Culture, nature and refined comfort away from the beach resorts
Anyone who knows Thailand only as a beach and island destination is missing one of its most fascinating facets. The north of the country around Chiang Mai is culturally rich, scenically exceptional and blessed with a luxury hotel scene that can hold its own against the best resorts in Asia. For travellers who wish to add a further cultural dimension to a Thailand luxury holiday, Chiang Mai is the perfect counterpoint to beach and island life.
Chiang Mai was once the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and has more than 300 Buddhist temples – wats – inside and outside its historic city walls. Doi Suthep, the principal sanctuary enthroned on a mountain above the city, offers panoramic views across the entire Chiang Mai valley on clear days. A private cultural guide reveals the background of Lanna culture and the history of northern Thailand in a way no group tour can. Pink Travel arranges exclusive private temple tours for you with certified cultural historians.
Chiang Mai is the centre of ethical elephant tourism in Thailand. Reputable sanctuaries – we only recommend those that do not offer elephant riding and that meet verifiable animal welfare standards – allow small groups to accompany the elephants as they bathe, feed and roam freely. Being close to an elephant herd in its natural environment is one of the most moving moments Thailand has to offer. Pink Travel vets all partner organisations against ethical standards and only recommends certified conservation programmes.
Set in the Golden Triangle around 3 hours from Chiang Mai, the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle is one of the most extraordinary luxury resorts in Asia. Spacious tents – more like villas in tent style – beside a river in the jungle, with butler service, a pool and an elephant programme right on the doorstep. Closer to Chiang Mai lies the 137 Pillars House – a colonial-style boutique hotel with just 30 suites, an excellent spa and a garden that radiates calm and elegance.
Northern cuisine has its own signature dish in Khao Soi – a creamy curry noodle dish. The dining scene in Chiang Mai has developed enormously in recent years; restaurants such as FERN Forest Café and Ginger & Kafe offer a modern, sophisticated interpretation of Lanna cuisine. The Saturday and Sunday markets in the lanes of the old town are a culinary adventure that Pink Travel is happy to build into your itinerary.
Combine Chiang Mai as a 3- to 4-day stopover with a beach stay on Koh Samui or Phuket. The flight from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui or Phuket takes around two hours and there are frequent connections. That way you combine cultural depth with beach luxury in a single 14-day Thailand tour.
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