The North Of Thailand

Chiang Mai
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The Land of Beauty, warm hospitality and good manners. It is the land of fascinating, mist-shrouded moutain scenery and fertile valleys, the land of religion with nearly 1,100 Buddhist temples and Thai art and handicrafts.
Chiang Mai, an old city of 700 years is the second largest city of Thailand, located in the highlands of the North. It has rooted its culture so deeply that it has own dialect, its own costume, its own dances and its own cuisine. Though modenization has crept into this faraway region for decades, Chiang Mai still remains its natural charm and old culture. Its also known as "The Rose of the North" to the Thais.

Chiang Rai
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Chiang Rai is located at the northern tip of Thailand, bordering Myammar on the North and Laos on the east. Of its area of 11,678 sq.km, more than three quarters are mountains. Yet, because of its fertile soil, plentiful water supplies and favourable climate, it has a suplus of rice and also produces large quantities of maize, beans, tobacco, longans, lychees and strawberries. Chiang Rai is the oldest towns of Thailand. It was founded in 1262 by King Mangrai (who also built Chiang Mai in 1296). It was occupied by Burma from 1648 until 1786.

Mae Hong Son
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Its located west of Chiang Mai and geofraphically more remote then Chiang Rai. Mae Hong Son is one of the most enchanting towns in the entire North. Cradled in mistshrounded forested mountains on the Burmese Border, this superb hill retreat is easily accessible.