Early risers are rewarded in Chiang Mai, your 6 am wake-up call bringing the city’s most evocative sight. Red-robed monks wander barefoot in the dawn light, a procession of spirituality moving through the streets. Participate in this daily alms giving ceremony by placing food into the monks’ bowls, then continue the spiritual slant by climbing the 309 steps of the Golden Naga staircase. You’re now standing above Chaing Mai at Wat Doi Suthep, one of Thailand’s most famous temples. Admire the fabulous murals and pagodas, feel the enchantment of incense filled temple rooms, and listen to the monks’ soft chanting as it floats on the mountain breeze.
The tour continues at Wat Umong, a mysterious temple hidden beneath moss and trees, standing in an indelible sense of decay. Slowly wander beneath the greenery and through the transcendent hallways, holding hands as you follow the incense smell to a darkened temple room. A monk waits for you, softly reciting mantras and conducting a private blessing ceremony. This unique and rare experience brings the architectural relic to life, epitomizing the blend between aesthetic exterior and hypnotic interior. Return to the Chedi Chiang Mai for lunch and a leisurely afternoon. Then an evening discovery tour unveils further enchantment; join the monks in their nightly chanting, stroll through the vivid stalls of the Waroros Market, and then dine at the fabulous Pillars 137 colonial house, where gastronomic brilliance merges with graceful surroundings.