| Day | Plan | To book | "From" price (to be checked) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | arrive around 7:15 am, Old City, temples, evening | nothing (hotel) | |
| Day 2 | Wat Pha Lat and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, morning | half day, 4.5 h, pickup | about $22 |
| Day 3 | Elephant Dream Project, half day or Doi Inthanon | half day or 9-hour day | about $48 (elephants) |
Before you arrive: the night train
Special express no. 9 leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat around 6:40 pm and reaches Chiang Mai around 7:15 am; berth fares run from 941 THB (2nd class, upper) to 2,453 THB (1st-class private cabin), October 2026. All the details are in night train Bangkok-Chiang Mai and, to compare with a flight or bus, Bangkok-Chiang Mai: train, bus or plane. Your room is often not ready at 7:30 am: ask to leave your bags.
Day 1: the Old City
Drop your bags and walk the Old City, ringed by its moat: Wat Chedi Luang and its ruins, Wat Phra Singh. Wat Chedi Luang charges foreigners (a few tens of baht depending on the source, to be checked on site). If you are there on a Sunday, the Sunday Walking Street on Ratchadamnoen Road opens in the late afternoon and evening (hours vary by source, free entry according to most); arrive early to avoid the crowd. Save your energy: the night on the train is tiring.
Day 2: Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat
The morning half day (Wat Pha Lat and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep) lasts 4.5 hours with pickup, from Wat Pha Lat to Doi Suthep, one of the north's most sacred shrines; rated 4.8 out of 5 from over 1,300 reviews, from about $22 (October 2026). The temple entrance fee and park charges vary by source (30 to 50 THB for the temple; 100 THB for foreigners at some park sites since October 2025): to be checked. In the afternoon, take it easy: massage, café, or night market.
Day 3: elephants or Doi Inthanon
Elephants: the Elephant Dream Project offers a half day from $48 (4.9 out of 5, 732 reviews in October 2026) with feeding and walking with elephants; "ethical" is the operator's own claim, compare the rules. See our guide to elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. Doi Inthanon: the day at the national park lasts about 9 hours (4.7 out of 5, over 7,000 reviews); details in Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
- 137 Pillars House: boutique hotel in a heritage house in the Wat Ket area, with a pool; about 10 minutes' walk from the Night Market according to Booking.
- Rati Lanna Riverside Spa Resort: on the Ping River, with an infinity pool and spa.
- Sala Lanna Chiang Mai: on the Ping River, river-view balconies, a pool, about five minutes' drive from Tha Phae Gate.
Prices to be checked on Booking.com for your dates.
Back to Bangkok
Night train no. 10 does the return. The plane is faster (about an hour and a half), the night bus cheaper. For your return to Bangkok, see Bangkok in 3 days and the festival calendar; for the lantern festival, read lantern festival in Chiang Mai from Bangkok.
FAQ
Are three days in Chiang Mai enough? Yes for the Old City, Doi Suthep and one excursion (elephants or Doi Inthanon).
What to do when arriving at 7:15 am? Leave your bags at the hotel and walk the Old City.
Is the Sunday Walking Street held every day? No, only on Sundays, in the late afternoon and evening.
Which day for Doi Inthanon? Day 3, if you prefer nature to elephants.
