Culture & History
How to visit respectfully, and the history behind what you're looking at.
All Culture guides
Temple etiquette, festivals and the history behind what you're looking at.
Temple Etiquette & Cultural Tips
How to dress and behave when visiting temples in Chiang Mai, plus general cultural etiquette tips for a respectful visit.
A Short History of Chiang Mai's Temples
Why Chiang Mai has so many significant temples, and how Lanna-era history shaped the city's most-visited wats.
Trekking & Hill-Tribe Visits
How to choose a respectful, community-benefiting trekking or hill-tribe visit experience near Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai's Major Festivals
A guide to Chiang Mai's major festivals — the Yi Peng lantern release, Loy Krathong, and the Songkran water festival.
Basic Thai Phrases
Useful Thai phrases for a Chiang Mai trip — greetings, politeness particles, and a few Northern Thai words locals will appreciate.
New guides added weekly
We're building this department out gradually — check back often, or follow along on the news page.