🔄 Updated 7 Jul 2026
The short version: start in Bangkok for 2 days, then head north through the old capitals — Ayutthaya and Sukhothai — before settling into Chiang Mai for temples, mountains and cooking classes. From there loop up the winding road to Pai, then across to Chiang Rai for the far-north temples and hill country. You can ride the scenic overnight train from Bangkok toward the north, and the rest goes by bus and minivan. Prefer more or fewer days? See the alternative lengths below.
The northern route at a glance
| Days | Base | Highlights | Get there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Bangkok | Grand Palace & Wat Pho, Chinatown, markets | Fly into BKK/DMK |
| 3 | Ayutthaya | Brick temples and stone Buddhas you can cycle between | 1.5-hr train from Bangkok |
| 4–5 | Sukhothai | Thailand's first capital, ruins in a green historical park | Bus/minivan north |
| 6–9 | Chiang Mai | Old-town temples, elephant sanctuary, cooking class, Doi Suthep | Bus/minivan or short flight |
| 10 | Pai | Mountain village, hot springs, viewpoints, canyon | 3-hr minivan, 762 curves |
| 11–12 | Chiang Rai | White Temple, Blue Temple, tea hills, night bazaar | Bus back down, then north |
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Plan my trip →Days 1–2: Bangkok
Almost everyone lands here, and two days is enough before you head north. Do the big temples in the cool of the morning, ride a boat down the river, and eat your way through Chinatown after dark. Base yourself near the BTS or MRT so the traffic doesn't eat your time.
- Day 1: the big hitters — the Grand Palace, Wat Pho's reclining Buddha, and Wat Arun across the river. See the Grand Palace & temples guide
- Day 2: a market morning (Chatuchak on weekends, or a floating market), then Chinatown for street food — or slip in the easy day trip to Ayutthaya and start moving north
Where to stay in Bangkok
Stay near a BTS or MRT station to skip the traffic. Our ranked pick of the best-value hotels, verified from real guest reviews:
See Bangkok hotels →Day 3: Ayutthaya, the first old capital
An hour and a half north of Bangkok by cheap train lies Thailand's former royal capital — brick temples, crumbling prangs and the famous Buddha head cradled in tree roots, all flat enough to cycle between. You can do it as a day trip and sleep back in Bangkok, or overnight and carry on north the next morning. See Bangkok to Ayutthaya and the Ayutthaya city guide.
Rent a bicycle at the station
Rent a bicycle at the station — Ayutthaya's ruins are spread across a flat island, and pedalling between them in the morning light beats a coach tour hands down. Bring water; there's little shade among the brick.
Days 4–5: Sukhothai, where it all began
Push further north to Sukhothai, Thailand's very first capital and, for many, the most beautiful set of ruins in the country. The historical park is green, calm and made for cycling, with serene seated Buddhas reflected in old ponds. It sees a fraction of Ayutthaya's crowds. Trying to choose between the two? Read Sukhothai vs Ayutthaya — but on this route you get both. More on the town in the Sukhothai city guide.
- Day 4: arrive and settle in New Sukhothai; a first evening ride out to the park for sunset among the ruins
- Day 5: a full morning cycling the historical park, then afternoon on the road toward Chiang Mai (or an easy detour to nearby Si Satchanalai)
Where to stay in Sukhothai
New Sukhothai has the restaurants and buses; Old Sukhothai puts you at the park gates. Our ranked, review-checked picks:
See Sukhothai hotels →Days 6–9: Chiang Mai
This is the heart of the trip. Chiang Mai is cooler, calmer and greener than Bangkok — a moated old town packed with temples, mountains on the doorstep and Thailand's best café culture. Four days lets you slow right down. If you'd rather not do the full overland haul from Sukhothai, a short flight from Bangkok is always an option; see how to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (flight vs the scenic sleeper train).
- Day 6: wander the old-town temples on foot (Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh), then sunset at Doi Suthep above the city. Tickets on the Chiang Mai attractions page
- Day 7: a morning at an ethical elephant sanctuary (choose no-riding, observation-first camps), then a Thai cooking class in the afternoon
- Day 8: get up into the mountains — Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak, with waterfalls and the twin royal pagodas, or a hill-tribe village day
- Day 9: slow morning in a Nimman café, the Sunday Walking Street or Saturday market, and one last temple before the road north
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
The old town puts you walking distance from the temples, markets and cafés; Nimman is the modern, café-heavy side.
See Chiang Mai hotels →Day 10: Pai, up the winding road
The minivan from Chiang Mai to Pai takes about three hours and climbs through 762 numbered curves — genuinely twisty, so sit up front and take a motion-sickness tablet if you're prone. What waits at the top is worth it: a laid-back mountain town in a green valley, with hot springs, a canyon, waterfalls and viewpoints made for slow sunrises. See Chiang Mai to Pai and the Pai city guide.
The road to Pai has 762 curves
The road to Pai has 762 curves — that's not marketing, it's counted, and there's even a T-shirt. Motion-sickness pills, a front seat and a light breakfast make the three hours easy. Renting a scooter in Pai itself is popular, but only if you're already confident on two wheels.
Where to stay in Pai
Stay in walking distance of the walking-street strip, or out in the valley for rice-field views and quiet nights.
See Pai hotels →Days 11–12: Chiang Rai, the far north
Close the loop in Chiang Rai, the quietest of the northern cities and home to Thailand's most striking modern temples: the mirror-white Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple) and the deep-blue Wat Rong Suea Ten. Beyond them are tea and coffee hills, hot springs and the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. Wondering how it compares to Chiang Mai or Pai? See Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai and Pai vs Chiang Rai, and the Chiang Rai city guide.
- Day 11: the White Temple in the morning (go early, before the tour buses), the Blue Temple and the black house (Baan Dam) in the afternoon
- Day 12: the tea hills of Doi Mae Salong or the Golden Triangle, then fly home from Chiang Rai or bus back to Chiang Mai for onward flights
Where to stay in Chiang Rai
The centre keeps you near the night bazaar and buses; the outskirts trade convenience for hills and quiet.
See Chiang Rai hotels →Book the highlights of this route
The experiences most travellers add to the northern loop — compare options and reviews:
Alternative lengths: 7 days, 2 weeks, and where to trim
The north is easy to stretch or shorten. Fewer days means dropping a stop or two; more days means slowing down rather than adding rush. Here's how to reshape it.
| You have / want | Suggested route | Skip / swap |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Bangkok (2) → Ayutthaya (1) → Chiang Mai (3) → Chiang Rai (1) | Drop Sukhothai and Pai; fly Bangkok–Chiang Mai to save a day |
| 10 days | The core route, trimming either Pai or Chiang Rai | Keep both old capitals; pick one far-north stop |
| 2 weeks | The full loop, plus 2–3 slow days (extra Pai nights, Doi Inthanon, Golden Triangle) | Add Lampang or Nan for deeper north |
| Temples-focused | Ayutthaya → Sukhothai → Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai | Skip Pai; more time in the historical parks |
🏛️ Sukhothai vs Ayutthaya
Which old capital, or both
🏔️ Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai
How the two northern cities differ
🚐 Chiang Mai to Pai
The 762-curve road, done right
🚌 Getting around Thailand
Trains, buses, minivans, Grab
💡 Know before you go (for this route)
The north is at its best in the cool, dry months — clear mountain air and comfortable temperatures. Avoid Mar–Apr, when farmers burn fields and haze can settle over Chiang Mai and Pai. See best time to visit below.
The Bangkok–Chiang Mai sleeper takes roughly 11–12 hours and saves a night's hotel. Book a lower berth in second-class air-con ahead of time; it's the classic slow way to arrive in the north.
Sukhothai, Pai and Chiang Rai are mostly reached by bus or shared minivan. They're cheap and frequent, but the Pai road's 762 curves are twisty — sit up front and bring motion-sickness tablets.
Cool-season mornings on Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon or in Pai can be genuinely cold. A light jacket or fleece is worth the packing space up north.
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