Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of northern Thailand, contains over 300 Buddhist temples within its compact Old City and surrounding areas. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, perched at 1,073 meters on a mountainside overlooking the city, is one of the most sacred and photographed temples in Thailand. The Yi Peng Lantern Festival (typically held in November) produces one of the most extraordinary photography spectacles in Southeast Asia, with thousands of paper lanterns rising into the night sky. The city's night bazaar and Warorot Market offer rich street photography subjects, while the surrounding countryside provides rice paddy landscapes and hill tribe cultural encounters. Golden hour at temple complexes tends to be particularly rewarding.