JTTT TravelThe Hidden North
From Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai through the far north few visitors see: the Mekong, a sunrise above the clouds at Phu Chi Fa, the mountain salt wells of Bo Kluea and the old Lanna towns of Nan and Lampang.
Why this journey
Most visitors see Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in a day each. This loop takes you through the border mountains and old towns between them, places almost no tour goes, with your own guide the whole way.
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The route at a glance
One loop from north to south, a different place every night and no backtracking.
| Day | Route · overnight | Driving | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chiang Rai → Chiang Khong | ~3 h | Choui Fong tea, Golden Triangle, Mekong sunset |
| 2 | Chiang Khong → Phu Chi Fa | ~2 h | Mekong road, Pha Tang ridge, Yunnanese village |
| 3 | Phu Chi Fa → Phu Langka | ~3 h | Sunrise sea of mist, warm-water waterfall |
| 4 | Phu Langka → Sapan | ~3.5 h | Doi Phu Kha mountain road, Bo Kluea salt wells |
| 5 | Sapan → Nan | ~2 h | Wat Phumin murals, Nan old town |
| 6 | Nan → Lampang | ~4 h | Phrae teak houses, Lampang horse carriages |
| 7 | Lampang → Chiang Mai | ~2 h | Thai Elephant Conservation Center, Lampang Luang |
Day by day
Times are a guide; your guide adjusts them to weather, light and your pace.
Day 1 · Tea, the Golden Triangle and the Mekong
Chiang Rai → Chiang Khong · Meals: lunch
- 08:30Pickup at your hotel in Chiang Rai
- 09:30Choui Fong Tea Plantation — tea terraces and a tasting
- 11:00Golden Triangle viewpoint, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet
- 12:00Lunch by the Mekong
- 13:00Scenic drive along the river to Chiang Khong
- 14:30Chiang Khong riverside town and a Mekong coffee stop
- 16:30Check in and watch the sun set over Laos
Overnight: Namkhong Riverside Hotel, Chiang Khong (or similar)
Day 2 · The border ridges
Chiang Khong → Pha Tang → Phu Chi Fa · Meals: breakfast, lunch
- 09:00Route 1155, the Mekong mountain road
- 10:00Panorama Coffee, a 180° view over the Mekong
- 11:00Pha Tang: Noen 103 viewpoint on the Lao border and the Yunnanese Chinese village
- 12:30Yunnanese lunch at Pha Tang
- 14:30Arrive at Phu Chi Fa, check in and rest
- 17:00Sunset from the ridge
Overnight: mountain lodge at Phu Chi Fa
Day 3 · Sunrise above the clouds
Phu Chi Fa → Phu Langka · Meals: breakfast, lunch
- 05:00Local pickup truck to the trailhead, 20-minute walk up
- 06:00Sunrise and the sea of mist over Laos (best November–February)
- 08:00Breakfast at the lodge
- 10:30Phu Sang Waterfall, fed by a warm spring
- 12:00Chiang Kham: lunch and Wat Nantaram, a Tai Yai teak temple
- 14:30Phu Langka, check in; coffee at Route 1148 Cafe
- 17:30Sunset over the Phayao and Nan valleys
Overnight: Phu Langka Resort (or similar)
Day 4 · Mountain salt and the Nan highlands
Phu Langka → Doi Phu Kha → Bo Kluea → Sapan · Meals: breakfast, lunch
- 08:30Depart for Nan province
- 10:00Pua: Ban Tai Lue Café in a traditional wooden house
- 11:00Doi Phu Kha National Park and the 1715 viewpoint
- 12:30Lunch at Bo Kluea
- 13:30Bo Kluea ancient salt wells
- 15:00Ban Sapan, check in
- 16:00Village walk, rice fields and Yood Vela Café
Overnight: Sapan Good View, Ban Sapan (or similar)
Day 5 · Murals and the old town
Sapan → Nan · Meals: breakfast, lunch
- 07:00Morning mist over Sapan valley (optional walk)
- 09:00Route 1081, one of Nan's most scenic roads
- 11:30Lunch of Nan-style khao soi
- 13:00Wat Phumin and its famous murals
- 14:00Nan National Museum (closed Monday–Tuesday)
- 15:30Wat Phra That Chae Haeng, Nan's golden hilltop stupa
- 17:00Nan Walking Street (Friday–Sunday) or the riverside
Overnight: Nan Lanna Hotel, Nan (or similar)
Day 6 · Teak towns of the old north
Nan → Phrae → Lampang · Meals: breakfast, lunch
- 08:30Depart for Phrae
- 10:30Phae Mueang Phi, eroded sandstone pillars in a forest park
- 11:30Vongburi House, a 19th-century teak mansion
- 12:00Lunch in Phrae
- 13:30Wat Phra That Cho Hae, Phrae's sacred hilltop stupa
- 16:00Arrive in Lampang
- 16:30Horse-carriage ride through the old town
Overnight: Wienglakor Hotel, Lampang (or similar)
Day 7 · Elephants and Lanna's finest temple
Lampang → Chiang Mai · Meals: breakfast, lunch
- 08:30Depart
- 09:00Thai Elephant Conservation Center — elephants bathing and the morning programme
- 11:30Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, a walled 15th-century temple
- 12:30Lunch near the temple
- 15:00Drop-off at your hotel in Chiang Mai
Prices
Fully private for your group. Per person, twin or double room, in Thai Baht, 2026–27 season.
Single room supplement ฿6,000 for the 6 nights.
- Private vehicle, fuel and driver for 7 days, plus a licensed English-speaking guide
- 6 nights in hotels and mountain resorts with breakfast
- Lunch every day
- All entrance fees, the Phu Chi Fa pickup truck and the Lampang horse carriage
- Drinking water; pickup in Chiang Rai, drop-off at your Chiang Mai hotel
- Flights, dinners and drinks
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Tips for your guide and driver (optional)
For 2 travellers, luggage is limited to one large suitcase per person.
Add Chiang Mai days
Stay on with the same guide, hotel and lunch included. Per person per extra day: 2 travellers ฿5,500 · 3–4 travellers ฿3,500 · 5+ travellers ฿2,800.
Day 8: Doi Suthep, the Old City temples and the Night Bazaar · Day 9: Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak, or a no-riding elephant sanctuary. Starting in Chiang Mai? Ask us — we can drive you to Chiang Rai via the White Temple the day before.
How to book
- Send your start date and group size below, or on WhatsApp +66 95 673 6660. Any start date is possible.
- We confirm availability and hotels in writing within 24 hours.
- A 30% deposit by Wise transfer secures your dates (non-refundable once paid).
- The balance is paid on day 1 at pickup.
The tour is designed and priced as one package, so individual days cannot be cancelled once booked.
- November to mid-February: cool, clear mornings and the sea of mist
- Late February: Chomphu Phu Kha trees bloom at Doi Phu Kha
- March–April: smoky haze season, views are limited
- July–September: not available — Phu Chi Fa National Park closes every year from 1 July to 30 September
Available 1 October – 30 June. No departures over our team holidays (New Year 29 Dec – 2 Jan, Songkran 12 – 16 Apr) — trips finish before or start after them. Prefer July–September? See the 6-Day Grand North, available all year.
Questions
Is it really private?
Yes. Only your group, with your own guide and vehicle for all 7 days.
Who drives if we are only two?
For 2 travellers your licensed English-speaking guide also drives a comfortable private car. From 3 travellers you have a van with a separate driver and guide.
How early are the mornings?
Only day 3 starts early, around 05:00 for the Phu Chi Fa sunrise. Every other day starts at 08:30–09:00.
Is there a lot of driving?
No day has more than about 4 hours of driving, broken up by stops. Mountain roads are winding, so tell us if anyone gets motion sickness.
What are the hotels like?
Comfortable 3-star hotels in the towns and simple, clean mountain resorts at Phu Chi Fa and Phu Langka, which can be cold at night in December–January. Final hotel names are confirmed in writing when you book.
Can we change the itinerary?
Yes. Extra Chiang Mai days, better hotels or a different start point can be arranged — just ask.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Phu Chi Fa (CC BY 3.0) · Bo Kluea salt wells © LannaPhoto (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wat Phumin © Manoonp (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wat Phra That Lampang Luang © Bienvenue en Thaïlande (CC BY-SA 4.0).