Golden Triangle

Isolated from Bangkok until the early 20th Century, the region of Northern Thailand developed its own culture, one heavily influenced by Lao art and, in part, by Burmese traditions. The result is a wealth of ornate teak or stucco-covered temples quite unlike those found elsewhere in Thailand, and unique crafts like silverwork, woodcarving and umbrella making. Prior to the 20th Century, the North existed as an independent kingdom called Lanna, or ‘the Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields’. Chiang Mai, the capital of the north, is regarded as the cultural heart of Thailand. Once a quaint, moated and walled city, Chiang Mai has become a modern, cosmopolitan hub exhibiting many of the hallmarks of the contemporary world. The city boasts more than 300 temples – almost as many as Bangkok – a fact which makes it particularly striking. Climb the summit of Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's forested peak, with its glittering gold temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, which offers sweeping views over the city and plains below. Explore the temples and markets before heading into the mountains to trek to hilltribe villages, ride elephants through the jungles, and float down rivers on bamboo rafts. Chiang Mai is also the gateway to Chiang Rai, located in ThailandR17;s most northerly province. Chiang Rai makes a convenient base for exploring further into the ‘Golden Triangle’, an area that has for years produced almost half of the world’s opium supply, located near the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma).