48 routes out of Chiang Mai
Every guide was written after driving the route, and every one says plainly which vehicles suit it — and which do not.
Doi Suthep & Doi Pui
The temple on the ridge above Chiang Mai, the royal gardens behind it, and a Hmong village at the end of the road — all before lunch.
Samoeng Loop
A hundred kilometres through the Mae Sa valley, over a forested ridge and back down to the city — the perfect first day on two wheels.
Mae Kampong Village
A tea-growing village a thousand metres up a forested valley, an hour from the city and a century from it.
Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls
Limestone falls with enough grip to walk straight up them, an hour north of the city, and free.
Chiang Dao
A cave system running deep into Thailand's third-highest peak, a forest temple on the hillside above, and a market town that has not tried to become anything else.
A stop on this routeLampang Lanna Temples
The finest surviving wooden Lanna temple in the north, a hilltop of white chedis, and a town that still runs horse carriages.
Doi Inthanon National Park
The country's highest peak, two royal pagodas above the cloud, waterfalls at every turning, and Karen villages growing coffee on the terraces.
A stop on this routePai
The road to Pai is the reason to go to Pai — and then the valley keeps you there longer than you planned.
A stop on this routeDoi Ang Khang
Cherry blossom in January, Yunnanese villages on the ridge, and one of the hardest climbs in the north.
Chiang Rai Temple Trail
A white temple, a blue temple and a black house — three artists' visions within twenty kilometres of each other.
A stop on this routeDoi Mae Salong & The Golden Triangle
A Yunnanese town founded by a stranded army, the royal villa at Doi Tung, and the point where three countries meet on the Mekong.
The Mae Hong Son Loop
The great road trip of northern Thailand — six hundred kilometres through the mountains along the Myanmar border and back.
A stop on this routeThe Temple Ring Beyond The Moat
The temples most visitors miss because they never leave the old city — a tunnel monastery, a royal cemetery and a seven-spired chedi, all within a short ride of the moat.
A stop on this routeSouth To Hang Dong
A mountain temple that grants wishes and gets twenty-three thousand reviews, and a wooden pavilion nearby that most people have never heard of.
A stop on this routeMae Rim & Mae Taeng
North through Mae Rim to a royal temple, a hill-tribe farming village and a waterfall, then on to the most extravagant temple complex in the north.
A stop on this routeThe Waterfall Run North
Mae Sa, Tad Mok, Mok Fa and the limestone falls at Bua Thong — the four best falls north of the city, driven in one long, wet, excellent day.
A stop on this routeChom Thong, Ob Luang & Mae Chaem
The other side of Thailand's highest mountain — a relic temple, four waterfalls, Karen rice terraces at a thousand metres, and the gorge road home.
A stop on this routeNorth To Chiang Dao's Villages
A forest village with no phone reception and a Lisu hamlet with the best view of Doi Luang Chiang Dao there is.
Half day · Chiang MaiThe Mae Rim valley
A waterfall, a royal temple in teak, and the valley road north of the city. Close enough to do on a scooter.
Half day · Chiang MaiFaith on the mountain
The temple above the city and the royal park below it — a short day, and the one to drive first if you have just landed.
Full day · Chiang MaiThe Royal Project stations
Highland farms set up under King Rama IX to replace opium with coffee, roses and cold-climate vegetables.
Full day · Chiang MaiCommunity trails
Villages that host visitors themselves — a riverside artists' quarter, a coffee village in the hills, a hot spring.
Full day · Chiang MaiDoi Ang Khang in the cold season
The border ridge in cold season, when cloud fills the valley below the farm until the middle of the morning.
Long day · Chiang MaiDoi Inthanon, top to bottom
The mountain in one day: the summit, the ridge trail, and the two big waterfalls on the way back down.
Long day · Chiang MaiLanna heritage, the long way
A pilgrimage across five provinces, not a day trip — filed under Chiang Mai but running south through Nan, Phrae and Sukhothai.
One day · Chiang MaiBan Sun Lom Joy
3 things to do, 21 min out of the city.
Two days · Chiang MaiBan Rai Kong Khing
7 things to do, 31 min out of the city.
One day · Chiang MaiTai Lue Ban Luang Nuea
7 things to do, 31 min out of the city.
Half day · Wua LaiWua Lai: A Day Among Silversmiths
4 stops, Wua Lai.
Full day · Old CityOld City Temples On Foot
5 stops, Old City.
Full day · Nimmanhaemin & SaraphiThe Bookshop Trail
4 stops, Nimmanhaemin & Saraphi.
Half day · Chang Moi & Kad LuangKad Luang & Chang Moi: The Trading Streets
4 stops, Chang Moi & Kad Luang.
Full day · Nimmanhaemin & San KamphaengNimman & The Art Side
4 stops, Nimmanhaemin & San Kamphaeng.
Half day · Wat KetWat Ket & The River
4 stops, Wat Ket.
Full day · SuthepThe West Side: Forest Temples & The Reservoir
5 stops, Suthep.
Evening · CitywideEvenings: Markets, Walking Streets & The Canal
5 stops, Citywide.
Full day · the Old CityWat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh and 4 more
6 stops, near each other.
Full day · the Old CityWat Chedi Luang, Wat Umong and 4 more
6 stops, near each other.
Full day · the west sideWat Phra Singh, Khruba Sri Wichai Monument and 4 more
6 stops, near each other.
Full day · the west sideWat Phra That Doi Suthep, Khruba Sri Wichai Monument and 3 more
5 stops, near each other.
Full day · Mae RimQueen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Wat Pa Dara Phirom and 2 more
4 stops, near each other.
Full day · Mae OnSan Kamphaeng hot springs, Mae Kampong and 3 more
5 stops, near each other.
Full day · Mae TaengWat Ban Den, Mae Ngat Reservoir and Bua Thong Falls
3 stops, near each other.
Long day · SuthepWat Phra That Doi Kham, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and 4 more
6 stops, near each other.
Long day · Mae RimMon Cham, Doi Pui Hmong Village and 4 more
6 stops, near each other.
Full day · Chiang DaoTham Chiang Dao, Chiang Dao hot springs and 3 more
5 stops, near each other.
Full day · Chom ThongWat Phra That Si Chom Thong, Mae Ya Waterfall and Mae Tia Waterfall
3 stops, near each other.
Full day · Doi InthanonWachirathan Waterfall, Siriphum Waterfall and 2 more
4 stops, near each other.
No route matches both of those. Try another theme, or a vehicle with more range.