Chiang Mai day trips
Chiang Mai day trips are known for one hill wat or one mountain road: Suthep fits a morning, while Inthanon and Pai each take a full day. Leave the second hill for another date.
Back to Chiang Mai
Doi Suthep is the usual spare morning: leave 07:00, 30 THB at the wat, songthaew 60 to 100 THB each way. Doi Inthanon is a full day at 300 THB for foreigners. Pai is Route 1095, 3 to 4.5 hours and 762 bends; it wants two nights, not a day return.
Chiang Rai is the White Temple at 200 THB for foreigners since 1 January 2026, plus a Green Bus of about 3.5 hours. Ethical elephant half-days sit on sanctuaries, and do not book Inthanon and Pai on the same van. Sleep in Chiang Mai unless dawn on 1095 is the point.
Pick one spare day
| Trip | Clock | Sleep after |
|---|---|---|
| Doi Suthep | Half day; leave 07:00 | Chiang Mai |
| Doi Inthanon | Full day; 300 THB | Chiang Mai |
| Elephant valley | 1 to 1.5 hours each way | Chiang Mai |
| Pai | 3 to 4.5 hours, 762 bends | Pai overnight |
| White Temple | 3.5 hour bus plus 200 THB | Chiang Rai or a long day |
Keep going
Book
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Read the Hanoi guide →UNESCO Lantern TownHoi An Ancient Town
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Read the Sapa guide →Common questions
- Suthep as a day trip or half day?
- Half day if you leave at 07:00. Do not add Inthanon the same calendar.
- Can you add Pai to an Inthanon day?
- No. Different ridges. Pai wants two nights over 762 bends.