Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai

We take an overnight bus to the north of Thailand. The first stop is Chiang Rai. A small town near the 'Golden Triangle'. One of the most famous attractions is the White Temple. The attention to detail of this temple has amazed us and it is certainly one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand. 

The mountain landscape around Chiang Rai is incredibly beautiful. Riding a scooter for hours through the mountains. At some points, we have to push the scooter up because the road is so steep. Along the way, we drive through a large tea plantation where we can also try different teas. 

After four days, we drive two hours by car to Chiang Mai. Like Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai is surrounded by mountains and is known for its elephant tours. The city is much larger than Chiang Rai, estimated to be about the size of Bern. The center is surrounded by a square moat, measuring approximately 1.5 x 1.5 kilometers. This gives the city a special flair. 

The highlight of Chiang Mai is the day we spent at an elephant sanctuary. Three elephants live on this 'farm', which were 'rescued' from the circus and forestry work. They are now cared for around the clock on the farm and are usually free to move around. Twice a day, small groups of tourists can visit the elephants. The leader of the farm explains to us, while we prepare the elephant medicine, how they treat and keep the animals. He also explains why sometimes the male animals have to be chained when they are in mating season. 

It was great to be able to spend time with the elephants, and as far as we can judge, the animals are well taken care of. Interestingly, the elephants can go to the elephant hospital at any time, free of charge. This is funded by the government, and only the transport costs have to be paid by the owners. 

In the surrounding area of Chiang Mai, there is also a lot of beautiful nature and scenery to see. In the middle of the mountains, we find a coffee plantation where we can enjoy great coffee practically straight from the bush.

The north of Thailand has a lot to offer. It's a pity that we don't have a car and can't drive from the north to the south on our own, but our time in Thailand would be too short for that anyway. That's why we decide to fly the nearly 2000 kilometers back to the south by plane. Our next stop is Ko Phangan.

Elephant SanctuaryElephant Sanctuary

Elephant SanctuaryElephant Sanctuary

Elephant Sanctuary