Chiang Mai, Thailand
Day 1 – Arrival + Old City
Morning: Arrive from the night train → check-in / shower / coffee.
Explore Old City temples:
Wat Chedi Luang (huge brick stupa in the middle of town).
Wat Phra Singh (gold + classic northern Lanna style).
Cute cafés all over (try Graph Café or Ristr8to if you’re into coffee).
Evening: Street food + cocktails.
Ploen Ruedee Night Market or Chang Phuak Gate (North Gate) Market for food stalls.
If you want a chill start: live music bars around the Old City.
Day 2 – Elephants or Cooking Class
Pick one big experience (book ahead, they sell out):
Ethical elephant sanctuary (e.g. Elephant Nature Park, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary). No riding, just feeding, walking, mud bath.
Thai cooking class (e.g. Thai Farm Cooking School). Includes market visit, fun social vibe, and you eat all your creations.
Evening: Night bazaar or Nimmanhaemin Road (hipster bars + cafés). If you want social backpacker vibes → Zoe in Yellow bar complex (easy place to meet travellers).
Day 3 – Adventure & Nature
Options depending on your energy:
Doi Suthep & Monks Trail: Hike (30–40 mins uphill) or tuk-tuk up to the golden mountaintop temple with panoramic city views.
Sticky Waterfalls (Bua Thong): You literally climb up waterfalls barefoot — safe & very fun.
Zip-lining / ATV / jungle tours: Companies like Flight of the Gibbon (a bit more $) or local adventure groups.
Evening: Saturday or Sunday Night Walking Street (depending on your dates). Great for souvenirs, food, and people-watching.
Day 4 – Chill & Culture
Morning: Yoga class or Thai massage (Chiang Mai is famous for affordable, excellent massage schools).
Daytime: Brunch + explore Nimman cafés / art shops.
Alt: Day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park (highest mountain in Thailand, waterfalls, royal pagodas, Karen village).
Evening: Final dinner at Dash! Restaurant & Bar (popular among travellers but not overpriced). Drinks at a rooftop like Rise Bar.
Where to stay:
Backpacker/social: Stamps Backpackers, Deejai Garden, Green Sleep Hostel.
Private & still social: Stay with Me Nimman or Lanna Tree Boutique.
Transport: Tuk-tuks for short hops, Grab/Bolt apps for safe rides.
Budget: Food $3–6 per meal, activities ~$30–80/day depending on tours.
Safety: Chiang Mai is safe, just stick together at night, especially coming back from Zoe in Yellow.
- Chiang Mai Half Day Tour: Sticky Waterfall & Hotel Transfer
- Chiang Mai: Kingkong Smile Zipline with Lunch and Transfers
- Chiang Mai: Cooking Class with Organic Farm at Mama Noi
Bangkok, Thailand
Things to do:
- Chao Phraya River ferry: Cheap (~15 baht), fun way to see the city and connect the temple circuit.
- Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha): Next to the Palace, plus traditional Thai massage school — worth a 30-min massage here.
- Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn): Best at sunset, right across the river.
- Chatuchak Weekend Market (Sat/Sun): 15,000 stalls (clothes, food, vintage). Go late morning
- Yaowarat (Chinatown): Night street-food crawl
- JODD Fairs Night Market: Good for first-timers (lots of locals & travellers).
- Robot & Ping Pong Bars (Patpong)
- Lumphini Park: Morning walk, see monitor lizards (big lizards chilling around lakes).
- Bang Krachao (Green Lung): Rent bikes, ride through jungle boardwalks, escape the chaos.
- Ratchada Train Night Market (Talad Rot Fai)
Shopping:
- MBK Center: Bargain mall, clothes, souvenirs, knock-offs.
- Siam Paragon / ICONSIAM: High-end malls (good air-con & food courts).
- Terminal 21: Every floor themed like a different city, budget-friendly stores.
Where to stay (Backpackers):
Old Town (Khao San / Rambuttri) – social, easy access to temples
- Here Hostel Bangkok – privates around 1,200 THB.
- Once Again Hostel
- Lamphuhouse Bangkok – budget guesthouse on a quiet lane off Rambuttri
- Buddy Lodge – hotel right on Khao San, pool + gym, privates from ~$50 AUD.
Sukhumvit (modern, nightlife, malls, rooftop bars)
- The Quarter Ari – modern, pool, near trendy cafés & BTS skytrain.
- Sook Station Hostel – quirky design, private rooms styled like jail cells
- Ibis Styles Sukhumvit 4 – budget hotel with rooftop bar; close to Nana nightlife but in a safe area.