Best Day Trips From Chiang Mai: Temples, Mountains, Handicrafts & Waterfalls

As the early morning mist rolls in and low-hanging clouds float around you, parts of Northern Thailand truly make you feel as if you’ve entered another land; one where Thai fairytales come to life. 

There’s something utterly special about this part of the country. The temperature is cooler, the landscapes different from the everyday island scenes, and even the locals. I feel like traditional Thai arts and crafts are more celebrated and prominent in Northern Thailand. Cuisine differs here too, and tea and coffee plantations are tenfold! 

Are you based in Chiang Mai for a couple of days? If you’re planning some adventures outside of the city, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to the best day trips from Chiang Mai. 

Good to know: Some of these are doable in under one hour, while other (iconic) destinations are a little further out. Requiring a longer drive time to reach, for example, three hours there; three hours back, I highly suggest making an early start! Like I am talking 5-6 AM alarm bells. 

1. Pai: For the bohemian souls  

If I were a Thai city in a nutshell, I’d have to pick Pai. I’ve said it before, and I’ll happily say it again…Southern Thailand was my ultimate jam until I landed in Northern Thailand. And then I arrived in Pai, and it was game over. 

An evergreen paradise where hippy, bohemian-loving souls come to find peace and like-minded people, and where travelers who have always wanted to be a little more carefree feel right at home! The town itself is tiny; lined with local Thai restaurants, cute cafes, funky Thai bars, tattoo spots, and all the hippie-inspired shops you can think of. 

Staying overnight? Pai’s night market is incredible. I ate the best Nutella crepes of my life here, as well as gyoza I’ll never forget! It’s set up along Pai Walking Street.  

Things to do? Nature admirers: Mae Yen Waterfall is one of my top 5 forest treks in Asia. Pam Bok Waterfall is another popular cascade. En route to this one, stop over at the Bamboo Bridge (both are outside the city). Another hugely popular (and super fun) activity in Pai is tubing! Other adventurous activities revolve around its river, like river rafting.

If you are just coming for the day, I’d definitely recommend pre-booking an adrenaline-inducing expedition to save time on what is truly one of the best day trips from Chiang Mai. 

Around Pai, I also love visiting Santichon Village for something uniquely cultural. 

For a full low-down on how to make the most of your time in Pai, read more about what to do in our ultimate guide to Pai. 

Places to eat? My favorites include Art in Chai (still the best chai I’ve had), Lemon Thyme Cafe (brekkie/brunch vibes!), and Earth Tone (vegan/veg).

Time from Chiang Mai to Pai: 3-4 hours drive.  

2. Chiang Rai: Tea plantations and temples 

What’s the very first thing I think of when I hear “Chiang Rai?” Why, it’s the iconic all-white Wat Rong Khun, of course! Never before have I seen anything like it…Designed to represent heaven and hell, this Buddhist temple is full of the weirdest and most wonderful sculptures! 

Speaking of temples, swap color palettes and discover the mesmerizing blue and gold Wat Rong Suea Ten. Another spot to check out for Thai architecture is the Baan Dam Museum, nicknamed the Black House. This museum is filled with all tributes to the darker side of life. 

Pretty zany how all the landmarks in Chiang Rai follow color nicknames, hey? You’ll want to join a tour to make sure you cover all of these must-see sites on a day trip. 

Witness in-person how tea is cultivated, sample different varieties, and enjoy a cuppa at Choui Fong Tea Plantation. Vistas from here are sublime! Swap tea for coffee at Chivit Thamma Da, perched on the river. It’s a gorgeous spot for lunch as well. 

Do you love exploring gardens/mountains? Doi Ang Khang and Doi Tung are not exactly in Chiang Rai, but close-ish. You can always skip the city and head straight here for the best day trips from Chiang Rai. 

Time from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai: 3h 20mins drive.  

3. Mae Kampong: Waterfall coffee stops   

After Pai, Mae Kampong is my next favorite Northern Thailand destination, and one of my personal best day trips from Chiang Mai. 

Technically, it falls under the Mae On District, and it’s hard to believe it’s so close to CM! Like a little village hidden away from the world, expect to find waterfall cafes (and actual cascades like Mae Kampong Waterfall), adorable side alleys around the village, and must-try street food, like the region’s famous sai oua sausage and naem mok.

Famed for its coffee production, the area is abundant in coffee plantations. I’ve always found the most incredible coffee shops (with surreal locations no less) are in Mae Kampong. Spend your entire day trip cafe hopping between coffee shops on the river, or to those with swinging bridges. 

Coffee shops/cafes to make you gasp (and take a million pics): 

1. Pirunya Coffee
2. Teddu Coffee (next to a waterfall) 
3. Baan Ing Dao Coffee
4. Rabiang View Maekampong (for traditional fare) 
5. Teen Tok Royal Project Development Center
6. ร้านกาแฟฮ่อมดอย แม่กำปอง (just outside of Mae Kampong)
7. Lung Pud Pa Peng Coffee

Time from Chiang Mai to Mae Kampong: 1 hour drive.  

4. Lampang: A spiritual fix  

Have you ever seen pictures of those white “bells” in Northern Thailand, topping the tips of mountains, and wondered where this was? Well, that would be Lampang. The white “bells” are pagodas forming part of the Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Phrachomklao Rachanusorn temple. 

Another insane site is the Wat Phra That Doi Phra Chan temple in the sky…A golden staircase leading to the main Buddhist temple will send shivers down your spine. 

Lampang’s spirituality is undeniable. Among the best day trips from Chiang Mai, this destination is for travelers who have arrived for a spiritual dosing; the kind many of us associate Thailand with. 

Other than sky temples, the area is home to many traditional crafts. Explore local museums and craft workshops during your time here, like the Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum. 

Do you believe in fairies? (I do.) Don’t leave without hunting down fae at the mystical Lom Poo Keaw, nicknamed the Emerald Pool because of the color of its water. There’s a lot to cover on this trip, so I generally recommend joining a more organised tour to make sure you can pack it all in (and truly understand the lantern culture!).

Time from Chiang Mai to Lampung: 1.5-hour drive.  

5. Chiang Dao: Hot Springs, Waterfalls & Caves 

Immersed by a thicket of jungle greens and with a seriously untouched sort of feel to it, Chiang Dao makes you reconsider everything you’ve done up to this point in life, and beckons your heart to leave behind the fast-paced world, give everything up, and want to live in the Thai mountains away from society. Well, that’s the feels I get anyway. 

I guess it’s how ol’ Leo DiCaprio’s fictional character, Richard, felt in The Beach – albeit different setting. 

Hot springs and waterfalls await you, and it’s not even an hour and a half from the main city. I would say this spot is one of the best day trips from Chiang Mai to feel worlds away, but not having to endure a multiple-hour journey to reach your final day trip destination. 

At Chiang Dao Hot Springs, rejuvenate and enjoy a coffee. Then, there’s the Chiang Dao Cave filled with unique rock formations. 

Whenever I’m traveling, I always set aside one day/outing for venturing through forests, and ultimately pick a trail that leads to a waterfall — tenfold in the Land of Smiles. The round-trip trek to Sri Sangwan Waterfall is about three hours. Another much shorter walk is the one to hilltop Wat Tham Pha Phlong, where you need to ascend 500 steps to reach this Buddhist temple. 

Lastly, for a (literal) taste of Chiang Dao, visit either the Tuesday morning market, or head to Arunothai Village, a Yunnan Chinese ethnic village outside the town. You’ll have the chance to eat foods you’ve probably never seen before! I absolutely love this tour which basically combines the caves and 5 hill-tribe villages into one jam-packed day trip from Chiang Mai.

Time from Chiang Mai to Chiang Dao: 1h 20mins drive.  

6. San Kamphaeng: Traditional handicraft paradise 

Have you ever explored the rice terraced lands of Sapa in Vietnam before? This part of the country is renowned for its production of textiles and handicrafts, and San Kamphaeng in Thailand always gives me the same vibes! 

Is time of the essence for you, but you’re still desperate to complete some of the best day trips from Chiang Mai during your visit? Well, this handicraft village — yup, an entire hold where art and creativity reign supreme — is literally just half an hour from Chiang Mai! 

Picture this: arts and crafts markets, museums centered on traditional handicrafts, little recreated villages, and even some natural landmarks close by (like Muang On Cave and the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs tourist attraction). 

Start at the Thai Silk Village, where you can marvel at the production of the textile up close. Walk through roads where umbrellas hang ahead from either side of the streets at the colorful Bo Sang Umbrella Village. Watching local artists construct these bamboo parasoles is so interesting!  

Next, get your shopping on at ChamCha Market, Baan Celadon (for amazing ceramics), and the cute Elephant Parade House for all sorts of elephant-related souvenirs. On the museum front, head to Baan Jang Nak (A Museum of Elephant Wood Carvings) and the MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum.

Time from Chiang Mai to San Kamphaeng: 30 minutes drive.  

While most people just know of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand is a playground of magic, beauty, traditions, nature, and mountainous feels. After reading this, you might wanna consider extending your time in this part of the country.  

Honestly speaking, there are so many best day trips from Chiang Mai…Curious to know some of my other favorites? These include: 

Mon Cham: 1 hour from Chiang Mai  

Lamphun: 37 minutes from Chiang Mai   

Mae Rim: 40 minutes from Chiang Mai   

Doi Inthanon National Park, i.e., the Roof of Thailand: 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai    

For when you’re based in Chiang Mai city itself, here is my list of favorite cafes around town. Also, our team swear by this 3-day Chiang Mai itinerary which will help you plan the rest of your days.

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