Planning a 7-day Thailand itinerary starting in Chiang Mai? You’re in for an unforgettable journey through ancient temples, lush mountains, and vibrant street markets. As someone who has explored Thailand extensively, I’ve crafted the perfect one-week Thailand travel plan that blends culture, adventure, and relaxation.
Chiang Mai, Thailand’s northern gem, is the ideal starting point. Known for its rich history, breathtaking Buddhist temples, and famous night markets, this city is a must-visit for any traveler. From here, we’ll venture into the mountains of Pai, explore the golden wonders of Chiang Rai, and unwind on the tropical beaches of the south—all in just seven days.
This Thailand itinerary is designed for efficiency and maximum enjoyment. I’ll guide you through must-see attractions like Doi Suthep, the stunning White Temple, and the bustling streets of Bangkok. Whether you're after authentic Thai cuisine, scenic landscapes, or immersive cultural experiences, this guide ensures you won’t miss a thing.
With expert travel tips on transportation, accommodation, and budget-friendly experiences, this Thailand 7-day itinerary is tailored for first-time visitors and seasoned explorers alike. Let’s dive in and discover the best way to experience Thailand in a week!
Northern Thailand 7 Days Road Trip itinerary
Our one-week route through northern Thailand was circular, with Chiang Mai as the starting and ending point .
At the airport we booked a rental car through the Discovercars website (there are several agencies, we opted for Sixt ) and began this little adventure that, through mountain landscapes and panoramic roads , would take us to see some very interesting places, such as Mae Kampong, Chiang Dao, Pai, Ban Rak Thai, Mae Hong Son or the Doy Inthanon National Park, the highest point in the country.
In total, it was about 1,000 km , including transfers between sites and detours to visit the most popular attractions in each area. Don't worry if all this sounds like Chinese, or rather Thai, because now we are going to tell you the itinerary of our trip through northern Thailand in detail.
Day 1
Chiang Mai – Mae Kampong (55 km)
Mae Kampong is a quiet village nestled in the mountains and surrounded by a bucolic landscape where tea and coffee crops are the main protagonists. In recent years it is becoming more popular, appearing on lists of the most beautiful villages in Thailand , however tourism is still based on a sustainable community model with small accommodations and businesses run by local families.
In addition to exploring the quiet corners of the village and its great views, there are other interesting activities for the more restless. You can visit the Mae Kampong waterfall, learn about a royal project that promotes local sustainable agriculture, or enjoy traditional northern dishes in one of its family restaurants.
Along the way you can stop at the Mueang On Cave (believe us, you will be amazed), at the Monkuware Thao Wessuwan Temple, at a local plantation (for example a strawberry or cocoa plantation, such as "Skugga Estate"), at The Giant café with its suspension bridges, or at the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs .
- This was our journey through Mae Kampong
- Accommodation: Chaiyapol Homestay in a charming wooden house.
Day 2
Mae Kampong – Chiang Dao (110 km)
After a local breakfast (spicy sausages at 8am, why not?) with the murmur of the stream and the roosters in the background, we head towards Chiang Dao, one of our favourite spots in northern Thailand. Not so much for the town itself, but for its location at the foot of Doi Luang Chiang Dao (the third highest mountain in the country) and for its natural surroundings and rural atmosphere .
Among its main attractions are the impressive Chiang Dao Cave , which hides several Buddhist altars inside, the Wat Tham Pha Plong temple with its steps in the middle of the jungle, and a little further north, the natural thermal pools of Pong Arng Hot Springs . Oh, and don't leave without having a coffee in one of the charming cafes in the area.
On the way to Chiang Dao we can make a stop at the curious Air Diamond Cafe & Hotel where you will see a real Airbus A330-300 that belonged to the Thai Airways airline. And if you have some time, take the detour to the Buatong Waterfall, similar to Sri Sangwan Waterfall north of Chiang Dao because of its white limestone that allows you to walk on it without slipping.
If you have a few more days in Chiang Dao, we suggest two plans. The first is to visit the village of Mueang Khong and do its most popular activity: rafting in a bamboo boat (although it's more of a river ride than rafting). The second is to venture even further north, towards the border with Myanmar, and visit the Doi Ang Khang area , which is especially beautiful in January and February during the cherry blossom season.
- Here we tell you what to see in Chiang Dao
- Accommodation: Ashi Guesthouse where we really felt at home (we can't wait to return).
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Day 3
Chiang Dao – Pai (130 km)
The day has come, so get ready for a road with so many curves that the Spa circuit will seem like a straight line. In fact, the 762 curves between hills, forests and fields of crops are already famous. From Chiang Dao there are two options to get there: a more direct one through Mueang Khong , but from that point the road becomes a dirt track, or you can go back to the main intersection and take road 1095, which we recommend.
Pai will sound like that hippie town in northern Thailand where the mountains seem more undulating and the fruit smoothies more delicious due to certain “special effects”. Colourful lights, loud music venues and shirtless tourists combine with quiet bungalows on the banks of the river, peaceful mountain landscapes and a cool climate. It is a place that leaves no one indifferent : it stuns, bores, hooks, repels… Come and discover what it does to you.
- This is all you can do in Pai
- Accommodation: Pai Loess Resort with bungalows on the other side of the river, in the “quieter” part.
Day 4
Pai – Ban Rak Thai (130 km)
We continue our winding route through northern Thailand heading to Ban Rak Thai, a charming Chinese-influenced village near the border with Myanmar and, without a doubt, one of the great surprises of the trip. Here, the houses of traditional architecture are arranged around a central lake , which is filled with little boats with red lanterns at dawn and dusk every day.
On the day's route we suggest three very interesting stops. The Doi Kiew Lom Viewpoint where you can have your first coffee of the day. The Tham Lot cave (entrance 600 THB per group of up to 3 people, including boat) divided into several levels full of stalactites and stalagmites, and crossed by the Nam Lang River where you will have the opportunity to sail in a bamboo boat. And the Ban Jabo village of the Lahu ethnic group that offers stunning views of the mountains (there are several restaurants and cafes with panoramic terraces).
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Take the opportunity to buy a packet of the area's famous oolong tea , try the local specialties with a Yunnan touch and take a photo album dressed in the traditional costumes that are rented for the occasion.
Ban Rak Thai is a destination that is perhaps little known among foreigners, but very popular as a weekend plan for Thais . However, in this case we recommend that you coincide your visit with the days of greatest affluence, to see the lake full of boats and enjoy a more lively atmosphere. Of course, book your accommodation in advance.
- We tell you about our visit to Ban Rak Thai
- Accommodation: Longlai Kezhan where we slept like logs on the best mattress we have ever had.
Day 5
Ban Rak Thai – Mae Hong Son (45 km)
A short drive will take us to Mae Hong Son, the provincial capital. It is a peaceful city surrounded by mountains, with a relaxed atmosphere and, at first glance, without any great attractions to highlight. In reality, it is an ideal place to explore at a leisurely pace and soak up the essence of northern Thailand , with that mix of Burmese and Thai influences that can be appreciated in the architecture, culture and gastronomy.
Before arriving, you can make a quick stop at the Pha Suea Waterfall (entrance fee 100 THB), and at the bamboo bridge of the Wat Mok Cham Pae temple , less known than Su Tong Pae Bridge , which we will also visit this day, but for us more photogenic. And finally, if you can't go more than a week without your mud mask session, you have an appointment at the Mud Spa at the Phu Klon Country Club .
The rest of the day will be spent visiting the Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu temple on top of a hill with extraordinary panoramic views of Mae Hong Son and the surrounding area, exploring the twin temples by the lake , taking a cool dip in the accommodation's pool and in the evening strolling through the quiet night market .
- Here we tell you what to see and do in Mae Hong Son
- Accommodation: Piya Guesthouse in the centre of town with a great quality/price ratio, or Fern Resort on the outskirts in a very cool setting.
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Day 6
Mae Hong Son – Doi Inthanon (180 km)
This day is the longest on the road, but it will be worth it. Doi Inthanon National Park is home to none other than Thailand's highest peak (2,565 m). But we will leave the climb for the next day. Today we will focus on covering this long stretch of kilometres, until we reach the accommodation we have selected at the foot of the colossus.
We had two places on our list for this route, but we ruled them out because it wasn't the best time to visit them. The first is the Thung Bua Tong Fields flower field , which is covered in yellow flowers during November (we actually went to this one but it was January and we found a dry field). And the second is the rice terraces of Ban Pa Pong Piang, which look impressive between July and October during the rainy season.
This area is quite popular for camping , with accommodations offering cabins with views, typical glamping igloos, and simpler ones with tents. Ours had it all: simplicity, comfort, cold beer, and a dog and some very friendly cats 🙂
- We tell you everything about how to visit Doi Inthanon
- Accommodation: Monsonkeang Camping View , which has 3 simple but very complete cabins (2 of them triangular) and offers great breakfasts (western/Asian).
Day 7
Doi Inthanon – Chiang Mai (140 km)
We have reached the last day of our itinerary through the north of Thailand, and we do it in style, literally. After breakfast, contemplating from afar the sunrise over the highest peak in the country, it is time to climb to its summit . Do you think it will be risky and exhausting? Nothing could be further from the truth…
To reach the top of Doi Inthanon, you just have to drive along a well-maintained road and pay the entrance fee of 300 THB per person . On the way, stop at the royal pagodas (Noppamethanedon and Nopphonphusiri) and complete one of the nature trails through humid forests that look like something out of Lord of the Rings (we did the Ang Ka Nature Trail, just 400 metres long). The most popular is the Kew Mae Pan nature trail, about 3km long, which leads to a great viewpoint.
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Doi Inthanon National Park is also famous for its waterfalls , so on the way back to Chiang Mai we recommend visiting the two that we think are the most impressive: Wachirathan and Mae Klang , both just a stone's throw from the car park. We also stopped at the local Thai Hmong Community Market and the Hmong village Mae Klang Luang to try the local coffee.
⭐ If you only want to visit Doi Inthanon National Park from Chiang Mai, this day trip takes you to its most important spots. Or this tour that includes hiking along Pha Dok Sieo Nature Trail.
Map of the route through northern Thailand
It is certainly much easier to plan a route like this with a map in front of you… And to make your job easier, we have prepared this map on Google Maps that you can follow yourself from your phone so you don’t miss anything on this itinerary through northern Thailand:
Tips for the route
If you are also planning this route through northern Thailand, take a look at these practical tips that will surely come in handy:
- It's a very winding route (there are even t-shirts and souvenirs with the 1,864 curves of the Mae Hong Son Loop), especially between Pai and Ban Rak Thai. So it's not a trip suitable for people prone to seasickness.
- If you are one of those people, you could focus only on the first two stages (Mae Kampong and Chiang Dao) because, except for the last few km to Mae Kampong, the rest of the journey is quiet.
- Book your accommodation in advance , especially during high season and on weekends.
- Bring warm clothes , it is quite cool at night and in the mornings. At the top of Doi Inthanon we were at 6º!
- Avoid driving at night , especially on mountainous sections.
- Download offline maps , as there is no coverage in some areas.
- There are plenty of gas stations along the route, but don't neglect the tank.
- Take advantage of the opportunity to try traditional recipes from northern Thailand, as you may not find them on the rest of your trip.
- Buy souvenirs and typical products in local markets to promote the local economy.
- Along the route you will see many fake elephant sanctuaries . If you want to visit one, please find out about their practices on websites such as faada .
- There are also ethnic minority villages that have been prepared for tourism, some of them converted into human zoos. Take a moment to find out more about this on the UNHCR website, for example .
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Rent a car in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is one of the most touristic and visited cities in Thailand, so you will have no problem finding car rental agencies , both Thai and international. We looked at some within the city, but decided to opt for renting the car at the airport since the options were greater (plus the airport is very close).
As with most trips, we used the Discovercars website to compare the different alternatives and, after reading reviews, looking at prices, analysing the conditions, etc. we opted for Sixt . The model was an automatic Toyota Yaris (in Thailand they are practically all automatic) and we took out the Full Coverage insurance offered by the website itself.
Something that surprised us was that, when we picked up the car at the Sixt office, the deposit was only 8,000 THB (about €230) and they did not insist at all on us taking out comprehensive insurance with them.
The process was very fast, the car was in perfect condition and the delivery was also done properly and without any problems. We don't know any other companies, but we had a good experience with this one.
So there you have it, if you've ever wondered if Northern Thailand is as magical as they say , the answer is yes. All you need is a little curiosity, a car, and a good dose of patience for the twisties. What are you waiting for? Adventure is waiting for you, and trust us, you don't want to miss it!
Do you need more information to plan your route through northern Thailand ? Did you like it? We hope that the post is useful and inspires you and that you soon get inspired to put together your own itinerary through one of the most special corners of the land of smiles.
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