The heart of Thailand’s north, Chiang Mai sits amongst the spectacular, lush hills and cool climes of the highlands. The city was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom – Chiang Mai might mean ‘New City’ but new it certainly is not! The Chiang Mai of today has grown up around the old walled, moated city where you can explore 1,000-year-old temples, stroll along narrow streets lined with traditional architecture and delve into rich heritage at one or two of the excellent museums. Much smaller and more relaxed than Bangkok, Chiang Mai still exudes a cosmopolitan vibrancy that you might not expect – there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and boutique shops to sample if you’ve had enough of the history. Chiang Mai is also a great base for exploring the highlands themselves, home to many of Thailand’s ethnic minority tribes.