Northern Thailand, home of the ancient Lanna Thai kingdom, offers a great diversity of activities for visitors. The old Lanna Thai capitals such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang and Nan are filled with historical sites, good museums and ancient temples. Small ancient capitals, such as Lamphun, Phayao and Phrae offer a more low-key charm, but have outstanding and dominant character. In villages away from the main settlements, the scenery of northern Thailand is stupendous: mountains, forests, rice fields set in verdant remote areas inhabited by small communities where elements of lifestyle have change little in many decades. In the centre of the villages there are charming wooden temples, with woodcarving and mural paintings built during the late 19th century. Nature and community are united. All these have now become a well known Lanna Thai image in northern Thailand.

Lampang is the second largest city of Lanna kingdom when it was still called Khe-lang Nakorn. The old city is in a quiet and shady area. Within the city are numerous excellent examples of classical Lanna and Burmese style temples, beautiful teak houses in large gardens and fine river views. Nearby is the district of Ko Kha, which has some more magnificent Lanna style arts and architectural attractions built in the 15th-19th century.

Phayao was formerly the capital of an independent city-state that was absorbed by Lanna in the 14th century. Today there are some very interesting temples, an excellent museum and very interesting ruins in the vicinity of the old city.

Under the leadership of Khun Euayporn Kerdchouay, Senior Consultant, the Siam Society will organize a weekend trip for members to visit many arts and architectural attraction sites in Lampang and Phayao provinces. We will not only visit important historical sites and good museums, but members will visit little known temples and charming villages built in the valleys of northern Thailand.

The group will depart Bangkok Don Mueang Airport for Lampang by Nok Air, on Friday, 23 August, flight DD 8522 at 5:30 p.m. (arriving in Lampang at 6:45 p.m.) and will return to Bangkok from Lampang on Sunday, 25 August, depart from Lampang by DD 8523 at 7:15 p.m., arriving at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport at 8:25 p.m. Members will spend Friday night at Coconut Hotel in Lampang and Saturday night at Phayao Phuglong