Thailand is a beautiful country that full of adventure, activities and amazing culture and food! It is a popular travel destination for most and one that hardly any would avoid.
The north is definitely different compared to the south. If you have never been to the south, it’s more renowned for its perfect beaches compared to its other half and a popular destination for luxurious holidays.
You can check out the best 2 week itinerary for Southern Thailand here.
The North however is more delicate. The atmosphere is fast paced in cities like Bangkok but places like Chang Mai and Pai, it’s relaxed.
You have the perfect balance of lifestyle which is really important. Sometimes you are exhausted and want a quieter setting away from the bustling city. Or maybe you are wanting to be apart of the busy life in the city, and see what there is to offer.
Either way, there is option for both!
Here, we have compiled the 2 week itinerary for those who are looking to make the most of north Thailand!
Bangkok (3 days)
This is a likely place to start. Bangkok is the capital and is a really large city to navigate and can often feel overwhelming. Most people will land in Bangkok when flying internationally so it just makes sense to explore here first! Therefore, you need an itinerary to make the most of your time there, and to be an efficient traveller.
It’s a place with many beautiful cultural temples which are worth visiting and learning more about the history of the country. The city is broken up with a large river through the heart which allows for boat tours to see the best parts of the city. As a fun fact, the City is actually called Krung Thep (this is the sorter version) and has the meaning of “the city of angels”.
We personally would recommend to avoid these as they are quite highly priced and doesn’t show you the up close and personal part of the area. If you visit the sights in person you can learn a lot about the history and culture! However, we do know that people are limited in time so if you are restricted, this is a viable option to see the city in a shorter timeframe.
Please note, that if you are looking to learn more about the city – or any city for that matter – the best way is on foot for most cases!
We would recommend visiting the following temples:
- Wat Pho
- Wat Arun
- Wat Phra Kaew
All of these offer offer a similar viewing but very different stories/meanings. It’s all really dependant on how much you are interested in the rich history of the country. We would recommend visiting at least 2 grounds to really learn more of the Thai culture. The grounds are mostly filled with temples, sacred sculptures, paintings, pagodas and carvings!
These temples are historical places that monks use to practice their religion through prayer and living here. The temples we have mentioned were founded in the 17th and 18th century and were created by kings. These sites will usually take 2/3 hours depending on your interest and is definitely an activity we would recommend. As these temples are so rich in culture and history, we would recommend visiting at least 2 sites while in Bangkok to make the most of what they have to offer.
It is important to note that you are required to wear certain attire to visit these temples. You need to cover both your shoulders and knees at all times.. this includes men as well. We would recommend to wear light trousers and a long sleeved shirt for men and maybe a long sleeve dress (flowy not fitted or a jumpsuit with a long sleeve shirt. Both will need to wear shoes.
Alternatively, you can purchase traditional clothing outside in markets or near the temples for roughly 100 Baht per item which is perfect to cover you up with.
The ones provided above are some of the more popular/stand-out temples which we have either visited or have been recommended by fellow travellers.
The capital is also showered in local shops, food markets and Thai activities that you MUST try!
If you have embarked on this journey to travel Thailand, or even if you have decided to go for a holiday, you are really going here to venture out and push your horizons.. and there’s not many better places to do this than in Thailand & Bangkok!
It seems like Bangkok markets spring up on every corner, with each stall offering something completely different. There’s so much to choose from! From traditional clothes vs perfect knock-offs, to traditional foods like Pad Thai, crocodile tail or scorpion, to novelty souvenirs and totally random items you would think would never be sold at a market. It literally has it all.
The markets can stretch as far as a couple miles long, making it a perfect evening stroll if you don’t mind people trying to draw you in to their miscellaneous stalls. It’s a great way to just see what there is to offer and pick up a few bargains if you are short of any items along the way.
Some markets are themed so if you are hungry and looking for food, a street food market would be the perfect way to try foods, stick to your budget and enjoy your evening!
Bangkok also has opportunities including Muay Thai classes, Thai cooking classes, Thai Massages and more. Activities like these are a great way to learn more about different parts of their culture. So we would recommend to align some of your interests with these types of activities to make the most of your time.
We took part in Muay Thai and relaxed with a Thai massage but unfortunately missed out on the Thai cooking experience which is top of our list once we go back.
Chiang Mai (3 days)
Chiang Mai is known to be a must see city… and it does not disappoint! It was one of our favourite cities as it really had it all!
Some of the activities do overlap with Bangkok (including cooking classes, Muay Thai and Cooking Classes) so we would recommend to spread the activities over the two cities so you can experience all that the country has to offer.
You could explore the city through busy shopping malls and international food courts, perfect to grab souvenirs or top up on some budget clothing. But it also has the busy markets and local food spots which is perfect to learn the culture and indulge in that tasty Thai cuisine!
The activities in the area are plentiful! You have so many options that you could potentially enjoy the city and it’s surroundings for a week but you don’t have that long!
If you didn’t do the elephant sanctuary in Phuket (highly recommend), then the elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai is a must do. You are able to spend a half day/full day with the elephants doing various activities such as feeding them, having a mud bath with them and scrubbing them clean.
You don’t really need to do them both as they are one of the most expensive activities to do in Thailand. However, I know that people loved the experience so much that they had to do it again! And trust me, we want to do it again and we can’t wait to experience it as it truly is amazing!
We would always recommend to do this activity and it should be towards the top of ALL people’s bucket list. But please take note that these are wild animals and you should firstly research the place you are looking to do this and see the ethical side before booking. Not all sanctuaries are ethical so please do thorough research before booking. We don’t condone any animal suffering and understand that these sanctuaries that offer this experience do so to earn money to help the elephants from lives of torture, human imprinting and neglect.
The elephants that are at these sanctuaries have been badly treated and are here as a safe haven so they can live their lives as normal as possible. They are given many hectares to roam free and live their life how any elephant should. They are few natural foods such as bananas and routinely looked after by medical staff and cleaned.
Some of the elephants have picked up bad habits such as pulling their teats or swaying as stress mechanisms from previous experiences. We learnt a story of an elephant that was older (in her 70s), and was a circus animal who would never stop swaying even after being in the sanctuary for decades. We were told that she would be whipped when she stopped and therefore it has become a part of her personality and something she would not stop.
As we are writing this, we have noticed it would be beneficial to highlight the most ethical elephant sanctuaries across Thailand or maybe the most ethical sanctuaries for animals across South East Asia. So stay tuned for that in the coming weeks.
Chiang Mai also has activities such as a water park which we would totally recommend! Only being 15 or so minutes from the centre, you can visit a natural lake which has inflatables, cliff jumping, slides, ziplines and more! It’s a great place to take a day out to have fun and embrace your inner child as you bumble over some total wipe out replicas. There is also a water catapult which is a great experience for people who are more daring. Just know that you do go surprisingly high (speaking from first-hand experience).
The water park also has food spots and paces you can chill out and relax after burning all your energy. It’s a great way for friends to escape the city and take a day to have a good bit of fun.
A gym we would recommend to visit for Muay Thai would be Chiang Mai Muay Thai Gym. It is located Wiang Kaew Road and is a great place for people who have never tried Muay Thai before! They are patient and teach you the techniques well. The class is very inclusive and you are given a 1 on 1 coach that will be on pads, and teaches you what you need to know. For any regulars, they do more intense classes which you can learn more advanced moves to really test your skills.
The training is fun and you are allowed to go at your pace, but they are happy to push you which is fun! Trust me, you will be shattered by doing this so be prepared! Luckily, in the gym they have fans and an open room so air can flow to help you when recovering! Once you have finished, we would recommend to turn left up the road once leaving and visit a smoothie place on your left roughly 100 or so yards up the road. This is a great place to get a well-earned refreshment before heading back to your stay for a wash!
The markets in Chiang Mai are full and constantly popular among locals and travellers. They have a weekend market which is a perfect spot to wander and soak up the atmosphere while shopping for any food or novelty gifts! The people are welcome and don’t usually try to drag you over which is refreshing as this can be an issue and off-putting for some travellers.
For the more daring visitors, you can try exotic foods including insects, scorpions and even crocodile! So get stuck in and let us know how nice (or not nice) these foods are…
Pai (2 days)
Pai is a tiny village located in the north mountains beyond Chiang Mai. The travel to the Village is enough to make anyone car sick as you twist and turn through mountains to arrive there! It’s a 4 hour trip one way and is definitely not for the faint hearted. Even monks were requiring stops to throw up during the drive and these are likely take this trip regularly!
It is so worth it though! It’s a small fishing village that has no more than a dozen crossed streets with individual shops to wander around.
Around Pai is where the activities and the natural beauty of the countryside is for you! Firstly, there are Bamboo Bridges that are sprinkled throughout fields that you can wander on to see the locals harvest their crops. Throughout the walk, there are viewpoints, activities and cafe’s making the walk all the more exciting!
Local dogs wander up and down and are super friendly. Don’t be surprised that if you sit down, you will be accompanied by one! It’s a great place to explore the fields, relax on bamboo swings, and grab lunch while enjoying countryside views. There is also a local spot providing crossbow shooting just off the bridge. It’s an old fashioned crossbow entirely made out of wood & bamboo. You are taught how to shoot it and provided a target over the stream to test your accuracy!
Close to the bamboo bridge is a local waterfall that you can stop at and indulge in. When we visited, it was later in the day and we were the only ones there. We had to crossed a small bridge and then descend down a few rocks before entering the tranquil waters. It’s the absolute perfect place to get photos and just be one with nature. It’s completely silent except the sounds of the waters and a great place to take in your surroundings. There are also some conveniently placed rocks so you can sit and marvel at the large waterfall.
We would recommend to also visit a place that is completely unheard of for many travellers. It’s not a known place at all and is located just south of Ban Rong Yaeng on the 1095. There will be a few food trucks on a layby with a dirt track leading off.. this is the place. You may not think of much but there will be other onlookers waiting for the sun to set and you will not be disappointed. To get to the viewpoints, you would need to navigate uneven terrain which look similar to dirt bike tracks. But it would be totally worth it!
The views are surreal as the sun will set behind distant mountains – you can relax up here and it is a great place to take some photos of a beautiful view!
Now you are back in Pai, it’s definitely recommended to visit the local markets that happens in the evening where you can eat some of the best fruit we have ever had! The fresh mango, pineapple, pear and strawberry in Pai is crazy! They also offer a lot of personal gifts like a passport holder which can be engraved, or a bracelet you can personalise for yourself, friends or family back home! There are rows of stalls and makeshift shops that offer clothing and local delicacies so you can immerse yourself in the local culture!
Visiting Pai is a great addition to anyone’s North Thailand trip and one I would not miss out on!
Chiang Rai (2 days)
Chiang Rai is a beautiful city located north of Chiang Mai. This is in the high mountains close to the north border where Myanmar and Laos meet. Usually, people would take an early morning bus trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai which would take 3h 45m. The stay is only one night with travellers getting a bus back the following day.
This truly limits the time spend here and only give you time to see 2, maybe 3 of the main sites at most.
However, you aren’t able to see the full beauty of what Chiang Rai has to offer. There is more to see than the main attractions and we would recommend an extra day so you can witness these.
To maximise your stay, we would get the first bus in the morning which is at 7:00 am with the arrival time being 10:45 am. This will give you most of the day to get settled, drop off your gear at the hostel and move onto the the best part – exploration.
The most popular things to do in Chiang Rai are the temples. These temples are some of the most unique in the world!
Wat Rong Khun is stunning piece of architecture, covered entirely in white; and is a must visit in the city. It would be best to visit the temple first thing in the morning when the queues will be small and tourists won’t there. This would maximise the experience and allow you to immerse yourself to get the most from the temple.
It is likely that you will spend 2/3 hours here which is enough time to walk around the gardens, see the paintings and marvel at the temple.
Wat Rong Suea Ten temple is a newly established temple that is completely blue with gold trimmings which stands out in all it’s beauty. It opens at 7:00 am and would be the quietest time to visit the temple.
The local gardens are perfect to explore and is a great place to learn more about the Buddha and what the temple represents. The blue colour is meant to represent tranquillity and healing for the buddha.
Inside, you are welcomed by a large white Buddha which is used by locals to pray. You are able to take photos in this temple (not many allow this) so please be respectful when you do.
As with most cities in South East Asia, Chiang Rai has many Bazaars markets/markets which you can venture through and explore. In Chiang Rai, they have a walking street which housed many stalls and provides attractions for visitors. Again, these are like usual Thai markets but they also have bars and sometimes bands playing so you can definitely spend the evening there, eat dinner, soak up the atmosphere and search for any cheap souvenirs.
Chiang Rai isn’t known necessarily for it’s hiking but it is definitely worth exploring. The city is located in between many waterfalls which you could easily take 1 whole day driving between and marvelling at there natural beauty. Around these waterfalls, are hikes where you can explore the mountains and you can also visit some small towns which are on the rivers edge.
The river actually has a beach.. We mean it isn’t exactly a beach as it’s along the river but is a beautiful place to visit. It’s not quite the place to go for a swim and bring a book and sunglasses the catch some sun. But it’s definitely a place you can relax and enjoy the mountainous views.
Mauy Hung Son (3 days)
This is totally different to anywhere else in Thailand and should definitely be more popular! It is seriously close to the Chinese border and is inhabited by many Chinese locals which has affected the aesthetic of the town.
It is mostly small huts on a hillside with fields surrounding. A perfect place to unwind and understand a new way of life.
There is an option to do a loop which will entail some insane views of the north of Thailand. This includes the highest point in Thailand, and views as far as the eye can see. There are also pagodas that are perfectly placed on the edge of mountain tops for the must luscious pictures and viewpoints. On this loop, you will motorbike around for a few days stopping in local stays and being off the grid.
Like we say, if you are looking for a place very different to the rest of Thailand and would like some downtime, this is definitely the place for you.
The perfect Northern Thailand Itinerary
As the North is vast and the locations are far away, there is 1 day solely allowed for travelling between places. Please take into consideration that from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, you will likely grab a overnight 10 – 12 hour train ride. This is a much cheaper alternative to flying.
We really hope you like are 2 week itinerary for the North of Thailand which has completed the full month itinerary we have for Thailand (2 week South Thailand itinerary here).
We are recently back from a trip to Morocco which we are looking to create some awesome blog content for in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out!
Also, we have some amazing travel plans in the coming months which you will not want to miss out on.
Our plan is to provide our whole experience with travel for you so you are the best equipped when going away on your own travels.
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