7 Dayscentral-northernFrom $300-450

7 Days Bangkok to the North: Capital to Mountains

The classic Thailand route from the buzzing capital to the serene mountains of the north. Spend 3 days in Bangkok exploring temples, markets, and street food, then fly north for elephants, ancient temples, and hill tribe culture in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Overview

Days

Cities

$300-450

Min Budget

Highlights

Trip Highlights

Grand Palace

Chatuchak Market

Doi Suthep

Elephant Sanctuary

White Temple

Chiang Mai Night Market

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Arrive in Bangkok & Old City Temples

bangkok

Activities

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew

500 ($15)2-3 hours

Arrive early at 8:30 AM opening. Strict dress code enforced. The Emerald Buddha is a must-see.

Wat Pho

200 ($6)1.5 hours

Home to the 46-meter Reclining Buddha and over 1,000 Buddha images. Get a Thai massage at the temple's school (420 baht/hour).

Wat Arun

100 ($3)1 hour

Cross the river by ferry (4 baht). Climb the central prang for spectacular views.

Chinatown Street Food Evening

200-500 ($6-15)2-3 hours

Yaowarat Road comes alive after dark. Grilled seafood, dim sum, roast duck, and the famous T&K Seafood.

Meals

Breakfast

Jok (rice porridge) at a street stall near your hotel (40-60 baht)

Lunch

Pad Thai at Thipsamai (60-100 baht)

Dinner

Chinatown seafood feast (200-500 baht)

Where to Stay

Boutique hotel in Banglamphu (1,500-3,000/night)

Airport Rail Link + BTS (45 baht) or taxi (200-400 baht + tolls).

Markets & Modern Bangkok

bangkok

Activities

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Free entry3-4 hours

15,000+ stalls. Open Sat-Sun 9AM-6PM. On weekdays, Or Tor Kor Market next door is excellent for food.

Jim Thompson House

200 ($6)1 hour

Beautiful traditional Thai house with silk collection. Guided tours every 20 minutes in English.

Lumpini Park

Free1 hour

Bangkok's green lung. Watch for monitor lizards!

Rooftop Bar

300-800 ($9-24) per cocktail2 hours

Sky Bar (Lebua), Octave (Marriott), or Vertigo (Banyan Tree). Smart casual dress code.

Meals

Breakfast

Coconut pancakes near Chatuchak (40-80 baht)

Lunch

Chatuchak food stalls - Som Tam, grilled meats (80-150 baht)

Dinner

Somboon Seafood for curry crab (800-1,200 baht for two)

Where to Stay

Hotel near Siam (1,500-3,500/night)

BTS all day. 1-day pass: 140 baht.

Floating Market & Farewell Bangkok

bangkok

Activities

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

200 ($6) boat ride3-4 hours (with transport)

Depart by 6-7 AM. Colorful boats loaded with fruits, noodles, and souvenirs.

Thai Cooking Class

1,000-2,500 ($30-75)3 hours

Afternoon class with market visit. Learn to make pad thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice.

Khao San Road Evening

Free (food/drinks extra)2 hours

Last evening in Bangkok. Cheap buckets, pad thai, and great people-watching.

Meals

Breakfast

Grab breakfast early before floating market trip

Lunch

Floating market food from boats (50-150 baht)

Dinner

Khao San Road street food (100-250 baht)

Where to Stay

Hotel in Banglamphu (1,500-3,000/night)

Taxi/tour to floating market. BTS/tuk-tuk for evening.

Fly to Chiang Mai & Old City

chiang-mai

Activities

Morning Flight to Chiang Mai

1,500-4,000 ($45-120)1.25 hours flight

Book early for best prices on AirAsia, Nok Air, or Thai Lion. Flights from Don Mueang (budget) or Suvarnabhumi (full service).

Wat Phra Singh

40 ($1.20)1 hour

Chiang Mai's most revered temple with beautiful Lanna architecture and murals.

Wat Chedi Luang

40 ($1.20)1 hour

Massive ruined chedi from the 14th century. Free monk chats available.

Night Market

Free entry2-3 hours

Sunday Walking Street is best. Saturday market on Wualai Road. Daily Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road.

Meals

Breakfast

Airport breakfast or grab something before the flight

Lunch

Khao Soi at Khao Soi Khun Yai (50-80 baht)

Dinner

Night market street food - Sai Ua, sticky rice, mango sticky rice (100-200 baht)

Where to Stay

Boutique hotel in Old City or Nimman (1,200-2,500/night)

Flight Bangkok to Chiang Mai: 1,500-4,000 baht (1.25 hours). Taxi from airport: 150-200 baht.

Doi Suthep & Cooking Class

chiang-mai

Activities

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

30 + transport 100-1502-3 hours

306 steps up or funicular (50 baht). Morning is best for clear views over Chiang Mai.

Thai Cooking Class

900-1,500 ($27-45)4-5 hours

Chiang Mai is Thailand's top cooking class destination. Includes market tour and 4-5 dishes to cook and eat.

Nimman Road Evening

Free (food/drinks extra)2 hours

Trendy cafes, bars, and shops. Great coffee culture at Ristr8to, Akha Ama, or Graph.

Meals

Breakfast

Fresh pastries and coffee at Ristr8to (100-200 baht)

Lunch

Cooking class lunch (included)

Dinner

Huen Phen for Lanna cuisine (150-350 baht)

Where to Stay

Hotel in Nimman area (1,200-2,500/night)

Songthaew to Doi Suthep: 50-80 baht/person. Grab for the rest.

Elephant Sanctuary & Travel to Chiang Rai

chiang-rai

Activities

Elephant Nature Park (Half Day)

2,500-3,500 ($75-105)4-5 hours

Morning half-day visit. Feed and bathe rescued elephants. Book well in advance!

Afternoon Bus to Chiang Rai

200-350 ($6-10)3-4 hours

Green Bus from Arcade Bus Terminal. VIP class recommended for comfort (350 baht).

Chiang Rai Night Bazaar

Free entry2 hours

More intimate than Chiang Mai's. Hill tribe handicrafts and live music nightly.

Meals

Breakfast

Hotel breakfast (early pickup for elephant sanctuary)

Lunch

Lunch at elephant sanctuary or grab food before bus

Dinner

Night Bazaar food stalls in Chiang Rai (80-150 baht)

Where to Stay

Le Meridien Chiang Rai (1,500-3,000/night)

Elephant sanctuary: hotel pickup included. Bus to Chiang Rai: 200-350 baht (3-4 hours).

White Temple, Golden Triangle & Farewell

chiang-rai

Activities

Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)

100 ($3)1.5 hours

Thailand's most unique temple. A contemporary art masterpiece in gleaming white. No photos inside the main hall.

Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten)

Free45 minutes

Mesmerizing blue interior. Created by a student of the White Temple's artist.

Golden Triangle

Free (boat 400)2 hours

Where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. Take a boat to a Laotian island (400 baht). Visit the Opium Museum (200 baht).

Baan Dam (Black House)

80 ($2.40)1 hour

Dark art museum with 40 black buildings. The yin to the White Temple's yang.

Meals

Breakfast

Hotel breakfast or local market (50-100 baht)

Lunch

Restaurant near Golden Triangle (100-250 baht)

Dinner

Farewell dinner at Chivit Thamma Da on the river (200-500 baht)

Where to Stay

Hotel in Chiang Rai center (1,500-3,000/night)

Hire car/driver for the day: 1,500-2,500 baht. Or join a group tour: 800-1,200 baht. Flight Chiang Rai to Bangkok: 1,500-4,000 baht.

Transport Between Cities

bangkokchiang-mai

flight

1.25 hours

1,500-4,000

train

12-15 hours

600-1,500

bus

10-12 hours

400-800

chiang-maichiang-rai

bus

3-4 hours

200-350

taxi

3 hours

2,500-3,500

Compare all routes on 12Go Asia

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Packing Tips

Light clothing for Bangkok heat

Warm layer for Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai evenings (Nov-Feb)

Comfortable walking shoes

Temple-appropriate clothing

Insect repellent

Clothes for elephant sanctuary

Sunscreen and hat

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does 7 days in Thailand cost?

A 7-day trip to Thailand costs approximately $300-450 on a budget, $750-1,100 for mid-range travel, and $1,800-3,000 for a luxury experience. This includes accommodation, food, transport, and activities.

What is the best time to visit central-northern Thailand?

The best time to visit central-northern Thailand is November to February. This period offers the most favorable weather and fewer crowds.

Is 7 days enough for Thailand?

Yes, 7 days is a great amount of time to explore multiple destinations. This itinerary covers bangkok, chiang-mai, chiang-rai with a well-planned day-by-day schedule.