Chiang Mai

This Rose of the North is the nation's second-largest city and has most of Chiang Mai's amenities. But it doesn't have the quicker pace, the traffic jams and the pollution. The city is located in the hilly Golden Triangle, the region where much of the world's opium is grown. Chiang Mai is an ancient city, and the moat around the original town is still intact. The city's sights can be seen in a day, but most people use the town as a jumping-off point for exploring the region. Several hill tribes live in the area, and trekkers can visit tribal villages.