🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Plenty of people who come to Chiang Mai already want to carry on to Chiang Rai — they just get stuck on how to split the days so the trip feels worth it. Spend too long in Chiang Mai and you miss Chiang Rai; rush to Chiang Rai and you worry about the long drive. This plan solves that by using Chiang Mai as the opening and closing day, then handing Chiang Rai two full nights as the star. And you're not driving in one long stretch either — we've slotted in stops on every leg, so it never feels like a day stuck in the car.
This plan assumes you're driving yourself (a rental sedan in Chiang Mai runs around 800–1,200 THB a day), because Chiang Rai's sights are spread out well beyond the town — Doi Tung and Singha Park included. Without a car, connecting between them is a hassle. But if you'd rather not drive, we've added bus options at the end of the article.
The 4-Day Trip at a Glance
- Day 1 — Leave Chiang Mai in the morning, drive north, stop for lunch at Mae Khachan. Reach Chiang Rai by afternoon, hit the White Temple before sunset, then check in in town.
- Day 2 — Round up the Chiang Rai temples: the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten), Wat Huay Pla Kang, and the Black House (Baan Dam). In the afternoon, head to Singha Park to sip tea over the plantations.
- Day 3 — Up to Doi Tung for the Royal Villa and Mae Fah Luang Garden, then on to Mae Salong for Oolong tea high on the mountain. Spend your last night in Chiang Rai.
- Day 4 — Drive back to Chiang Mai, stopping to soak at the Mae Khachan hot spring on the way. Arrive in Chiang Mai by mid-afternoon, in time to return the car.
Why four days
Give Chiang Rai just one night and you'll be rushing, because the White Temple, Doi Tung, and Singha Park all sit in different directions. Three nights is the sweet spot — two full days of actual sightseeing, with the first and last day left as buffer for the drive.
Book the activities in your Chiang Mai trip ahead
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Day 1 — Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, via the White Temple
The main route is Highway 118 (Chiang Mai–Chiang Rai) — straight through, about 185 km, roughly 3 hours if traffic is light. It's a winding mountain road around the Doi Nang Kaeo stretch, easy enough but don't rush it. Aim to leave Chiang Mai before 8 a.m. so you're not hitting the temple in the harsh afternoon sun.
The drive up + the White Temple
About the White Temple
Wat Rong Khun gets fierce sun from midday to about 2 p.m., and the white temple reflects light hard. Bring sunglasses. If you want fewer people in your photos, go right at the 8 a.m. opening instead of in the afternoon — just swap the day order so the temple lands on Day 2.
Day 2 — Chiang Rai Temples + Singha Park
Today is about the highlights in and around Chiang Rai town. The sights aren't far apart, so you can loop them all in a single day easily. Start with two temples at opposite ends of the colour spectrum, then close out the afternoon at the Singha Park tea plantation, where you can sit and linger.
The Blue Temple + tea plantation
Order it to save time
Wat Huay Pla Kang and Baan Dam sit on slightly different sides of town. Open Google Maps and check which is closer first, then sequence them so you're not doubling back. Singha Park itself is huge — budget at least 2 hours to walk it.
Day 3 — Doi Tung and Mae Salong
Today you head north out of town, up to Doi Tung in Mae Fah Luang district — about an hour's drive up the mountain from Chiang Rai town, cool and comfortable year-round. The highlights are the Doi Tung Royal Villa and Mae Fah Luang Garden, where the cold-climate flowers are in full bloom. Then carry on to Mae Salong for Oolong tea in a Yunnanese Chinese hill village.
Doi Tung + Doi Mae Salong
Be ready for the weather
Doi Tung and Mae Salong are high and cold, especially in the cool season (Nov–Feb) when temperatures can drop into the low teens (°C). Pack a warm jacket. From March to April, northern Thailand often has haze and air-quality problems, so the views may not be as clear as in the cool season — pick your travel window carefully.
Day 4 — Back to Chiang Mai, with a Soak Along the Way
The drive back
Where to Eat in Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai food is proper northern Thai — the kind that's hard to find in the big cities — including laab khua, gaeng hoh, nam prik ong, and signatures like loo (raw blood). We've picked the places that locals and reviews keep mentioning, focusing on spots in town that are easy to reach.
Loo Lam Chiang Rai
A northern Thai restaurant on the Kok River. The standouts are loo, sai ua (northern sausage), nam prik ong, laab, and gaeng hoh. Easy atmosphere — a good first-night dinner.
Khao Soi Roi Pee (Ta Hong recipe)
Khao soi served course-style, with chicken khao soi, stewed-pork khao soi, plus sai ua and nam prik num on the side. Great if you want to try a few things in one meal.
Tok Tong Northern Thai
An old wooden house with a Lanna feel, serving laab khua, gaeng hoh, and a northern appetiser set of sai ua, mu yo, crispy pork rind, and nam prik num.
Leelawadee Chiang Rai
A relaxed spot on the Kok River with a broad menu — punchy Thai dishes, fresh seafood, and local fare. A good pick for a bigger group.
PAAM
Modern Lanna-fusion northern food. Highlights are the Lanna PAAM set, stir-fried pork laab, sai-ua-and-nam-prik-num pizza, and fried tiny prawns. Photogenic too.
BlendSook
A farm-style spot with mountain views and northern-fusion dishes like sai ua pizza, prawn khao soi spaghetti, and nam prik ong nachos. Good for a long sit.
Gifts to take back to Chiang Mai
The easiest Chiang Rai gifts to grab are Oolong tea from Mae Salong and hill-grown coffee. For fruit, Nang Lae pineapple and lychee (in season) are the local names to look for — find them at morning markets and souvenir shops in town.
Getting There Without Driving
If you'd rather not drive, the Chiang Mai–Chiang Rai route has buses running all day. The main operator is Green Bus, departing from the Arcade bus terminal (Arcade 3) in Chiang Mai to the Chiang Rai bus terminal — roughly 3.5 to 4 hours. Classes range from standard up to A/V-Class, and you can book online in advance through the Green Bus website or a ticketing app.
- Green Bus — Chiang Mai Arcade → Chiang Rai, all day, around 3.5–4 hours. Book online in advance.
- Vans/minibuses — a touch faster than the bus but more cramped. Fine for solo travellers.
- Flights — there are domestic Chiang Mai–Chiang Rai flights, but they're infrequent. Factor in time to get to and from the airports.
- Car with driver — works out well if there are a few of you splitting the cost. It's the easiest way to reach out-of-town sights like Doi Tung.
The downside of going carless is that Chiang Rai's sights are very spread out — Doi Tung and Singha Park in particular are outside town and hard to reach by public transport. If you're not driving, we'd suggest hiring a car with a driver for the day, or booking a private day tour for the days you head up the mountains.
When's the Best Time to Go
Nov–Feb (cool season)
The best window for this trip. Cool, comfortable weather, the cold-climate flowers in bloom at Mae Fah Luang Garden, and clear mountain views. But it's busy and rooms fill fast — book ahead.
Mar–Apr (hot/haze)
Northern Thailand often gets haze from agricultural burning, and the mountain views can turn murky. Avoid it if you can, or check the air-quality reading before you set off.
May–Oct (rainy season)
Lush and green, fewer crowds, cheaper rooms — but the mountain roads get slick when it rains, so drive with extra care. Pack an umbrella and a rain jacket.
Want a Chiang Mai hotel sorted before the trip starts? See our shortlist.
See the Top 10 Chiang Mai Hotels →