With misty mountains and colourful hill tribes, Chiang Mai is a popular destination for avid travellers, a haven for shoppers and a treat for adventurers. Travellers can choose to expand their culinary prowess with cooking courses or indulge in a relaxing Thai massage. Foodies will enjoy the vast cuisine options while cultural travels will be amazed by the multitude of artisanal crafts and antiques. Until March, Chiang Mai’s mountains, parks and gardens towards the north spring to life with seasonal flowers blossoming in the beautiful sunshine.
Chiang Mai, meaning ‘New City’, is known as a sanctuary of traditional and cultural experiences meeting modernity in the natural Northern Thailand.
Picturesque flower fields and farms in Chiang Mai welcome visitors to enjoy some of the province’s most scenic natural sights during the cool season. The I Love Flower Farm is increasingly popular, especially among Thai tourists, for its beautiful gardens of marguerite and cutter flowers. Rai Dok Lom Nao (which literally translates to ‘winter flower farm’) is a hilly garden of verbena flowers located on Mon Chaem, with a stunning mountaintop viewpoint overlooking the Mae Rim Valley and Royal Project farms. Khun Pae Royal Project is Thailand’s largest field of white, purple, and bluish-pink and pink hydrangea flowers with mountain views in the background.
A thrilling hot air balloon ride takes travellers high above peaks of northern Chiang Mai for a bird’s eye view of the greenery at sunrise. The adventure begins with a welcome cup of hot coffee or tea before heading up to enjoy the one-hour panoramic flight with a trained pilot. A bubbly reception followed by a breakfast buffet await upon landing for an energised start to the day.
Located on the road to the historic Wat U Mong (U Mong Temple) against the mountains of Doi Suthep (Suthep Peak), the symbol of Chiang Mai, Villa Mahabhirom (villa of great pleasure) is a place where friends, couples, and families alike can enjoy a refined setting that exudes tradition art and culture, with a sense of peace and well-being.
The property features 14 antique Thai houses that have been restored to for an elegant and intimate setting, minutes away from the International Airport, the chic Nimmam Road with stylish bars, cafes and restaurants and the Walled City. For home-cooked Thai cuisine, guests can enjoy al fresco dining surrounded by lush greenery.