Day trips · Chiang Mai · Thailand
7 best day trips from Chiang Mai
Where to go when you want a day away from Chiang Mai, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kingkidton, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Chiang Mai is Doi Inthanon National Park (About 2 hours by road). The closest option is Lamphun, about 25 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 7
- Closest
- Lamphun (25 km)
- Most popular
- Doi Inthanon National Park
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doi Inthanon National Park | 100 km | About 2 hours by road | Tour or car with driver | Families, Couples, First-timers |
| Chiang Rai | 185 km | About 3 hours each way by road | Tour, bus or car with driver | First-timers, Culture |
| Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls | 60 km | About 1 hour by road | Car, scooter or app car | Families, Budget |
| Mae Kampong | 50 km | About 1.5 hours by road | Car with driver or tour | Quiet stays, Couples |
| Lamphun | 25 km | About 40 minutes by road | Bus, songthaew or car | Culture, Quiet stays, Budget |
| Chiang Dao | 75 km | About 1.5 hours by road | Bus or car | Quiet stays, Couples, Solo travellers |
| Lampang | 100 km | About 1.5 hours by road or train | Train, bus or car | Culture, Quiet stays |
The day trips
100 km · About 2 hours by road
1.Doi Inthanon National Park
Thailand's highest mountain, at about 2,565 metres, has cool cloud forest, a boardwalk at the summit, the twin royal chedis with gardens and views, and large waterfalls such as Wachirathan. Hill-tribe villages grow coffee and vegetables along the road.
- Getting there
- Tour or car with driver
- Best for
- Families, Couples, First-timers
185 km · About 3 hours each way by road
2.Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai's White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), a fantastical modern temple by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, the Blue Temple and the Black House museum make a long but popular day trip; an overnight stay is more relaxed.
- Getting there
- Tour, bus or car with driver
- Best for
- First-timers, Culture
60 km · About 1 hour by road
3.Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls
Limestone deposits make the rocks of this waterfall rough rather than slippery, so you can climb up through the cascades barefoot. There are picnic areas and a spring-fed pool at the top.
- Getting there
- Car, scooter or app car
- Best for
- Families, Budget
50 km · About 1.5 hours by road
4.Mae Kampong
A mountain village of wooden houses among tea and coffee gardens at about 1,300 metres, with homestays, cafés by a stream and a nearby waterfall. It is noticeably cooler than the city.
- Getting there
- Car with driver or tour
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Couples
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25 km · About 40 minutes by road
5.Lamphun
A small, quiet town older than Chiang Mai, centred on Wat Phra That Hariphunchai with its golden chedi, plus a national museum and a historic road lined with tall rubber trees on the old route from Chiang Mai.
- Getting there
- Bus, songthaew or car
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays, Budget
75 km · About 1.5 hours by road
6.Chiang Dao
Doi Chiang Dao, a dramatic limestone mountain, rises above a valley of guesthouses. Chiang Dao Cave has chambers with Buddha images explored by lantern with local guides, and the area is excellent for birdwatching.
- Getting there
- Bus or car
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Couples, Solo travellers
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100 km · About 1.5 hours by road or train
7.Lampang
A provincial city known for horse-drawn carriages and teak-built temples, near the 13th-century Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of the finest Lanna temples. The Thai Elephant Conservation Center is on the way.
- Getting there
- Train, bus or car
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Agree the fare before getting in; private hire of a whole songthaew costs more.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Chiang Mai?
Doi Inthanon National Park. Thailand's highest mountain, at about 2,565 metres, has cool cloud forest, a boardwalk at the summit, the twin royal chedis with gardens and views, and large waterfalls such as Wachirathan.
+How long does it take to get from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon National Park?
About 2 hours by road — Tour or car with driver, about 100 km.
+How long does it take to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?
About 3 hours each way by road — Tour, bus or car with driver, about 185 km.