Home Destinations Mae Hong Son 🧭 Plan Your Trip 🔎 Search About
Home › Thailand › Mae Hong Son › Mae Hong Son to Lamphun via Chiang Mai · 4 Days 3 Nights
🛣️ Cross-province plan

Mae Hong Son to Lamphun
via Chiang Mai · 4 Days 3 Nights

The route sounds long, but it actually strings three northern provinces together beautifully. You start in the misty town ringed by mountains, slowly wind your way down through Pai and Huai Nam Dang, pause to catch your breath in Chiang Mai, then close out in Lamphun — a small, quiet town with a thousand-year-old stupa and longan noodle soup waiting for you. We've laid it out as a 4-day, 3-night self-drive plan that you can actually follow, both the timing and the stops.

🚗 Self-drive⛰️ 1,864 curves🏯 Thousand-year stupa
Mae Hong Son to Lamphun via Chiang Mai · 4 Days 3 Nights

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The Mae Hong Son to Lamphun trip suits anyone who wants mountains, mist and old towns in a single journey, with Chiang Mai sitting right in the middle as a natural rest stop. The main artery is Highway 1095 (the Pai road) from Mae Hong Son into Chiang Mai — roughly 245 kilometres, about 5 to 6 hours of actual driving if you don't stop. But the whole charm of this road is in the stops, so we've spread it across several days rather than blitzing it in one go.

The final leg from Chiang Mai down to Lamphun is very short — only about 26 kilometres, half an hour's drive — which makes it perfect for wrapping up the trip at an easy pace before you fly home or drive back to Bangkok.

The 4-day route at a glance

  • Day 1 — Explore Mae Hong Son town: Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, the temples downtown, and the Su Tong Pae bamboo bridge.
  • Day 2 — Drive Highway 1095 out of Mae Hong Son, detour to Pang Oung / Ban Rak Thai, then head down to Pai for the night.
  • Day 3 — Pai → Huai Nam Dang → Chiang Mai. Rest, eat northern food, sleep in Chiang Mai.
  • Day 4 — Chiang Mai → Lamphun. Pay respects at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, eat longan noodle soup, and end the trip.

Driving this road safely

Highway 1095 has a lot of curves and some steep sections. Avoid driving at night — there's very little street lighting. Set off mid-morning and aim to reach your destination before dark. If you get carsick easily, bring medication, and always fill the tank before leaving any town.

🎟️

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

Day 1 — Mae Hong Son town

The first day stays in Mae Hong Son town itself — a small place you can comfortably walk or drive around. Ease into the slow rhythm of the misty town before tackling the long drive the next day.

Day 1

Getting to know the misty town

Morning
Wake up to a sea of mist at one of the viewpoints around town. If you're staying in town, you can drive straight up to Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu.The mist is thick in winter — bring a warm layer.
Late morning
Visit Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, where the viewpoint takes in the whole town from above.This is the town's guardian stupa — the view is lovely both morning and evening.
Midday
Lunch in town. Try Shan (Tai Yai) dishes like Shan khao soi, fermented bean cracker, or hang lay curry.Local restaurants cluster around Nong Jong Kham lake.
Afternoon
Walk around Nong Jong Kham lake and visit Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang, Shan-style architecture right in the centre of town.The two temples sit next to each other — you can walk between them.
Late afternoon
Drive out to the Su Tong Pae bridge, a bamboo footbridge over 500 metres long stretching across the rice fields.The light is best in the late afternoon, and there are fewer people than in the morning.
Evening
The walking street around Nong Jong Kham — eat local food and turn in for the night in town.Save your energy for the long drive tomorrow.

Day 2 — Mae Hong Son → Pang Oung → Pai

Today you start down Highway 1095. The first stretch detours to a hill village before you wind your way down to Pai. It's roughly 110 kilometres from Mae Hong Son to Pai, but with lots of stops and lots of curves, give yourself the whole day.

Day 2

High hills, a lake, and the town of Pai

07:30
Leave Mae Hong Son early and fill the tank before you head out of town.The earlier you go, the better the mist and the more chance you reach Pai before dark.
09:00
Stop at Pang Oung, a lake set among pine trees with a cool, calm feel — you can ride a bamboo raft here.The turn-off into Pang Oung / Ban Rak Thai is narrow and steep, so drive carefully.
10:30
Carry on to Ban Rak Thai, a Yunnanese Chinese village — sip tea and try the braised pork leg with mantou buns.It's a good spot for a late breakfast before you double back to the main road.
13:00
Rejoin Highway 1095 heading for Pai. There are viewpoints along the way to pull over and rest.The curves come thick and fast here — drive slowly and take frequent breaks.
15:30
Arrive in Pai, check in, and stroll the historic Pai bridge or a riverside café.Pai is full of cafés — pick one to settle into in the late afternoon.
Evening
The Pai walking street — street food and sweets, a lively small-town buzz.Spend one night in Pai.

If you're short on time

If you'd rather skip Pang Oung and Ban Rak Thai (the turn-off heads quite a way off the main road), you can drive Highway 1095 straight from Mae Hong Son into Pai instead, which leaves you a full afternoon to explore Pai — and you can save Pang Oung for next time.

Day 3 — Pai → Huai Nam Dang → Chiang Mai

This is the highlight for nature lovers. From Pai you climb up to Huai Nam Dang for the sea of mist, then drop down into Chiang Mai. Pai to Chiang Mai is about 135 kilometres, roughly 3 to 4 hours of actual driving not counting stops.

Day 3

The Huai Nam Dang mist, then down to Chiang Mai

Pre-dawn
Leave Pai before sunrise to reach the Huai Nam Dang viewpoint (Doi Kiew Lom) for the morning sea of mist.In winter you need to arrive before sunrise — it gets crowded, so go early to find parking.
08:30
Have a hot coffee in the cold mountain air, then ease back down onto Highway 1095.There are coffee shops and rest stops along the road.
11:00
Come down at Mae Malai and turn onto Highway 107 toward Chiang Mai.The road starts to flatten out here, and driving gets much easier.
12:30
Reach Chiang Mai, check in, and have khao soi or other northern food for lunch.The Nimman area and the old city have plenty of options.
Afternoon
Rest and wander the old city, visit Wat Phra Singh, or sit at a café around Nimman.Today is for resting after the drive — don't cram the schedule.
Evening
Find dinner in town. If it lines up with a walking street day, you can stroll for ages.Spend one night in Chiang Mai.

Day 4 — Chiang Mai → Lamphun

The last day is a short drive down to Lamphun, an old town people often pass through without stopping — even though it has plenty going for it. It's only about 26 kilometres from Chiang Mai, half an hour's drive, and the old route runs along an avenue of ancient yang trees that's gorgeously shaded.

Day 4

The thousand-year stupa and longan noodles

08:30
Drive from Chiang Mai down to Lamphun on the old road that runs through the line of yang trees.The Chiang Mai–Lamphun yang-tree road is a lovely spot for photos.
09:30
Pay your respects at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, a golden Lanka-style chedi over a thousand years old, in the middle of Lamphun.The temple is open 06:00–21:00. Dress modestly.
10:30
Walk over to Wat Chamthewi and Ku Chang, ancient ruins from the old Hariphunchai kingdom.They're not far from the stupa — just a few minutes' drive on.
Midday
Eat braised-pork longan noodle soup at an old shop across from the stupa — longan is added to the broth.It's a Lamphun signature, hard to find anywhere else.
Afternoon
Pick up souvenirs — dried longan and woven cotton — before you wrap up the trip.Longan season runs around July–August, when you can get it fresh.
Late afternoon
Drive back to Chiang Mai (half an hour) to fly home, or pick up onward transport to Bangkok.Chiang Mai airport is very close to Lamphun.

Things to know before you go

  • The car — We'd suggest renting in Chiang Mai and flying into Mae Hong Son, or driving the loop back. If you drive yourself, use a car in good shape with solid brakes, because the descents down the mountains are long.
  • Season — November to February brings cool air and a clear sea of mist, the most beautiful window for this route. In the rainy season the roads get slippery, so take care.
  • Accommodation — Book ahead in high season, especially in Pai and Ban Rak Thai, where rooms are limited.
  • Cash — Many small shops up in the hills and local markets still take cash only, so carry a reasonable amount.

Can you run it in reverse?

Yes. If you fly into Chiang Mai first, you can start with Lamphun and Chiang Mai, then climb up to Pai and Mae Hong Son, finishing in the misty town. The upside is that you end where you can fly straight back to Bangkok from Mae Hong Son.

Want a good place to stay in Mae Hong Son before you set off?

See the Top 10 Mae Hong Son stays →

FAQ

How many days does the Mae Hong Son–Lamphun trip really need?

This plan is built around 4 days and 3 nights, which is about right for an unhurried self-drive. If you have less time, drop one stop — for example, skip Pang Oung and Ban Rak Thai — and you'll have a realistic 3-day, 2-night version.

Should you start from Mae Hong Son or Lamphun first?

It depends on your flights. If you can fly into Mae Hong Son, start in the misty town and work your way down to Lamphun. But most people fly into Chiang Mai, so the popular approach is to rent a car there, climb up to Mae Hong Son, then loop back down to Lamphun before returning the car.

How long does it take to drive from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai?

Highway 1095 via Pai is about 245 kilometres, roughly 5 to 6 hours of actual driving if you don't stop. But with all those curves (the welcome sign claims 1,864 of them), it's better to spread it over several days and take plenty of breaks.

What is there to do in Lamphun if you only have half a day?

Pay your respects at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in the centre, walk over to Wat Chamthewi and Ku Chang, then eat braised-pork longan noodle soup across from the stupa. That alone is a worthwhile half-day. With a bit more time, pick up dried longan and woven cotton as souvenirs.

What time of year is best for this route?

November to February — cool air, with the sea of mist at Huai Nam Dang and Pang Oung at its clearest. That's when this route is at its best. In the rainy season the views are lush green but the roads are slippery, so drive with extra care.

Related

🗺️ Mae Hong Son travel guide🏨 Top 10 Mae Hong Son stays🔁 The Chiang Mai–Mae Hong Son loop plan

Copyright & Image Takedown Policy

Thailandaddict is created to review and share travel experiences. Where an image is sourced from elsewhere, we credit the source. If you are the copyright owner and prefer that your image not appear on this site, please contact us and we will gladly remove the image or correct the information.