There are countless reasons why legions of foreign visitors are drawn to Chiang Mai each year and, believe it or not, it's got nothing to do with bronze bods or secluded islands. In fact, it's because the capital of the northern region, known also as "The Rose of the North", oozes a charm unlike any other Thai province. Blessed not only with breathtaking landscapes, a trove of outdoor activities including fruit-picking and trekking, and home to colourful hilltribe villagers, its people are also reputed as being some of the most genteel and genuine in the region.

Located along the Ping River some 700 km north of Bangkok, Chiang Mai is steeped in history, fragments of which can still be seen today in its moats, walls and glorious temples dotted around the city centre. Visitors will find tours to suit all types of holidays - you want ecological? They've got fields of local blooms for you to visit. Historical? There are temple tours. Culinary? A panoply of restaurants are available to suit all budgets. The key words here, though, are "quality living", and everyone here gets equal opportunities to do just that.

But given the welter of activities that are available, every so often, visitors will find themselves giving in to the contagiously slow and easy pace of the city and its people, and decide instead, to just lie down and just do nothing at all.

A heavenly experience at the Dhara Dhevi