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The northern part of Thailand is particularly popular with all visitors who want to experience some culture and see beautiful landscapes. Temples, mountains, rice fields, and sometimes cooler temperatures make a tour in northern Thailand an entirely different experience from the south of Thailand.
Northern Thailand – a journey between nature and culture
On a tour through northern Thailand, you can explore various cities such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai with its white temple, Pai, the Golden Triangle (the border between Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar), and many other highlights.
Since the northern part of Thailand offers many destinations for visitors, we divide our suggestions into two routes for you. One goes to the northwest of northern Thailand and then to the northeast again. We think both have a lot to offer, and it’s challenging to choose a favorite. Decide for yourself on your tour through northern Thailand!
Starting Point: Travel to Chiang Mai
Since Chiang Mai is a popular destination in Thailand, you can reach the city by plane, bus, train, or even minivan. You can even come to Chiang Mai with international flights, for example, from Singapore, Doha, Seoul, Beijing, and more.
You can also fly to Chiang Mai from many places within Thailand. This starts with short flights of 45 minutes, for example, from Mae Hong Son, and continues with flights from the capital city of Bangkok and the south, including Phuket and Surat Thani. You can find all connections for a good overview on Skyscanner.
There is also a train connection from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, but it usually takes 12 hours or more to reach your destination. Buses and minivans also operate from many different cities to Chiang Mai, such as Pai, Chiang Rai, the Isan region, Bangkok, and more. For an overview and to book tickets, we can recommend our partner 12go.asia.
Tour of Northern Thailand – Northwest
1. Chiang Mai (3-4 days)
Chiang Mai, long considered the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna, is one of Thailand’s most popular cities. Known as “The Rose of the North”, this city is an excellent starting point for exploring Northern Thailand on a tour.
However, you should also spend several days exploring Chiang Mai itself. The numerous temples in Chiang Mai, the markets, or even the Loy Krathong Festival in November are absolute highlights. Don’t miss the Old City, surrounded by a moat, if you want to immerse yourself in the culture of Northern Thailand.
Our Hotel Recommendation for Chiang Mai: Villa Sirilanna
2. Pai (3 Days)
Nestled amidst beautiful mountain landscapes is the small town of Pai in a valley. It is peaceful here, and Pai is a complete contrast to Chiang Mai, which doesn’t mean there is nothing to explore. Even the journey to Pai, which includes the 762 curves, is an attraction.
Pai offers incredibly many things you can explore. From temples and old bridges to breathtaking views and waterfalls, along with many charming cafes, you can spend several days in the village without getting bored.
We have summarized what else you can explore in Pai in our blog on 20 Highlights and Tips for Pai. Alternatively, you can watch our Pai video to get an impression of the breathtaking landscape. For us, it is one of the most beautiful destinations on a Northern Thailand tour.
Our Hotel Recommendation for Pai: Family House Zen Boutique Resort
3. Mae Hong Son (1-2 days)
Even more rural than in Pai, Mae Hong Son offers a glimpse of typical Thailand, and you are guaranteed to encounter a few tourists here. Nevertheless, a visit to the rice fields, Chong Kham Lake with its evening Walking Street, and the Wat Chong Kham Temple is worthwhile. Peace and seclusion are on the agenda, but this change of pace can be beautiful, especially if you’re coming from bustling cities like Chiang Mai.
Our hotel recommendation for Mae Hong Son: Fern Resort
4. Doi Inthanon (1 Day)
Doi Inthanon National Park is located south of Chiang Mai and is one of the most popular day trips in the area. The 480 km² national park offers many exploration opportunities, including waterfalls, villages of the indigenous Hmong people, rice fields, as well as the famous royal pagodas and the highest point in Thailand.
Many visitors come to Doi Inthanon National Park with guided tours, but you can also visit it on your own. Find out which waterfalls and other attractions of Doi Inthanon National Park you can see on-site, how to get there, and the entrance fee in our article on the day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park.
5. Samoeng Loop (1 Day)
Chiang Mai also serves as a great starting point for a day trip on the Samoeng Loop. Start heading north towards the Mae Sa Waterfall. Along the way, you’ll come across attractions such as the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, the Samoeng Forest Viewpoint, or the Wat Phra That Si Mueang Pong before making your way back to Chiang Mai.
You can discover more beautiful destinations on this day trip, such as stunning viewpoints or temples, on your own with a scooter.
North Thailand – Northeast Tour
1. Chiang Mai (3-4 Days)
As with the first route of the North Thailand tour, we also start here in Chiang Mai. The city is always worth a visit. In addition to the highlights mentioned earlier (see above), you can experience much more in Chiang Mai.
Besides visiting more temples in Chiang Mai, we will also show you Chiang Mai Park, Hang Dong Canyon, and more in our article on 13 Tips. If you think there isn’t much left to explore in the city of Chiang Mai, then you should take a look at our day trip destinations. The surroundings offer a lot that you can see in a day.
Our hotel recommendation for Chiang Mai: Villa Sirilanna
2. Chiang Rai (2-3 Days)
Chiang Rai is well-known to many visitors because of the famous White Temple, which has become a symbol of the city. But that’s not all that Chiang Rai has to offer. In addition to the new Blue Temple Wat Rong Suea Ten and the Black House, the night market, Wat Phra Kaeo, and other sights of Chiang Rai are also interesting.
If you don’t have enough time on your tour of Northern Thailand or are traveling in the northwest, you can easily visit the White Temple on a day trip from Chiang Mai. This highlight is not to be missed!
Our hotel recommendation for Chiang Rai: Sleepy House
3. Golden Triangle (1 Day)
From Chiang Rai, some visitors continue to the legendary Golden Triangle. It is located on the Mekong River, to be more precise, it is a tri-border area between Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. This border region became famous some time ago (in the 70s) as a hub for drugs, especially opium, due to the presence of many poppy fields here.
Most tourists come to Sop Ruak, a village in the Golden Triangle. But you can also explore many things in the surrounding area. Original Hmong or Karen Hill Tribe villages, the temples of Chiang Saen, a longtail boat ride on the Mekong, or the Hall of Opium Museum showcasing the history of the Golden Triangle are just a few highlights.
4. Phayao (1-2 Days)
Phayao is still relatively unexplored by tourists but is increasingly attracting more visitors. The city is situated on the largest lake in Northern Thailand, which has a small island with the Wat Tilokaram Temple. Boats can take you to the island for 100 Baht, and the temple is said to have originally been much larger, with a significant part of it now submerged.
Otherwise, you can discover more temples in Phayao, visit the Walking Street, or take a trip to the Phu Sang Waterfall. If you’d like to spend more time in the area, we highly recommend a visit to the Phu Langka Forest Park. There, you can hike up the mountains and enjoy breathtaking views of the landscape.
Our hotel recommendation for Phayao: P Bliss Hotel
5. Lampang (2 days)
Lampang may not be the most famous city in the North among tourists, but it’s definitely worth a visit. The old town, with its horse-drawn carriages and teak wood houses, has a special charm. You should also explore the temples such as Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao, once the home of the Emerald Buddha from Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok, the Wat Chedi Sao Lang with its 20 Chedis, or the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of the oldest wooden temples in Thailand when you are in town.
If you are keen to explore Lampang peacefully, you should plan for at least two days and one night. If you have less time, there are also day tours from Chiang Mai.
Our Hotel Recommendation for Lampang: The Coconut Hotel
6. Lamphun (1-2 Days)
The small town of Lamphun is only about 30 kilometers away from Chiang Mai. In the 8th and 9th centuries, it was even the cultural and political center of Northern Thailand before cities like Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai were founded. Today, Lamphun and the region are known for the fruit Lychee, which is supplied from here to the entire country of Thailand.
You’ll find only a few Western tourists in Lamphun. The peaceful town has a lot to offer to visitors on a tour through Northern Thailand, with its beautiful landscape, Doi Khun Tan National Park, and the ancient temples (the most famous being Wat Phra That Hariphunchai).
Northern Thailand Attractions: Tours and Tickets
Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Northern Thailand in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Northern Thailand and the rest of Thailand.
Have you already taken a tour through Northern Thailand? What was your favorite place, or can you recommend other destinations? We look forward to your comment.
Photos: Photo 3 (Wat Chong Kham): Chirawan Thaiprasansap/shutterstock.com – Photo 8 (Golden Triangle): saiko3p/shutterstock.com – Photo 9 (Kwan Phayao): ploypemuk/shutterstock.com – Photo 11 (Wat Phra That Haripunchai): ploypemuk/shutterstock.com
