Chiang Rai in Two Days
Temples, then the Mountain
Day one is the Chiang Rai you came to photograph. Day two is the one you will talk about — a night with a hill-tribe family, a morning in the forest, and lunch cooked inside a length of green bamboo.
Two days, two very different ones
Start in Chiang Mai and we bring you back there, or start in Chiang Rai and we finish at your Chiang Mai hotel — the price is the same either way. The same van, the same driver and the same guide stay with your group the whole way — nobody is swapped halfway. Between the two, you sleep in a bamboo house on a hillside where the nearest shop is an hour’s drive away.
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, and up the mountain
- 07:00Hotel pickup in Chiang MaiWe collect you from your hotel in the Old City or Nimman in a private air-conditioned van. Your guide and driver stay with you for the whole trip.
- 09:30Mae Khachan Hot SpringThe natural geothermal stop at the midpoint of the mountain road — soak your feet in the hot stream and boil an egg in the spring.Ticket included
- 11:00Wat Rong Khun — the White TempleThailand’s most photographed temple, before the afternoon coaches arrive.Entry included
- 12:30Northern Thai lunchA relaxed local lunch — khao soi or a northern set.Lunch included
- 13:45Baan Dam — the Black HouseThawan Duchanee’s surreal art complex of forty black timber pavilions.Entry included
- 15:30Golden Triangle & Opium HouseWhere Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet on the Mekong, and the small museum that tells the story of the opium trade.Entry included
- 17:30Change to a 4WD in Chiang RaiThe van hands over to a pickup truck — the mountain track is too rough for a van.
- 18:30Arrive at the hill-tribe homestayA simple bamboo house with your host family. Dinner cooked over the fire, and a sky full of stars.Overnight in the village
The forest, the waterfall, and home
- 07:30Breakfast with the familyMountain coffee or local tea, and breakfast prepared by your hosts.Breakfast included
- 08:30Jungle trek with a hill-tribe guideThree to four hours on the village trails — medicinal plants, rice terraces and the forest the community lives from.
- 11:30WaterfallA swim in the pool below the falls — the reward at the turning point of the walk.
- 12:30Lunch cooked inside bambooChicken, rice and soup cooked inside green bamboo over an open fire — the way the village has always done it.Lunch included
- 14:00Back down to Chiang RaiThe 4WD brings you down and hands you back to your own van.
- 15:00Wat Huay Pla KangThe 69-metre white Guanyin — a lift runs to a viewing window at the top.Lift included
- 16:00Depart for Chiang MaiBack on the mountain road with a comfort stop on the way.
- 19:00Drop-off at your Chiang Mai hotelTrip ends where it began.
Everything sorted, end to end
Included
- Private air-conditioned van, fuel and driver — both days
- 4WD pickup for the mountain leg, up and down
- Licensed English-speaking guide with you the whole trip
- Local hill-tribe trekking guide on day two
- One night homestay with a hill-tribe family
- Five meals — two lunches, dinner, breakfast and the bamboo lunch
- All entrance fees listed in the itinerary
- Bottled water and cold towels
- Village community fee
Not included
- Flights and travel insurance
- Dinner on day two, after drop-off
- Drinks other than water, and personal expenses
- Tips for your guide and driver (optional)
- Hot showers at the homestay — it is a simple bamboo house
Private — and shared across your group
This runs as a private departure for your group only, from six travellers up to nine. The guide, the van and the mountain pickup are shared across the group, so the per-person price falls slightly as the group grows. Prices are per person, in Thai Baht.
| Group size | Price / person | Total cost |
|---|---|---|
| 6 travellers | ฿7,000 | ฿42,000 total |
| 7 – 9 travellersBest value | ฿6,900 | ฿48,300 – ฿62,100 total |
| Either direction | Same price | Start in Chiang Mai and return, or start in Chiang Rai — always ends in Chiang Mai |
Minimum six travellers, maximum nine. Smaller parties, larger groups or a second night in the village — tell us and we will quote it. Children aged 3–11 pay 70%; under 3 travel free. A deposit secures your dates; the balance is due on the first morning. The Opium House entry rises from ฿50 to ฿80 on 1 January 2027.
Before you book
The walking
- Day two is three to four hours on village trails, with some climbing.
- Fine for anyone reasonably fit. Not suitable for wheelchairs or very young children.
- Bring trainers or light hiking shoes, swimwear for the waterfall, and a light jacket — the village gets cold after dark.
- Best November to February. June to October the trail is muddy after rain, and we do not recommend March or April because of the burning season.
The homestay
- A real family home, not a guesthouse. Mattresses on the floor, mosquito nets, shared bathroom.
- Electricity yes, hot showers no.
- Dinner and breakfast are cooked by your hosts over a wood fire.
- This is the part guests remember. It is also the part to be honest with yourself about.
Ready to lock in your dates?
Tell us your travel dates and how many of you there are — we’ll confirm availability within 24 hours. Designed and operated directly by JTTT Travel, a local Chiang Rai team, not a reseller. TAT Licence 21/01119.