3 Days In Chiang Mai: The Ultimate Chiang Mai Itinerary!

Are you planning to spend 3 days in Chiang Mai? Do you need help putting together your itinerary? If so, you’ve come to the right place!

Located in Thailand’s mountainous northern region, Chiang Mai is one of Asia’s most popular backpacking destinations – and with good reason. From breathtaking natural scenery in Doi Inthanon National Park and memorable elephant encounters to historical temples like Wat Chedi Luang, the city has something for every traveller.

To help you plan the perfect adventure in Northern Thailand, we’ve put together the ultimate 3-day Chiang Mai itinerary. In this guide, we’ll show you the best things to do, how to get around, where to stay, and more.

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A Quick Overview Of Your 3-Day Chiang Mai Itinerary

Day 1:

Chiang Mai National Museum, Tha Pae Gate, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, Street Food Tour

Day 2:

Grand Canyon Water Park, Thai Cooking Class, Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Day 3:

Doi Inthanon National Park or Elephant Nature Park

Your 3 Days In Chiang Mai: Day One

On the first day of this Chiang Mai itinerary, you’ll visit the city’s most popular tourist attractions. This includes Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh. You’ll spend most of your time in the city centre, so you can easily walk between most attractions. However, the Chiang Mai Museum is located further out.

Chiang Mai National Museum

The first stop during your 3 days in Chiang Mai could be the Chiang Mai National Museum. A short 14-minute drive from the city centre, this fascinating museum is dedicated to Northern Thailand’s history and culture.

It comprises three floors that display objects, artefacts, and artwork from across Nothern Thailand. This includes Buddha statues from the Chiang Saen Era (1300s to 1800s), Lanna artwork from the 16th century, and historic photographs.

As you can probably imagine, the Chiang Mai National Museum is an excellent place to learn about Thai history. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 am until 4 pm.

Entrance tickets can vary, but you can expect to pay between 30 and 100 Thai Baht (£0.70 to £2.40). You can walk to the Chiang Mai National Museum from central Chiang Mai, but it will take you approximately 50 minutes. Therefore, we recommend jumping in a tuk-tuk to make life easier.

Tha Phae Gate

Tha Phae Gate is one of Chiang Mai’s most famous historical landmarks. Located on the eastern side of the city’s walls, this iconic gate was constructed in the 13th century.

The gate was built to serve as a defensive structure and gateway to the Old City of Chiang Mai. Today, it’s one of the city’s most popular sites. The wall we see today is mostly reconstructed, but it has been done so sympathetically to ensure it maintains its original appearance.

Taking a photograph in front of the gate is a must, but we recommend arriving early to avoid any crowds. Tha Phae Gate is so popular that some locals even get photographed in front of the gate on their wedding day. The square in front is also a lively local meeting spot. You’ll find plenty of places to eat and drink near here too!

Wat Chedi Luang

One of the best things to see during your three days in Chiang Mai is Wat Chedi Luang. This beautiful 14th-century Buddhist temple is best recognised for its 98-metre (321-foot) tall chedi (stupa or shrine) that was built in 1481 – during King Mengrai’s reign.

However, you’ll quickly notice that the top of the chedi is missing. That’s because it has been damaged numerous times throughout history, including by an earthquake in the 16th century.

The famous Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaew) statue was held here, but it now resides in Bangkok. However, there is still a jade replica of the Buddha at Wat Chedi Luang. You’ll also find a standing Buddha statue, a reclining Buddha and various other breathtaking temple buildings within the temple complex.

The temple is open daily from 8 am until 10 pm. You can explore Wat Chedi Luang with an expert local guide on this 3-hour old city walking tour!

Wat Phra Singh

Just a 10-minute walk from Wat Chedi Luang you’ll find another popular Buddhist temple, Wat Phra Singh. Constructed in the 14th century this temple is a fine example of traditional Lanna architecture.

However, it’s not only the architecture that makes Wat Phra Singh special. Labelled a Royal temple of the first grade, Wat Phra Singh is home to the Phra Buddha Singh statue, one of Thailand’s most significant Buddha statues!

According to legend, this statue was based on the lion of Shakya from the Mahabodhi Temple in India. It’s housed in a small chapel called Wihan Lai Kham, south of the Chedi. Meanwhile, another temple within the complex; Viharn Lai Kam, is home to vibrant 19th-century murals designed by a Chinese artist.

However, the most gorgeous sight at Wat Phra Singh is a giant golden stupa with elephants on each side. Wat Phra Singh is open daily from 7 am until 7 pm.

Street Food Tour

Going on a street food tour is the perfect way to end your first day in Chiang Mai. If you’re anything like us, Thai food will quickly become one of your favourite things about the city. Like many Asian cuisines, Thailand’s food is well-known for its bold sweet, sour, spicy flavours, and traditional herbs and spices.

There are many excellent places to sample local cuisine in Chiang Mai, including street food markets, cafes, and restaurants. Therefore, deciding where to eat isn’t always easy. Luckily, this Chiang Mai evening street food tour will help you find the city’s best culinary delights.

On this tour, you’ll visit two of Chiang Mai’s night markets with a local guide. You’ll sample eight dishes in total, including Sai Oua (Northern Thailand pork sausages) Tom Saap (spicy broth), and Khao Soi Gai (curry noodle broth with chicken leg). This tour starts at 7 pm and includes hotel pick-up and drop-off.

Your 3 Days In Chiang Mai: Day Two

On your second day in Chiang Mai, you’ll spend four hours learning how to cook Thai cuisine in a cooking class. Then, in the afternoon, you’ll spend three or four hours having fun at Grand Canyon Water Park. In the evening, you’ll explore Chiang Mai Night Bazaar for bargains and delicious local food.

Grand Canyon Water Park

The first stop on day two of this Chiang Mai itinerary is Grand Canyon Water Park, a 20-minute drive from the city centre. Covering 35 acres (14 hectares) of beautiful natural cliffs and a large lagoon, this water park offers fun for the entire family.

When we visited the park, it was little more than a large lagoon with a diving cliff, a restaurant, and areas to relax. Now Grand Canyon Water Park is the ultimate water sports venue!

You can challenge yourself on the floating obstacle course, zipline across the water, jump into the lagoon from a 10-metre (32-foot) cliff, and much more. Meanwhile, younger travellers can race down the slides and have fun in the kid’s zone waterpark.

Afterwards, grab a tasty bite to eat in the onsite cafe and restaurant. The water park is open daily from 10 am until 7 pm. You can purchase entrance tickets online at GetYourGuide.

Thai Cooking Class

If you get to the water park for when it opens (10 am), you can spend three or four hours there before participating in a Thai cooking class in the afternoon. Cooking classes aren’t only good fun, they’re an excellent way to improve your culinary knowledge, develop your skills, and immerse yourself in local food culture.

This authentic Thai cooking class is one of the highest-rated in Chiang Mai. If you opt for the half-day evening session, you’ll have plenty of time to get back to your hotel and freshen up after having fun at the water park.

The evening session starts at 4 pm and ends at 7:30 pm – hotel pick-up is also included. Before you learn to cook Thai cuisine, you’ll visit an organic farm to collect fresh vegetables and eggs.

You’ll then head to the cooking school to learn how to make mango sticky rice, pad Thai, curry paste, and Thai curry. Sounds delicious, right?

Your 3 Days In Chiang Mai: Day Three

On your final day in Chiang Mai, we’ve got two exciting options for you! You can either explore Doi Inthanon National Park (either independently or on a tour) or head to an ethical elephant sanctuary. Afterwards, enjoy a drink at one of the city’s many bars!

Option 1: Doi Inthanon National Park

The first option we have for you is to visit Doi Inthanon National Park on a day trip. This scenic national park is often referred to as “the roof of Thailand” because it’s home to the highest point in the country (Doi Inthanon). The national park is a haven for outdoor adventure!

You can expect to find breathtaking vistas, lush forests, picturesque waterfalls, and a diverse array of wildlife. Some of the exciting species found within the park include gibbons, ospreys, and barking deer. Doi Inthanon National Park is also home to Asiatic black bears – although sightings are rare.

This full-day eco-friendly tour is an excellent way to explore Doi Inthanon National Park. You’ll reach Thailand’s highest peak, visit the Twin Pagodas, meet the Karen Hill Tribe, and enjoy many epic viewpoints.

The tour lasts approximately 9 hours and pick-up/drop-off is included from specific locations. Drinking water is also provided.

Option 2: Elephant Nature Park

Alternatively, you could visit the Elephant Nature Park during your 3 days in Chiang Mai. The Elephant Nature Park is approximately 40 miles (65 kilometres) from Chiang Mai city centre. It’s one of the best ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand.

From our experience, finding an ethical elephant sanctuary isn’t easy. However, this nature park ticks all the boxes. For starters, it was established by the esteemed elephant rights advocate Saengduean Chailert. The park prides itself on providing exceptional care to rescued elephants.

At Elephant Nature Park, you can visit the park’s elephants in a safe way. You’ll learn all about the work the sanctuary does, help prepare food for the elephants, and follow them on a forest walk.

The nature park offers a variety of exciting experiences, including half-day and overnight tours. The Elephant Nature Park also provides hotel pick-up and drop-off services from Chiang Mai.

Enjoy Chaing Mai’s nightlife

On your final night in Chiang Mai, why don’t you experience the city’s nightlife? While you could return to the Night Bazaar or the city’s other street food markets, you should also experience the lively atmosphere in Chiang Mai’s best bars and nightclubs.

Like many tourist destinations in Thailand, Chiang Mai is home to many bars and nightclubs that offer a good time. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed evening drinking cocktails, wild parties, or live music, there’s something for everyone.

One of the best places to spend the night is Zoe in Yellow. This popular nightclub regularly hosts live music, parties, and DJs. Furthermore, it has a large drinks menu that includes beers, wines, cocktails, and alcohol buckets. What more can we ask for?

If you’re looking for a more relaxed evening, enjoy some cocktails at Euphoria Cocktail Lounge or a beer and something to eat in Tong Bar.

Top Tip: Yi Peng Lantern Festival

If you time your 3 days in Chiang Mai right, you could attend one of Thailand’s most popular festivals. The Yi Peng Lantern Festival is widely considered to be Thailand’s second most important after Songkran.

It takes place in Chiang Mai every year in mid to late November and marks the second full moon of the Lanna calendar. Dating back to the ancient Lanna Kingdom, the festival represents the transition from darkness into light.

During the event, thousands of people pay respects to Buddha by lighting sky lanterns. Trust us, the sight of thousands of lanterns lighting the sky at once is magical.

To make things even better, the city is adorned with vibrant decorations throughout the event. Aside from the lantern release, Chiang Mai celebrates Yi Peng with grand parades, traditional costumes, floating lights, and street food. Just be aware accommodation tends to sell out quickly at this time of year.

Helpful Information For Your Chiang Mai Itinerary

How to get to Chiang Mai

Travelling by plane is the easiest and quickest way to reach Chiang Mai. A direct flight from Bangkok takes an hour and costs roughly £20 (841 THB).

You’ll land at Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), 10 minutes drive from the city centre. However, don’t forget the additional costs of flying, such as checked baggage.

That said, Bus travel is one of the cheapest ways to get to Chiang Mai. The journey from Bangkok takes 10+ hours, but tickets on 12Go Asia only cost £24 (1009 THB), including baggage. Better yet, this is a sleeper bus, so you’ll also save money on a night’s accommodation.

You can also take the bus to Chiang Mai from Pai and Chiang Rai. Alternatively, travel to Chiang Mai by train. The train from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station takes approximately 13.5 hours and a comfier 2nd class ticket on 12Go Asia costs £20.

How to get around Chiang Mai

In our opinion, the best way to get around Chiang Mai is on foot, especially in the old city. Chiang Mai is a very walkable city, so you can easily explore the main attractions without using public transport.

For example, Wat Chedi Luang is only a 10-minute walk from Wat Phra Singh. Walking is also the most enjoyable way to get around Chiang Mai because you get to see more of the city.

When it comes to longer journeys, most travellers and locals get around by tuk-tuk. You’ll find tuk-tuks everywhere in Chiang Mai, so you’ll never struggle to hail one down.

Regarding prices, you can haggle with the driver to pay a price you’re happy with. Conveniently, most day trips from Chiang Mai and excursions, such as the Elephant Nature Park include transport, so you won’t need to worry about that either.

The best time to visit Chiang Mai

Weather-wise, the best time to visit Chiang Mai is November to February. During the dry season, the weather in Chiang Mai is sunny, cooler, and pleasant at this time of year, making exploring easier and more comfortable.

When we say the weather is cooler, you can still expect daily highs of 29°C (84°F) because Thailand is warm year-round. However, these temperatures are much more comfortable than the 36°C (97°F) temperatures in April.

Meanwhile, if you want to avoid the rainy season in Chiang Mai, don’t visit between June and October. You can expect heavy rain and even flooding between September and October.

As far as budget is concerned, November to February is also the most expensive time to visit Chiang Mai because this is the high tourist season. However, we still recommend visiting then because the pros outweigh the cons. Besides, even in the high season, Thailand is an affordable destination!

Where To Stay In Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second-largest city, so there you can expect to find a wide range of accommodation options. Whether you’re looking for an affordable hostel or a luxurious 5* hotel, there’s something for every kind of traveller and every budget.

Here are some popular accommodation options:

Budget: Love CNX Guesthouse

Love CNX Guesthouse is one of Chiang Mai’s most affordable hotels. A simple, yet spacious double bedroom comes with a large bed, ensuite bathroom, and storage space. Every room also has air conditioning, and some bedrooms have balconies.

This guesthouse also features a restaurant serving Asian cuisine, a shared kitchen, a terrace area, and free WiFi. Regarding attractions, Wat Chedi Luang is only a 7-minute walk away.

Mid-range: ON Thapae Gate Chiangmai

ON Thapae Gate Chiangmai is a modern 3-star hotel with a variety of reasonably priced rooms that sleep 2-4 people. It’s an excellent option for couples, families, and friends.

Every room has air conditioning, an ensuite bathroom, and free WiFi. This lovely hotel also offers plenty of amenities including a lounge, a terrace area, and an outdoor swimming pool. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is 15 minutes away.

Luxury: The Inside House

If you’re looking for a more luxury stay – check out the 5-star Inside House. Only a 13-minute walk from Wat Chedi Luang, this luxurious hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, bar, and restaurant.

Meanwhile, the pool suites offer private swimming pools, an intimate tropical garden, and outside bathtubs. Inside, the rooms are equipped with luxury amenities and essentials like air conditioning and WiFi. What’s not to like?

Where to go after Chiang Mai

One of the best things about Chiang Mai is that it offers convenient access to the rest of Northern Thailand. For example, you can easily travel to Chiang Rai and Pai from Chiang Mai.

Chiang Rai is approximately a 3-hour drive from Chiang Mai. Like Chiang Mai, it’s well known for its rich history, cultural attractions, and beautiful temples, including Wat Rong Suea Ten and Wat Rong Khun.

Meanwhile, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most naturally beautiful destinations, famed for its mountain scenery, hot springs, and waterfalls. Pai is roughly a 3 hours drive from Chiang Mai.

You can book transport to Pai and Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai on 12Go Asia. If you’ve already explored most of Northern Thailand, it’s time to visit Southern Thailand. Kanchanaburi, known for the Death Railway, is a sleeper bus ride away from Chiang Mai. Alternatively, fly to destinations in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and more.

Final thoughts on this Chiang Mai itinerary

You need to plan your time effectively if you’re going to have the best 3 days in Chiang Mai. Hopefully, our Chiang Mai itinerary has given you an idea of what to do in the city and how to organise the perfect trip.

Highlights in Chiang Mai include visiting temples like Wat Chedi Luang and street food markets like the Night Bazaar. However, you can also visit ethical elephant sanctuaries and Doi Inthanon National Park. Now you know what to expect, why don’t you start planning your Chiang Mai itinerary?

If you have further questions about this Chiang Mai itinerary then don’t hesitate to contact us via Instagram, Facebook, or in the comments below!

Here are some other Asia guides that you may find helpful:

• Travelling From Thailand To Cambodia
• The Ultimate Southeast Asia Itinerary
• Best National Parks In Asia

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