Chiang Mai Tour Itinerary

Visitors are blessed with a whole heap of things to do in Chiang Mai. There’s the cultural: such as exploring Chiang Mai Old City and the array of temples dotted around the maze of lanes. There’s the spiritual: such as taking a yoga class, an intro to meditation or something a little bit more far out! There’s exploring the lively and imaginative street food scene. And the cherry on top: the legendary Sunday walking market, a lively mass of handicraft and food stalls, which seems to have no end.  

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Whatever your budget, Chiang Mai is well served by accommodation options. It’s not a vast city so choosing your neighbourhood is less important than in Bangkok. That said, staying in the heart of the Old City is the most charming. Nimmanhaemin (or simply, Nimman,) is known as being trendier and is popular with younger backpackers and nomads, while you’l find larger resorts and hotels along the Ping River area.

3 days is enough to see Chiang Mai Old City and a couple of the main temples such as Wat Phra Singh, plus to get a flavour of the area. 4–5 days will let you throw in an out-of-town excursion, such as a visit to Doi Inthanon or an elephant sanctuary. 7 days and you can seriously relax, take a cooking class, a meditation workshop, or visit nearby waterfalls or natural springs. Whatever the length of the visit, try to coincide with the Sunday Night Walking Market…it’s a real treat.

You can reach Chiang Mai from the capital by plane, train, bus or taxi. A flight is quickest, at just over an hour travel time…but that will involve getting to and from the airports on either side. A night bus is the cheapest option, but it will take 9–12 hours to travel the 700km or so. The train is a very popular option with travellers; it can be longer than the bus (at 10–14 hours), but the cabins and sleeper berths are comfortable and zipping through the lush Thai countryside by rail is just that touch more romantic.