Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and about 600 km up North from Bangkok.
How to get there? You can take an agonizing 14 hour bus or train ride or have an easy going 1 hour flight. I of course choose the latter option. With these lowcost airlines flying is more than affordable and this one-way trip just cost me €40.
The city of Chiang Mai has a nice atmosphere but the main attractions are the sights and activities in the surrounding area.
One thing you absolutely must do is rent a motorbike in any of these places and explore the area on your own. I was amazed how many tour companies sell expensive packages to tourists who are just unknown about this fact.
In Chiang Mai I used the motorbike to visit the temple on top of the hill. A fun route with windy roads across the mountain. Coming this far you might as well go a bit further to the Bhubing palace with its lovely flower garden and even further to one of the hill tribe villages. Wandering around this village on your own really gives you an idea how these people actually live without it being a human circus.
About a 3 hour nauseating minivan ride from Chiang Mai is Pai. In the evening the center of this town turns into a walking street full of food, clothing and souvenir stands. It’s similar to Khao San Road in Bangkok but less chaotic.
Pai seems to have only one place that rents motorbikes and if you come at the wrong hour, don’t be surprised to wait 40 minutes. But after that and €2 spend you got all the freedom to go out and about.
In just one day you see so many places. After passing this cute Chinese village I came on top of the hill to this gorgeous viewpoint above the valley. The entrance fee is 20 baht but they give you free tea. So this obligatory tea moment gave me the time to sit down in the shade and actually enjoy the view for a while.
On my way back I came across the Lisu hill tribes who were just performing some type of dance; a big circle of people holding hands while moving slowly with simple steps and arms swinging. Within the circle were two man playing some sort of banjo. The music and dancing seemed to be going on and on in an endless loop.
