North Thailand is an area located north of Thailand. This area borders Laos, Myanmar, Isaan, Central Thailand.
Regions
From north to south:
| Chiang Rai Province Golden triangle, ethnic minorities, mountain trekking, drug lords. |
| Chiang Mai Province Homeland of Lanna culture, gateway to the northern region. |
| Mae Hong Son Province Mountain peoples, breathtaking mountain and valley views. |
| North of the river valleys The mountain valleys and towns are largely unexplored. |
| Lower North Thailand The North Central Plains, the ancient center of Thailand with Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet. |
City
- Chiang Mai - the largest city in the north, famous for its temples
- Chiang Rai - normal access point for Golden Triangle
- Mae Hong Son - a picturesque small town with verdant valleys
- Nakhon Sawan - one of the major cities into the lower end area, the gateway to the North
- Nan - the ancient capital of a small kingdom, filled with history and temples and surrounded by mountains
- Pai - a good starting point for a climbing tour
- Phitsanulok - a good overnight stop between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and a gateway to Sukhothai historical park
- Sukhothai - the original capital of Thailand, now famous for the ancient ruins of Sukhothai
- Kamphaeng Phet - the ancient city of the diamond wall, springboard for the rise of Sukothai
Other destinations
- Doi Ang Khang - northwest mountain resort of Chiang Mai
- Doi Inthanon National Park - the highest mountain of Thailand with beautiful nature and waterfall
- Doi Tung - royal mansion and a mountain top temple with stunning views and clavicles of virtue Buddha
- Golden Triangle - a tourist trap, but the opium museums are worth a look
- Mae Sai - the northernmost city of Thailand, day trip to Myanmar
- Mae Salong - founded by the Chinese Kuomintang who fled after losing the war
- Thaton - small village with good guest houses
- Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary - the largest protected area in Southeast Asia, listed on the list UNESCO world heritage At 1991
overview
Surrounded by the highest mountains in Thailand, Northern Thailand is cooler than the rest of the country which is often sweltering and therefore especially popular during December and January. In the mountains the nighttime temperatures occasionally drop below freezing, although in the plains the daily average is rarely below 25 degrees Celsius.
Culture, Northern Thailand shows heavy influence from neighboring cultures of Burma and Yunnan (China). Kingdoms Lanna (center at Chiang Mai) and Sukhothai is the first historical Thai nation.
Much of northern Thailand was a long off-limits due to a series of communist uprisings and Myanmar's drug battles and civil war spilling over the border. Both issues have been resolved considerably, although you should be cautious to stay close to the border with Myanmar in the provinces Tak and Mae Hong Son.
Language
The people of Northern Thailand speak their own dialect of Thai called Kham Meaung (or Kham Muang; คำ เมือง), however Standard Thai is widely spoken. Also, the mountain tribes speak their language.
Here and there, especially at temples, you can spot signs written in circular characters that look more Burmese than Thai. This is the Lanna script, the ancient script of the kingdom of Lanna, and while very few people can read or write it anymore, it is still common in ceremonial use.
Arrive
By plane
The main airport in Northern Thailand is Chiang Mai, which has connections all over Thailand and some international links too. Domestic flights (some of which may be seasonal) connecting to Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Ko Samui, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Pai , Phitsanulok, Phuket, Sukhothai and Udon Thani.
Train
Trains from Bangkok go frequently Chiang Mai via Phitsanulok.
Bus
There is an extensive bus network with major routes between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. From Chiang Mai, buses head northwest to Mae Hong Son and Pai, and north to Chiang Rai.
Go
To watch
Do
Eat
Northern Thai food is somewhat different from that of the rest of the country. The North prefers bitter sticky rice and avoids using coconut milk. Favorite meat is pork, which is found in many sausages (cooked or made with nem chua) and has fried skin as a popular dish. good luck. The traditional way of sampling Northern food is a low round table called a khan tok, filled with dishes. Some favorites include:
- kaeng hang le - a Burmese-style curry pork dish
- Kaeng Khae - a loose curry with bitter vegetable flavor
- longing - a famous curry noodle dish of Burmese origin favored in Chiang Mai, served with shallots, lemon and pickles to add as you wish
- khanom jiin naam ngiew - vermicelli with pork ribs and complex tomato and black bean sauce
- south phrik - includes a variety of spicy dips for rice and vegetables