
The Lost Treasures of Chiang Mai
The Lost Treasures
of Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has been the centre for the finest handicraft one can find in Thailand. The source
of all these pieces of art is often forgotten as the real communities where traditions
and techniques to come to these beautiful souvenirs are left aside.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Handicrafts in Thailand are synonymous with Chiang Mai. From generation to generation, artisans in this part of Thailand have been at the forefront of creating beautiful souvenirs and household objects. There are still real communities around the city, each with its distinctive artistic trait.
Visitors will be guided along with these communities, often tucked away in small villages. Slightly moving away from the more commercial paths, a haven of authentic level surfaces and remains moving in a more tranquil way during this close-to full-day exploration.



TRAIL ITINERARY
09:00 - 15:00
Commencing from a central meeting point in Chiang Mai, your guide for the day will welcome you before starting with the first visit. We first visit the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre; this is the heart of all activities related to the art and cultural scene in northern Thailand. After an extensive tour, we head to the Puak Tam Community, situated around Puak Tam Temple. It is a community that produces tired umbrella, long-handed ceremonial umbrella, and brassware. You observe tiered umbrella production at one of the artisan’s houses as well get up and close with producing long brass fingernails for Thai Traditional Dance performances.
Continue to the Muen Sarn Community. This community has been recognized as the village where talented silversmiths from the old Lanna period for more than 2 centuries perform their unique skills of making silverware have been passed on generation to generation till today. Explore the community by foot to see lifestyles of the locals and see artisans making silverware in their house.
Before we explore the Nantaram community, we are warmly welcomed by a local family for a very local, yet delicious lunch. The use of freshest ingredients will only be used for a food feast that only local communities can deliver.
After lunch, we head into the community itself. The local artisan group “Professional Lacquerware Group of Nantaram”, situated inside Nantaram Temple, will have tales and stories aplenty about the community and how the group came about as well as their missions and the protection of the craftsmanship that has been inherited from their ancestors. You are welcome to join the group and get your hands on creating your lacquerware. Basic techniques will be used and of course, your result is your own to bring home as a souvenir.
At around 3 pm, we head back to the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre as the final stop of this day.