Northern Thailand

Doi Angkhang is a scenic wonderland of orchards, flowers and forests and one of the coldest places in Thailand. 1,400 metres above sea-level people come here to enjoy the picture-perfect valley in the mountains, almost-temperate climate and the fresh produce comprising apples, pears and strawberries. Thailand is known for its hot, humid and sticky weather that’s always beach ready, but if you travel north, you’ll find Doi Angkhang which is known as Thailand’s Little Switzerland for its cool temperatures and beautiful mountain scenery. Located just three hours north of Chiang Mai, Doi Angkhang offers tourists and locals alike a place to get away from the warm weather and enjoy scenery other than city streets or palm trees. Many Thais like to travel to Doi Angkhang around New Years just for the cold weather and to amuse themselves by shivering. Located at the peak of 1300 metre mountain, the journey up the switchback roads and through the cloud belt is just as exhilarating as the destination. Though most locals are farmers, some are also employed through the Royal Agriculture Station and a local eco-resort that requires 50 per cent of their staff to be hired from the local groups. While visiting Doi Angkhan you can enjoy the natural beauty of the countryside, learn about the traditions of the local hill tribes which have remained unchanged for centuries, ride mules, trek, bird watch and enjoy food that was grown locally and sustainably.

If you’ve finally gotten tired of the beach and the hordes of tourists, it’s time to start traveling north to a small town in northern Thailand, to Mae Hong Son, where there’s hardly a tuk tuk in sight. Mae Hong Son presents an interesting picture for visitors as it borders Burma, and the influences are obvious. The best time to visit Mae Hong Son is in the cool months, from November to February, when you’ll need a light sweater and possibly a pair of nice woollen socks to keep your toes warm on the cold nights. During November, you can take a day trip from Mae Hong Son to see the hills which are lush with multi-coloured, blooming wildflowers. While visiting the countryside you can also stop through some villages to meet the local hill tribes. The Kayan Lahwi is located in this region and are recognizable by the women who wear brass rings around their elongated necks. With limited tourism infrastructure, visiting Mae Hong Son will really feel as if you’ve entered a small town that’s been untouched by foreigners. There are a few restaurants, including a vegetarian restaurant, and multiple Internet cafes in the city in case you need to stay connected with the outside world. Being just a short flight away from Chiang Mai, it’s easy to visit Mae Hong Son to explore the natural caves, climb Doy-Larn, a 1900 metre peak and enjoy the soothing waters of the nearby hot springs. The mountainous stretch of road to Mae Hong Son is known to tourists as "the Loop." Located just a few kilometres from the Burmese border in Thailand’s far northwest. Its remote setting surrounded by mountains is an excellent hub for exploring the area’s mountains, rivers and waterfalls. This destination is generally quieter than other tourist destinations in northern Thailand but it can become frantic with tour groups in the cool season especially the sunflowers are out in November and December. Getting there: Non-stop 35 minute flights operate from Chiang Mai which are available from Kan Air. By road there are two road options from Chiang Mai, both taking 5-6 hours by car.

With its towers and temples rising into the sky, Sukhothai holds an interesting historical fact for anyone visiting its borders. As the first capital of the kingdom of Siam in the 13th and 14th centuries, there is a lot that can be learned from the engineering, style, architecture, writing system, language and art that was developed within this city. Sukhothai, which translates to “the dawn of happiness,” brought a lot of wealth and prosperity to Thai culture. Many art historians have studied the buildings left from this past civilization and recognize the architectural style as unique to the region, naming it Sukhothai Style. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in modern times, inside Sukhothai Historical Park you can see remnants of ancient Sukhothai’s innovative hydraulic system which could control flooding within the city and deliver water to the people for use in their daily lives. Much of modern Thai culture was established here including the Thai alphabet and the art of pottery making. Sanghalok Museum offers visitors a look into Sukhothai’s most famous export, pottery. The museum has traditional pottery found in the old city’s ruins as well as pottery from Burma and Vietnam that was traded, and even rare, ceramic Buddha statues. This type of pottery is considered the precursor to the celadon pottery found across Thailand today. Most visitors to Sukhothai like to stay in new Sukhothai for at least a night, giving them plenty of time to explore the old city and the ruins. Getting There: Bangkok Airways currently serves Sukhothai Airport from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, with twice daily flights which take 1 hour 15 minutes. Nok Air the number one premium low cost in Thailand operates a Flight + Van Service to Sukhotai. There are two daily flights to Phitsanulok Airport and then, a van to Sukhotai. The total journey takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. AirAsia also has same service to/from Phitsanuloke Airport linking DonMuang Airport in Bangkok. By train the journey takes about 7 hours from Bangkok or Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok and then a further 1 hour on bus from there.

As a haven for expats from the west, Udon Thani has become well known for locals who speak English and a smattering of western restaurants so that the more than 5000 expats from Europe, Australia and North America don’t get too homesick. During the Vietnam War, Udon Thani was the location of one of the largest US Air Force Bases and the evidence can still be seen in the local bars and coffee shops. Though Udon Thani sees relatively few foreign travellers, it has become the fourth largest city in Thailand and is a regional hub for agriculture, commercial distribution, shopping and the beginnings of a booming tourism industry. Many residents of Udon Thani speak English which has allowed them to get jobs outside of Thailand and bring back wealth to the region, increasing the prosperity of Udon Thani. Udon Thani is not the only reason to visit the region though as you can travel just 35 kilometres east to visit Thailand’s renowned archaeological site, Ban Chiang, which is a Bronze Age excavation. Udon Thani is a great place for travellers who are feeling a little homesick for western food or culture or just to experience how much a foreign military power can affect a place by moving in for a short period of time. Getting There: Udon Thani International Airport currently has domestic flights to Bangkok operated by Nok Air, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Lion Air and Air Asia). There are also flights from Chiang Mai operated by Nok Air and Bangkok Airways and from Phuket with Air Asia. Flights to Bangkok take about one hour.