The mountains surrounding Chiang Mai have the scope for a lot of interesting discoveries- the villages of the local hill tribes are a storehouse of traditional arts and crafts, and most of the villagers are friendly, hospitable people who are more than willing to welcome you into their communities.

At 2565 m, Doi Inthanon is Thailand’s highest peak. It’s situated to the west, 90 km from Chiang Mai, and lies amidst a national park. En route to Doi Inthanon are some of the north country’s most well known waterfalls: the beautiful Mae Klang, Siriphum and Wachirathan. The Mae Klang is a particularly popular picnic area.

A three-hour drive from Chaing Mai, Chiang Rai is known for the spectacular mountains, which surround it- here are some exceptionally panoramic views. Chiang Rai lies in the heart of the `Golden Triangle’, the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers. Chiang Rai has a lot to recommend it- the Doi Mae Salong and the Doi Tung , two towering peaks, the forested slopes of which offer some excellent views of the countryside; temples such as Wat Phra Singh and Wat Phra Kaeo which is believed to have been the place where the Emerald Buddha, now in Bangkok, was originally kept; and a number of nearby tribal villages. The expedition to Chiang Rai and its environs can be fairly hectic if you fit it into a day, but it can be very enjoyable too.

But, when all’s said and done, probably the best `getaways’ from Chiang Mai are the unplanned, uncharted ones- all you need to do is hire a car (or a sturdier 4x4) and head into the mountains- you can discover a lot that’s interesting.