Thailand itinerary
Northern Thailand in 10 Days
Ancient ruins at Ayutthaya, mountain temples in Chiang Mai, and the White Temple country around Chiang Rai.
The north is Thailand's cultural heartland: ruined kingdoms, Buddhist mountain temples, and highland valleys that feel a world away from the beach crowds. This route starts in Bangkok, makes a day-trip detour to the ancient capital at Ayutthaya, then heads north to Chiang Mai and on to Chiang Rai, the quieter northern city near the Golden Triangle. Ten days is tight; you could easily add another week.
The route
- 1Bangkok2 nights
- 2Ayutthaya1 night
- 3Chiang Mai4 nights
- 4Chiang Rai3 nights
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Plan this trip with your own dates.
Enter your arrival date and we will pre-fill all 10 days. Adjust any stop in the planner.
Day by day
Days 1–2
Bangkok
The arrival hub: temples, markets, and rooftop food, walkable in the cool season.
- Grand Palace and Wat Pho on day one
- Asiatique the Riverfront for an evening dinner with river views
- Early morning at Or Tor Kor fresh market before the heat
Day 3
Ayutthaya
Ruined temple city and easy day trip north of Bangkok.
- Wat Mahathat, where a stone Buddha head sits entwined in tree roots
- Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the palace grounds
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram on the riverbank, the silhouette on every Ayutthaya poster
- Sunset over the ruins from a riverside restaurant
Tip · Hire a bicycle from your guesthouse. The ruins are spread out and a bike is far more efficient than tuk-tuks.
Hotels in Ayutthaya · Agoda↗Days 4–7
Chiang Mai
Cool-season mountain base for temples, trekking, and night markets.
- Doi Suthep temple and the forested hillside above the city
- Nimman Road: independent cafes, street art, and a lively night market
- Sunday Walking Street on Tha Phae Road from about 4 pm, and skip the Night Bazaar
- Day trip to Doi Inthanon national park (Thailand's highest peak)
Tip · November brings Yi Peng lantern festival and Loy Krathong, two of the most beautiful nights in the Thai calendar.
Hotels in Chiang Mai · Agoda↗Days 8–10
Chiang Rai
Quieter northern city near the Golden Triangle, home of the White Temple and an easy bus ride from Chiang Mai.
- Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple) at the 8 am opening, before the day tours from Chiang Mai arrive (200 baht for foreigners since January 2026)
- The Blue Temple and Baan Dam, the Black House, on the same afternoon
- The Saturday night walking street on Thanalai Road
- A day out to Doi Tung and the Mae Fah Luang Garden
Tip · The Green Bus from Chiang Mai takes 3h20 to 3h45 and runs about 11 times a day. Fly home from Chiang Rai rather than going back to Chiang Mai.
Hotels in Chiang Rai · Agoda↗Load into planner
Plan this trip with your own dates.
Enter your arrival date and we will pre-fill all 10 days. Adjust any stop in the planner.
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