire their modern architecture. For temples like Banteay Srei and Angkor Wat of Cambodia, they are old masterpiece for such details carving while these Blue and White temple represent modern ones.*
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