ChiangMai
3
Day Itinerary •
Thailand
Three days in Chiang Mai and the northern highlands give you the finest temple city in Thailand, the extraordinary jungle mountain of Doi Suthep rising above the old walled city, the most celebrated night bazaar in Asia, and the ancient kingdom of Lanna whose art and culture are entirely distinct from Bangkok and the south. This route covers Chiang Mai's 300 temples and its extraordinary Old City, the sacred mountain temple of Doi Suthep, the elephant sanctuary at Doi Inthanon, the finest cooking school experience in Thailand and the extraordinary Chiang Rai border country with its White Temple and Black House.
Best Time To Visit
November to February
Getting There
Fly into Chiang Mai (CNX), 1 hour from Bangkok
Getting Around
Songthaew, Grab, hired scooter for day trips
Budget Per Day
Approx 40 to 100 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, walking and road trips
DAY 1
OLD CITY TEMPLES
MORNING
WAT CHEDI LUANG AND THE CITY PILLAR, HEART OF THE OLD CITY
The ruined chedi of Wat Chedi Luang once stood 82 metres tall and housed the Emerald Buddha before it was moved to Bangkok. The extraordinary partially restored tower still dominates the Old City skyline. The adjacent city pillar shrine is the spiritual heart of Chiang Mai. Entry approx 50 baht. The monk chat programme here is the finest in Thailand. Drive/Travel: 10 min walk
MIDDAY
WAT PHRA SINGH, THE FINEST COMPLETE TEMPLE IN CHIANG MAI
The most complete and beautiful temple complex in Chiang Mai. The extraordinary Viharn Lai Kham chapel contains the Phra Singh Buddha image, one of the most revered in northern Thailand, in a building of extraordinary Lanna craftsmanship with gilded woodwork and intricate murals. Entry approx 50 baht. Drive/Travel: 15 min walk to Warorot Market
AFTERNOON
WAROROT MARKET AND THE CHIANG MAI NIGHT BAZAAR
Warorot is the finest local market in Chiang Mai, a vast covered market where northern Thai hill tribes sell textiles, spices and the finest local produce. The nearby Night Bazaar from 6pm is the most celebrated in Thailand, 1km of stalls selling silverwork, lacquerware and the finest northern Thai handicrafts. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The secret rooftop of Wat Chedi Luang's lesser-known eastern viharn gives an extraordinary view over the ruined chedi unavailable from ground level. Ask the resident monks for access. The Sunday Walking Street on Wualai Road from 4pm is far finer than the more famous Saturday market, with the finest silverwork artisans in northern Thailand. Entirely free to enter.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Khao Tom Muu, Old City Northern Thai pork rice soup is the classic Chiang Mai breakfast. 40 baht. | Lunch: Huen Phen, Ratchamanka Road The finest northern Thai food in Chiang Mai. Extraordinary khao soi and nam prik noom. | Dinner: Ginger and Kafe, The House Outstanding modern northern Thai in a beautiful 1920s shophouse. Book ahead.
DAY 2
DOI SUTHEP
MORNING
WAT PHRA THAT DOI SUTHEP, THE SACRED MOUNTAIN TEMPLE OF CHIANG MAI
The most sacred temple in northern Thailand, perched at 1,080 metres on Doi Suthep above Chiang Mai. Founded in 1383 after a white elephant carrying a relic of the Buddha walked up the mountain and died on this spot. The extraordinary golden chedi, the panoramic views over Chiang Mai and the 306-step naga staircase are all extraordinary. Entry approx 50 baht. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive further up
MIDDAY
BHUBING PALACE GARDENS AND THE HMONG HILL TRIBE VILLAGE
The royal winter residence of the Thai royal family at 1,400 metres is open to the public when the court is absent. The extraordinary rose gardens and ornamental grounds are the finest in Thailand. The adjacent Doi Pui Hmong village is one of the most authentic hill tribe settlements accessible from Chiang Mai, with extraordinary traditional textiles. Drive/Travel: 45 min drive down to city
AFTERNOON
CHIANG MAI COOKING SCHOOL, THE FINEST IN THAILAND
A half-day cooking class at one of the Old City's celebrated schools is one of the finest experiences in Chiang Mai. The Thai Farm Cooking School includes a morning market visit to source ingredients and produces six dishes including khao soi, green curry and mango sticky rice. Approx 1,000 baht including all ingredients and a recipe book.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The monk's trail to Doi Suthep is a 5km forest path from Chiang Mai University that predates the road by centuries. The extraordinary jungle walk passes waterfalls and roadside shrines and arrives at the temple from the rear, bypassing the entrance fee entirely. Allow 2 hours. The trail begins at the rear of the university campus and is marked.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Pun Pun, Wat Suan Dok Outstanding organic northern Thai breakfast served by a temple cooperative. | Lunch: Market food, Doi Suthep Grilled corn, sticky rice and local sausage from mountain vendors at the temple. | Dinner: Cooking school meal Eat the six dishes you cooked. The green curry and pad thai are extraordinary.
DAY 3
CHIANG RAI
MORNING
WAT RONG KHUN, THE WHITE TEMPLE OF CHIANG RAI
The most extraordinary contemporary temple in Asia. The entirely white and mirrored Wat Rong Khun was designed by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat in 1997 and is still under construction. The bridge of souls crossing a sea of reaching hands, the extraordinary murals mixing Buddhist iconography with film characters, and the golden building housing the toilets are all extraordinary. Entry approx 100 baht. Drive/Travel: 40 min drive
MIDDAY
BAAN DAM, THE BLACK HOUSE OF CHIANG RAI
The extraordinary life's work of national artist Thawan Duchanee, a complex of 40 black buildings housing the most extraordinary collection of dark art in Thailand. Animal skins, bones, tusks and lacquerwork fill structures ranging from a Lanna longhouse to a Gothic hall. One of the most extraordinary and unsettling artistic statements in Southeast Asia. Entry approx 80 baht. Drive/Travel: 1 hour drive north
AFTERNOON
THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, WHERE THREE COUNTRIES MEET
The confluence of the Mekong, Ruak and Sop Ruak rivers where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. The extraordinary viewpoint over three countries from the Thai bank is one of the finest in Asia. The Hall of Opium museum tells the extraordinary story of the region's opium trade with remarkable candour. Entry approx 200 baht.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple of Chiang Rai, is an extraordinary recent temple entirely clad in deep blue and gold by artist Puttha Kabkaew. Completed in 2016 and almost entirely unknown to international visitors compared to the White Temple. The interior murals are among the finest contemporary Buddhist art in Thailand. Entry free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Morning market, Chiang Mai Leave at 6am. Buy breakfast from the highway market stalls at Mae Rim. | Lunch: Cham Cha, Chiang Rai Outstanding northern Thai food in a beautiful garden setting near Wat Rong Khun. | Dinner: Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai Return by 6pm for the finest street food in the north. Sai oua grilled sausage essential.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Chiang Mai Old City, All Nights Stay inside the moat for maximum temple access. Rachamankha or Tamarind Village. Approx 60 to 180 USD. Budget Option Deejai Backpackers or BED Nimman. Approx 12 to 30 USD per night. Chiang Rai Option Stay at Wangcome Hotel if making Day 3 an overnight. Approx 40 to 80 USD.
Top Tips
1. Doi Suthep at 7am opening: the chedi at dawn with monks chanting is one of the finest experiences in Thailand.
2. White Temple: arrive before 9am to photograph without crowds. Closes at noon on Fridays.
3. Khao soi is the definitive northern Thai dish. Khao Soi Khun Yai near Wat Suan Dok is the finest.
4. Hire a scooter for 200 baht per day to reach temples outside the Old City independently.
5. The Sunday Walking Street on Wualai Road starts at 4pm and is the finest market in Chiang Mai.
6. Book a cooking class at least one day ahead. Thai Farm Cooking School fills quickly in peak season.
Total Budget
33 to 130 USD/day