HEALING
THY NAME IS LUXURY IN THAILAND
June Mukherjee, 15th November, 2025
From Chiang Mai’s serene forest temples to the artisanal calm of Lampang, the poetic quiet of Phrae, and the soulful charm of Nan — this is a journey where travel slows down in every breeze, mural moment, and life speeds up in meaning.
When the business meetings wrapped up, the real story began — one that unfolded not in conference rooms but across railway tracks, forest paths, and ancient courtyards.
I took the offbeat route from Chiang Mai to Lampang, Phrae, and Nan, leaving behind the fast lanes for a rhythm that Northern Thailand knows best — slow, soulful, and restorative.
CHIANG MAI: WHERE STILLNESS SPEAKS
The morning light filtered gently through the trees at Wat Pha Lat, the hidden temple, where the forest hums with peace. Amid the statues and the whisper of waterfalls, I felt the gentle clarity that comes when you simply sit still.
Later, at Bo Sang, I found joy in painting umbrellas alongside local artists — each brushstroke a quiet dialogue between tradition and imagination. Chiang Mai reminds you that creativity thrives in calm.
LAMPANG: WHERE TIME TRAVELS WITH HORSES
The Chiang Mai–Lampang train ride was a two-hour symphony of countryside scenes and reflective silences. Arriving at Lampang Railway Station, one of the most charming in Thailand, felt like stepping into a vintage postcard.
Here, life moves at a horse’s pace. I don’t ride on animals, but nothing stopped me in petting them a lot. Walked past the teakwood mansions, and evening markets coming alive with local smiles.
At the Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum, painting a rooster bowl was so much fun — not as a souvenir, but as a memory moulded by hand. Then, climbing to Wat Phra That Doi Phra Chan, the giant Buddha looked over rolling hills, and I understood why serenity is the greatest view of all.
PHRAE: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY OF THE NORTH
Phrae is quiet in the most poetic way. The tram tour through its heritage lanes — past colonial buildings, teak mansions, and century-old temples — felt like turning the pages of a forgotten storybook.
Then came the rugged grace of Phae Muang Phi Forest Park, where wind and time carved sandstone pillars into mystical shapes. It’s nature’s own art gallery — wild, patient, and humbling.
Phrae doesn’t rush to impress; it invites you to pause. To sip local coffee, smile at strangers, and listen to the rhythm of wooden shutters opening at dawn.
NAN: THE HEARTBEAT OF HEALING
Nan is where stillness becomes soul. At Wat Phumin, the murals breathe with emotion — ancient yet timeless, painted with stories of love, devotion, and community.
In Cocoa Valley, the scent of chocolate mingles with the philosophy of sustainability. Learned to make chocolate bars from Nan-grown cocoa, understanding how respect for the earth translates into sweetness that lasts.
At the Bo Klua Community, named a UNWTO Best Tourism Village 2024, villagers shared their knowledge of herbal healing — steam baths, salt foot soaks, and laughter that heals deeper than any medicine.
The next morning, as monks walked barefoot through Nan’s morning market, I joined locals in the sacred ritual of almsgiving. There was no better reminder that peace begins with presence.
THE WISDOM OF THE NORTH
This journey through Northern Thailand wasn’t about sightseeing — it was about soul-seeing. It was about relearning that the most luxurious experiences are not gilded but grounded.
In the gentle art of slow travel, I found what every modern traveler secretly seeks — connection, calm, and care. Because here, in the heart of Thailand’s North, healing truly is the new luxury.
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As Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand said, “Today’s travellers seek balance, renewal, and meaning in every journey. Healing is the New Luxury reflects this shift, presenting Thailand as a place where visitors can reconnect with themselves, nature, and local communities. True luxury now lies in experiences that bring comfort, inspiration, and well-being.”
And perhaps, that’s what our world needs most — not faster journeys, but deeper ones.