Low Cost Hotels in Chiang Mai ➤ Best Prices Guaranteed!

Former capital of the old Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai was geographically isolated in the foothills of northern Thailand until the 20th century. This isolation helped preserve the city’s rich cultural, religious and historical heritage, dating back 700 years. But Chiang Mai has been rushing to modernize in recent decades, filling out the green expanse of the Ping River valley. Still, the city is a pleasant antidote to chaotic Bangkok, and there’s much to love. Remnants of ancient walls and defensive moats surround the old city, with its elaborately carved teak houses, handicraft markets and dozens of ornate Buddhist temples, some as old as the city itself.
Chiang Mai is the place to go in Thailand to escape the heat and pollution of Bangkok, sightsee on the back of an elephant, shop for antiques and local handicrafts, or take a trek among the hillside tribes. Chiang Mai, Thailand's second largest city, is located nearly 400 miles north of Bangkok, and has an elevation of some 1,000 feet. Mountains and hills surrounding the city, however, can reach an altitude of 7,000 feet. Chiang Mai has always been an important center of trade and politics. Founded in 1296, the city was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, which peaked in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Burmese rampaged through in 1773, but three years later, a free Chiang Mai swore its allegiance to Siam, as Thailand was once known. Today, vestiges of the old city can be found in the crumbling city walls, the surrounding moat, and the occasional spire of a centuries-old wat. Modern day Chiang Mai is cut in half by the Ping River, and much of the new city has been built on the left bank. Chiang Mai also serves as a jumping off point for hillside treks and for visits to the Laotian and Burmese borders. A number of tribes live up here, including the Hmong and the Karen and it is best to go through a local guide. Not only will a guide prevent you from losing your way, but a guide can also supply you with invaluable information on the customs, cultures and history of the area and its people. Chiang Mai also lures its share of shoppers. The city is known for its antique shops and as a center for hillside tribe handicrafts. Thai silk, raw, nubby and colorful is made just outside of Chiang Mai. Other notable buys include Celadon pottery, lacquerware, silverware, umbrellas and wooden carvings and sculptures.