Itinerary
Luxury Thailand Trip from North to South
Street food tours, trekking, and a tropical island retreat
Chiang Mai travel is Thailand at a gentler pace—trading Bangkok's busy streets for misty forest trails, incense-perfumed temples and convivial evenings spent eating your way through Lanna culture.
Ringed by rolling fields and forested mountains in the north, Chiang Mai eases the tempo of your private Thailand trip. In this old capital of the Lanna Kingdom—which feels more like a town than a city—you'll find a moated center dotted with centuries-old temples, and forest trails, rice fields, and hill villages just beyond. Food is your way in, whether you're learning to cook northern Thai dishes in a family home, or following a celebrated chef to street carts and market stalls with no reviews, just regulars. Layer artisan communities and night markets to the mix, and Chiang Mai becomes one of the most rewarding stops in Thailand.
Chiang Mai trip itineraries
Use these itineraries as a starting point, or as inspiration to create your own journey.
Key travel info for Chiang Mai
The best time to visit Chiang Mai
November through February is northern Thailand travel’s best window. Daytime temperatures sit in the mid-70s to mid-80s, nights turn cool at higher elevations, and clear air makes it a compelling time for temple touring, trekking, and hill tribe village visits. Early in the season, Yi Peng fills the city with floating lanterns and candlelit rafts on the river — one of the most atmospheric moments to be in Chiang Mai, though also one of the busiest.
March through May brings the region's heat, along with agricultural burning that drapes across Chiang Mai, sometimes dulling the mountain and river views that define a Chiang Mai tour. Trekking and photography-focused travelers might consider the cool season instead.
June through October turns the north wonderfully green.
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Our expert's favorite parts of Chiang Mai travel
A Chiang Mai samlor tour (a three-wheeled bicycle taxi), weaving between temples, market stalls, and the city's beloved old Iron Bridge.
Climb right up Bua Thong, Si Lanna National Park's limestone "sticky waterfall."
Hike the Monk's Trail up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's most revered temple.
Spend a day at a carefully vetted elephant sanctuary, walking forest trails alongside the elephants and learning about their care.
Wander the forest paths and old brick tunnels of Wat Umong, one of the city's quieter temples.
Cook northern Thai dishes with a Lanna family in their home, with ingredients picked from the family orchard.
Pack an appetite for a northern Thai street food tour of the lively Chiang Mai Gate Night Market.
Meet the weavers and potters of Chiang Mai's artisan studios, and watch hand-loomed textiles and ceramics take shape.
Sit with a monk in a temple courtyard and ask about the 4 a.m. wake-up, the dawn alms round, and why he chose the saffron robe.
In Doi Inthanon National Park, spy jewel-tone sunbirds during a waterfall hike, or through Cloud Forest to a ridgetop for arresting valley views.
Chiang Mai travel FAQs
Other areas to explore
A visit to Chiang Mai puts you within easy reach of many other beautiful and fascinating parts of Thailand.
Andaman Coast
Home to iconic Thailand travel spots like Phuket and Krabi, the Andaman Coast is one of the country’s most popular destinations, and for good reason: it’s marked by cinematic tropical beaches where emerald karsts rise from aquamarine waters, as well as delicious food and dynamic Thai culture and history.
Bangkok
A common first foray into Southeast Asia, Bangkok is easy to see, quick to feel, and hard to read. Extraordinary Journeys unlocks the city's wonders.
Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle
Chiang Rai Province shares borders with Myanmar and Laos, earning the region the name ‘The Golden Triangle’ and making it one of the most culturally and geographically diverse parts of Thailand.
Central Thailand
Home to the infamous Bridge Over the River Kwai, the country’s first capital city, and a UNESCO-designated historical park, Central Thailand is one of the best places to travel to in Thailand for history lovers.
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