The mountains around Chiang Mai provide a wonderful retreat from the heat. The views are stunning and its a great way to get away from it all and simply enjoy nature. Only 30 minutes from the city, the Mae Rim valley has some of the most exclusive hotels in the area and is close to orchid and butterfly farms, hill tribe villages, elephant trekking, excellent golf courses. Angkhang, about 3 hours north near the Burmese border, has the Royal Ankhang Research Station and some challenging trekking paths.