3-4 days outside Chiang Mai in December (Thailand)

Hi there,

My friend and I are heading to Thailand for three weeks between December 14th and January 4th.

After a week of relaxation in the south by the beach, we plan to explore northern Thailand to see the mountains and discover the country’s history before wrapping up in Bangkok.

I’m torn about which region to explore. For convenience, we’ll arrive in Chiang Mai, spend a few days in the area, then head to Lampang, followed by Sukhothai, and finally Bangkok.

After Chiang Mai (1 or 2 days—I’m worried the period might be too crowded and we won’t enjoy it much), we’ll have 3 days and could go to: Mae Hong Son (with a potential return flight); Chiang Dao and Fang; or Nan province, though that seems a bit far for just 3 days. We could also spend only one day in Chiang Mai and have 4 days instead.

For these 3 (or 4) days between Chiang Mai and Lampang, we’d love to do some beautiful hikes, preferably on our own, and see stunning landscapes, nature, and small villages.

Among my options, which would you recommend? Or where can we find great hikes that we can do independently and that aren’t overrun by mass tourism? I’ll admit, I’m struggling to find info—there are lots of small national parks, but details are scarce, and even AllTrails doesn’t have much for some of them...

Just to clarify, we’re considering hiring a car with a driver if needed.

Thanks so much to anyone who can help, and have a great weekend!

Leslie

Hi Leslie,

I see that no one has taken the plunge to answer you yet.

I don’t think I’ll be much help, but maybe this will kick things off .

First, I’m not sure why you think "visiting the north" would let you "discover the country’s history" more than other parts of Thailand... Is going to Lille going to teach you more about French history than if you go to the Côtes d'Armor, Puy de Dôme, or the Var?

As for Chiang Dao and Fang, I don’t know them either. Well, except for a province that’s way too overlooked in my opinion.

I explored it by rental car without a driver—I think it’s definitely possible with a driver, but the cost would be very different...

For the hikes you’re hoping for, if you haven’t found anything—especially on specialized sites—there’s probably a reason, right?

These regions are particularly tough for outsiders. There are no GR trails, long-distance paths, or marked trails. Either you go through an agency with a local guide (and forget about going solo), or you visit a national park with established trails maintained by rangers. Even then, it might not be fully independent, depending on the risks the park authorities assess.

For Mae Hong Son,

On top of what I mentioned earlier, you also have to consider its proximity to Myanmar and the armed conflict between the ruling junta and pro-democracy groups since the coup. This makes some areas very sensitive, with a strong Thai military presence that doesn’t let just anyone do whatever they want.

Here are a few links that might help a little:

- here

- here

Just a heads-up for the second link: it takes you to the official website of Thailand’s Department of National Parks. Like many official sites, it can be slow to access from abroad. So either be patient or use a VPN based in Thailand.

Best regards,

Partirdeloin

I totally get what you're saying. The sheer number of questions asked, the research that implies, plus the time it takes to write a reply—it takes real courage to tackle that! When she eventually decides to help other travelers by answering their questions, she’ll realize just how much time it takes. In my opinion, her project is more in the realm of a paid agency that would do the research for her.

Hi there,

There are over 1,000 curves between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son.

You can use Chiang Mai as your base—everyone does, and it’s not by chance. Once you're there, you’ll find tons of agencies that can organize whatever you want.

Don’t forget to share your experience when you get back, since others are wondering the same things. From experience, I know you can find a lot online, but also a lot that’s confusing or just missing.