Chiang Mai Road Trip: An Epic 4-Day Itinerary

Doing a Chiang Mai road trip in Thailand is so much fun. Better yet, it’s so easy. The roads are great, rentals are affordable and you gain the freedom to explore the country as you wish. 

In this article, we’ll tell you all about an incredibly fun and offbeat Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary through the far north of Thailand. This Chiang Mai road trip features excellent mountain scenery, remote villages and unique cultural experiences. We’ll give you all the info and tips on how to do this road trip independently and ensure you don’t miss all the great things this region has to offer. 

Chiang Mai Road Trip Overview

Northern Thailand was made for road trips. While there are numerous Northern Thailand road trip routes you can take, if it’s incredible mountain scenery, remote communities, unique culture and an off-the-beaten-track experience you’re after then look no further. This Chiang Mai route has it all.

This 4-day Chiang Mai road trip itinerary packs a lot in a relatively short timeframe and doesn’t require long days in the car or on the bike. It traverses some of the most spectacular scenery in the country and includes some of the region’s hidden gems. 

It includes a hike to an amazing viewpoint, sublime hot springs and some of the best dumplings in South East Asia. Yes, really!

Chiang Mai Road Trip Itinerary Breakdown

When To Do This Chiang Mai Road Trip

The optimal time to do this Chiang Mai road trip is in December, but it can be done anytime between November and late January. You’re limited to this timeframe due to the smokey season (starting late Jan/early Feb) and the rainy season (June – October).

You can still do the trip in February, however, just know that it may be somewhat unpleasant due to the onset of the smokey season. The smokey season seems to be setting in earlier and earlier each year and if it’s already quite smokey, it will affect the quality of the trip. Not only will the views be hazy and obscured, but the air quality will be pretty terrible. 

We did this Chiang Mai route in early February, and while the smoke was fine on the first few days, when we returned to Chiang Dao it was very smokey and you could barely see the mountains.  

Other Tips for Your Chiang Mai Road Trip

It gets surprisingly pretty chilly at night in these parts of Thailand, so make sure you bring appropriate clothing and gear. Don’t worry, we’ve put together a packing list for you below. 

We’d also recommend bringing your own cooking supplies. Every campground has a restaurant, but at Pong Arng it wasn’t clear whether they were open into the evening, so you will want to be prepared. 

Read: Chiang Dao Travel Guide: Northern Thailand’s Hidden Gem

Car or Motorbike?

What a question! There are pros and cons to each, which we’ve summarised below. Have a think about what will best suit your needs and give you the experience you are looking for. 

Car 

Renting a car will undoubtedly be more comfortable. Let’s face it, riding a scooter/bike for hours a day isn’t exactly the most relaxing experience. 

On this Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary, with a car, you’ll also be able to travel faster, more efficiently and be able to see more. There are heaps of more stops/sights to see along this route and if you’re in a car, you’ll probably be able to fit them all in. You also have more space, meaning you’ll be able to pack more. 

In our experience, it’s cheaper and easier to rent a car online. Hop over to Discover Cars for the best deals – it’s what we personally use and recommend.

Motorbike / Scooter

Doing a trip on a bike is a lot of fun. It’s a completely different experience. Whereas doing this Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary in a car is about hitting more sights along the way, on a bike, it’s more about the journey itself. You’re fully immersed in your environment and get to really experience the scenery. That’s why we did it and it’s a hell of a lot of fun. 

What Kind of Bike Should You Choose for your Chiang Mai Road Trip?

You’re going to be driving through a lot of mountain passes, so you’ll want a bike with at least 125cc. Although if you’re up for it, bigger is always better. 

We had a 125cc bike, which carried both of us, a big backpack and a tent. 

A tip for carrying gear: put as much of your heavy gear in the compartment under the seat. This way, you’re not carrying as much weight on your (or your passenger’s) back. Trust us, your backs will thank us for this. 

Scooter Rental 

For this Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary, the best option is to rent your scooter in Chiang Mai and drive it to Chiang Dao. It adds on a bit of extra driving, but because Chiang Mai has endless amounts of places to rent a bike, you can find a good quality one for good value. 

We recommend Bamboo Bikes. We are in no way affiliated with them, we’ve just rented from them and have always been happy with our experiences. Always make sure to bargain!

Read more about Thailand’s Off The Beaten Path locations during your Chiang Mai Road Trip

Chiang Mai Road Trip: The Route

Day 1: Chiang Dao to Pong Arng Hot Springs (Pha Daeng National Park) 

On this Chiang Mai route, the first destination is Pong Arng Hot Springs, located within Pha Daeng National Park. These little-known hot springs are 31 km north of Chiang Dao. 

The drive is very easy. You take Hwy 1178 until you see the big sign for the hot springs. It should take you between 35 – 70 minutes. 

Pong Arng Hot Springs

The Pong Arng Hot Springs are very nice. There are two separate pools to bathe in (temperatures fluctuate between 58C and 64C), plus a foot bath. The pools are immaculately designed, but not overdone, so you still feel like you are in nature. 

The springs can get quite busy with locals, however, most people leave by 6 pm. By staying the night, you can access the hot springs when everyone else has left and in the morning before anyone arrives. We highly recommend a night-time soak under the stars!

There are private bathing areas as well, but they were closed when we visited, so we were unable to access them. 

The temperature really drops here at night, so make sure you pack some warm clothes. 

Camping at Pong Arng Hot Springs

The camping area here is pleasant. The real draw is that it’s set up on a grassy patch steps away from the hot springs, so you can get in and out as you please. 

Camping costs 80 THB per person. 

Want to know more about camping on your road trip in Thailand? Check out our Guide to Camping in Thailand

Facilities at Pong Arng Hot Springs 

There are a couple of basic bathroom blocks, including showers.  

There is a restaurant, but it may only be open during the day, so for dinner, you’ll need to be self-sufficient. (If you visit and have updated information on this, please let us know in the comments below).

Activities at Pong Arng Hot Springs

The main attraction at Pong Arng Hot Springs is … you guessed it, the hot springs! 

As the hot springs are located within Pha Daeng National Park, the entrance ticket includes another location within the same park, Sri Sangwan waterfall. This is located 2 km further up Hwy 1178. 

It is a cascading 3-tiered waterfall, with a short walking trail around the different levels. It is a ‘sticky’ waterfall, meaning due to the textured limestone, you can walk on it easily. The waterfall is like a mini version of the popular sticky waterfall outside of Chiang Mai.

While this waterfall may not reach the level of some other waterfalls we have been to (notably Gartmore Falls and Duwili Ella in Sri Lanka and along the Jatbula Trail in Australia), it is still very beautiful and well worth a visit.

There is also a camping area at Sri Sangwan, but it is just a big field with very basic facilities. For this reason, we recommend camping at Pong Arng Hot Springs on this Chiang Mai route, rather than Sri Sangwan.

Day 2 Morning: Pong Arng Hot Springs to Arunothai 

The next stop on this Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary is Arunothai. From Pong Arng Hot Springs, it is an 18 km drive to Arunothai village. First, it is about 10km on Hwy 1178 and then a further 8 km on Hwy 1340. 

Arunothai 

Arunothai is a fascinating village and one of the most interesting places we’ve been to in Thailand. It’s a great stop on this Chiang Mai route.

It was founded by Chinese Nationalist Party soldiers who fled China after the revolution, so it’s a distinctively Chinese town. There are signs in Chinese and delicious Chinese food galore. But it’s also pretty much smack on the border with Myanmar, so there’s that influence too. 

There’s great coffee at Swamp, which is conveniently located right on Nong Uk Lake, so you can sip a coffee whilst looking out over the lake at the beautiful hills over the border in Myanmar. 

The best thing to do in Arunothai is to get some delicious Yunnanese food. 

Due to its Chinese heritage, the village is renowned for its incredible food, notably the dumplings. There are a number of places to eat around town. 

We ate at Tayong Yunnan Noodle Restaurant and it was, without a doubt, the best gyoza we’ve ever had in our lives. 

Day 2 Afternoon: Arunothai to Sui Thang Campground 

From Arunothai, continue on Hwy 1340 for 29 km until you reach Sui Thang Campground. 

This part of the Chiang Mai route is incredibly scenic and goes through some of the best hill country that Thailand has to offer. 

The road curves up, down and around the mountains that form the border with Myanmar. While you’re driving you have epic views of these mountains and a glimpse into Myanmar, just to your left. 

There are numerous scenic places to stop along this part of the Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary, take in the view and take a photo. 

Sui Thang Campground

While the Sui Thang campground is nice, it’s really the exceptional viewpoint you’re coming for.

Camping costs 80 THB per person. 

Check out Thailand’s Top 5 Camping Sites

Facilities at Sui Thang Campground 

Sui Thang Campground has all the facilities you might need, including a bathroom block and a restaurant. 

The visitor’s centre also rents out all camping gear you may require (around 400 THB for an entire setup). 

Important: as the campground sits above 2000m, it gets pretty cold, so make sure you have appropriate gear. Plus, you’ll need it for Doi Ang Khang!

Unfortunately, it was closed due to COVID when we visited, so we were unable to spend the night here (but we did walk around and suss it out). 

Day 3: Sui Thang to Doi Ang Khang National Park

This is a very short day on this Chiang Mai route. From Sui Thang, it is a short, but very windy and steep, 9km to Doi Ang Khang. Brace yourselves for a fun ride!

Doi Ang Khang

Doi Ang Khang is well-known as one of the highest campgrounds in Thailand. It’s also very popular amongst locals and many Thais come here to spend a night in cold weather. 

And cold it gets. The night we spent here, it dropped to 3C overnight. We needed our full cold-weather gear. 

It is also one of the most expensive national parks we’ve encountered in Thailand, at a whopping 300 THB per person. Ouch!

Camping at Doi Ang Khang

There is a very big, well-established camping area at Doi Ang Khang. There are dozens of pre-setup tents for hire. As we said, it’s infamous amongst Thais and many dream of coming here to experience the cold. 

Be warned though: this place gets super busy and is not the most serene camping. The tents are set up close together and the place can get packed. We definitely recommend avoiding weekends and public holidays. 

That said, the views at sunrise are exceptional and it is worth spending a night here. 

Camping costs 80 THB per person. 

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Lampang, Chiang Mai’s Cool Little Sister

Facilities at Doi Ang Khang Campground 

There are a lot of facilities at the Doi Ang Khang Campground. The visitor’s centre rents out anything you may require, which means you can literally rock up with nothing and still have a comfortable night. The full set-up costs around 400 THB. 

There is also a restaurant, plus a cafe, so no need to bring your own food or cooking supplies. 

There are also showers in the bathroom block. 

Activities at Doi Ang Khang

There are some fun things to keep you busy at Doi Ang Khang. 

Doi Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station

Doi Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station is a project run by the royal family. It’s an arboretum where they cultivate many different kinds of fruits trees, plants and flowers to support agriculture among local communities. Many temperate fruits and vegetables are grown here that are found nowhere else in Thailand. This provides local opportunities and discourages the opium planting that used to be prolific in this area. 

It’s a really great place to visit. We’ll be honest, we were sceptical about this one, but we really enjoyed our time. It is very pleasant to check out the different gardens and areas within the park. It’s also quite big and you could easily spend hours exploring. 

Heading south? Check out Koh Adang

If you visit in January, or potentially early February, you will get to see the amazing cherry blossoms in bloom. 

There is a restaurant that uses produce grown on-site. We found the food delicious, and quite reasonably priced, given it is a tourist attraction. Dishes were between 100 THB – 280 THB. 

Hours: 8 am – 8 pm

Entrance fee: 50 THB per person 

Pro tip: be sure to try the strawberries for sale outside the park. You will see women selling strawberries near the entrance. These are grown in the nearby village of Ban Nor Lae and are amongst the most delicious strawberries we’ve ever tasted. 

Climb Doi Ang Khang

Surprisingly, for how busy the Doi Ang Khang campground gets, no one seems to climb to the top of the actual mountain.

Which is I guess, a blessing, because that means it’s likely you’ll have it all to yourself. And once you see these views, your jaw will drop. 

We climbed Doi Ang Khang mountain and despite the campground being very full, we were the only ones up there. 

The trail starts about 200m up the road from the campsite (towards the station). It can be hard to miss so keep your eyes out. 

The trail takes about 30 – 60 minutes and is quite steep. 

When you get to the top of Doi Ang Khang, you will be rewarded with some of the most insane views in Northern Thailand. There is a 360-degree view of the entire area. 

Sunset is a particularly great time to go to see the beautiful colours, but be sure to bring a headlamp for the way down. 

Day 4: Doi Ang Khang to Chiang Dao

From Doi Ang Khang, it’s time to finish up your Chiang Mai self-drive itinerary and return to Chiang Dao. 

Most of the driving is pretty straightforward and along the highway. First, however, you have to descend a gnarly road. Think crazy twists and turns and gradients that I didn’t know were possible. It’s a hell of a lot of fun, just take it slow and easy.  

What to Pack for your Chiang Mai Road Trip 

For this Chai Mai route, you’ll need to be self-sufficient. Here’s our packing list, with our recommendations for specific gear.

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