Today, we will set off on an excursion back in time with a tour through Chiang Mai’s Old City streets on-board a pedal-powered rickshaw of yesteryear, also known as ‘samlors’.
We first arrive at a local wet market, a great place to get a feel for local life while watching locals shopping for their morning groceries. Here, we haggle for fresh fruit and vegetables or some freshly-cooked local delicacies before heading onto the Old City, again by rickshaw. The Old City promises a wealth of cultural attractions, including Wat Puak Tam, a temple famous for its brass ornaments that play an important part in the dying Lanna traditions. After a stop here, we try our hand at some Thai cooking. Alongside a local culinary expert, learn how to make traditional sai-oua, a spicy sausage unique to the north of Thailand. Of course, you get to taste your work at lunch, alongside plenty of other dishes.
In the afternoon, we head half-way up Doi Suthep - the mountain that towers over the city of Chiang Mai - to find the highly-revered Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. A visit here is an absolute must for first-time visitors, and part of the allure is in the journey getting here.We make the exciting drive up along the long and winding road to enjoy a surprisingly cooling of the surrounding air as you ascend.
We arrive at the temple and leave the car behind to start the walk up to the top. Opt to conquer the 300 steps, or swap two feet for a cable car instead. At the top, we explore the central chedi adorned in golden flakes, renowned for its glittering façade under the mid-day sun. The architecture, statues, murals and shrines seen here are nothing short of breathtaking, and promise commanding views over the surrounding wilderness
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai
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- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep4