Here is some information extracted from the wilkipedia site about Chiang mai.

"Chiang Mai (in Thai เชียงใหม่ (help·info)), also sometimes written as "Chiengmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand, and the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located at 18°47′20″N, 98°59′00″E, some 700 km north of Bangkok, among some of the highest mountains in the country. The city stands on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.

In recent years Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city, although it lacks the cosmopolitan gloss of Bangkok. It has many attractions for the thousands of foreign visitors who come to the city each year. Chiang Mai's historic strength derived from its important strategic location on an ancient trade route, and long before the modern influx of foreign visitors the city served as an important centre for handcrafted goods, umbrellas, jewellery (particularly silver) and woodcarving.

While officially the city (thesaban nakhon) of Chiang Mai only covers most part of the Mueang Chiang Mai district with a population of 150,000, the urban sprawl of the city extends into several neighboring districts. This Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area has a population of nearly 700,000 people, nearly half of the whole Chiang Mai Province.

History

King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning "new city") in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lannathai kingdom. Mengrai constructed a moat and a wall around the city to protect it against raids from Burma. With the decline of the Lannathai kingdom, the city lost importance and often was occupied by either the Burmese or by the Thais from Ayutthaya. As a result of the Burmese wars that culminated in the fall of Ayutthaya in April 1767, Chiang Mai itself was so depopulated that the remaining inhabitants abandoned the city for fifteen years (1776 - 1791). Lampang functioned as the capital of what remained of Lannathai during that time.

Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774, when the Thai King Taksin captured the city from the Burmese. Chiang Mai rose in both cultural, trading and economic terms to gradually adopt its current status as the unofficial capital of the north of Thailand, second only in national importance to Bangkok.

The people generally speak Kham Muang (also known as Northern Thai or Lanna) amongst themselves, but the Central Thai of Bangkok is used in education and is understood by most. The old Kham Muang alphabet is now only studied by scholars and Northern Thai is commonly written using the standard Thai alphabet."

extracted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai

Chaingmai Fullday trip
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Elephant riding & bamboo rafting safari
1,100THB/Pax(08.30 AM. - 04.30 PM.)

Visit beautiful Orchid Farm and then to the Elephant's Camp in a jungle to see the Elephant Shows and take elephant riding to visit Lisu Hill tribe village get back to elephant camp by ox-cart riding, Lunch at elephant camp, bamboo rafting, and then back to the city
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Doi Inthanon National Park & water fall
1400THB/Pax(08.30 AM. - 05.00 PM.)

Visit 2 wonderful pagodas and the highest peak in Thailand with much beautiful scenery including two huge waterfalls and fascinating Rhododendron. Then visit Karen villages whose culture of living harmony with nature are apparently going on. Price included national park entrance fee 400 THB
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Chiang Rai and longneck Karen
1,400THB/Pax(07.00 AM. - 08.30 PM.)

The full day trip to Chiang Rai, on the way visits Hot Spring and continues to visit Maesai and The Golden Triangle. Where the three countries Thailand, Burma and Laos meet. Boat cross to Laos then back to Thailand side have lunch. And then Visit the old city at Chiang Saen and on the way back visit Hot Spring and longneck Karen in their village which most of our tourists like to stop by.
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One day Mahout Training Course at The Elephant conservation center Lampang
Price: 3,500 Baht/person (07.00 AM. - 05.00 PM.)

This mahout training course is very suitable for some tourists who does not have a lot of time in Thailand and they would like to ride on the elephant like the mahouts in the camp... They will have a chance the learn about the elephants and mahout life in the mahout training school as following schedule..
08:00 - 09:30 Am. Check in at the mahout for mahout registration and provided the mahout suits.
09:00 - 09:30 Am. Participate in the ritual ceremony to pay respect the Ganesha ( Play respect to the god of elephant before training for luck)
09:30 - 11:30 Am. Learn about elephant knowledge and elephant command language used for the elephants and then the staffs will introduce the elephants and the mahouts and start the training lesson afterward.
11:00 - 11:30 Am. Enjoy riding your elephant back to the main site of the camp and visit the sick and injured elephants at the Elephant Hospital
11:30 - 12:00 Am. Visit the Elephant Dung Paper Factory
12:00 Am. Enjoy lunch at the restaurant
13:15 - 13:30 Pm. Enjoy watching the Elephant bathing!
13:30 - 14:30 Pm. Enjoy watching the elephant show!
14:50 - 15:20 Pm. Ride the elephant back to the mahout training course.
15:20 - 13:30 Pm. Recieve the mahout certificate
15:30 - 16:00 Pm. Short ride the elephant back to the forest and say good bye to them and the mahouts and finish your one day mahout training coruse.

What include in our mahout training course??
* Free rent mahout outfit
* Lunch
* Certificate
* Drinking water

What you get from joining this one day mahout training course?
-Chance to ride the elephant like the mahout.
-Chance to visit the elephant hospital, elephant dung paper factory and Elephant show.
-Chance to learn the elephant facts and knowledge
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Authentic thai cooking class
990/Pax(08.30 AM. - 03.00 PM.)
All courses begin with a morning activity such as shopping at the market, and introduction to Thai ingredients, paste making, vegetable carving, or selection your own organic herbs from our herb garden.After the morning activity you will cook 4 dishes. Each dish will be demonstrated to you by Sompon and his experienced staff, who all speak excellent English. They will give you tips about alternative cooking methods and substitutes throughout the demonstrations. Then it is your turn! You will cook each dish yourself and the teachers will be on hand to help and guide you with step-by-step instructions.
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Tour Includes: - English speaking Guide- Transportation- Meals- Entrance fees
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for more info please or booking contact kun-peter at k_rungrod@hotmail.com
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This post has been edited by timming: Jun 27 2008, 03:17 PM

great info, looks like a good deal and something to consider trying