The best of CHIANG MAI

Set in Thailand's mountainous north, this temple-studded city has much to offer

- QIN XIE

Chiang Mai has long been one of the essential stops on holiday itineraries to Thailand. You can stay in five-star hotels at a fraction of the cost elsewhere, and explore on a backpacker's budget. With so much to do in the city, here are some essentials to tick off your list.

Visit a temple

Chiang Mai was the capital of the fantastically wealthy Lanna Kingdom between the 13th and 18th centuries. One of the legacies of this period is that many of the city's Buddhist temples are richly decorated, often with gold. Today, most of the 300 or so temples are open to tourists as well as pilgrims, and are often free to enter.

The most famous site is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a sprawling complex topping its namesake mountain on the edge of the city. Pilgrims flock here to pray in front of the golden chedi, the cone-shaped tower used to protect relics of the Buddha.

On the way there, you'll also pass Wat Pha Lat, a much smaller temple with stunning Burmese-inspired architecture.

Try a retreat