Chiang Mai is a rare gem of the Southeast Asian landscape, offering unique facets of discovery for the cultural treasure hunter. Discover the amazing sights along the Chao Phraya River, one of the major arteries of trade and tourism in Bangkok, via a Bangkok cruise tour that is ideal for some river exploration, and will take you all the way to Chain Mai, in the verdant Northern part of the country. Discover the delights afforded by Anantara Cruises Thailand, which is one company offering some of the best Bangkok cruises for you to discover the natural wonders along the verdant riverscape. While you’re in the city and craving a break from all the steel and concrete, take a day trip and climb up the Doi Inthanon, the highest peak in Thailand, set in the midst of a scenic national park. But this isn’t as labourious as it sounds, as there are many options for transport to the top. A public bus will take you up the well-built road as will many private tours, or you could even rent a car, which may be the best option as you can take your time and enjoy the various sights on the way to the top, for around USD 60-70. The park boasts a number of waterfalls that demand the nature lover’s attention, two of which are the Sirithan and the Wachirathan waterfalls. Wachirathan also has restroom stops, restaurants and a car park. Two unique sights are also the two royal chedis or stupas built in honour of the King and Queen of Thailand, to celebrate their 60th birthday anniversaries, which fell in 1987 and 1992, respectively. Inner shrines and beautiful wall murals await visitors to the royal tributes. The summit of the mountain is close by, and you can drive almost to the top, if you wanted. Take your picture underneath the “highest point in Thailand” sign, but remember to be quick about it, because there’s always a long line of people wanting the same privilege! Follow the winding path past the sign into the temperate forest, which will take you to a quaint little rangers hut and a souvenier boutique, where you can purchase some knickknacks to commemorate your visit to the summit in the form of hats, t-shirts, magnets, etc. If you want to tread off the beaten path, take a short hike from here through a wooden walkway, which will evoke a sense of timeless wonder as you tread a path flanked by mosses, lichens and aged fern trees. A short walk will take you back to the visitor’s car park as you bid Doi Inthanon goodbye.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.