One of the great joys of travelling in Thailand is the great diversity of topography—from soft-sand beaches to pancake-flat plains and rugged mountains. North Thailand is famous for its mountains, which incidentally form the foothills of the Himalaya, and one of the most popular activities here is to trek to hilltribe villages that are generally located way up in the hills.

To the top of Thailand

Two of Thailand’s highest peaks, Doi Inthanon and Chiang Dao provide challenging hiking trails. With the country’s well developed road system, however, even lazy adventurers can look forward to spectacular views as they cruise around the north.

Where to go

Chiang Mai is the capital of the region, but there are several other towns worth visiting, such as Chiang Rai for its colourful temples and Sukhothai, which was the first capital of Siam almost a millennium ago.

Road trips

A good way to get a strong taste of the north is to hire a car in Chiang Mai and set off on a road trip on the Mae Hong Son Loop, or head east to Lampang, Nan and then on to Chiang Rai and back to Chiang Mai.