Northern Thailand's relaxed old city, with over 300 temples, jungle-covered mountains, night markets and ethical elephant sanctuaries. Here's what Chiang Mai is like, when to go and how long to stay.
Fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before you land. Check entry rules on GOV.UK before you book.
Temperatures are the average daytime high in °C.
November to February is best, warm days and cool nights, with the Yi Peng lantern festival in November. March and April are very hot, and smoke from crop burning can make the air poor. The rainy season from June to October is green and quieter, with heavy showers rather than all-day rain. Songkran in mid-April turns the city into a huge water fight.
A golden hilltop temple reached by a 300-step dragon staircase, with views over the city.
Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh and dozens more inside the old moat.
Choose an ethical, no-riding sanctuary where you feed and walk with rescued elephants.
The Sunday Walking Street and the Night Bazaar for khao soi, crafts and street food.
Visit a market and cook curries on a farm outside the city.
Thailand's highest mountain, with waterfalls, cloud forest and twin pagodas.
Swimming and inflatables in a flooded quarry, a hit with older children.
Four to seven days covers the temples, an elephant sanctuary, a cooking class and a trip to the mountains. Add Chiang Rai or Pai for longer.
November to February, when it's warm by day and cool at night. Avoid March and April if you're worried about smoke and heat.
Pick one where there's no riding, no performances and no bathing on demand, with small groups and elephants free to roam. Read recent reviews before you book.
Fly from Bangkok in about 1 hour 15 minutes, or take the overnight sleeper train, which takes 11 to 13 hours. Some flights arrive direct from elsewhere in Asia.
Yes. It's calmer than Bangkok, cheap, and full of things children enjoy, from elephants and zip lines to cooking classes and night markets.
Put Chiang Mai on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.