10-day slow north loop: Chiang Mai, Pai, Chiang Rai
Three bases, no beach. Leave slack on Route 1095 and the Green Bus, and keep Inthanon or Mae Rim as the one hill add from Chiang Mai. Fits a slower north first trip.
The unhurried north loop adds buffer nights so Route 1095 and the Green Bus are not same-day rushes. It is the slower take on 8 days Mai, Rai, Pai. Sleep four nights in Chiang Mai so Suthep, one walking street, and a rest day all fit. A 2026 songthaew to Suthep is still 60 to 100 THB each way.
Give Pai three nights after the Route 1095 van. Return to Chiang Mai, then take the Green Bus and sleep two nights for the 200 THB White Temple. Keep Phuket and Samui off this ten-day block.
Day by day
1 Land CNX
Old City. No ridge road.
2 Moat dawn
Wat Chedi Luang 50 THB.
3 Doi Suthep
07:00 start. 30 THB.
4 Walking street or Nimman
Sunday Ratchadamnoen or Saturday Wua Lai.
5 Van to Pai
3 to 4.5 hours. Sleep in town.
6 Canyon day
Songthaew. No night ride.
7 Pai rest
Hot springs or a cafe. Pack.
8 Back to CNX
Buffer night before the Green Bus.
9 Chiang Rai
Green Bus about 3.5 hours.
10 White Temple, fly CEI or CNX
200 THB. Exit from CEI if it saves a van.
Four city nights, then the two forks
If you only have a week, use the 7-day northern loop and drop Pai or Chiang Rai.
| Block | Sleep | Why the extra night |
|---|---|---|
| Nights 1 to 4 | Chiang Mai | Suthep plus a rest day |
| Nights 5 to 7 | Pai | Route 1095 is not a day trip |
| Nights 8 to 9 | Chiang Rai | Temple morning without a same-day bus |
Keep going
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- Exit from Chiang Rai?
- CEI works if the fare is fair. Many people van back to CNX.
- Add Sukhothai?
- Not on these ten days. Use the Sukhothai and Chiang Mai week instead.
- March haze?
- Views flatten. The wats still open. Book cafes, not ridge photos.