Northern Thailand Daytrips From Chiang Mai

• Doi Inthanon National Park

To get from Chiang Mai to the summit of Doi Inthanon using public transportation, 1st go to Chom Thong, then to Mae Klang Waterfall, and then to the summit. Chom Thong is 58km from Chiang Mai and the ...more

• Wat Doi Suthep And Doi Suthep National Park

The national park is 16km northwest of Chiang Mai. Songthaew leave when full from Chang Phuak Gate (6am-5pm, 50฿) and the Chiang Mai Zoo (6am-5pm, 30฿), located on Huay Kaew Rd. at the base of the ...more

• Lamphun

The most convenient way to get to Lamphun from Chiang Mai is to take the blue songthaew that leaves from Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd., south of the TAT (1hr., every 20min. 5am-6pm, 30฿). Songthaew back to ...more

• Bo Sang

Located 9km east of Chiang Mai on Hwy. 1006, Bo Sang is easy to reach. White songthaew at the flower market on the west bank of the Ping River make the 15-20min. trip regularly during the day (20฿) ...more

• Pai

Tiny Pai may be one of the few places in Thailand where pedestrians outnumber cars. This bohemian town has attracted a diverse range of artists and musicians, who draw inspiration from the astoundingly ...more

• Mae Hong Son

Lush valleys, rocky streams, and forested mountains dotted with hill-tribe villages and temples—some of the most beautiful scenery in northern Thailand—have visitors flocking to Mae Hong Son. Farang ...more

• Mae Sariang

Mae Sariang, a peaceful town nestled on the eastern bank of the muddy Yuam River, is off the beaten path from Chiang Mai, Pai, and Mae Hong Son. Trade of teak and rice across the border with Myanmar ...more

• Mae Sot

Mae Sot (also called Mae Sod) is a small do-gooder’s paradise 7km east of Myanmar. With the influx of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) fleeing Myanmar and arriving in and around Mae ...more

• Tak

All roads lead to Tak, but for most visitors, they lead out just as quickly. Whether your route is Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Sukhothai-Ayutthaya, or Khorat-Mae Sot, you’ll likely pass through this provincial ...more

• Kamphaeng Phet

The defensive walls that give Kamphaeng Phet (“diamond wall”) its name once formed the strategic front line of the Sukhothai kingdom. These days, the ancient fortifications enclose a UNESCO World ...more

• Sukhothai

Sukhothai is not one city but two. New Sukhothai is notable for little other than a lively market, an excellent selection of guesthouses, and some of the hottest weather in Thailand. Only 12km away, ...more

• Lampang

Lampang’s history dates back to the 7th-century Dvaravati period, when it played an integral role in the Lanna Kingdom. Today, it’s a typical mid-sized Thai town, with sprawling, congested streets ...more

• Tha Ton

Tha Ton is little more than a few buildings huddled along the side of the road, without even a 7-Eleven to its name. Most of the year, it lies dormant, with a 30 ft. white Buddha guarding its rest. Then ...more

• Mae Sai

One of Thailand’s main links with Myanmar, Mae Sai is a melting pot of transient guests, from Burmese workers, to retired expats on visa runs, businessmen involved in the gem trade and tourists collecting ...more

• Mae Salong

Fifty years after the Chinese Nationalists’ 93rd Division fled China in the wake of the Communist victory to settle in this mountaintop village, Mae Salong maintains its Chinese identity. Chinese characters ...more

• Chiang Saen

King Saen Phu founded this small town in 1328 as the capital of the Chiang Saen Kingdom. In subsequent centuries, it became an important military outpost. Remnants of Chiang Saen’s former Lanna glory ...more

• Chiang Khong

Until recently, the quiet border town of Chiang Khong had been a major backpacker hangout as travelers patiently waited here for their visas to Laos. Today, with visas available at the border, few backpackers ...more

• Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai has always played second fiddle to its southern neighbor, Chiang Mai. The rivalry between the two cities began when King Mengrai, who built Chiang Rai in 1262 and used it as his central headquarters ...more

• Nan

Sharing a name with the province to which it belongs, the city of Nan was founded in 1369. Hidden amidst the mountains on the outskirts of the Lanna Kingdom, Nan developed a unique culture and history ...more

• Phrae

Usually unnoticed by tourists on their way to Nan or Chiang Rai, Phrae (pronounced “ pleh ”) is a small, peaceful town. Its popular attractions—Wat Phra Chaw Hae, a large temple structure, and mysterious ...more

• Phitsanulok

A pleasant, provincial river town, Phitsanulok is also a convenient base for exploring the lower north. As the proud home of Phra Buddha Chinnarat, one of Thailand’s most revered Buddha images, Phitsanulok ...more