Duration
2 days / 1 night
Price Per Person
Interests
Destinations

This trip is a great two day add-on to any of our Northern Thailand itineraries. It also makes an incredible memorable trip on its own. Get ready to overdose on fresh air and beautiful Thai backdrops on this Active Chiang Mai itinerary.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Doi Suthep Hike with a Hmong Guide: The trekking route from Chiang Mai's famous mountain temple to local Hmong villages has an extra layer of meaning, as the hill tribe guide points out flora and fauna, and fills hikers in on Hmong culture and history.
  • Biking: Exploring Chiang Mai's surrounds on two wheels takes travelers to remote villages, ancient ruins, and historic temples.
  • Chiang Mai: The former capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai is Thailand's cultural capital, home to religious monuments, monks, and remnants of a lost age.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Chiang Mai

The guide will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the mystical Suthep Mountain. The Temple has an incredible view of the stunning valley below. Arrive early in the morning before the crowds arrive. It’s a 300-step climb to the top - but well worth the view. Next, continue on to Doi Pui Village to learn about the turbulent history of the Hmong community. Hike to the neighboring Hmong village Ban Mae Sa Mai in the lush Mae Sa Valley. The area feels like a tropical rainforest set in the towering mountains. The hike is about five hours long, and led by a Hmong local who is an expert on flora and opium cultivation. Stop and view the footprint of Buddha at the top before enjoying a picnic lunch. Drive back to Chiang Mai that afternoon and return to your hotel to relax and unwind after a fun-filled day.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Individuality: The 137 Pillars House is a recently opened, renovated, historically colonial boutique property of select suites.

Added Extras: Guests receive complimentary breakfasts, soft drinks and beer from the mini bar.

Location: Situated in one of Chiang Mai’s most stylish areas, by the Ping River and near unique art galleries, antique shops, coffee houses and just a stone’s throw from some of the cities most up-market nightlife venues.

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137 Pillars House Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: The vast resort grounds comprise verdant rice terraces and lush landscaped rainforest gardens over looking a stunning Thai mountain range in the distance.

Dining: Four superb restaurants and a handful of bars in beautiful locations serving Thai, Italian and international cuisine, as well as afternoon tea, signature cocktails and fine wines.

Facilities: Guests may enjoy plenty of world-class facilities including an award winning spa, fitness center, infinity pool, tennis courts, cooking school, library and children’s clubs.

Privacy: The hideaway resort is situated away from the hustle of Chiang Mai city, yet within easy reach of the areas attractions. There are five daily shuttle services to the city center.

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Four Seasons Chiang Mai Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Chiang Mai

The guide and driver will meet you at the hotel at 8:30am to take you to the beautiful small village of Ban Khanomtom in Saraphi, just a short drive outside the city. After the tour, cycle through the beautiful fruit tree coves to the McKean Rehabilitation Center. The once-leprosy colony is now dedicated to helping those in need. Here, you can admire centuries-old trees. Reach Wiang Kum Ka, the “underground city” that was abandoned ages ago because of the area’s constant flooding. Visit some of the hidden ruins and have lunch. Finish the ride by biking out to the Chedi Liam. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the friendly city at your leisure. This is the end of your two-day adventure in Chiang Mai.

Suggested Hotels For Days 1–2

137 Pillars House
Preferred Hotel

137 Pillars House

Located in the heart of Wat Gate, an area in Chiang Mai that was formerly designated to foreigners by the government, 137 Pillars House sits idyllically along the Ping River, adjacent to Wat Gate Khar Rham Temple. Combining the regality of traditional Thai elegance with modern luxury, this boutique hotel offers amenities including high-speed wireless internet access, laundry service, a 24-hour on-call medical professional, babysitting services, a spa, outdoor swimming pool and a fitness facility. The Dining Room offers classic Thai cuisine, one of the many dining options offered at the hotel. 137 Pillars House is approximately 25 minutes by car from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX).

Four Seasons Chiang Mai
Preferred Hotel

Four Seasons Chiang Mai

The Four Seasons Chiang Mai blends with its natural surroundings seamlessly, with trees growing between and around the resort, overlooking terraced rice fields and the mountains of the Mae Rim Valley. The resort has 64 boutique pavilions, each with a private veranda, as well as 16 private luxury residences. The Sala Mae Rim serves Thai cuisine and offers sweeping views of the valley below, and the Terraces have international dishes with a view of the Doi Suthep mountain range. The hotel has a health club with state of the art equipment, including a sauna, herbal steam room, whirlpool, cold plunge pool, 20-meter infinity edge swimming pool, a business center and wi-fi access. There are also mountain bikes available for use, along with maps of trails through the surrounding forest. The Spa at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai has seven treatment suites with rain shower massage tables and private herbal steam rooms. Professional spa therapists can help you choose the best treatment package for your needs. The hotel is 25 minutes from Chiang Mai International Airport.

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