Northern Thailand Loop: Chiang Mai, Pai & Chiang Rai, 6 Days

6 days / 5 nights
Private driver
All transfers included
Free cancellation up to 14 days
Entries included

CA$1,290 per person

per person, twin share

Free cancellation window on every trip. See terms

Plan your trip:

Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Starts: Chiang Mai airport (CNX)
Ends: Chiang Rai airport (CEI)
Group size: Private driver, small-group tours
Tour style: Mountains, culture and nature
Guide: English-speaking guides on tour days
Age: 8+
Activity level: Moderate, winding mountain roads

Overview

The mountain side of Thailand. Two nights in Chiang Mai, two in the valley town of Pai at the end of a famously winding mountain road, one more in Chiang Mai, then north to Chiang Rai's temples to fly out.

A private driver handles the mountain roads, and the pace leaves time to enjoy Pai rather than just pass through it.

Highlights

Doi Suthep at sunset and a khantoke dinner
Ethical elephant day with bamboo rafting
Two nights in Pai's mountain valley
Pai Canyon at sunset and a waterfall swim
White Temple and Blue Temple on the way to Chiang Rai

Itinerary

Day 1Arrive in Chiang Mai

Private airport transfer. Afternoon Old City temples, sunset at Doi Suthep and a khantoke dinner.

Included: Airport transfer, entries, dinner
Day 2Elephants and rafting

Ethical elephant sanctuary, waterfall walk and bamboo rafting.

Included: Sanctuary programme, breakfast, lunch
Day 3Mountain road to Pai

Private car on the winding road west, about 3 hours with viewpoint stops. Evening walking street in Pai.

Included: Private transfer, breakfast
Day 4Pai

Half-day with a local guide: waterfall, the WWII Memorial Bridge, rice fields and Pai Canyon at sunset.

Included: Guided half day, breakfast
Day 5Back to Chiang Mai

Morning in Pai, then the drive back to Chiang Mai. Evening free for the night bazaar.

Included: Private transfer, breakfast
Day 6Chiang Rai temples and depart

Drive north with the White Temple, Blue Temple and Black House, then transfer to Chiang Rai airport.

Included: Private transfer, entries, breakfast, lunch

What's included

Accommodation

3 nights in Chiang Mai, 2 nights in Pai

Transport

Private airport transfers
Private car for all road journeys

Guide

English-speaking guides on tour days

Meals

5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner

Tickets

All listed temple and museum entries

What's not included

Flights
Single room supplement
Travel insurance
Tips

Where you'll stay

Chiang Mai

4-star hotel in or near the Old City

Nights 1–2 and 5

Pai

Boutique resort in the valley

Nights 3–4

Hotels are confirmed at booking and may be replaced with a similar standard.

Good to know

The road to Pai has hundreds of bends; bring travel-sickness tablets if you need them.
March and April can bring smoky air in the north.
Book a flight out of Chiang Rai leaving after 17:00 on day 6.
Fees in Thai baht are set by the parks and sites and can change without notice.

Cancellation

Cancel at least 14 days before arrival for a full refund. Inside that, flights and hotels are committed and we refund whatever our suppliers release, and we show you exactly what that is.