RENTALS
Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of motorbike rental shops in Asia? We were too. We’ve sourced the most reliable shops so that you don’t have to.
THailand's Northern Highlights
A Two-Week Northern Thailand Itinerary For Every Traveller
DATE POSTED: 5th of January, 2024
We were fortunate enough to live and work in the beautiful city of Chiang Mai for one year. Here is our specialised itinerary, which we always recommend to friends and family.
Planning a trip to Thailand can be oh so challenging- as there is so much to see and do in just one country!
Although most tourists flock to southern Thailand for the pristine beaches and endless sunshine instead of the cultural north, Chiang Mai and its surrounding areas are increasingly popular tourist hotspots.
The food is incredible (Khao Soi is a top-tier food), the locals are super kind, the temples are absolutely stunning, and the natural scenery is perfectly picturesque. A trip to Thailand really isn’t complete without visiting the north.
Our crafted Northern Thailand itinerary blends the historic charm of Chiang Mai, the tranquil retreat of Pai, cultural highlights in Chiang Rai, a visit to an elephant sanctuary, and the nature escape of Doi Inthanon. You’ll love it!
If you want to experience Northern Thailand on an epic 1-2 week car or motorbike trip, we have the best itinerary for you. Click here.
Day 1-3: Explore Chiang Mai
Kick off your Northern Thailand adventure in Chiang Mai. Dive into the city’s cultural wonders and visit Doi Suthep, Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang. Have a massage (or three) at one of the women’s massage centres by ex-prisoners or take a cooking class. Immerse yourself in the vibrant night and weekend markets, sample the best local dishes, wander through the old city walls, wander towards the river on Tha Pae Rd, and absorb the unique atmosphere.
Don’t forget to download Grab for safe, affordable trips around town, or if you have a motorbike licence, see our favourite rental shops here. Beware: the police are active in Chiang Mai, so driving without a licence + IDP will involve fines.
Day 3-6: Relax in Pai
The most backpacker-friendly place in our northern Thailand itinerary is, of course, the charming town of Pai. Surrounded by green pastures and mountains, it is a 4-5 hour bus trip away from Chiang Mai. So, book a bus on 12goAsia and embark on a scenic drive to Pai.
Unwind in the laid-back ambience, explore Pai Canyon, and rejuvenate in the Pai Hot Springs. You can also relax at the various 420-friendly cafes and hang out with other backpackers. The walking street market with its handmade crafts and delicious street food is not to be missed.
Warning to fellow travel-sickness pals: take tablets/chew ginger. The 4-5 hour ride is stunning yet simultaneously notorious for green faces.
Day 6-7: Pitstop Back in Chiang Mai
Head back to Chiang Mai on the bus (sorry). Then, take the rest of the day to relax, enjoy a Thai massage and eat some more of the world’s best food. This is best if timed with the Saturday or Sunday night street markets.
Day 7-10: Cultural Highlights in Chiang Rai
The next spot on our northern Thailand itinerary takes you northeast to Chiang Rai to explore its cultural gems. There are daily buses that go directly to Chiang Rai that you can check on 12goAsia.
The next day, take a tour to marvel at the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), discover the unique art at the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten), and visit the Black House (Baan Dam).
The following day, you can also organise a day tour to the Golden Triangle for a historical perspective and also visit the famous Tham Luang Cave where 12 boys and their soccer coach were stuck for 18 days in 2018 (Wikipedia). Be sure to check the Google reviews if it’s open- it shuts in monsoon season now (for obvious reasons).
Day 10-14: Chiang Mai Day Trips
Head back to Chiang Mai on the bus. For the last few days, there are several day trips that you can take (or not, if you simply want to relax).
Our Favourite Day Trips:
- Elephant Nature Park: this is one of the few ethical companies to see the beautiful elephants in Northern Thailand. Learn more here.
- Doi Inthanon National Park: there are many tours to visit this stunning National Park. We always use Klook. Our favourite hike in the area is the Pha Dok Sieo Nature Trail. It’s easy and beautiful.
- Sticky Waterfalls: an hour north of Chiang Mai is the glorious Sticky Waterfalls. Many locals use this area to cool off in the hot summer and have a picnic. You can hire a Grab for the day, or rent a motorbike to ride there. This can be combined in a trip with Huay Tueng Thao.
- Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir: the lake is one of the best weekend or evening hang-out spots for all Thai locals (maybe we shouldn’t have told you this). There are floating huts on the lake for you to enjoy a Thai lunch and a cooling drink. There are also large animal statues, sheep and local vendors. We love to walk around the lake in the cool afternoon or morning.
- Mae Kampong Village, The Giant & Tham Muang On: this is about an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai. Mae Kampong is a traditional village that is a popular place for Thai tourists. Make sure you avoid weekends and holidays. Car parking is limited, so hire a motorbike (see our top rental shops here). The Giant is a cafe built around an enormous tree, and Tham Muang On is a damp, eerie cave with a lovely temple. It’s a really great day out!
BOOK IT
We use these travel sites to book our life on the road.
Hotels: We find all of our best deals at booking.com and Agoda.
Hostels: To find the most budget-friendly hostels, we use Hostelworld.
Flights: Our go-to for years now has been Skyscanner.
Activities: Klook offers the best deals for fun activities in Asia.
E-sim: Airalo is a reliable source for getting connected as soon as we land.
Tours: For tours, we rely on Get Your Guide.
Insurance: We use Safetywing to cover pre-booked trips and Genki to cover medical-only backpacker trips.
Banking: We have relied on Wise for all our travel banking needs for years now.
Final Notes
Our Northern Thailand itinerary captures the essence of Thailand’s culture and daily life. Of course, there are many more stunning places that Northern Thailand has to offer, but this is realistically all that can be achieved in just two weeks. This itinerary can be shortened by a couple of days, but it will be rushed.
You need to be flexible in Thailand, as things do run on their schedule. Be prepared for buses to take longer and for people to arrive late, and plan accordingly.
Sabai sabai [meaning: take it easy].
RENTALS
Overwhelmed with the sheer volume of motorbike rental shops? We were too. We’ve sourced the most reliable shops so you don’t have to.
BOOK IT
We use these travel sites to book our life on the road.
Hotels: We find all of our best deals at booking.com and Agoda.
Hostels: To find the most budget-friendly hostels, we use Hostelworld.
Flights: Our go-to for years now has been Skyscanner.
Activities: Klook offers the best deals for fun activities in Asia.
E-sim: Airalo is a reliable source for getting connected as soon as we land.
Tours: For tours, we rely on Get Your Guide.
Insurance: We use Safetywing to cover pre-booked trips and Genki to cover medical-only backpacker trips.
Banking: We have relied on Wise for all our travel banking needs for years now.
Disclosure: Some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book something through one of these links, we earn a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything! Note that we only ever recommend products that we fully endorse and have used ourselves.
