Region
Northern Thailand
Base in Chiang Mai 3–4 nights; add Chiang Rai or the Mae Hong Son loop only if you have 7+ days.
More: share, save offline, report a correction
More
Key facts · Thailand
- Best months
- Nov–Jan
- Currency
- Baht (THB, ฿)
- Language
- Thai (own script)
- Plugs
- A · B · C · O · 220 V
- Time zone
- UTC+7 all year
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
Northern Thailand is mountains, Lanna temples and cool-season nights, not beaches. Chiang Mai is the air and bus hub and the default base; Chiang Rai is a 2-night add-on; Mae Hong Son and the river valleys need their own days. Distances are short on the map and long on the road — the Mae Hong Son loop alone is 3–4 days of curves.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- Chiang MaiCity guide
Old-city temples, cooking classes, night markets; air hub for the region.
Best Nov–Jan
JFMAMJJASOND - Chiang Rai ProvinceRegion
White Temple, tea hills, Golden Triangle; 2 nights.
Day trip
- Mae Hong Son ProvinceRegion
Loop of mountain roads from Chiang Mai; 3–4 days by car or bike.
- Lower Northern ThailandRegion
Sukhothai and Phitsanulok ruins on the Bangkok rail line.
- Northern River ValleysRegion
Nan, Phrae and the Kok and Ing valleys; quiet, few buses.
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 4 nights
- Chiang Mai 4, one day-trip to Doi Suthep or an elephant or cooking day
- 6 nights
- Chiang Mai 4 + Chiang Rai 2 (bus or fly between)
- 8 nights
- Chiang Mai 3 + Mae Hong Son loop 4 + Chiang Rai 1
- Chiang Mai + Chiang Rai + Pai + Mae Hong Son in 5 days is mostly minibus time.
- Mae Hong Son loop roads are steep and curved; do not attempt it at night or in heavy rain.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doi Suthep and Doi Pui | Chiang Mai | 45 min | unknown | Songthaew or rented car; go before 09:00 to beat the tour buses.Songthaew or rented car; go before 9:00 AM to beat the tour buses. |
| Chiang Rai | Chiang Mai | 200 min | unknown | Green Bus ~3 h 20; better as an overnight than a day trip. |
| Pai | Chiang Mai | 180 min | unknown | 762 curves on Route 1095; minibuses are faster and rougher than the bus. |
Bags between cities
No useful luggage-forwarding network here; travel with your bag or leave it at the Chiang Mai hotel between loop nights.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai | go | × | × | × | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go |
| Thailand (country-wide) | go | go | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | × | ok | go | go |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai and the plainsvalleys and lowland cities | best | ok | hot | hot | wet | wet | wet | wet | wet | ok | best | best |
| Hill country (Mae Hong Son, Doi Inthanon)above about 1,000 m | cold | ok | hot | hot | wet | wet | wet | wet | wet | ok | cold | cold |
- Chiang Mai and the plains
- Cool season Nov–Feb brings 15–20 °C (59–68 °F) nights; Mar–May is 35 °C (95 °F)+ and smoky; Jun–Oct is green with afternoon rain.Cool season Nov–Feb brings 59–68 °F (15–20 °C) nights; Mar–May is 95 °F (35 °C)+ and smoky; Jun–Oct is green with afternoon rain.
- Hill country (Mae Hong Son, Doi Inthanon)
- Cold-season nights on the ridges can drop near freezing; bring a layer even in the hot season.
Best months are Nov–Feb; the same months are the peak for Chiang Mai beds and Bangkok–Chiang Mai sleepers.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok (BKK/DMK) | Chiang Mai | Domestic flight | ~1 h 15 in the air | Several airlines fly hourly; usually cheaper and faster than the train. |
| Bangkok | Chiang Mai | Overnight sleeper train via Phitsanulok | ~13 h | Sells out weeks ahead in high season; book early. |
| Bangkok | Chiang Mai | Long-distance bus | ~10 h | Cheapest option; night departures save a hotel night. |
| Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | Bus or domestic flight | ~3 h 20 by road, ~50 min by air | Buses leave from Arcade terminal; flights are seasonal on some routes. |
Regional passes
Domestic flight bookings
buyBangkok–Chiang Mai fares are low enough that flying usually beats a 13-hour train for a short trip.
Green Bus and regional bus tickets
buyMain network for Chiang Mai–Chiang Rai–Phitsanulok; buy at the terminal or online, no pass needed.
Rented car or motorbike
checkOnly worth it for the Mae Hong Son loop or the river valleys; IDP required, and mountain roads are steep.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Khao soi (curry noodle soup) | Chiang Mai | Add shallots, lime and pickles at the table; lunch spots sell out by mid-afternoon. |
| Sai ua (Northern pork sausage) | Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai markets | Grilled to order; eat with sticky rice and nam phrik. |
| Kaeng hang le (Burmese-style pork curry) | Northern Thai restaurants | Rich and mild by Thai standards; usually a lunch or dinner set. |
| Nam phrik (chilli dips) | Everywhere | Served with rice and vegetables; heat varies by kitchen — ask. |
| Khan tok set | Chiang Mai | Low-table set meal with several dishes; book ahead in high season. |
Go next
Bangkok
Flight ~1 h 15 or sleeper train ~13 h
Most trips start and end here; keep the last night near the airport if the flight is early.
Central Thailand
Train or bus south via Phitsanulok
Sukhothai and Ayutthaya sit on the same rail line.
Isaan
plannedBus or flight via Bangkok or Udon Thani
No direct rail link; most routes change in Bangkok.
Southern Thailand
plannedFlight from Chiang Mai to Phuket or Krabi
Direct seasonal flights exist; otherwise connect in Bangkok.
Eastern Thailand
plannedFlight or bus via Bangkok
Pattaya and the islands are a separate trip from the north.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 2 bases
- Day trips
- 3, 45 min to 3 h 20
- Nights suggested
- 4–8 nights
- Ways in
- 4 listed
- Best months
- No month is best in every zone
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Sources
Ask about Northern Thailand
Loading…
Was this useful?