Five days and four nights blending nature, culture and food in Chiang Mai: a romantic country estate, a forest-monastery hike, the cable car up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the old city and an artisan village, plus an OASIS Spa aromatherapy massage to unwind.
Overview
This five-day, four-night Chiang Mai journey blends nature, culture and food. It takes in the romantic Horizon Village estate, a hike along the Monk's Trail to the forest monastery of Wat Pha Lat, the cable car up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a tour of the old city and the artisan community of Baan Kang Wat, with an OASIS Spa aromatherapy massage to relax body and mind. You then head deep into Doi Inthanon National Park to hike among the peaks and waterfalls. Each day brings Michelin-recommended restaurants and local favourites, and evening strolls through the night markets add a true taste of the north. A private vehicle and thoughtful travel supplies are provided throughout, and each day's departure time and the length of every stop can be adjusted with your driver.
Highlights
Itinerary
An easy first day begins on arrival at Chiang Mai Airport, when your driver takes you to the picture-perfect Horizon Village. Cycle through the botanical garden, pose on the swings, feed the friendly animals and dress in Thai costume for Lanna-style photos. The estate also has a fairy-tale dessert house and a treehouse, and you can float a krathong lantern on the water for a touch of romance. Lunch is the hugely popular northern Thai curry noodles, and dinner is a Lanna royal khantoke feast with cultural performances at the Michelin-recommended Khum Khantoke. You then check in to your hotel for a restful night.
Setting out from the hotel, take on Chiang Mai's favourite hike, the Monk's Trail, a 5-kilometre walk deep into the forest to the tranquil monastery of Wat Pha Lat. Continue to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and ride the cable car up for views over the city. The afternoon is free for browsing the One Nimman quarter, and in the early evening you stretch out with outdoor yoga or a gentle jog on the lawns of Chiang Mai University. Lunch is an all-you-can-eat Thai buffet; dinner is at your own expense among the many flavours of Nimmanhaemin Road. Thoughtful supplies are provided throughout the day so you can relax completely.
The morning starts at Baan Kang Wat, an artisan village devoted to art and handicrafts, followed by a one-hour OASIS Spa aromatherapy massage for complete relaxation. After lunch you pay respects at the historic Wat Phra Singh, then tour the old city by tuk-tuk, stopping at Tha Phae Gate and Warorot Market for photos and shopping alike. In the late afternoon you return to the hotel to enjoy its facilities and an afternoon tea for two at your leisure. Lunch is a Michelin-listed wellness meal; dinner is at your own expense, leaving you free to explore the local food scene. You stay again at your comfortable hotel.
Today is given over to nature. Head to Doi Inthanon National Park, home of Thailand's highest peak, to visit the Twin Royal Pagodas built for the King and Queen, hike the summit trail and admire the waterfalls and the results of the royal conservation projects. Lunch is at a Thai restaurant in the mountains. After dusk you return to the city; if it falls on a weekend, the evening switches to the lively old-city walking street, where you can sample authentic night-market snacks and soak up Chiang Mai after dark. Dinner is at the Michelin-recommended Black Forest Thai restaurant, rounding off a rich and rewarding day.
On the final day, pack at your leisure after breakfast at the hotel and take your booked transfer to Chiang Mai Airport. So ends five days of culture, food, nature and relaxation in Chiang Mai; you head home with a bag full of memories and the hope of returning to the beauty of the north.
Inclusions
Quoted per trip. Tell us your dates and group size and a travel consultant will send a tailored quote within 24 hours.
Thai long weekends, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Songkran and other special holidays are quoted separately. Each vehicle seats up to 9 passengers; larger groups are quoted on a multi-vehicle basis. The final plan and quote are confirmed by your travel consultant.
Stops
A country estate that blends nature with a fairy-tale atmosphere. Cycle through the botanical garden, meet the friendly animals and dress in traditional Thai costume for photos; there is also a Lanna museum, a plant maze, a treehouse, photogenic swings and krathong-floating. A dreamy setting for photos and for families.
A hidden temple in the forested hills of Chiang Mai, reached only on foot along the Monk's Trail. Quiet and serene, it weaves natural rock, a waterfall and Buddhist statuary together and is known as 'the jewel hidden in the forest', ideal for quiet reflection and a deeper cultural experience.
One of Chiang Mai's most famous landmarks, set on the mountainside and easily reached by cable car. The temple enshrines relics of the Buddha, its golden chedi gleams in the sun, and the terrace looks out over the whole of Chiang Mai, making it the perfect place both to pay respects and to photograph the panorama.
The hip landmark of the Nimman district, gathering designer-craft shops, a creative market, stylish cafes and European-style architecture, ideal for browsing, photos and shopping. With countless characterful restaurants and boutiques nearby, it is one of the most popular places for free time in Chiang Mai.
The green, leafy campus of Chiang Mai University is a lovely place for yoga or an easy jog on the open lawns in the early evening. Fresh and calm, it is a good spot to relax the mind and move the body, and to glimpse the daily life of local students.
An artisan community built around art and handicrafts, with workshops, handmade goods, cafes and small galleries in a thoroughly creative atmosphere. Visitors can join DIY craft classes or simply wander the art spaces and feel Chiang Mai's creative energy.
An ancient temple in the heart of the old city and one of Chiang Mai's most representative. It houses the revered Phra Singh Buddha image and is rich in fine woodcarving and gold-leaf decoration, making it the place to understand Lanna architecture and Buddhist art.
The eastern entrance to the Chiang Mai old city and the most iconic landmark of its ancient walls. The square in front of the red-brick gate is often full of pigeons and street performers, and it is the starting point for photos, events and exploring the old city.
The traditional market locals love most, selling all kinds of dried goods, northern Thai food, spices, printed fabrics and souvenirs. It is a great place to shop for gifts and experience local life, and its lively atmosphere and sheer variety make it hard to leave.
Home to Thailand's highest peak at over 2,500 metres, with a pleasantly cool climate. The park has spectacular waterfalls, forest trails and the Twin Royal Pagodas, making it an excellent choice for scenery and gentle hiking.
One of the largest waterfalls in Doi Inthanon National Park, thundering straight down in an impressive torrent. Surrounded by dense forest, with walkways and viewing platforms, it is a cool hidden retreat that nature lovers should not miss.
An evening market combining street food, handicrafts, street performers and shopping. At weekends the old-city night market opens as a walking street with a buzzing atmosphere; on weekdays the Chiang Mai Night Market is the place to go. The best spot to taste authentic local food and pick up souvenirs.
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