Trip Plan
Chiang Mai
All destinations
● Best season North700 km from Bangkok

Chiang Mai

Old City, Doi Suthep, Night Bazaar

The capital of the north — over 300 temples, Doi Suthep, Nimman cafés, Sunday Walking Street, elephant sanctuary

CityTemplesFoodMarketsHillsNature Ideal: 4 days700 km · 1h15 flight / 10h bus
How to go
Flight DMK/BKK → CNX ≈ 900–1,800 ฿ each way (AirAsia / Nok / Thai Lion) · Night bus from Mo Chit ≈ 600–900 ฿ (10 hrs) · Sleeper train ≈ 800–1,500 ฿
Entry
Doi Suthep 30 ฿, Doi Inthanon NP 300 ฿, elephant sanctuary 1,500–2,500 ฿
Stay
Old City / Nimman 700–1,800 ฿
Season in Nov ● Best season

Nov–Feb is cool (15–28°C) and the best time. Avoid Mar–Apr: it is burning season and the PM2.5 haze is bad. Jun–Oct is green and rainy. The Loy Krathong / Yi Peng lantern festival is in Nov.

Day-by-day plan

3 days
1Day 1
  1. Fly DMK → CNX (1h15), or the night bus arrives at 06:00
  2. Check in at the Old City, rent a bike/scooter (250 ฿)
  3. Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Phan Tao
  4. Khao soi for lunch
  5. Songthaew to Doi Suthep (60 ฿), temple + viewpoint
  6. Nimman cafés / One Nimman
  7. Night Bazaar, or Sunday Walking Street (on Sunday)
2Day 2
  1. Half-day elephant sanctuary (ethical: Elephant Nature Park / Kerchor, ≈1,800–2,500 ฿)
  2. Back in town, snacks at Warorot Market (Kad Luang)
  3. Sunset at Wat Umong (forest temple) / Wat Suan Dok
  4. Khan tok dinner + northern dance show (≈500 ฿)
3Day 3
  1. Doi Inthanon day tour (≈1,200 ฿ with transport) — the highest point in Thailand, 2,565 m
  2. Twin pagodas, Wachirathan and Sirithan waterfalls
  3. Lunch at the Hmong market, Ang Ka nature trail
  4. Back to Chiang Mai
  5. Chang Phueak night market (the famous khao kha moo of the 'cowboy hat lady')

Food to try

  • •Khao soi (Khao Soi Khun Yai, Khao Soi Mae Sai)
  • •Sai ua (northern sausage) + nam prik ong at Warorot market
  • •Khan tok dinner, Nimman cafés
  • •Street food at Sunday Walking Street (Ratchadamnoen)

Good to know

3 days = Old City + Doi Suthep + elephants. With 4–5 days, add Doi Inthanon and Mae Kampong. Add Pai or Chiang Rai to make a 6–7 day route.

Book directly

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Booking.comHotelsAgodaHotels12GoTransportGoogle MapsChiang Mai
฿6,300 / per person
3 days · 2 people · ฿12,600