Chiang Mai is located in northern Thailand and tucked at the base of a mountain range called Doi Suthep. At the heart of Chiang Mai stands Old City, founded in 1296 by King Mengrai. Chiang Mai's nearly square-shaped Old City is guarded by a moat and the remains of walls - what used to be a fortress to protect the people of Chiang Mai from Burma invasions of old. Now, the walls of the Old City have all but collapsed except at the corners of the Old City and the five gates, which are restored and located at the center of each of the four walls.

One of the great pearls of Chiang Mai is its people. The people in Chiang Mai are very relaxed and they welcome tourists with a natural sense of hospitality. The Thais in Chiang Mai have a natural way of conducting themselves, putting visitors at ease. The deep respect for Buddha and life rests at the core of the Chiang Mai culture. It is this respect that permeates the people's attitudes towards themselves and towards visitors. Every couple/few months, Chiang Mai will shut down business to observe Buddha (two days).

Layout
From west to east, Chiang Mai's main districts are the airport, city center - or Old City - and the riverside area around the Mae Ping River. Chiang Mai's airport sits southwest of the Old City. The Old City, or, Chiang Mai's city center, is very close to the airport and is a relatively small area. Matter of fact, it's said that you can walk leisurely from one end of the city center to the other side in 30 minutes. Chiang Mai's Old City is surrounded by crumbled walls at the corners and gates as well as a moat. To the east of the Old City is the riverside area, which sits along the Mae Ping River, running north and south. East of Chiang Mai's Old City is the main commercial district.

Times to Go
High Season: October/November to April