Itinerary of Explore Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in 3 Days
Cities/National Parks Covered in 3 Days
- Chiang Mai
- Doi Inthanon National Park
- Chiang Rai
- Mae Sai
Day 1 – Doi Inthanon National Park Day-Trip from Chiang Mai
- Check in at So Hostel
- Visit Sirithan Waterfall
- Visit the highest mountain – Doi Inthanon – and walk the Nature Trail
- Visit the twin Royal Chedis of the King and Queen
- Lunch near Wachirathan Waterfall and visit the waterfall
- Visit Inthanon Royal Project Research Station
- Visit Hmong Hill-Tribe Village
- Get dropped at Chiang Mai Night Safari
For details, please visit Explore Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in 3 Days – Day 1
Day 2 – Chiang Rai and Golden Triangle Day-Trip from Chiang Mai
- Visit Mae Khajan Hot Springs
- Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) at Chiang Rai
- Visit Hill-Tribe Villages of Yao, Akha, and Karen Long-Neck
- Have Lunch
- Visit Golden Triangle
- Boat trip on the Mekong to Laos Island (option)
- Visit Border Market at Mae Sai
- Stroll at Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market
For details, please visit Explore Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in 3 Days – Day 2
Day 3 – Chiang Mai City Temple Tour
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Wat Lok Molee
- Wat Chiang Man
- Three Kings’ Monument
- Wat Chedi Luang
- Wat Phantao
- Wat Phra Singh
- Wat Loi Kroh
- Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
For details, please visit Explore Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in 3 Days – Day 3
Net Expense for 1 person in 3 Days (in THB)
The total expense of the full trip of Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Mai in 3 Days for 1 person totaled up to 8000 THB.
Kindly note that this total expense is based on the expense of one person. This is just to help you have a rough idea about the total expense of a single person. When you travel in groups of different numbers, the expenses will differ.
For a more customized itinerary, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page.
If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!
Great options for travel to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. We will certainly keep this article on file so that we can refer back to it once we return to Chiang Mai. Now all I have to do is decide when one to do.
Sure Jane.
My parents are planning to visit Chiang Mai this summer and had been asking for an itinerary. Thus, I am so happy to stumble upon your post. It is very timely.
Thank you for sharing this valuable information. I just shared this post with them.
Yayyy, that’s great to know.
That is a LOT to see in just three days. Did you feel rushed at all to see all the sights? Or is it a matter of everything being so close together and not requiring much time to see so it moves quickly but not rushed? Nonetheless, it seems like a perfect three days to see all the major sights in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai! Superb post.
I really did not feel rushed this time.
This is good reckoner for planning a trip to the northern part of Thailand. I have been there , done all and completely loved my stay in Chiang Mai and the visit to Chiang Rai.Missed a lot of the Wats suggested in your Chiang Mai tour…Hope I get to catch up in that.
There are so many, it gets difficult to decide which one to visit.
Woah! Can you seriously cover so much in 3 days and that too for 8000 THB! Given that after Phuket and Bangkok Chiang Mai is the most visited city in Thailand, I actually imagined it to an expensive place. Your itinerary looks really good for someone like me who loves nature and architecture and less crowd. 🙂
Oh yes, you can.
Lovely timing to read this, as this exact time last year, we were in a beautiful mountain village out of Chiang Rai, and about to head to Chiang Mai! Day 1 looks like a great way to appreciate the natural landscapes of the region, especially the Doi Inthanon NP. Day 2 and 3 hit the key attractions of the two cities. I would like to add a note of advice to your readers that it’s important to look for ethical ways to visit local hill tribes, as many of the tourist tours are very exploitative.
Very true.
South East Asia is such a great option for travelers starting their solo travels journey. I too had a lot of fun exploring towns like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai long before their caught mass tourism frenzy. It’s so great to know that even now you can explore then in 3 days in just 8000 THB.
Yes, it’s touristy but still economical.
This is a super action packed 3 days in Chiang Mai! I didn’t have time to make it to Chiang Rai on my last trip to Chiang Mai and definitely want to check it out next time I’m in the area. Chiang Mai is one of my favorite cities in Southeast Asia and I’d recommend everyone to visit!
Same here, Chiang Mai is one of my favorites, too.
These places look incredible! I’ve always wanted to travel to Chiang Mai, but with it having become so popular for digital nomads I sort of lost interest. But these temples are stunning-particularly the intricately carved white one (Chiang Rai?)
Chiang Mai is still super sweet.
I love how you pack so much into your trips. I went to Chiang Mai years ago but didn’t make it to Chiang Rai or to see the beautiful natural surroundings. This blog has inspired me to go again soon.
You must visit Thailand, soon.
One of my blogger friends (Leylander of My Cebu Photo Blog) was assigned in Chang Mai a year ago by his company. He consistently emailed us to visit there as it’s incredibly nice! Very beautiful indeed as seen in your photos. As nature lovers, we are quite interested in visiting Mae Khajan Hot Springs. We might add this in your itinerary next year in our SEA trip.
Oh wow, lucky friend of yours!
I was in Chiang Mai a few years ago and loved everything about it! The energy here is so exciting and everything you’d want in an Asian city. You also listed some top things to do here; I love to see the waterfall. Hopefully, I can re-visit one day soon.
Sure, why not, Lisa!
I was very lucky to be in Chiang Mai a few years ago for Loy Krathong/Yi Peng lantern festivals. What a beautiful city that is steeped with heritage. Their wats were all amazing and yet so different even though there were so many there.
Now I do regret I never got over to Chiang Rai. I really wanted to explore the famous White Temple there and now that I know there are also hot springs, guess I have a big reason to return.
You must visit Thailand, soon.
Very nice itinerary, it will definitely be helpful when planning my trip to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. So much to see there! I think I will stay there more than 3 days.
Yes, that will be better in fact.