This is the complete itinerary for our journey through the quieter corners of Northern Thailand. See below for full details, with links to in-depth descriptions of individual stops to help you decide what’s right for you. Click on any of the following for deeper looks at Lampang, The Sky Pagodas, Phu Langka, Nan, and Thansawan Waterfall.
A 10-day loop through the cultural heart and misty ridgelines of Lampang, Phayao, and Nan provinces.
Lampang to Nan Loop – At a Glance
| Route | Chiang Mai → Lampang → Phu Langka → Nan → Phayao |
| Duration | 10 Days |
| Pace | Balanced: Urban culture mixed with mountain solitude |
| Ideal for | Art Lovers · Families · Slow Travel · Photography |
| Highlights | Chiang Mai Food Tour · Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat (Sky Temple) · Cocoa Valley Workshop · Whispers of Love Mural in Nan · Thansawan Waterfall |
Far less traveled than Chaing Mai or even Chiang Rai, Thailand’s “Middle North”—the provinces of Lampang, Phayao, and Nan—offer a version of Thailand that is effortlessly cool, deeply creative, and remarkably uncrowded.
On this 10-day loop, we traded the souvenir stalls for riverside teak houses, exquisite religious art, and mountain vistas where the morning mist makes you feel like you’re standing on the edge of the world. We traveled this route with our young family in mid-October, catching the tail end of the monsoon when the rice fields were at their most electric green.
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Itinerary Overview
| L | Primary Destination | Activity Focus | Overnight Stay |
| Day 1 | Chiang Mai | Food Tours and Old City Arts | 99 The Heritage Hotel |
| Day 2 | Chiang Mai | Lanna Folklife and Gallery Hopping | 99 The Heritage Hotel |
| Day 3 | Lampang | Hiking Doi Khun Tan and Riverside Dining | The Riverside Guest House |
| Day 4 | Lampang | Ceramics Workshops and Cultural Houses | The Riverside Guest House |
| Day 5 | Mae Kampang | The “Sky Temple” and Hot Springs | Portare Home |
| Day 6 | Phu Langka | Waterfalls and Valley Views | Phu Langka Sea View |
| Day 7 | Nan | Mushrooms, Chocolate, and Murals | Nan Seasons Boutique Resort |
| Day 8 | Nan | “Whispers of Love” and Riverside Art | Nan Seasons Boutique Resort |
| Day 9 | Phayao | Lakeside Sunsets and Forest Falls | Naga Tara Resort |
| Day 10 | Bangkok | Final Temple Views and Departure | Home |
Day 1: Arrival in Chiang Mai and Northern Flavours
Our journey begins in the Rose of the North. After touching down, we waste no time diving into the city’s creative pulse, hunting for local prints and exploring the Old City on foot before a deep dive into the region’s culinary secrets.
Day 1 Schedule: Old City Arts and Eats
| Time | Activity/Logistics |
|---|---|
| 2:35 p.m. | Arrive at Chiang Rai Airport. |
| 3:00 p.m. | Check in to hotel. |
| 3:30 p.m. | Visit Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan. |
| 4:15 p.m. | Shop for local art prints at C.A.P. Studio. |
| 5:00 p.m. | Join the Northern Flavours Food Tour |
Accommodation: 99 The Heritage Hotel
99 The Heritage Hotel A colonial-style gem located right in the heart of the Old City. Its central location makes it the perfect base for walking between the city’s most famous temples and the quiet artisan studios hidden in the backstreets.
Day 2: Lanna Folklife and Gallery Hopping
Today is about the textures of the North. We explore the history of the Lanna people before spending the afternoon weaving through the city’s best independent galleries and jewelry studios.
Day 2 Schedule: Chiang Mai Culture and Design
| Time | Activity/Logistics |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast at the hotel. |
| 9:00 a.m. | Visit the Lanna Folklife Museum |
| 11:00 a.m. | Gallery Hopping: Metal Studio Jewelry, Kaew Gallery, Gongdee, and Three Owls Gallery. |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner at Ginger & Kafe |
Accommodation: 99 The Heritage Hotel
99 The Heritage Hotel A colonial-style gem located right in the heart of the Old City. Its central location makes it the perfect base for walking between the city’s most famous temples and the quiet artisan studios hidden in the backstreets.
Day 3: Crossing the Range to Lampang
We pick up our rental car and head southeast. The highlight today is Doi Khun Tan, a national park unique for being accessible by train, but even better explored on foot. We end the day in Lampang, a city that feels like Chiang Mai did thirty years ago.
Day 3 Schedule: Doi Khun Tan Hiking
| Time | Activity/Logistics |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | After breakfast, pick up rental car from Chiang Mai airport. |
| 8:15 a.m. | Drive to Doi Khun Tan National Park (75 kms, 1 hr 15 mins). |
| 3:30 p.m. | Hike to the Doi Khun Tan viewpoint (10 km in-and-out, approx. 5 hrs). |
| 4:15 p.m. | Drive to Lampang (55 kms, 1 hr). |
| 5:00 p.m. | Dinner at Aroy One Baht (a local legendary spot). |
| 6:30 p.m. | Dessert and browsing at Kad Kong Ta Walking Street. |
Accommodation: The Riverside Guest House
The Riverside Guest House Located directly on the banks of the Wang River, this is a collection of traditional teak houses on stilts. It offers a peaceful, authentic atmosphere with terraces stepping down to the water and is managed by a long-term expat who knows the city’s history intimately.
Day 4: Culture, Coffee, and Crustaceans
Lampang is the “Ceramic Capital” of Thailand, and today we get our hands dirty. Between museum visits and ancient wooden houses, we hunt for the city’s famous horse-drawn carriages and world-class coffee.
Day 4 Schedule: Lampang Artisans and Ancient Temples
| Time | Activity/Logistics |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast at the guest house. |
| 9:30 a.m. | Visit Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum; ceramic workshop for kids. |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch at Khao Soi Islam. |
| 3:00 p.m. | Visit Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang, one of Thailand’s most beautiful wooden temples. |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner at Pad Thai Yai Fong (don’t miss the giant river shrimp). |
| 6:30 p.m. | Evening drinks at Rgong Beer Garden or riverside. |
Accommodation: The Riverside Guest House
The Riverside Guest House Located directly on the banks of the Wang River, this is a collection of traditional teak houses on stilts. It offers a peaceful, authentic atmosphere with terraces stepping down to the water and is managed by a long-term expat who knows the city’s history intimately.
Day 5: The Sky Temple and Hot Springs
Today features one of the most Instagrammed—yet hardest to reach—temples in Thailand. We head into the mountains of Chae Son to see the white pagodas perched on limestone peaks before soaking in natural hot springs.
Note: this day includes a mistake I made and so involves an extra hour or two of driving. The reward is a lovely night in Mae Kampang, but staying closer to the springs is entirely reasonable.
Day 5 Schedule: Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat and Chae Son Hot Springs
| Time | Activity/Logistics |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Drive to Phraphutthabat Sutthawart (65 kms, 1 hr 15 mins). |
| 9:45 a.m. | Visit the “Sky Temples” of Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat. |
| 12:15 p.m. | Lunch at Caffe Bruno |
| 2:00 p.m. | Visit Chae Son National Park; soak in hot springs and see the waterfall. |
| 3:30 p.m. | Drive the Kiew Fin Pass towards Mae Kampong (25 kms, 1 hr). |
| 4:30 p.m. | Check-in, dinner, and overnight at Portare Home. |
Accommodation: Portare Home
Portare Home offers modern, elegantly designed suites with private balconies and mountain views. It’s Mae Kampong’s most peaceful retreat famous for its attentive service, excellent breakfast, and tranquil, nature-focused atmosphere.
Day 6: The Road to Phu Langka
We push further north toward the border of Phayao and Nan provinces. This is a day for the “drive” itself, stopping at hidden waterfalls and ending at one of the most famous sunrise viewpoints in the country.
Day 6 Schedule: Waterfalls and Ridges
| Time | Activity/Logistics |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Explore Mae Kamphong, coffee on the ridge. |
| 9:30 a.m. | Depart en route to Phu Langka, with a stop for a second breakfast in Phayao (141 kms, 2 hrs 30 mins). |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch at Aurora Restaurant or similar on the Phayao waterfront. |
| 1:15 p.m. | Drive to Namtok Nam Min Forest Park (94 kms, 1 hr 15 mins). |
| 3:30 p.m. | Explore Nam Min Waterfall. |
| 4:15 p.m. | Final leg of the drive to Phu Langka (38 kms, 45 mins). |
| 5:00 p.m. | Arrive at Phu Langka in time for the “Golden Hour,” dinner at Phu Langka Sea View. |
Accommodation: Phu Langka Sea View (ภูลังกาซีวิว)
Phu Lanka See View Homestay Our top pick for families. They offer large, sturdy tents on elevated wooden platforms and basic bungalows. It’s friendly, safe for kids, and has excellent unobstructed views of the karst.
Day 7: Chocolate, Mushrooms, and Murals
Descending from the mists of Phu Langka, we enter the Nan valley. Today is a sensory feast—from mushroom farms to hands-on chocolate making, ending with the intricate murals of the Tai Lue people.
Day 7 Schedule: The Pua Valley
| Time | Activity/Logistics |
|---|---|
| 5:00 a.m. | Wake as early as you can stand to watch the valley change with the rising sun from your balcony. |
| 9:30 a.m. | Watch the final morning mists of the valley dissolve from Magic Mountain Cafe, then the road (88 kms, 1 hr 45 mins). |
| 11:30 a.m. | Lunch at Huanam Mushroom Farm, stop at Wat Phuket for Rice Valley Views. |
| 1:30 p.m. | Chocolate workshop at Cocoa Valley Cafe. |
| 3:30 p.m. | View the historic murals at Wat Nong Bua. |
| 5:30 p.m. | Check in and dinner at Lemongrass, Nan Seasons Boutique Resort. |
Accommodation: Nan Seasons Boutique Resort
Nan Seasons Boutique Resort Set among rice fields on the edge of the valley, this garden resort is a peaceful retreat after a day of exploring temples and back roads. Evenings here—watching the light soften over the fields—were a highlight of our stay. Comfortable bungalows, thoughtful design, and plenty of space for kids to roam make it particularly appealing for families.
Day 8: The Temple of the Whispers of Love
Nan City is a cultural jewel. Today is slow and deliberate, centered around the most famous mural in Thailand and the quiet elegance of the Nan River.
Day 8 Schedule: Nan City Culture
| Time | Activity/Logistics |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | Visit Wat Phumin to see the “Whispers of Love” mural. |
| 10:00 a.m. | Nan National Museum and the famous Frangipani tunnel. |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch near the museum. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Visit the Nan Riverside Art Gallery. |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner and snacks at Kuang Mueng Walking Street or a relaxed evening watching the sunset over the rice fields. |
Accommodation: Nan Seasons Boutique Resort
Nan Seasons Boutique Resort Set among rice fields on the edge of the valley, this garden resort is a peaceful retreat after a day of exploring temples and back roads. Evenings here—watching the light soften over the fields—were a highlight of our stay. Comfortable bungalows, thoughtful design, and plenty of space for kids to roam make it particularly appealing for families.
Day 9: The Waterfalls of Phayao
As we begin the loop back toward the airport, we stop at the stunning turquoise pools of the wild Thansawan Waterfall. We end the day with a lakeside sunset in Phayao.
Day 9 Schedule: Doi Phu Nang and the Lakefront
| Time | Activity/Logistics |
|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. | Depart for Doi Phu Nang National Park (95 kms, 1 hr 45 mins). |
| 11:30 a.m. | Picnic lunch at Doi Phu Nang NP, then visit the stunning Thansawan Waterfall. |
| 2:00 p.m. | Continue on the Phayao (58 kms, 1 hr). |
| 3:00 p.m. | Visit the hilltop Wat Analayothipyaram. |
| 4:00 p.m. | Check into hotel and have a swim. |
| 6:00 p.m. | Sunset dinner on the Phayao Waterfront. |
Accommodation: Naga Tara Resort
Naga Tara Resort A modern, stylish resort located right on the edge of the lake, offering the best sunset views in the province. Try for one of the “pool villas” with views out over the water. It’s a bit more, but very much worth it.
Day 10: Farewell to the North
A final breakfast by the lake before the drive back to the airport. We leave the mountains behind and head back to the humidity of Bangkok.
Day 10 Schedule: Departure
| Time | Activity/Logistics |
|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. | Drive to the airport (160 kms, 2 hrs 45 mins). |
| 12:00 p.m. | Arrive at the airport to return the rental car. |
| 2:35 p.m. | Depart for Bangkok. |
