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Lampang–Lamphun Plan
Two Old Lanna Cities

Lampang and Lamphun are two old Lanna cities that sit remarkably close together — it's only about 70 km from downtown Lampang to downtown Lamphun, roughly an hour's drive. Yet most people just pass through both on their way to Chiang Mai, even though each has plenty of its own. Lampang has horse carts, Lanna teakwood temples, and an old riverside market, while Lamphun is the thousand-year-old city of Hariphunchai, with a birth-year stupa and the ancient temples of Queen Chamthewi. This plan covers 2 days and 1 night — Lampang on day one, Lamphun on day two — with real timings and routes you can drive yourself.

🐎 Ride a Lampang horse cart🛕 Pay respects at two cities' stupas🏮 Walk the old Lanna streets
Lampang–Lamphun Plan Two Old Lanna Cities

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The charm of this trip is getting two styles of old Lanna city in one go. Lampang is Thailand's only horse-cart city, with one of the most complete Lanna teakwood temples, old buildings along the Wang River, and the famous rooster-bowl ceramics. Lamphun, meanwhile, is the thousand-year-old city of Hariphunchai, home to Phra That Hariphunchai — the stupa for people born in the Year of the Rooster — and Thailand's largest longan-growing area, so longan dishes have become a local specialty. Both are second-tier cities that travellers haven't fully discovered, and they string together nicely in a single drive.

Before you set off

Driving yourself is by far the easiest way to do this trip, because Lampang's key temple — Wat Phra That Lampang Luang — sits outside town toward Ko Kha district, and connecting there by public transport is a hassle. If you don't have your own car, rent one in downtown Lampang, or take a northern-line train to Lampang station and rent from there. Within Lampang's old town, a horse cart makes a nice add-on for sightseeing.

Day 1 — Lampang, the horse-cart city

Day one focuses on downtown Lampang and Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in Ko Kha district, about 18 km from town. Head out to the temple in the morning before the sun gets harsh, then loop back into town to walk the old quarter and Kad Kong Ta in the evening. Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is free to enter — dress modestly — and its highlight is the inverted reflection of the stupa projected inside the viharn.

Day 1

Lampang, the old city on the Wang River

08:30
Start at Wat Phra That Lampang LuangOne of the most complete Lanna teakwood temples in Thailand, in Ko Kha district about 18 km from town. It's the stupa for people born in the Year of the Ox, and the highlight is the inverted reflection of the stupa cast through a small hole onto cloth inside the Buddha viharn. Come early for fewer crowds and better light.
10:30
Loop back to town, stop at Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao SuchadaramAn old temple on the Wang River that once housed the Emerald Buddha. It has a stupa and a mondop blending Burmese and Lanna styles, sits within the town, and is easy to walk around — give it about 40 minutes.
12:00
Break for lunch in townLampang has khao soi, kuaytiao kao lao (clear noodle soup), and rice porridge with sides as local staples. The old-town area has several long-running shops. Try khao taen (rice crackers) or a local sweet as a snack too.
13:30
Visit the Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum (rooster bowls)The rooster bowl is a symbol of Lampang. This place tells the story of the old ceramic factory and has a zone where you can make a small rooster bowl as a souvenir — a good spot for a keepsake with a story behind it. It's open as a learning centre you can tour.
16:00
Ride a horse cart around the old townLampang is the only city in Thailand that still runs horse carts. The cart stands are around the clock-tower five-way intersection and along the river. Choose a short route around town or a longer one along the Wang River. Fares are per ride — agree on the price with the driver before you get on.
17:30
Walk Kad Kong TaAn old market on the Wang River set in century-old buildings that mix Thai, Chinese, Burmese, and European architecture. It runs as a walking street on Saturday and Sunday nights, with local food, crafts, and antiques to browse — an easy way to wind down the day.

Where to stay tonight

Spending the first night in downtown Lampang is the most convenient, since you can drive straight down to Lamphun the next morning. The area near Kad Kong Ta and the Wang River ranges from budget guesthouses in old buildings to mid-town hotels. Picking a spot in town means you can walk out for dinner and a stroll.

🎟️

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.

🎟️ Top tours in LampangHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Lampang attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from LampangOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Lampang activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
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Day 2 — Lamphun, the city of Hariphunchai

On the morning of day two, leave Lampang and head down to Lamphun. The distance from downtown Lampang to downtown Lamphun is about 70 km along the Lampang–Chiang Mai highway, roughly an hour's drive. Lamphun is a small, easy-to-walk city, with its main temples clustered close together in the old town — park once and you can walk to several. Almost all of them are free to enter.

Day 2

Lampang → Lamphun

08:00
Leave Lampang, head for LamphunDrive south on the Lampang–Chiang Mai highway into Lamphun — about 70 km, roughly an hour. Along the way you'll pass stretches of longan orchards and rice fields.
09:30
Pay respects at Wat Phra That HariphunchaiLamphun's signature temple, over a thousand years old, is the stupa for people born in the Year of the Rooster. Its gilded golden stupa stands out from far off, right in the city centre only about 150 metres from the provincial hall. Walk around to see the gateways and the ancient bell tower.
10:45
On to Wat Chamthewi (Wat Ku Kut)An ancient temple on Chamthewi Road, the site of the ku enshrining the relics of Queen Chamthewi, the first ruler of Hariphunchai. Its square mondop-style chedi in the Hariphunchai style is one of only a few left in Thailand — quiet and calm, with fewer visitors than the main stupa.
11:45
Longan noodles near the stupaLamphun is Thailand's largest longan-growing area, so longan dishes have become a local specialty. The area near Wat Phra That Hariphunchai has shops serving longan braised-pork noodles, where pork bones are simmered with longan until the broth turns fragrant and gently sweet — a dish worth trying at least once.
13:00
Stop at Ku Chang–Ku MaTwo old monuments standing side by side outside the old city wall, believed to be the burial sites of the war elephant and royal horse of a Hariphunchai king. Locals come to make wishes here. It's a quick stop on the way out of town.
14:30
Sit at a longan café or detour to Pa SangBefore heading back, try a garden-house-style café with longan items like longan coffee or longan in syrup, or drive on to Pa Sang district to pick up handwoven cotton and dried longan as gifts before the trip home.
16:00
Wrap up the trip and head homeFrom Lamphun, continuing up to Chiang Mai takes only about 40 minutes, or you can head back south through Lampang onto the northern highway. Leaving in the late afternoon makes for an easier drive without the harsh early-afternoon sun.

Don't-miss spots in both cities

1

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (Lampang)

Ko Kha district, ~18 km from town · free entry

One of the most complete Lanna teakwood temples in Thailand and the stupa for people born in the Year of the Ox. The highlight is the inverted reflection of the stupa projected inside the viharn — the image of Lampang everyone wants to capture.

Lanna templeLampang
2

Wat Phra That Hariphunchai (Lamphun)

Central Lamphun · free entry

Lamphun's signature temple, over a thousand years old and the stupa for people born in the Year of the Rooster. Its gilded golden stupa stands out in the old town and is a centre of faith for northern Thais.

stupaLamphun
3

Kad Kong Ta (Lampang)

Wang River, Lampang town · Sat–Sun

An old market on the Wang River set in century-old buildings that mix Thai, Chinese, Burmese, and European architecture. It runs as a walking street on Saturday and Sunday nights, with local food and crafts.

old marketstroll
4

Wat Chamthewi (Lamphun)

Chamthewi Road, Lamphun town · free entry

An ancient temple, the site of the ku enshrining the relics of Queen Chamthewi, the first ruler of Hariphunchai. Its square mondop-style chedi in the Hariphunchai style is one of only a few left in Thailand — quiet and calm.

historic siteLamphun
5

Horse-cart ride in Lampang

Lampang old town · per ride

Lampang is the only city in Thailand that still runs horse carts. Ride one around the old town and along the Wang River for an old-world feel. The stands are near the clock-tower five-way intersection — agree on the price before you get on.

activityLampang
6

Ku Chang–Ku Ma (Lamphun)

Outside Lamphun old town · free entry

Two old monuments standing side by side outside the old city wall, believed to be the burial sites of the war elephant and royal horse of a Hariphunchai king. Locals come to make wishes here — a quick stop.

historic sitespiritual

Routes and getting around

  • Getting to Lampang — from Bangkok, take a northern-line train to Lampang station, or drive / take a coach. From Chiang Mai it's about 100 km down to Lampang. In town, rent a car or use a horse cart to see the old quarter.
  • Around Lampang — Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is in Ko Kha district, about 18 km from town, while the in-town temples and Kad Kong Ta are close together. A private car is by far the smoothest — budget about 50–60 km of driving a day.
  • Lampang → Lamphun — about 70 km on the Lampang–Chiang Mai highway, roughly an hour's drive, with stretches of longan orchards and rice fields along the way.
  • Lamphun → Chiang Mai or the trip home — from Lamphun it's only about 40 minutes up to Chiang Mai, so it pairs well with a Chiang Mai trip, or you can loop back south through Lampang onto the northern highway to Bangkok.

Pace it right

Don't cram in more than 5–6 stops a day, because both cities reward slowing down and soaking up the old-town atmosphere rather than just stopping for photos. If you only have one day, trim it to Wat Phra That Lampang Luang and Kad Kong Ta on the Lampang side, then Wat Phra That Hariphunchai and Wat Chamthewi on the Lamphun side as the highlights.

Tweak the plan to your style

Spiritual

Temple-and-merit route

Focus on birth-year stupas: pay respects at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (Year of the Ox), then Phra That Hariphunchai (Year of the Rooster), then stop by Wat Chamthewi and Ku Chang–Ku Ma to round out the old-city circuit.

Photography

Old-town photo route

Focus on the old-world feel: ride a Lampang horse cart, walk the old buildings of Kad Kong Ta, then capture the golden stupa at Hariphunchai and the Ku Kut chedi at Wat Chamthewi.

Long trip

Onward-to-Chiang-Mai route

Use Lampang–Lamphun as a stopover on the way up to Chiang Mai, catching each city's highlights in half a day. From Lamphun it's only 40 minutes up to Chiang Mai — perfect for stringing into a longer northern trip.

Plan a full Lampang trip — see all the places to stay and visit

See the Lampang travel guide →

FAQ

Are Lampang and Lamphun far apart? Can you visit both in one trip?

Not far at all — it's about 70 km from downtown Lampang to downtown Lamphun on the Lampang–Chiang Mai highway, roughly an hour's drive. The two provinces are old Lanna cities right next to each other, so a back-to-back 2-day, 1-night trip works out perfectly.

Can you do this trip without your own car?

You can, but it's more of a hassle, because Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is outside town in Ko Kha district and connecting there by public transport is tough. We'd suggest taking a northern-line train to Lampang and renting a car, or renting one in town, so you can manage your time and reach the out-of-town temple more easily. Within Lampang's old town, a horse cart works for sightseeing.

Which temples shouldn't you miss in the two cities?

On the Lampang side it's Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, the Lanna teakwood temple with the inverted stupa reflection. On the Lamphun side it's Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, the city's thousand-year-old signature stupa, and Wat Chamthewi (Wat Ku Kut), the site of Queen Chamthewi's ku. All three are free to enter.

What are Lamphun's standout foods and souvenirs?

Lamphun is Thailand's largest longan-growing area, so the local specialties revolve around longan — think longan braised-pork noodles near Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, and café items like longan coffee and longan in syrup. Popular souvenirs are dried longan and handwoven cotton from Pa Sang district.

What's the best time of year to go?

The cool season, roughly November to February, has lovely weather for walking the old town and visiting open-air temples. If you want fresh longan straight from the orchard, July to August is Lamphun's longan season — though it's hotter and more humid, so head out early to dodge the afternoon sun.

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