Discover Thailand's historic jungle city Word to the wise: Unless you're visiting for the rafting, avoid Chiang Mai's wet season (July-October) in favour of the cool season (November-February) or, if you can handle the humidity, the hot season (March-June).

Noteworthy for: Chiang Mai's famous elephant camps operate with varying degrees of animal care. The Elephant Adventure Park (Mae Tang) is a good sustainable tourism option.

One of the most common Thailand double-headers is a visit to both Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Around 750 km north of Bangkok, 'the rose of the north' isn't exactly close, but the lush, jungle city's isolated location in the Himalayan foothills is responsible for keeping its distinctive charm relatively intact.

Board the sleeper train from Bangkok (opt for a first class cabin if you're travelling solo, they're quite affordable) and wake early for views of northern Thailand's pristine countryside as you roll into Chiang Mai. If you're pressed for time, you can get a good feel for the small city in a day and jump back on the sleeper train, but if you've got a spare day up your sleeve, drop your bags at a guesthouse and spend a leisurely evening trawling the famous night bazaar on Chang Khlan Road. There's also trekking, cooking classes, yoga, spas and plenty of shopping and sightseeing opportunities to tempt you to stay on.