Flowing from the Daen Lao Mountains in Myanmar and running for more than 177 miles (285 kilometers) before meeting the Mekong River along the Laos border, the Mae Kok River is one of the most important in Northern Thailand. Linking Chiang Rai to the northern villages and borders, it serves a key role in the lives of residents and as a route for trade.
Often referred to as simply the “Blue Temple" by English speakers, Wat Rong Suea Ten is a modern temple known for its intricate ornamental designs and its heavy use of the color blue. It was created by local artist Sala Nok, a student of Chalermchai Kositpipat, the artist who created the better-known White Temple just south of Chiang Rai.
Dedicated to the artifacts of the Lanna Kingdom, the private Oub Kham Museum has a collection that features carved thrones, embroidered costumes, Buddha images, and antique jewelry.
Thailand is renowned for its variety and quality of orchids, and the Mae Sa Valley, north of Chiang Mai, is the place to go to see their beauty at the source. At the Suan Bua Mae Sa Orchid Farm, visitors can see more than 50 varieties of orchids and wander through a live butterfly enclosure filled with colorful and fragrant tropical plants.
Deepen your understanding of northern Thailand’s diverse hill tribe cultures at the Highland People Discovery Museum, formerly Chiang Mai Tribal Museum. The ethnographic exhibition showcases the costumes and tools of the region’s nine hill tribe groups. Outside among the tropical gardens, you’ll also find examples of traditional dwellings.
Run by a nonprofit organization, the Hilltribe Museum contains a wealth of information on Thailand’s hill tribes and the issues that threaten their preservation. All of the major hill tribe cultures, including Karen, Akha, and Hmong, are represented by information panels and artifacts.
The biggest orchid farm in Chiang Mai, Sai Nam Phung Orchid farm is also home to nearly every species native to Thailand, including the incredibly rare pure white orchid. Visitors to the farm get to learn about how the flowers are grown, and the on-site gift shop sells lovely orchid- and butterfly-themed items you’re unlikely to find elsewhere.
An organic tea estate in the hills outside Chiang Mai, Araksa Tea Garden produces award-winning teas on the site of one of Thailand’s first tea farms. The range spans the gamut from white and black brews to floral and herbal varieties. The garden hosts an on-site tea house with a shop, and offers tours and tea workshops.
One of a wave of 3-D galleries that’s taken southeast Asia by storm, Country of Arts 3D Gallery occupies three stories in downtown Ubon Ratchathani. Visit to take a wealth of pictures against backdrops, often utilizing props, for hilarious trick-eye photos.
The Thai organization Elephant Parade draws attention to the plight of the Asian elephant by exhibiting brightly painted elephant statues in international cities. At Elephant Parade House in Chiang Mai, visitors can admire sculptures painted by artists and celebrities and buy souvenirs to help save these endangered animals.
Translated from the Thai as “temple with no top,” this Buddhist structure got its name when the golden stupa that used to top it was removed more than a hundred years ago. The lush gardens and babbling river surrounding the off-the-beaten-path temple are ideal for meditation.
On the outskirts of Chiang Rai, Akha Hill House is a guesthouse in the hill tribe village of Akha. Though the bungalows are made from natural materials such as mud and bamboo, they still offer creature comforts such as hot showers, fans, and Wi-Fi.
The quiet town of Lamphun offers travelers a charming escape from the busier streets of Chiang Mai. Shallow moats and the peaceful River Kuang border the provincial capital, where local longan fruits are said to be the sweetest in the country; each August the town comes to celebrate its harvest during the annual Lam Yai festival.
