Lamphun

Where is it? Cross the River Ping in the southeast corner of the city and the  rather forgotten province of Lamphun begins. Older than Chiang Mai and full of wonderful sights, the centre of Lamphun is only a 30 minutes drive.  

Why we love it: To be honest, the moments of natural wonder on this trip are the drives there and back work their way through green fields and riverside lanes – but only if you avoid the highway. The first stop should be The Terracotta Garden at Lamphun, which is surely the most over the top cafe in the country. A huge mock temple and grounds built from, you guessed it – terracotta. Home to a cafe that sells formidable cakes. Another spot for thrift fans is French House, a tiny cafe packed with all sorts of antiques, taxidermy and decor you can buy right from the shelf. Round the corner, Wat Chamadevi is a breath-taking historical site, known for its unique square pyramid-style chedi that’s believed to date back to the early Mon period. A Loy Krathong season favourite, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai is absolutely lantern laden all November, but worth visiting any time of year, its golden chedi is the resting place of a Buddha relic – a strand of hair is inside an urn within the chedi. Get your merit here. 

Time Out tip: Ignore Google maps and drive back into Chiang Mai along the River Ping. The quiet road that follows the river, on its western bank might take a bit longer but it’s a glorious drive.