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🛕 Cross-province itinerary

Lamphun–Lampang Plan
Two Lanna Old Towns

Lamphun and Lampang are two old Lanna towns sitting close together, but most people only visit Chiang Mai, swing by Lamphun for a single day, and head back. Drive on another 71 km or so and you reach Lampang, the carriage town that still keeps its hundred-year-old riverside buildings along the Wang River intact. This plan covers 2 days and 1 night: day one walking the old Hariphunchai quarter in Lamphun, day two moving up to Lampang to pay respects at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang before wrapping up at Kad Kong Ta market, with real timings and a route you can drive yourself.

🛕 Lanna old towns🚗 Cross-province drive🐎 Lampang carriage town
Lamphun–Lampang Plan Two Lanna Old Towns

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

What makes this trip special is seeing two faces of Lanna in one go. Lamphun is Hariphunchai, the oldest town in the north, founded by Queen Chamthewi more than 1,300 years ago. Its centre holds a golden chedi and old city walls you can wander at an easy pace. Lampang, meanwhile, grew as a teak-trading town in the reign of King Rama V, so it lined the Wang River with old Chinese–Burmese–European buildings, and it remains the only town in Thailand that still uses horse carriages to carry people to this day. The two towns have been tied together since ancient times, since Lampang (Khelang Nakhon) was founded by Prince Anantayot, the very son of Queen Chamthewi.

Before you set off

Driving yourself is by far the easiest way to do this trip, because Wat Phra That Lampang Luang sits in Ko Kha district, about 18 km southwest of Lampang town, and public transport out there is awkward. If you don't have your own car, renting one from Chiang Mai or Lamphun is much smoother. Budget for fuel too, since the whole trip adds up to roughly 200 km of driving.

Day 1 — Hariphunchai old town, Lamphun

Day one stays inside Lamphun town, which is small and very easy to get around. The main sights sit within the old city walls, a radius of just a few kilometres, so you can reach them all by car or even by bike. Wat Phra That Hariphunchai sits right in the centre, which makes it an easy starting point. Lamphun has far fewer people than Chiang Mai, so you can tour the town without competing for a spot to take photos.

Day 1

Lamphun town

09:00
Start at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai WoramahawihanA royal temple in the heart of Lamphun, more than 900 years old. The highlight is the golden Lanna-style chedi, the year-of-the-rooster relic that people born in that zodiac year come to honour. Dress modestly; entry to pray is free. Allow about an hour to walk the old gateways and the ancient bell tower around the temple.
10:30
Old city walls and Hariphunchai National MuseumAcross from the chedi temple, this museum keeps Hariphunchai-era antiquities, from stone inscriptions to old Buddha images. Entry is around 30 THB, good for history lovers, and takes about 45 minutes.
11:30
Lunch break, northern Lamphun foodThe area around the chedi temple and Nong Dok market has plenty of spots for khao soi, khanom jin nam ngiao and sticky rice with laab to try, at gentler prices than Chiang Mai. Lamphun is also famous for longan, so from summer into the early rainy season you'll find fresh longan for sale at the markets.
13:00
Wat Chamthewi (Ku Kut)On Chamthewi Road, about 1.5 km west of the town centre. The highlight is the Suwan Chang Kot chedi, a stepped square Dvaravati-style stupa whose top has broken off, which is why locals call it Ku Kut. It's believed to hold the ashes of Queen Chamthewi, and it's a rare piece of old architecture in the north.
14:30
Cafe stop and Khua Mung Tha SingLamphun has seen plenty of new cafes open lately around the old town and along the Kuang River, quiet and relaxed. Stop for a rest before walking Khua Mung Tha Sing, the covered bridge across the Kuang River that has become one of the town's favourite photo spots.
16:00
Queen Chamthewi MonumentBehind Nong Dok market, about 1 km from the provincial hall. It honours the first monarch who founded Hariphunchai, deeply revered by Lamphun locals. A nice stop to pay respects at the end of the day before finding a place to stay in town.

Where to stay tonight

Staying in Lamphun town on the first night is convenient, since the next morning you can drive straight up to Lampang. Lamphun has small hotels and budget-friendly homestays in town. If you want more options or prefer staying in Chiang Mai, you can sleep there and drive down to Lamphun in 30 minutes instead. Pick whatever suits you.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Lamphun 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 LamphunHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Lamphun attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from LamphunOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Lamphun activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Lamphun tours & activities (Klook)

Day 2 — Lampang, the carriage town

On the morning of day two, leave Lamphun and head up to Lampang, around 71 km on Highway 11, an easy drive of just over an hour. We'd suggest stopping at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in Ko Kha district before entering town, since it sits to the southwest on the way. Then carry on into Lampang town in the afternoon to walk the old quarter and Kad Kong Ta market in the evening.

Day 2

Lamphun → Lampang

08:00
Leave Lamphun, head for Ko KhaTake Highway 11 north into Lampang province, going straight for Ko Kha district before entering town. The distance from Lamphun to Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is about 75 km and takes around an hour and a half.
09:30
Wat Phra That Lampang LuangLampang's most important temple, and one of the most complete old Lanna timber complexes in Thailand. The highlights are the open-sided main wihan, the gleaming brass-gold chedi, and the upside-down reflection of the chedi that appears inside the Buddha wihan, which people queue to see. Free entry; dress modestly.
11:30
Into Lampang town, lunchFrom Ko Kha it's another 18 km or so into Lampang town. The town has spots for khao soi, noodles and local rice-and-curry plates at the markets. Lampang is known for khao soi and fried chicken, so fuel up before walking the old quarter in the afternoon.
13:30
Walk Tha Ma O old quarter, Baan Sao Nak, Wat PongsanukThe Tha Ma O quarter is an old community that still has the wooden houses of Rama V-era teak traders. Baan Sao Nak is an old teak house open as a museum, while Wat Pongsanuk has the Wihan Phra Chao Phan Ong, a Lanna–Burmese piece of architecture that once won a conservation award.
15:30
Take a horse-carriage tourLampang is the only town in Thailand that still uses horse carriages to carry people. You can board them near the old provincial hall and along the Wang River. Drivers take you on a loop around the old town and tell stories along the way. Fares depend on the route, starting at around 150–300 THB per ride, an activity you can't do anywhere else.
17:30
Walk Kad Kong Ta (if it's Sat–Sun)A riverside walking street along the Wang River set among hundred-year-old buildings, open Saturday and Sunday evenings, with local food, souvenirs, crafts and Lampang's famous rooster bowls. If you come on a weekday when Kad Kong Ta is closed, you can still walk and admire the old buildings by day before heading home.

Must-see sights in both towns

1

Wat Phra That Hariphunchai (Lamphun)

Central Lamphun · free entry

A golden chedi in the heart of Lamphun, more than 900 years old. It's the year-of-the-rooster relic that people born in that zodiac year come to honour, and it has been the spiritual centre of Hariphunchai since ancient times.

ChediOld town
2

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (Lampang)

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

Lampang's principal temple and one of the most complete old Lanna timber complexes anywhere. The highlights are the upside-down reflection of the chedi inside the wihan and the atmospheric open-sided main wihan.

ChediLanna
3

Kad Kong Ta (Lampang)

Wang riverside, Lampang town · Sat–Sun

A riverside walking street along the Wang River set among hundred-year-old Chinese–Burmese–European buildings. Open Saturday and Sunday evenings with local food and crafts, it has a period atmosphere you won't find elsewhere.

Walking streetOld buildings
4

Wat Chamthewi, Ku Kut (Lamphun)

~1.5 km from Lamphun town · free entry

A stepped square Dvaravati-style stupa that's rare to see in the north. Its top has broken off, hence the name Ku Kut, and it's believed to hold the ashes of Queen Chamthewi, founder of Hariphunchai.

Old chediHistory
5

Lampang horse carriages

Lampang town · from around ฿150–300/ride

Lampang is the only town in Thailand that still uses horse carriages to carry people. You can ride a full loop around the old town while the driver shares stories along the way, a hallmark of the town you can't experience anywhere else.

ActivityCarriage town
6

Tha Ma O quarter, Baan Sao Nak (Lampang)

Lampang town · Baan Sao Nak entry around ฿50

An old teak-trader community from the reign of Rama V, still lined with antique teak houses to walk among. Baan Sao Nak is open as a museum with a full collection of old Lanna objects, a lovely spot for relaxed photos.

Old houseMuseum
7

Hariphunchai National Museum (Lamphun)

Across from the chedi temple · entry around ฿30

Keeps Hariphunchai-era antiquities, from stone inscriptions to old Buddha images. It sits right across from the chedi temple, good for anyone who wants to understand the town's origins before exploring it for real.

MuseumHistory
8

Wat Pongsanuk (Lampang)

Lampang town · free entry

An old temple split into north and south sections, with the Wihan Phra Chao Phan Ong, a Lanna–Burmese building that once won a heritage conservation award. A quiet corner that visitors haven't fully discovered yet.

Old templeLanna

Route and getting around

  • Chiang Mai → Lamphun — about 26 km, a 30–40 minute drive, or you can take a songthaew or the train down to Lamphun, though in town you'll want a car or a rented bike to get around.
  • Lamphun → Lampang — about 71 km on Highway 11, an easy self-drive of just over an hour. If you want to stop at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in Ko Kha first, the total distance is around 75 km.
  • Around Lampang — Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is in Ko Kha, about 18 km from town, while the old quarter and Kad Kong Ta are in the centre. Your own car is by far the most flexible, with a horse-carriage ride in town as a fun extra.
  • Lampang → Bangkok — the drive back is about 6 hours, or you can take the train or a coach from Lampang station. If you came from Chiang Mai, the drive back from Lampang to Chiang Mai is about an hour and a half to two hours.

Get the timing right

If you want to walk Kad Kong Ta, set day two on a Saturday or Sunday, since the walking street only opens on those two days. If your trip doesn't land on a weekend, swap in a daytime stroll around the old buildings or add another temple instead. And don't cram in more than 4–5 temples a day, so you leave time for a carriage ride and a relaxed cafe stop too.

Tweak the plan to your style

Spiritual

Temple-hopping crowd

Focus on zodiac-year relics: honour Wat Phra That Hariphunchai (year of the rooster) in Lamphun, then Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (year of the ox) in Lampang, ticking off two famous chedis in one trip.

Photography

Old-town walkers

Cut down the temples and add more time walking Tha Ma O quarter, Baan Sao Nak, Khua Mung Tha Sing and cafes inside old buildings, focusing on photographing the period atmosphere of both towns.

Family

Family trip

Kids love the horse-carriage tour around Lampang. Stop by a rooster-bowl ceramics workshop to try painting your own pattern, and pace in frequent breaks for snacks and fresh longan along the way.

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

See the Lamphun travel guide →

FAQ

Are Lamphun and Lampang far apart? Can you visit them back to back?

Not very far. From Lamphun town to Lampang town is about 71 km, roughly an hour-plus drive on Highway 11. Both provinces are old Lanna towns that have been linked since ancient times, so a back-to-back 2-day, 1-night trip fits perfectly.

Can you do this trip without your own car?

You can, but it's harder, because Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is in Ko Kha district about 18 km from town and public transport out there is awkward. Without a car, we'd suggest renting one from Chiang Mai or Lamphun. Within Lampang town you can fill in with horse carriages or songthaews.

What days is Kad Kong Ta open, and what can you do instead on a weekday?

Kad Kong Ta is a walking street that opens only on Saturday and Sunday evenings. If your trip doesn't land on a weekend, you can still walk and admire the old riverside buildings along the Wang River by day, or carry on to Tha Ma O quarter, Baan Sao Nak and Wat Pongsanuk instead. The old-town atmosphere is still fun to walk.

Should you stay in Lamphun, Lampang or Chiang Mai?

If you follow this plan, staying in Lamphun on the first night is convenient since you can drive up to Lampang first thing. But if you want more hotel options, you can sleep in Chiang Mai and drive down to Lamphun in 30 minutes. And if you want to soak up the carriage town fully, you can stay in Lampang on the second night before heading back.

What time of year is best to go?

The cool season, roughly November to February, has lovely weather for walking the old towns and visiting temples in the open air. If you love longan, Lamphun has fresh longan around July to August. In the hot season, it's best to set out early and rest at midday in the shade.

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