Bangkok to Chiang Mai Itinerary

Thailand is an amazing country filled with historical wonders, gorgeous temples, fantastic food, friendly people and so much culture! If you are taking a Bangkok to Chiang Mai road trip, there are several stops along the way to enjoy.

In July 2017, I took a Central Thailand road trip where I was immersed in some of the most unforgettable adventures I’ve participated in. I visited the most beautiful sites that are authentic and sacred to Thai culture.

During my two weeks in Thailand, I traveled with a group where we visited the cities of Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak, Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai and the island of Koh Samet.

In this blog post, discover the most beautiful places to visit on a Bangkok to Chiang Mai road trip through Central Thailand.

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Bangkok to Chiang Mai by Car

Since I did a group tour to Thailand, all my flights and hotels were handled beforehand. I recommend you set your desired travel dates into Skyscanner and wait to see when the prices are low enough to purchase.

I flew from Newark Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok with a 3-hour layover in Hong Kong. It took us 16 hours to get from Newark to Hong Kong and another 2.5 – 3 hour flight to Bangkok.

It is pretty easy to get around Thailand (especially Central Thailand). Since I was with a group, we traveled around via private coach, but the country is filled with railroads. Discover the best form of transportation from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

Most locals recommend you purchase Bangkok to Chiang Mai train tickets as it offers a safer and more comforting experience, but the best way to explore Thailand and see all of its gems during a Bangkok to Chiang Mai road trip is by renting a car!

Where to Stay on the Way to Chiang Mai

During our road trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, we stayed in Phitsanulok, one of the most important cities in Thai culture. This authentic city is one of the oldest in Thailand, as it was founded over 600 years ago.

It is the capital of the Phitsanulok Province, which expands to the Laotian border. Throughout the city, you will find beautiful temples, thriving street markets and locals traveling via the classical rickshaw.

We spent our overnight at the Ayara Grand Palace Hotel, located right in the heart of Phitsanulok. What is great about this hotel is that it is a short walk from all of the main attractions in the city. All of the hotel rooms are colorful and give off a tropical vibe.

You can find other great accommodation options for all budgets along the way on Hotels.com. A wide range of Vrbo options are also available, and with a growing number of nomads living in Thailand, there is a wide range of hostels.

Below are the best accommodations to stay at in Phitsanulok during a Bangkok to Chiang Mai road trip:

Luxury Accommodation: Pattara Resort & Spa

Boutique Accommodation: The Zense Boutique Hotel

Mid-Budget Accommodation: Yodia Heritage Hotel

Budget Accommodation: Karma Home Hostel

Best Bangkok to Chiang Mai Road Trip Stops

If you are driving from Chiang Mai to Bangkok or Chiang Mai from Bangkok, several road trip stops along the way are worth your time to enjoy!

We made the trip in two days so that ample time was given to stop and see fascinating sites along the way. If you’re driving, the Bangkok to Chiang Mai distance is 427 miles (687 kilometers), making it 9 hours long.

It is doable in a day, although it will be long. However, you can break it into two days and take advantage of some of the best Central Thailand road trip stops between them. Check out the best places to visit by following this Bangkok to Chiang Mai itinerary:

Stop at Café Amazon

Japan isn’t the only country with cool convenient stores and cafés off their highways. Thailand also has fantastic spots to grab some great road trip goodies!

You MUST stop at Café Amazon to get delicious and refreshing Thai iced tea during your road trip! You can find them everywhere on the way to Chiang Mai. The thirst-quenching Thai tea is made from strongly brewed Ceylon tea. Other ingredients include orange blossom water, star anise, crushed tamarind seed and other spices.

The tea is sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and is served chilled for a hot day in Thailand’s sun. You can also get a delicious Thai iced matcha green tea as well! (Both are amazing.)

Explore Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

From Bangkok, it took us two hours to get to our first stop at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet (Temple of the Holy, Splendid Omniscient) in the province of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Used as a residential palace, this historical site became a monastery during the reign of King Ramathibodi in the 12^th century AD. It’s a breathtaking site to see on a Bangkok to Chiang Mai road trip!

When King Borom Trai Lokanat commanded that new living quarters for the royal family be built during the 13^th century, this holy palace was assigned a temple area. The current site does not have any monks or novice inhabitants but is served as a historical center and tourist attraction.

When we first arrived at Wat Phra Si Sanphet, I was amazed at how beautiful the ruins were. The cool thing about this site is that you can walk up to the top of each temple (also known as Chedis) and take excellent pictures!

You can even walk around the ruins and pretend to live in ancient Thailand. What is remarkable is that Ayutthaya makes one of the many perfect day trips from Bangkok!

Ayutthaya has many temples and palaces you can visit. The King Narai National Museum is also located here. With so much to see, spending a whole day at this magical spot is easy. Ayutthaya also makes for a perfect day trip from Bangkok.

Enjoy a Local Thai Lunch in the Countryside

After exploring Wat Phra Sanphet, we returned to the bus and headed to our second stop, a local lunch in the Thai countryside.

When we arrived at the home, we entered through the kitchen, where the owners were busy cooking up our food. Since there was a big group of us, they made enough food to have a buffet.

The lunch buffet consisted of typical pad Thai, a sweet and sour soup, white rice, along with a fried chicken dish. After enjoying our delicious lunch and comforting tea, we went outside and enjoyed the tranquility of the lake and beautiful meadow-like surroundings.

Since Thailand is a foodie country, you can schedule a cooking class and learn how to make authentic dishes you can enjoy at home!

Adventure around the City of Phitsanulok

After a few more hours on our road trip to Chiang Mai from Bangkok, we finally reached the city of Phitsanulok! Our first stop was Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (Temple of Great Jeweled Reliquary).

The temple grounds of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat feature detailed architecture to admire for days. Before entering the temple, we removed our shoes and ensured our shoulders were covered like the temples we visited in Bangkok.

When we made our way in, we were surrounded by beautiful, intricate crystal architecture and mother-of-pearl inserts.

Straight ahead of us was the famous, gold-covered statue of the Buddha known as Phra Buddha Chinnarat (King of Victory). This statue is not a reclining Buddha, and it is considered one of Thailand’s most beautiful sacred figures.

Inside the temple, we were asked to sit right away. If we wanted to get closer to the Buddha, we were asked to crawl as standing and walking would have been a distraction for those meditating. It was a great experience to meditate on my own in front of this stunning Buddha image!

Do a Thai Rickshaw Ride

Later that night, we participated in an authentic rickshaw ride around Phitsanulok. A rickshaw is a two-cycle vehicle used in various Thai cities to transport around. You can find them all around the area!

What differs from a classic rickshaw to a tuk-tuk is that it isn’t automatic. I was happy to have experienced an authentic Thai rickshaw ride because Thailand will soon be doing away with them due to the increase in taxis and ridesharing apps.

The night we did our rickshaw ride was beautiful. It was great to relax on the back of the rickshaw and feel like an actual Thai local.

It took us 20 minutes to reach a street-side café where we enjoyed a local dinner and interactive show! Each one of us had to pick out of a hat. Whoever was chosen as the “lucky one” had to dress in a Thai costume and catch the freshly made sautéed veggies.

Of course, I was chosen and had to wear a funny outfit. I wasn’t sure if I would catch the veggies, but my childhood softball skills came in handy when I caught them with the pan! The vegetables were delicious.

Everyone was happy and cheering me on. I was then able to enjoy the delicious veggies afterward. After our fun dinner, we hopped back on the rickshaw to Phitsanulok’s night bazaar (market).

Great restaurants to eat at in Phitsanulok are Hoi Kha Rim Nan Noodle Restaurant, Nannum Restaurant, Mundee Café, Pae Pitlok Restaurant and Rainbow Pot Noodle.

Walk through the Phitsanulok Night Bazaar

The famous Phitsanulok night bazaar was rather unique! At this night market, we saw a lot of bloody fish, raw meats and fried insects you could purchase as a snack.

Since we were with a group, the fried insect vendor offered us a platter of different critters to try. I wouldn’t say I love bugs, so I was grossed out. However, I thought I had to experience it since I was in Central Thailand.

I opted for the worm (I thought it would taste like escargot) and maggot. They weren’t that bad, believe it or not! Both were fried, so they weren’t slimy like I expected. They were salty and tasted like I was eating a chip.

The other insects offered on the plate were cockroaches and grasshoppers. If you liked one insect over the other, you could’ve had the opportunity to purchase a whole bag of it.

Visit Sukhothai Historical Park

Before reaching the mountains of Chiang Mai, the last part of our Bangkok to Chiang Mai road trip was to Sukhothai. The province of Sukhothai can be translated as the Dawn of Happiness. This ancient city is in the valley of the Yom River and features the Khao Luang Mountain Rang.

We stopped at Sukhothai Historical Park, which the Fine Arts Department of Thailand maintains with help from UNESCO, which has declared it a World Heritage Site.

At this magical park, you can marvel at the ancient Buddha statues, palace buildings, ruined temples, and beautiful lakes featuring lily pads. One of the cool things about this park is that you can rent bikes and wander around while getting your exercise in.

After our fun and relaxing time in Sukhothai, we enjoyed a delicious Thai lunch just as we reached the mountains.

Other Chiang Mai to Bangkok Road Trip Stops

If you have more time on your road trip, Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park is another excellent option for a stop on the way. Nakhon Sawan, considered the gateway between Northern Thailand and Central Thailand, is also a beautiful area to stop at when you travel to Chiang Mai from Bangkok.

Located a little outside Chiang Mai, Wat Phra Lampang Luang includes a stunning wooden temple on a picturesque compound. It’s another peaceful spot to visit during your Central Thailand road trip!

If you want to continue past Chiang Mai, don’t miss a stop in Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand, which boasts the stunning white temple called Wat Rong Khun, along with the Golden Triangle! The famous Golden Triangle is where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar all meet.

I hope you all enjoyed this guide to epic stops in Central and Northern Thailand and discovering the best places to visit on a Bangkok Chiang Mai road trip! If you have any questions about my time at these wonderful sites, please feel free to email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.

More Thailand travel tips:

2 Days in Bangkok

Unforgettable Things to Do in Chiang Mai

Visiting the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

What to Do in Koh Samet Thailand

Basic Facts of Thailand:

Currency: Thai Baht, Capital: Bangkok, Time Zone: Indochina Time

Looking for the best agency to book your next bespoke travel experience? Contact Crawford Concierge!

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