5 top day trips from Chiang Mai
The region around the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai is ripe for exploration. These five day trips will show you the best of the area.
Chiang Mai has numerous pleasures that will keep visitors busy for days on end. And the city’s appeal as a travel destination is only enhanced by its location in northern Thailand.
The “Rose of the North” is situated amid jungle-blanketed hills and rolling rice fields, a region where cottage craft industries still thrive and distinct temples dazzle. In short, the area around this lovely city all but cries out to be explored.
From lakeside pampering in Huay Teung Tao to hilltop hiking around Doi Inthanon, here are five of the best day trips from Chiang Mai.
1. Tuck in to delicious Thai food in a waterfront hut
Travel time: 30–45 mins by car or songthaew
Technically a man-made reservoir, tranquil Huay Teung Tao is a placid lake where locals while away the day in simple bamboo huts that abut the water. It’s particularly popular with families and groups of friends over the weekends and public holidays.
In recent years, there’s been an increase in activities offered around the reservoir, such as ATV riding or paddle boarding. Still, nothing beats settling into one of the huts for an afternoon of eating local Thai fare over bottles of beer. Each hut is tied to a different restaurant, all with similar menus, quality and pricing. Simply pick a spot, order some food or drinks, and stay as long as you like.
How to get to Huay Teung Tao from Chiang Mai:
Just 9 miles (14km) away from the center of Chiang Mai’s old city, along the 121 or “canal road,” Huay Teung Tao is quick and convenient to get to in a songthaew (pickup truck), by calling a car with the Grab rideshare app or with your own set of wheels.
2. Hit the “handicraft highway” to see traditional artisan villages
Travel time: 1½ hours by car or songthaew
Chiang Mai has long been a handicrafts hub, known for its expert artisans practicing the disciplines of wood carving, silversmithing, weaving and more. Today, skilled practitioners continue to refine these traditional arts and crafts, making shopping for baskets and furniture to jewelry and ceramics in the city’s many markets a true delight.
To get even more memorable souvenirs of your time in Thailand, head east out of town on Hwy 1006 (also known as the “handicraft highway”) to reach the small villages of Bo Sang and San Khampaeng. While Bo Sang serves as a center for umbrella and papermaking, San Khampaeng specializes in textile and ceramic items. Many workshops and showrooms are on the main road or marked with signs pointing the way.
For a contrasting perspective on Thailand’s art and handicrafts traditions, stop by the MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, just a couple of miles from Bo Sang, to take in exhibitions showcasing the work of contemporary Thai artists. Alternatively, if furniture and home decor are more to your taste, go south of Chiang Mai toward Hang Dong and the woodcarving village of Ban Tawai.
How to get to Bo Sang and San Khampaeng from Chiang Mai:
White songthaews depart for Bo Sang from near Warorot Market in Chiang Mai. Otherwise, taxis and Grab rides are readily available, which are also the best option for reaching Ban Tawai.
3. Watch the sunrise at Doi Inthanon National Park
Travel time: 2 hours by car or songthaew
Taking its name from Thailand’s tallest peak, Doi Inthanon National Park is one of the country’s best-known national parks. Covering more than 185 sq miles (480 sq km), it’s home to numerous waterfalls, hiking trails, viewpoints, hill tribe villages and bird species.
The park is an understandably popular attraction, especially in the country’s cold season (November through January), when temperatures drop at higher elevations and sometimes even frost appears – a phenomenon that delights Thai visitors used to sweltering tropical weather. Sometimes it even makes the news.
Doi Inthanon is also one of the few national parks in Thailand that’s easy to drive through, with smooth roads connecting key sites and attractions such as the Kaew Mae Pan Nature Trail. This short but spectacular hiking route, which requires the help of a local guide (plus supplied bamboo hiking sticks), winds through a section of the park’s best landscapes to beautiful viewpoints overlooking the surrounding valleys.
Many people explore Doi Inthanon as a day trip from Chiang Mai, either on their own or through an organized tour. You can also stay in basic bungalow accommodations or camp on the mountain overnight to wake up above the clouds.
How to get to Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai:
A full-day taxi service, including the return journey and different stops around the park, costs around 3000B (around US$90). A cheaper option is to hop in a shared songthaew heading in the direction of the park.
4. Hop on a motorbike to tackle the Samoeng Loop
Travel time: 2½ hours by motorbike
You can’t visit Chiang Mai without getting out into its surrounding hills. For those comfortable on two wheels, the 62-mile-long (100km-long) Samoeng Loop is a hit with locals and tourists alike, especially on the weekends and in the drier, cooler season.
Driving straight through will take you around 2½ hours. Yet along the entire route, you’ll find plenty of places to stop off – including the Nam Tok Mae Sa, a scenic (though sometimes busy) tiered waterfall that’s good for swimming, and Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens, a huge, manicured green space bursting with exotic flowers – so plan for four hours or more. Though you could do the loop with a car and driver, the journey itself – experiencing the air rushing by your face and taking in 360-degree views – is the main appeal of the trip.
Scooter rentals are available from a number of operators in Chiang Mai. You can also consider an organized motorbike tour around the loop.
How to do the Samoeng Loop from Chiang Mai:
Start by driving north out of town on Hwy 107 to Mae Rim, then turn left on to Hwy 1096. This will take you climbing up into the hills, passing small rustic restaurants, strawberry fields, Royal Project agriculture initiatives and views of the valley before reaching the small village of Samoeng. Turn left onto Hwy 1296 to start looping back toward Chiang Mai.
5. Photograph the picture-perfect White Temple and Black House
Travel time for both: 3.5 hours by car or bus
While admittedly taxing as a day trip from Chiang Mai, if you have limited time and won’t make it to neighboring Chiang Rai Province as part of your Thailand travels, it is possible to see two of the region’s most beloved sites – Wat Rong Khun and Baandam – in one (long) day from Chiang Mai.
Commonly known in English as the White Temple (though it is not actually a place of worship), Wat Rong Khun was the brainchild of contemporary Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. This glittering white complex has many delightful quirks. Visitors have to walk past a sea of yearning arms (symbolizing desire) to reach the temple’s interior, where trippy murals that include images of actor Keanu Reeves and Superman adorn the walls.
Nearby, Baandam (meaning “Black House”) is another otherworldly creation, this time from the mind of Chiang Rai–born artist Thawan Duchanee. Unlike the sparkling Wat Rong Khun, Baandam’s sprawling collection of structures, sculptures and gardens feature dark teak wood and animal parts like pelts and skulls.
Both of these complexes will likely live long in the memories – or potentially the nightmares – of visitors.
How to get to the White Temple and Black House from Chiang Mai:
Rent a car to do the journey or look for one of several package tours to the temples that will likely pick you up from your hotel by 8am and return to Chiang Mai in the evening around 8pm. If you want to go it alone, inexpensive buses run regularly from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai.
