The mountains

Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand Doi Inthanon National Park, located in the north of Thailand, boasts thick forests and cascading waterfalls © Patrice Duchier - Office National du Tourisme de Thailande - Paris

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To see the most beautiful terrain, head to the north to check out the Doi Inthanon mouuntain (8514ft), also the highest point in the country. From Chiang Mai, the roads that traverse Mae Hong Son take you on a tour of Thailand's most elegant landscapes: dense forest and terrace cultivation, villages built entirely on stilts, bamboo-spotted valleys, caves and waterfalls. The far north and its capital Chiang Raï are part of a region known as the 'golden triangle'. This is an unofficial nickname originating from the revenues generated by the once intensive cultivation of poppy and opium in a region shared by three countries; Laos, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand. This place is well worth a few days stay during which you'll discover its amazing landscape (via treks and canoeing) and meet the people of the mountains, famous for their cloth-making tradition.