Why Chiang Mai is on our bucket list for 2025

Only monks follow all of Buddha’s 227 teachings. For most, adhering to the first three—no killing, lying, or stealing—poses little challenge. Those with greater discipline master the next two: avoiding adultery and alcohol. Monks, however, take the first three so seriously that they walk barefoot, careful not to harm insects or plants. Light on his feet, guide Kho Dhawie explains the subtleties of Thai Buddhism while climbing the 306 steps to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the “monastery with Buddha’s relics on a mountain.” Dozens of bells hang here, rung to announce good deeds to the heavens. From this sacred vantage point, visitors enjoy sweeping views of Chiang Mai, the jewel of northern Thailand.