In general:

Popularly known as the “Rose of the North”, Chiang Mai is blessed with stunning natural beauty and unique indigenous cultural identity.
Found by King Mengrai the Great as the capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom by merging the various citystates in the region in 1296. Today Chiang Mai is the economic, communications, cultural and touristic centre of Northern Thailand.

About 700 kilometres from Bangkok, Chiang Mai is situated on the Mae Ping River basin some 300 metres above the sea level and, surrounded by high mountain ranges, it covers an area of approximately 20, 117 square kilometres. The terrain is mainly jungles and mountain, part of which are within national parks which are still fertile and verdant with plentiful flora and fauna. There are many sites and locations where tourists prefer to visit to study the lifestyle of the tribal people living on high hills.  

Main attractions:

Rich in cultural and naturalistic cues, Chiang Mai is currently one of the most complete and interesting destinations in the whole of Thailand. Its temples, the local lifestyles of the tribes, the local markets and, in particular, the landscapes you can enjoy, offers visitors a stay full of activity and dynamism. 

Anyone who goes to Chiang Mai cannot omit from visiting jewels such as the Doi Sutep temple, the most well-known and venerated of Northern Thailand, which, located at the top of a hill, in addition to the richness of its architecture and religious images, it offers breath-taking views of the surrounding valley. A visit to the Chedi Luang Temple, where the highest Chedi in the city is, or to the U-Mong Temple, built by King Mengrai in 1296, the year in which the city was founded, can be missed. The city's oldest temple exhibits a curious and unique "collection" of Buddha's heads.

On a naturalistic level, the Doi Intanon is definitely worth a visit. Doi Intanon, with its 2,599 meters of height, is the highest mountain in Thailand and hosts two Chedi dedicated to the late King Rama IX and his consort, currently Queen Mother, Queen Sirikit. 
Chiang Mai is also a base for visiting some relatively nearby destinations that deserve in-depth visits: Chiang Rai, whose Golden Triangle actually represents a legend; Sukhothai, ancient capital of the Kingdom of Siam about 700 years ago, with its Historic Park declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1991; Lampang, with its spectacular complex of temples Chalermprakiat, a newly built structure perched on the mountain.

Daily excursions:

Chiang Mai is normally part of multi-day itineraries, which depart from Bangkok or Chiang Mai itself, which already include both the main visits and the hotel accommodations and which allow you to visit other places, compatibly with the routes. The most classic tour, for example, starts from Bangkok and stops, along the road, with overnight stays in places like Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Chiang Rai. However, for those who want a free and tailor-made holiday, day trips are available, accompanied by local guides. In addition to the destinations already mentioned, trips to Mae Kampong, to the spectacular Chiang Dao caves, to the Elephant Sanctuary and others can be organized.