You are picked up from your place of accommodation in chiang mai at around 6.00 pm. Head to the Old City of Chiang Mai. On the way, we will visit Wat suan dok, old temple known for its large number of white chedis or pagodas literally translating to ‘flower garden temple’, admire the enormous 500-year-old Bronze Buddha here.

Wat Phra Singh, which is also known as “The Monastery of the Lion Buddha” or “The temple of the Lion Buddha” is an active temple, with hundreds of monks and novices living there. It houses a number of highly revered and very old Buddha images. Located inside the old city wall the temple’s signature Lanna-style roofs and glittering viharn (assembly hall) invite visitors. The walled-in temple compound is busy with visitors and worshippers all year round and is usually packed during the Thai New Year festival (Songkran) in mid-April. It dates back to the 14th century when Chiang Mai was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, and is one of the finest examples of classic Lanna style temple architecture in Northern Thailand.

Located in the center of the walled city, in the area where palaces used to stand, the Three Kings Monument is dedicated to the three Northern Lao Kings - King Mengrai, the founder of Chiang Mai; his contemporary and reportedly good friend King Ramkamhaeng of Sukothai; and King Ngam Muang of Payao. According to legend, the three worked together to lay out the city of Chiang Mai. The sculpture has become something of an iconic image representing Chiang Mai. You will see it reproduced in various forms all around the city.

Tha Pae Gate is one of the most famous landmarks in Chiang Mai and is part of the crumbling city wall which once acted as a fortress for the ‘Old City’. The gate area is an epicentre for tourism in Chiang Mai, boasting more hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes, massage parlours and shops than anywhere else in the city. The area also has a spacious public square which plays host to a variety of events, from lantern-lighting during Loy Kratong, to water-fights at Songkran and regular live music and cultural shows throughout the year.

A large section of the market features inexpensive goods, such as clothing, fashion accessories and personal care products. Targeting mostly Thais, Warorot Market is a great place to get a feel for the local way of life. Here are lots of indoor and outdoor shops and stalls over several streets so be prepared to spend a bit of time and have a good look around.

The main venue for shopping in Chiang Mai, indeed all of Thailand, the night bazaar is a can't-miss part of the Chiang Mai experience In the Night Bazaar you will find a huge variety of clothing, T-shirts, belts, shoes, jewellery, watches, bags, all kind of souveniour and local Thai goods at really low prices. Even if you do not want to buy anything just going for a stroll up and down the Night Bazaar is an amazing experience. The place is alive with brightly coloured lights, music, the sounds of tourists bargaining for goods and the aromatic smells as you pass by a hot food vendor.