Between the crumbling, vine-clad walls of Chiang Mai’s Old Town lie some of the greatest cultural treasures in northern Thailand: the Wat Phra Singh of the famous Phra Singh image; the chiselled remnants of the great Wat Chedi Luang; the leafy courtyards of the Wat Jet Yod. Outside lurk the rising vistas of the Mae Hong Son hills, from the wild jungled backcountry of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, to the looming golden stupas of the magnificent Wat Phra That above; a veritable haven for outdoor adventurers or travellers looking to glimpse the wild side of this northern region. 
But, amidst this sea of downtown temples and sacred mountains, old Chiang Mai clocks over to the curious beats of Rasta reggae and Buddhist chant, while locals flit in and out of the makeshift eateries and trademark timber homes. And as any Chiang Mai tourist guide will tell you, after dark the city’s resident student population takes hold, bursting out from the rooftop bars and music dives of Nimmanhemin, or clustering around the lively market stalls of Somphet with steaming Pad Thai noodles in hand.