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Northern Thailand
Region · Thailand

Northern Thailand

Old Lanna temples inside a moat, a mountain pagoda above the city, and in Chiang Rai a set of temples made by living artists.

Best timeNov–Feb
Ideal stay4–5 nights
Main baseChiang Mai
GatewayChiang Mai
Overview

Northern Thailand

Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 by King Mangrai as the capital of the Lanna kingdom, according to Thailand’s UNESCO Tentative List entry. Its centre is still a rectangle bordered by a moat and stretches of old red-brick wall, with temples such as Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Chiang Man inside it. Above the city, on the mountain Doi Suthep, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is reached by a seven-headed naga stairway. Chiang Rai is a separate city roughly 200 km to the north-east, on the Kok River, in Thailand’s northernmost province; its best-known places are the work of modern artists, among them Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, and Baan Dam, the Black House.

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Where to go

Where to go in Northern Thailand

Chiang Mai
Lanna capitalChiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Artist-made templesChiang Rai
Highlights

What Northern Thailand Is Known For

Temples with long histories, a mountain pagoda, and a newer northern art.

Wat Phra Singh, dated to 1345, houses the Phra Singh Buddha; Wat Chedi Luang, begun in the 14th century, is dominated by a Lanna-style chedi that an earthquake in 1545 shortened; Wat Chiang Man is described as the city’s oldest temple.Chiang Mai’s Old City
The gilded pagoda above the city, reached by the naga stairway, with a viewpoint over Chiang Mai; the temple lies within Doi Suthep-Pui National Park.Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Thailand’s highest peak, in Chom Thong district, with the Mae Klang, Wachirathan, Siriphum and Mae Ya waterfalls and twin royal pagodas, all listed on the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s park page.Doi Inthanon
The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), designed by the Chiang Rai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat; the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten), rebuilt by Phuttha Kabkaew; and the Black House, the compound of the late artist Thawan Duchanee.Chiang Rai’s artist-made temples
When to Go

The Best Time to Visit Northern Thailand

Figures are Thai Meteorological Department 1991–2020 averages for the Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai stations; they describe typical months, not forecasts.

The driest and coolest part of the year. At Chiang Rai, December has the lowest mean maximum (27.8 °C) and January and February are the driest months (about 17 mm and 13 mm).November – February
Heat builds into April, the hottest month at Chiang Rai (mean maximum 34.7 °C). Songkran, the Thai New Year, falls in mid-April.March – May
The wet season. At Chiang Rai August is the wettest month (about 373 mm over roughly 24 rainy days), then July and September. Loi Krathong and Yi Peng, with Lanna-style sky lanterns, fall on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, which moves from year to year.June – October
Getting Around

Reaching & Exploring the North

Fly into Chiang Mai, then use the road. Chiang Rai is a separate long leg.

Getting there

  • Chiang Mai is the usual gateway for the north, with flights from Bangkok; check current direct routes from India before booking.
  • Indian passport holders should confirm the current entry requirements for Thailand before booking, as the arrangements have changed more than once in recent years.

Getting around

  • Chiang Mai’s Old City is compact enough to explore on foot between temples; Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon are road trips out of the city.
  • Chiang Rai is roughly 200 km north-east of Chiang Mai, so treat it as a separate stay or a long day, not a quick add-on.
  • From Chiang Rai the ruins of Chiang Saen and the Golden Triangle viewpoint at Sop Ruak lie further north.
Suggested Itinerary

Five Days in Northern Thailand

Day 1

Chiang Mai’s Old City

Wat Phra Singh and its Lai Kham chapel, Wat Chedi Luang, then Wat Chiang Man; walk part of the moat past Tha Phae Gate.

Day 2

Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, its naga stairway and the viewpoint over the city, then back to the Old City.

Day 3

Doi Inthanon

A day in Chom Thong district for Thailand’s highest peak, the waterfalls and the twin royal pagodas.

Day 4

To Chiang Rai

The long road north to Chiang Rai, then Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, at Pa O Don Chai.

Day 5

Chiang Rai’s art and the north

Wat Rong Suea Ten in Rim Kok and the Black House; if there is time, go on to Chiang Saen and Sop Ruak for the Mekong viewpoint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Northern Thailand Travel FAQ

Four to five nights covers Chiang Mai’s Old City, Doi Suthep and one big day trip, and gives Chiang Rai a night of its own. Chiang Rai alone needs at least two nights if you want to see the artist-made temples and Chiang Saen without rushing.
Roughly 200 km to the north-east, so allow most of a day for the journey rather than treating it as a short excursion.
No. Wat Rong Khun was designed by the Chiang Rai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, and the Blue Temple and Black House are likewise modern works, which is what sets Chiang Rai apart from other northern destinations.
Loi Krathong falls on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, with Yi Peng celebrated alongside it in Chiang Mai, so the date changes each year. Check the dates for your travel year.
November to February is the driest and coolest stretch. March to May is hot, and July to September is the wettest part of the year.
Plan Your Trip

Design Your Northern Thailand Journey

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