The BEST 5-10 Days Northern Thailand Travel Itinerary

If you’re planning a trip to Thailand and asking yourself whether you should include the northern provinces, you’ve landed in the right place.

If you want a taste of authentic Thailand, this region deserves a spot on your itinerary.

From jungle temples and mountain viewpoints to comforting bowls of Khao Soi (seriously, the best northern Thai dish) and some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet, the north truly has it all.

Many travellers picture Thailand as a beach destination (and trust me, it can scratch that itch!), but for me, Thailand felt its most magical in the north.

We spent weeks exploring and falling in love with this region, and if I could do it all over again, I’d allocate even more time. Northern Thailand offered some of the most genuine and memorable travel memories we had in our entire 7 months in Asia.

This Northern Thailand travel itinerary shows you exactly how to visit Chiang Mai, Pai, Chiang Rai and a few hidden gems in between.

Some links in this Northern Thailand itinerary are affiliate. If clicked, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Where To Visit In Northern Thailand?

If you’re visiting Northern Thailand, chances are you’re torn between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, the good news? You don’t have to choose. This Northern Thailand itinerary will include both of them and more!

The most popular places to visit in Northern Thailand are: Chiang Mai, Pai, and Chiang Rai.

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai make excellent hubs with lots to do in and around them. If you have extra days and want to explore a laid-back mountain town with waterfalls and hot springs, you can easily add Pai to your itinerary.

I also suggest making the space to add Sukhothai, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the lower north Thailand region (easily visited after travelling Bangkok and before Chiang Mai). 

A quick note about Pai: Pai is an incredibly popular backpacker town with waterfalls, hot springs, and beautiful mountain sunsets. While I personally didn’t visit Pai on this trip, it’s very easy to add to your itinerary, and I’ve included sample routing below based on current travel routes and recommendations from other travellers. If you prefer a more relaxed small-town vibe, Pai is worth considering.

How Many Days Do You Need In Northern Thailand?

How long to spend in Northern Thailand depends on your broader Thailand route and how many days you are allocating for the south.

However, I recommend a minimum of 5 days in the north, and that’s the bare minimum.

Arujan and I spent three weeks in Northern Thailand and it still didn’t feel like enough. I cannot wait to go back.

I personally believe that the north of Thailand has more character and is much more unique than the south, do not discount for that during your planning!

Below are itinerary suggestions (keep scrolling for detailed itineraries), depending on how much time you have:

• 5 Days: Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai
  
• 7 Days: Chiang Mai → Pai → Chiang Rai
  
• 10 Days: Chiang Mai → Pai → Chiang Rai with added day trips to the Golden Triangle and Doi Inthanon

If you want to explore historic temples or you are visiting during the festivals consider adding Sukhothai for Loy Krathong. It is truly a magical, once in a lifetime experience.

Northern Thailand Itinerary Map

Click on the arrow at the top left to see the activities & routes. Continue reading the blog post for the itinerary breakdown.

Sample Northern Thailand Itineraries

Below are three sample Northern Thailand itineraries depending on how much time you have. These can be used exactly as written, or you can mix and match based on your travel style.

5 Day Northern Thailand Itinerary

Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai

Day 1: Arrive in Chiang Mai, Old City Temples, Saturday or Sunday Night Market

Chiang Mai is the most popular destination in Northern Thailand and for good reason. It has everything from gorgeous temples and lush mountains to incredible food and lively markets.

Start your trip by exploring the most popular temples inside the Old City: Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chiang Man and Wat Chedi Luang (my personal fave). Photographed from left to right below.

If you can, time your Chiang Mai itinerary over a weekend to experience the iconic Saturday or Sunday Night Walking Street Markets.

These are some of the best markets in Thailand and worth every baht you’ll spend. 

Day 2: Doi Suthep, Jungle Temple & Cooking Class

Some say you haven’t been to Chiang Mai unless you’ve visited Doi Suthep, and I agree. While it’s a bit complicated to get to, the views over the city are worth it.

Check out my guide to visiting Doi Suthep here.

On your way back down, stop at Wat Pha Lat, a gorgeous jungle temple that feels completely different from anything you’ve seen so far.

You can also visit Doi Suthep as a guided tour. There are many to choose from; including a sunrise hike and sunset visit. Click here for guided tours to Doi Suthep.

In the afternoon, take a Thai cooking class. We did ours with Zabb E Lee Cooking School and loved every minute, but Grandma’s Home Cooking School is another popular choice that offers an evening class!

Day 3: Travel to Chiang Rai, Blue Temple & Night Bazaar

Catch the early minivan from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, which takes approximately 3-4 hours depending on traffic.

After checking in, visit the vibrant Blue Temple. Its rich blues and modern artistic touches make it one of the most beautiful temples in the region.

In the evening, browse the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar, and if you’re visiting on a Saturday, don’t miss the huge Saturday Night Walking Street Market.

Day 4: White Temple & Black House

My favourite temple in all of Thailand, and one of the reasons Chiang Rai was high on my bucket list was the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). 

I truly believe it is a once in a lifetime temple to visit and one of the best things to do in Chiang Rai.

It was worth the early wake up (trust me, visit before the crowds start coming in).

Afterwards, visit the Black House (Baan Dam Museum). While often called a “temple”, it’s actually an art installation with moody, gothic architecture and over 40 black buildings scattered across the greenery.

Day 5: Golden Triangle Day Trip

One of our favourite day trips in Northern Thailand was to the Golden Triangle: the meeting point of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

Stops typically include: 

• Choui Fong Tea Plantation
• Mae Sai – Thai Myanmar Border Town
• The Golden Triangle Viewpoint
• The House of Opium Museum 

You can do this on your own, like we did with our private driver, Ping. See his contact information here.

If you just want the ease of a guided day trip, check out this day trip instead.

These are my non-negotiables for 5 days in Northern Thailand. If you have more time, keep reading!

7 Day Northern Thailand Itinerary

Chiang Mai, Pai, Chiang Rai

Day 1: Arrive Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Temples & Massage

Begin with the must-see Old City temples of Chiang Mai: Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Chiang Man.

After a full day of temple hopping, treat yourself to a Thai massage. We loved C&R Thai Massage right in the city centre.

Day 2: Ethical Elephant Sanctuary OR Doi Suthep Day Trip & Cooking Class

If you came to Chiang Mai to see the elephants, spend a day visiting an Elephant Sanctuary. One thing I beg of you is to visit an ethical sanctuary.

The gold standard for ethical sanctuaries in Chiang Mai is Elephant Nature Park, you will see these elephants in their natural habitat and admire them safely from afar.

If you’re not too tired after your elephant experience, you can most likely fit in an evening cooking class to end your day.

If elephants aren’t your thing, repeat the Day 2 plan from above (Doi Suthep + Wat Pha Lat + cooking class). You truly can’t go wrong!

Day 3: Bus to Pai, Sunset at Pai Canyon

Get up early and catch the minivan to Pai. The ride is approximately 3-4 hours and is on a very windy road.

Many people report getting sick on this ride so make sure to pack your motion sickness tablets!

Once settled, head to Pai Canyon for sunset. It’s one of the most iconic ways to spend an evening here.

Day 4: Pai Hot Springs & Waterfalls 

About 30 minutes outside of Pai town is Pai Hot Springs. Rent a motorbike and enjoy a morning relaxing in the hot springs. 

Try to head there for opening at 8AM to avoid the crowds and be careful as the water can get very hot as you go up.

Spend the afternoon hiking one of Pai’s beautiful waterfalls. There are a few waterfalls to choose from at different difficulty levels.

Choose the one that best suits you.

Pam Bok Waterfall – Kho Kuu So Bamboo Bridge Loop

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 9.7km (Loop Trail)
• Estimated time: 3.5-4 hours 
• Elevation: 478 metres

Click here for the Pam Bok AllTrails link.

Mae Yen Waterfall

• Difficulty: Hard
• Length: 16.9km (Out & Back Trail)
• Estimated time: 6-6.5 hours
• Elevation: 752 metres

Click here for the Mae Yen Waterfall, keep in mind this is a longer hike and will take majority of your day! Plan accordingly.

Click here for some more Pai waterfall trails.

Day 5: Pai to Chiang Rai, Night Bazaar

The journey from Pai to Chiang Rai takes approximately 6.5 hours, usually with a transfer in Chiang Mai.

This will eat up a large portion of your day, pack some snacks and download some TV shows to help the time pass.

I really started to love these long travel days, they were a great way to break up the constant go, go, go of travel.

Once you arrive in Chiang Rai, check out the Night Bazaar, or if you are visiting on a Saturday head out to their large Saturday Night Walking Street Market!

Day 6: White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House

The White Temple, Blue Temple and Black House are the three most important highlights to see in Chiang Rai.

Photographed from left to right; Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), Wat Suea Ten (Blue Temple) & Baan Dam Museum (Black House).

Try to fit them all into one day, if you’re starting to get site-seeing fatigue, put one over into the next day!

Day 7: Wat Huay Pla Kang, Depart

Before leaving Chiang Rai, fit in Wat Huay Pla Kang, in my opinion, another must see in Chiang Rai and one of the most unique temples in Northern Thailand.

It has one of the most gorgeous and largest Goddess of Mercy statues I have ever seen. We spent a few hours here just in shear awe.

Now, with a few extra days, you can add on some day trips and space out your time a little better. Let’s move on to 10 days in north Thailand.

10 Day Northern Thailand Travel Itinerary

The 10 Day itinerary is almost identical to the itineraries above with some added activities. I will keep this in bullet-point format, use the itineraries above to fill in the blanks.

• Day 1: Arrive in Chiang Mai, Explore Old Town, Saturday or Sunday Night Market

Settle in, explore the Old City, get a Thai massage and hit the famous weekend markets if you can. Fit in a temple or 2 if you can to lessen the load the following day.

• Day 2: Doi Suthep & Chiang Mai Temples

Visit Doi Suthep in the morning and temple-hop in the Old City in the afternoon.

• Day 3: Elephant Sanctuary, Cooking Class

Spend the day meeting elephants responsibly, then learn how to cook northern Thai dishes you’ll recreate at home. Trust me, I still use my recipes!

• Day 4: Day Trip to Doi Inthanon National Park

Doi Inthanon is Thailand’s highest peak and one of the most beautiful national parks in the country.

A day trip usually includes:

• The Twin King & Queen Pagodas
• Ang Ka Nature Trail
• Wachirathan Waterfall

Check out the Doi Inthanon best selling day trip here.

This tour includes transport, lunch, and a guide. Entrance fees are not included.

• Day 5: Travel to Pai, Pai Canyon Sunset

Same as above, enjoy a slower romantic vibe here.

• Day 6: Hot Springs & Pai Waterfall

Soak in the morning, hike in the afternoon, and enjoy dinner at one of Pai’s cozy cafés.

• Day 7: Travel to Chiang Rai, Night Bazaar / Saturday Market

Settle in and browse local street food at the Night Bazaar or weekend market.

• Day 8: Blue Temple, Black House & Wat Huay Pla Kang

Museum and temples for a perfect Chiang Rai day!

• Day 9: Golden Triangle Day Trip

History, views, tea plantations and border culture in one day!

• Day 10: White Temple & Khun Korn Waterfall

Save the iconic White Temple for your final day, seriously that place makes me emotional, it’s the best.

Afterwards, cool off at Khun Korn Waterfall, the tallest waterfall in Chiang Rai at 70 meters tall. The hike is about 40 minutes each way through lush jungle, and the reward is well worth the effort.

I go more in detail about Khun Korn Waterfall in my Chiang Rai travel guide.

Optional Add-on: Sukhothai (Best During Loy Krathong)

If your trip aligns with Loy Krathong Festival in November, add 2 days in Sukhothai before Chiang Mai.

Sukhothai is located in the lower northern region of Thailand and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of ancient ruins that resemble Ayutthaya and even Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

When we visited Northern Thailand, we took a bus from Bangkok to Sukhothai and then continued on to Chiang Mai afterward. Booking on 12Go Asia.

Loy Krathong, also known as the Thai festival of lights, in Sukhothai felt incredibly authentic, full of mostly Thai locals who travel specifically to celebrate here.

At the same time, Yi Peng happens in Chiang Mai (you probably know it as the Instagram / TikTok famous lantern festival). It’s more tourist-friendly and equally beautiful, but we loved how cultural our experience felt in Sukhothai.

If you’re into history and temple ruins, Sukhothai is definitely worth the stop, you’ll love it.

Getting To Northern Thailand

Getting to Northern Thailand is straightforward.

If you’re starting in Bangkok (like we did, please don’t skip out on a few days in Bangkok), there are buses, trains and domestic flights to the north!

Almost all travel routes are easily booked on 12Go Asia. Check them out!

Approximate travel length:

• Bangkok → Chiang Mai 
  • Overnight Train: 11–13 hours
  • Bus: 9–10 hours
  • Flight: 1.5 hours
• Bangkok → Sukhothai (We did this)
  • Bus: 7-8 hours
• Sukhothai → Chiang Mai (We did this)
  • Bus: 5-6 hours
• Chiang Mai → Pai
  • Minivan: 4 hours (it is a windy road, be prepared if you get car sick)
• Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai (We did minivan)
  • Bus or minivan: 3-4 hours

Quick Tips for Getting to Northern Thailand

• For most of the routes above, you do not need to book in advance. Just check out 12Go Asia and book your tickets when you are ready.

• If you want to book the popular train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, with the gorgeous countryside views, this will book fast, especially in high season (November – February). Book early on 12Go Asia.

• Chiang Mai has an international airport, making it an easy first stop in Thailand if you’re flying directly into the north.

• Chiang Rai also has a small domestic airport, but I recommend travelling by land to Chiang Rai.

• Domestic flights are affordable, but baggage fees add up. For backpackers, budget-friendly or long-term travellers, I recommend land transfers.

Overall: getting to Northern Thailand is easy, and there’s no wrong way to get there.

Getting Around Within The Northern Thailand Cities

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is extremely walkable, especially within the Old City walls.

You’ll also find endless songthaews (red shared trucks), which we used on our Doi Suthep day trip and for short trips around the City Walls.

For anything outside the Old City, (ie. Doi Inthanon), Grab (Asia’s Uber) or group tours makes it easy.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is more spaced out and feels more rural, so you’ll likely rely on Grab for short distances and private drivers for farther day trips (Golden Triangle, Khun Korn Waterfall, etc.).

The city centre itself is walkable.

I list our private driver on our Golden Triangle trip above.

Pai

Once you’re in Pai, the easiest way to get around is by renting a motorbike. Most waterfalls, hot springs, and viewpoints are spread out, and having wheels gives you freedom.

If you’re not comfortable driving a motorbike, you can hire local drivers for specific routes, but options are limited.

Sukhothai

Once you arrive in Sukhothai, rent a bicycle, Sukhothai Historical Park is flat, easy to navigate, and beautifully designed for cycling.

We also navigated Sukhothai by hiring tuk-tuks we saw along the roads, but biking adds to the experience.

Where To Stay Along The Northern Thailand Itinerary Route

Chiang Mai Hotels

I recommend staying within or just outside the Old City. 

This area is walkable, central, and close to markets, temples, and food stalls you’ll definitely want to revisit. 

Nimman is another great option if you’re after trendy cafés, co-working spaces, and a slightly more “digital nomad” vibe.

Our first time in Chiang Mai, we stayed right next to the Sunday Walking Street Market at Hooman Hostel, a cute little hotel. 

Our second time, we stayed just outside the city walls at Thee Kashatharn. I definitely recommend staying here for their pool alone, it was a great way to cool off after a long day on your feet.

Check out more hotels in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Rai Hotels

Chiang Rai’s “city centre” is compact, but sightseeing is very spread out in Chiang Rai.

On our trip to Chiang Rai, we opted to stay near the Night Bazaar for easy access to restaurants and spas.

However, we wished we also spent some days in a small cottage in the more rural parts of Chiang Rai.

This is totally dependent on your travel style and what you want out of your time in Chiang Rai.

Check out hotels in Chiang Rai here.

Pai Hotels

Most travelers stay within walking distance of Pai Walking Street. If you want a more peaceful, jungle-style stay, you will find beautiful bungalows and cabins just outside of town.

Click here to check out Pai hotels and rentals.

Sukhothai Hotels (Optional Add-On)

I highly recommend staying in Old Sukhothai, near the Historic Park. This is where you will be able to easily access the temples on bike.

We were late in booking, and due to the fact that it was Loy Krathong we had to stay at a hotel in the newer Sukhothai city. While not too convenient, it was a wonderful and relaxing stay.

We were still able to hire tuk-tuks to get to the Historical Park.

Click here to book your Sukhothai hotel!

Best Time To Visit Northern Thailand

• November – February: The best time to visit Northern Thailand is November to February, during the cool, dry season. Expect clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and phenomenal mountain views, this is peak travel time for a reason.

• March – April: Expect high heat and smoky skies from agricultural burning season, especially around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. It’s not ideal for viewpoints or long outdoor days. I do not recommend visiting Northern Thailand during these months.

• May – October (Rainy Season): This period brings lush greenery, powerful waterfalls, and fewer crowds. Just pack a light rain jacket and understand that some hikes can get muddy.

Northern Thailand Festivals to Plan Around or Include

Northern Thailand shines even brighter during festival season. If your travel dates align, these celebrations are absolutely worth it

Loy Krathong (November – All Over Thailand)

Small candle-lit bouquets (krathongs) are floated along the water to symbolize letting go.

We celebrated Loy Krathong in Sukhothai, and it was magical, full of local Thai people, special traditions, lanterns, fireworks, and a whole lot of heart.

Loy Krathong is truly one of my most special memories during our time in Thailand and I am so thankful we opted to spend it in Sukhothai.

The best thing I saw was numerous babies and toddlers letting go of their first krathongs with their parents. It was so beautiful to watch.

Yi Peng (November – Chiang Mai)

Often coinciding with Loy Krathong, Yi Peng is the iconic lantern release festival. It’s incredibly beautiful but more tourist-oriented, especially in Chiang Mai.

Songkran (April – All Over Thailand)

Thailand’s water festival marks the Thai New Year and lasts 3–5 days. Expect water fights, street parties, and crowds.

Although hosted all over Thailand, Chiang Mai is famous for being one of the best and wettest places to experience it.

Warning: for all festival seasons, book accommodation early, stay & activities fill up quickly.

Final Thoughts on Planning a Northern Thailand Travel Itinerary

Northern Thailand was one of the most memorable parts of our time in the country, and I truly think it offers some of the most authentic experiences you’ll find.

Whether you’re here for jungle-wrapped temples, mountain viewpoints, cooking classes, or simply to eat your body weight in Khao Soi (relatable), this region delivers.

With a little planning, you can easily combine Chiang Mai, Pai, and Chiang Rai into one smooth, exciting route, and if your dates line up with festival season, even better.

However you choose to do it, give yourself enough time to slow down, explore, and soak in the culture. I already can’t wait to go back, and I have a feeling you’ll feel the same.

Safe travels and happy planning!