The northern part of the country is home to the original Thai kingdoms, and thus it is rich in traditional culture and architecture. The Thai hill tribes also live in this area, though development and other modern conveniences are fast depriving them of their traditional way of life.

Lamphun Province

This small province is dominated by its capital, the city of Lamphun, There are a number of historic temples here, including Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, built in the 11th and 12th century over the palace of the almost legendary Queen Chama Thewi. The temple was restored in the middle of the 20th century. Nearby is the Wat Chama Thewi, (also called Wat Kukut) begun in the 8th or 9th centuries and rebuilt or restored many times since. Also in Lamphun Province is Doi Khun Tan National Park, which has an abundance of plants, including ginger, orchids, and lilies. The park is also the site of Thailand's longest train tunnel, which opened in 1921.

Lampang Province

In this province is located the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, said to be the most beautiful temple of its type in northern Thailand. On the grounds is the Wihan Luang, built in 1476, thought to be the oldest wooden building in Thailand. A Buddha image here dates from 1563. There are also three museums of the grounds. Northwest of the city of Lampang is the Thai Elephant Conservation center, which has tourist exhibits, animal shows, and a facility to care for sick elephants from all over the country. On weekends from December to February, a group of elephants plays oversized musical instruments. Visitors may also sign up to take one-day and three-day courses in how to be a mahout, or elephant trainer. The elephant was important to the development of Thailand, and in 1900, it was estimated there were 100,000 elephants working in the country. Today, it is estimated that there are only about 2,000 domesticated elephants, and about 3,000 wild elephants in Thailand.

Sukhothai Province

The town of Sukhothai, 450 kilometers from Bangkok, was capital of Thailand from the mid-13th to the 14th century in what is known as the "golden age" of Thailand. The 45-square kilometer old city has been made into historical park that includes a number of temples, the old walls of the city, and the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum. The ruins of Sukhothai have been designated at World Heritage site.