Comparison · Chiang Mai vs Pokhara · Thailand / Nepal
Chiang Mai vs Pokhara
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nawit science, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Chiang Mai for Doi Suthep, Old city temples, free sights and a milder winter; choose Pokhara for Phewa Lake, Annapurna views and lower day-to-day costs. Pokhara is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,851 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,851 km
- Less expensive
- Pokhara
- Best time for Chiang Mai
- November–February
- Best time for Pokhara
- March–April and October–December
Side by side
| Chiang Mai | Pokhara | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Thailand | Nepal |
| Known for | Doi Suthep, Old city temples and Khao soi | Phewa Lake, Annapurna views and Paragliding |
| Best time to visit | November–February | March–April and October–December |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$140 | $50–$110 |
| Cost level | Very affordable | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 36°C (97°F) | May, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 28°C (82°F) | January, 20°C (68°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | CNX | PKR, KTM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Chiang Mai for…
Doi Suthep, Old city temples, free sights and a milder winter. Founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lanna kingdom, Chiang Mai keeps a square old city ringed by a moat and fragments of brick wall, with dozens of temples inside. Beyond the moat are the café district of Nimmanhaemin, the Ping River and the forested slopes…
Choose Pokhara for…
Phewa Lake, Annapurna views and lower day-to-day costs. Pokhara is Nepal's second city and its main base for the Annapurna region, set around Phewa Lake at about 800 metres with the fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range rising behind it on clear days. Lakeside, the strip of guesthouses, cafés and…
Top sights compared
| # | Chiang Mai | Pokhara |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wat Phra That Doi Suthep | Phewa Lake |
| 2 | Wat Phra Singh | Tal Barahi Temple |
| 3 | Wat Chedi Luang | Sarangkot sunrise |
| 4 | Wat Chiang Man | Tandem paragliding |
| 5 | Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls | World Peace Pagoda |
Food compared
| Chiang Mai | Pokhara |
|---|---|
| Khao soi | Dal bhat |
| Sai ua | Thakali khana set |
| Nam prik noom | Momo |
| Gaeng hang lay | Thukpa |
Which is cheaper?
Pokhara is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $50–$110 per person there, against $60–$140 in Chiang Mai (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Pokhara on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,851 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Chiang Mai or Pokhara cheaper?
Pokhara is usually less expensive: about $50–$110 a day mid-range against $60–$140 (estimates).
+Is Chiang Mai or Pokhara better for a first trip?
Pick Chiang Mai for Doi Suthep, Old city temples, free sights and a milder winter, or Pokhara for Phewa Lake, Annapurna views and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Chiang Mai from Pokhara?
About 1,851 km in a straight line.