🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Lampang sits about 100 km from Chiang Mai, and you can come by train or by car. But if you want to get around without relying on public transport, renting a car or hiring one with a driver is by far the smoothest option, since the highlights like Chae Son and the elephant center are on the opposite side of town from each other. This plan keeps you in the city for both nights and loops you out on day trips, so you don't have to keep changing hotels.
The 3-day plan at a glance
- Day 1 — Lampang old town, city temples, a horse-carriage ride, and Kad Kong Ta in the evening (Sat–Sun)
- Day 2 — Chae Son National Park: soak in the hot springs, splash at the waterfall, boil eggs in the spring
- Day 3 — Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, then the Thai Elephant Conservation Center before heading home
- Overall budget per person (excluding luxury stays) is roughly THB 2,500–4,000 for 3 days, depending on transport and activities
Line up your day with Kad Kong Ta
Kad Kong Ta market only runs on Saturday and Sunday evenings, around 4 pm to 10 pm. If you want to walk it, plan day one to fall on a weekend. The elephant shows at the conservation center only run at 11 am and 1.30 pm, so save that for late morning on your last day.
🎟️Book the activities in your Lampang 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.
🎟️ See all Lampang tours & activities (Klook) Day 1 — Old town, horse carriages and Kad Kong Ta
Spend the first day covering everything in town. Lampang is the only place in Thailand that still has working horse carriages on the streets, and the old town along the Wang River is a pleasant stroll, no long drives needed.
Day 1
Old town — carriages — night market
08.30
Start the morning with rice porridge and coffee at an old shop near the municipal marketBreakfast the Lampang way — the old town has several spots to choose from. Budget THB 40–70
09.30
Pay respects at Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao Suchadaram, a riverside temple by the WangThis was once home to the Emerald Buddha. The mix of Lanna and Burmese architecture is gorgeous, and entry is free
11.00
Take a short horse-carriage loop through the old town, past Ratsadaphisek Bridge and the old wooden housesLampang's carriages have several waiting stands. A city loop starts around THB 200–300 per ride — agree on the price before you get on
12.30
Northern Thai lunch — khao soi, nam ngiao, or Lampang's famous khuay hoi kha noodlesKhuay hoi kha noodles are a local specialty, with chewy noodles in a well-rounded broth. Budget THB 50–80
14.30
Wander Baan Sao Nak, an old teak house built on 116 posts, and learn how Lampang's wealthy families once livedEntry is around THB 50, with pretty photo corners and local sweets served
16.00
Take a café break in the old town and photograph the Sino-Portuguese buildingsThe old Chinese-market district has several cafés set in heritage buildings — a good place to rest before the night market
17.30
Walk Kad Kong Ta, the riverside walking street along the Wang (Sat–Sun)Open 4 pm to 10 pm, with local snacks, craft stalls and old buildings to photograph. On a weekday, swap in another walking street or a riverside restaurant instead
Day 2 — Chae Son National Park hot springs
Today you drive out of town toward Mueang Pan district, about 70 km away and roughly an hour and a half by car. Chae Son is a park with both a waterfall and a hot spring in one place, perfect for a relaxed day with nature.
Day 2
Nature — waterfall — hot springs
08.00
Leave town, stopping to grab sticky rice and snacks for the roadThere are small markets along the way. Bring water and snacks, since food options inside the park are limited
09.30
Arrive at Chae Son National Park and walk up the 6-tier Chae Son WaterfallOpen 7 am to 6 pm, adult entry around THB 40. The path up isn't too steep, and kids can manage it
11.00
Boil eggs at the hot spring, where the water peaks at around 75°CThe water is hot enough to cook an egg in 15 minutes. Buy a basket of eggs at the spring and boil them yourself — it's fun and the signature thing to do here
12.30
Lunch at the park restaurant or a made-to-order shop near the entranceLocal dishes and standard made-to-order fare, at typical national-park prices
14.00
Soak in the natural mineral pools or a private mineral-bath roomThere's a free foot-soaking pool and paid private mineral-bath rooms — great for easing tired legs after the waterfall
16.00
Head back into Lampang townYou'll reach the city by early evening. Save your energy for dinner in town — if you're still up for it, stop for moo kratha or a riverside restaurant on the Wang
Want to stay closer to nature
Chae Son has park bungalows and a campground you can book ahead. If you'd like to wake up to mist and cool air, swap your second night to staying in the park instead of town, then circle back for the elephant center on your last day.
Day 3 — Wat Phra That Lampang Luang and the elephants
Your last day heads west of the city, fitting in the temple Lampang locals are proudest of and time with the elephants before you leave. The two spots are in different districts, but the route between them connects easily.
Day 3
Old temple — elephants — heading home
08.00
Pack up, check out, and have a light breakfast in townLeave time to drive to Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in Ko Kha district, about 18 km away
09.00
Visit Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of the most complete Lanna wooden temples there isOpen 7.30 am to 5 pm, free entry. The highlights are the upside-down reflection of the chedi inside the dark vihara and the ancient Khong gateway arch
10.30
Drive on to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Hang Chat districtIt's on the Lampang–Chiang Mai road at km 28, open 8.30 am to 3.30 pm, adult entry THB 100
11.00
Watch the morning elephant 'classroom' showShows are at 11 am and 1.30 pm, with elephant bathing at 10.45 am and 1.15 pm. Arrive a little early for a good seat
12.30
Feed the elephants and walk through the elephant hospital and feeding groundsYou can buy sugarcane and bananas to feed them, and there are mahout-life activities for anyone interested
13.30
Lunch around Hang Chat or somewhere along the way backIf you're heading to Chiang Mai, this road lines up perfectly. If you're going back to Bangkok, loop back into Lampang town to catch a train or flight
15.00
Buy souvenirs before you go — rooster bowls, khao taen rice crackers, and northern treatsThe rooster bowl is a Lampang signature, and many ceramic factories have shopfronts where you can buy them
How to pick a place to stay
In townStay in the old town near Kad Kong Ta
Walking distance to the night market and the heritage-building cafés. Great atmosphere and ideal if you don't have a car, with options from budget guesthouses to riverside boutiques
Easy drivingStay along the Chiang Mai road
Handy if you're focused on driving out to Chae Son and the elephant center — easy to leave town and plenty of parking
Tips to make the trip smoother
- Best season to visit — November to February, when it's cool, Chae Son looks its best, and the waterfall still has water
- Getting around — public transport in Lampang isn't frequent. For Chae Son and the elephant center, renting a car or hiring one with a driver saves the most time
- Cash — markets, local shops, and several park entrances prefer cash, so carry small bills
- Opening hours — Kad Kong Ta is Sat–Sun only, and the elephant shows have limited times, so check before you lock in your dates
