Surprise them with an assault on their senses after your excursion to Chiang Mai.
Visitors can turn their trip into an education by learning to give massages and cook like a local.
Chiang Mai has long been a home of the healing arts, and several respected schools teach the techniques of ancient Thai massage. Practitioners use their elbows, knees and hands to work the pressure points of the body, which are much the same as those mapped out by Chinese acupuncturists. Instructors here have taught many of the local practitioners. Using pestle and mortar, novices grind up a curry paste from scratch and then create a variety of dishes, like red curry fish and spicy glass noodle salad. Time Inc. All Rights Reserved.