Check in at Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel in the Night Bazaar area, then give yourself an hour or two to unpack and recover. If you’re arriving at the airport, the drive is usually around 10–20 minutes, but allow extra time for baggage and the hotel check-in. For tonight’s short hops, Grab or Bolt is convenient; red songthaews can be cheaper, but agree on the fare before you get in.
Head west to Tha Phae Gate, the Old City’s landmark eastern entrance and a good first stop for getting your bearings. Spend about 30 minutes around the brick walls and open square, then continue by Grab or songthaew—or walk roughly 20 minutes—to Three Kings Monument. The monument is a useful introduction to the city’s founding story; allow 30–45 minutes, and check whether the nearby city museum is open if you’d like more context.
From there, walk about 10 minutes to Wat Chedi Luang. The immense, partly ruined chedi is especially atmospheric in late afternoon; allow an hour for the temple grounds. Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), remove your shoes before entering buildings, and keep voices low. Temple access is generally free or a small donation, but hours and entry arrangements can change, so check at the entrance.
Finish at Goodsouls Kitchen in the Old City, a relaxed vegan-friendly choice with Thai and international dishes; budget about ฿200–400 per person. It’s roughly a 10-minute walk from Wat Chedi Luang. If you’re tired, take a short Grab ride back toward the hotel afterward rather than stretching your first night.
Meet your guide in the Old City for the three-hour walking tour; confirm the meeting point and start time when you book. Expect temple courtyards and quiet lanes as well as the better-known historic sights, so wear shoes you can slip off easily and clothing that covers shoulders and knees. After the tour, take a breather and arrange a Grab or taxi to Wat Pha Lat—allow roughly 25–40 minutes from the Old City, depending on traffic. Set aside 1–1½ hours to wander its forested grounds and streamside shrines.
From Wat Pha Lat, it’s about 15–25 minutes by car to Wat Umong, a shady temple complex known for its tunnel shrines; allow around an hour. The two temples are peaceful places to slow down, but paths can be uneven, so bring water and take care underfoot. Finish back in the Old City at Vegan Heaven for a fully vegan meal—budget about ฿150–300 per person. Check the restaurant’s current hours before setting out, as they can change.
Keep the rest of the day unhurried: browse the lanes near Vegan Heaven or head back to your hotel by Grab/Bolt (typically ฿100–250) or a red songthaew; agree the fare before boarding. If you’d rather eat later, check Vegan Heaven’s closing time first and make dinner your final stop.
Meet Trailhead for your Chiang Mai biking tour; confirm the pickup point, start time, route and what’s included directly with the operator. The guided ride typically takes around 4–6 hours and heads into the countryside, so bring water, sunscreen and a light layer, and wear comfortable clothes. Ask ahead about bike fit and the route’s difficulty. Because the ride can run into early afternoon, have a substantial breakfast and let the guide know you eat vegan.
After the tour, head to Warorot Market (Kad Luang), east of the Old City, for about an hour among produce stalls, dried goods and local snacks. It’s busiest during the day, though individual stalls’ hours vary; don’t count on every food stall being open late. From there, walk roughly 10–15 minutes along the riverfront to Wat Ket Karam. Allow around 45 minutes for the temple and its small museum, checking the museum’s opening status when you arrive.
Take a Grab or Bolt from Wat Ket Karam to Vegan Society Chiang Mai in Nimman—usually about 15–25 minutes, depending on traffic. Set aside around ฿150–300 per person for a meal; confirm the day’s hours before setting out, as restaurant schedules can change. After a full day outdoors, keep the evening easy and linger over dinner rather than squeezing in another stop.
Set aside 5–7 hours for the Chiang Mai Half-Day Giant Rain Tree & Sticky Waterfall Tour. Confirm the pickup time, meeting point and included stops with the operator the day before; the drive north takes roughly 1–1.5 hours each way, depending on traffic and the route. Bring swimwear, a quick-dry towel, water and shoes with good grip—limestone can still be slippery, especially around the edges of the cascades.
At Bua Tong Sticky Waterfalls in Mae Taeng district, allow around 1.5–2 hours to climb the grippy limestone tiers and cool off in the water. Follow any local safety instructions, and take care on wet steps. The tour then pauses at the Giant Rain Tree for about 30–45 minutes—a shady, unhurried break and a good spot for photos. Tour prices vary by operator and inclusions, so check whether transport, admission and meals are covered before booking.
After the return to town, head to Reform Kafé for a vegan dinner; allow ฿200–400 per person. It’s a relaxed way to finish after a day outdoors, but check the restaurant’s current hours before setting off, as they can change. If the tour runs late, ask the operator about your drop-off and leave a little buffer before dinner.
Book the Doi Inthanon National Park Full Day Tour in advance and confirm the pickup point, return time, and whether park and pagoda entry fees are included. It’s a long day—typically 10–12 hours including transfers—so have breakfast before pickup, bring water and a light jacket: the summit can feel cool even when Chiang Mai is warm. The tour usually handles transport between stops; follow your guide’s timing, as access and time at individual sights can vary.
At Wachirathan Waterfall, allow around 30–45 minutes to take in the powerful cascade and misty viewpoints; paths can be slippery, so wear shoes with grip. Then visit Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon and Naphaphonphumisiri, the Royal Twin Pagodas, and their gardens. Set aside about 1–1½ hours, and check with your guide about entry fees and access arrangements. Keep shoulders and knees covered for the pagoda grounds, and leave time to enjoy the gardens rather than rushing through.
If your tour returns to Chiang Mai early enough, head to Anchan Vegetarian Restaurant in Nimman for dinner; allow roughly 20–30 minutes by Grab or taxi from the hotel, depending on traffic. The restaurant serves Thai vegetarian dishes, but tell staff clearly that you eat vegan and ask about fish sauce, egg, and dairy; budget around ฿200–400 per person. After a full mountain day, don’t force this stop if the tour runs late—confirm the restaurant’s Friday hours and consider going only if you can arrive comfortably before closing.
There’s a serious timing conflict to resolve before booking: the Chiang Rai Full-Day Tour normally starts and ends in Chiang Mai and takes about 12–14 hours door to door. Coming from Chom Thong makes that combination unrealistic; the separate transfer to Chiang Rai would take roughly 5–6 hours on its own. The practical fix is to be back in Chiang Mai the night before and join a tour with confirmed pickup and return arrangements. Otherwise, you’ll need to drop the full-day tour or add a night in Chiang Rai.
With the Chiang Mai pickup sorted, follow the operator’s order: Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), Baan Dam Museum (Black House), then Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple). Allow roughly 1–1.5 hours, about an hour, and 45–60 minutes respectively, though group tours may set shorter stop times. Check in advance whether admission is included, what the itinerary actually covers, and whether the tour is suitable for you; don’t count on being able to add extra time at any stop. Bring water, sun protection, and a light layer for the long ride.
If you return to Chiang Mai early enough, Chiang Mai Gate Market is a handy evening stop for a casual meal; stalls generally operate into the evening, but your return time will depend on traffic and the tour. Expect around ฿50–200 per person. For vegan food, ask vendors to confirm there’s no fish sauce, egg, meat stock, or dried shrimp—“jay” (เจ) is the useful word for vegan, though it’s worth checking ingredients. If the tour gets back late, eat near your hotel instead of trying to squeeze in the market.
If you’re spending the night in Chiang Mai after the previous day’s tour, leave early for Mae Kampong; it’s roughly 1.5 hours each way by private car, and the mountain road is winding. The listed 4–5-hour drive from Chiang Rai would make today’s plan—including the Sunday market—unrealistic, so confirm your overnight location and driver plan before setting out. Allow about two hours to wander Mae Kampong Village: follow the stream through the compact hillside lanes, take care on damp steps, and keep some cash handy for small local purchases.
Continue to The Giant Chiang Mai for a drink or light meal and treetop views; set aside 1–1.5 hours, but check its current opening status and access before you leave, as the approach can be steep and parking limited. Then spend 45–60 minutes at Teen Tok Royal Project Development Center, enjoying the quieter highland surroundings before the drive back. Agree on your pickup point and return timing with your driver—getting back to the city in time for the evening market depends on an early start and smooth roads.
Aim for Tha Phae Walking Street from around 4pm, when Sunday market stalls begin setting up; it gets busiest after dusk, so allow 1.5–2 hours and expect slow-moving crowds. For a vegan-friendly meal, Free Bird Cafe is on the plan, but it may not open on Sundays: check directly before relying on it, and don’t leave the market to walk there unless you’ve confirmed it’s serving that evening. Budget about ฿150–300 per person if open; otherwise, ask market vendors about dishes made without fish sauce, eggs, or dairy.
Once you’ve reached Nimman from Mae Kampong—allow roughly 1.5–2 hours for the transfer and aim to arrive around late morning—start at One Nimman. Browse the design shops and courtyard for about an hour; opening times vary by shop, but the complex generally gets going late morning. Then walk a few minutes to MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center for a relaxed look around and a coffee or cool-down break. Shops typically open from about 10am, though individual hours can differ.
Continue to the Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders for its owner-curated collection of insects and fossils. Set aside about an hour, but check its current visiting arrangements before setting out, as access and opening hours can change. From there, head to Anchan Vegetarian Restaurant for a Thai meal; budget around ฿200–400 per person and confirm that dishes are vegan when ordering, since vegetarian dishes may contain egg, dairy, fish sauce or shrimp paste. Monday can feel quieter than the weekend around Nimman, so leave yourself a little time to wander or rest between stops.
Head to Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) in Wua Lai for about an hour among its intricate silverwork. The grounds are generally open during daylight, but access to some areas may be restricted; dress modestly and follow signs and staff guidance. From Nimman, allow roughly 20–30 minutes by Grab or Bolt, depending on traffic. Then wander along Wua Lai Walking Street, browsing the silversmiths’ shops and artisan lane. The famous Saturday night market is a separate event, so don’t expect the street to have the same market stalls on this Tuesday.
Give yourself around an hour at the Wat Srisuphan Silver Temple Workshop to look for a silver-making demonstration or hands-on session. Availability and hours can vary, so contact the workshop or temple ahead of time rather than counting on a drop-in activity. Finish at Amrita Garden, a leafy, vegan-friendly spot near the Old City; allow about an hour for lunch and budget roughly ฿200–400 per person. Check its current opening hours before setting out.
Keep the rest of the day flexible for a last coffee or a relaxed return to the hotel to collect your luggage. Use Grab or Bolt for the short city hops; a red songthaew can be cheaper if one is heading your way, but agree on the fare before boarding. If you’re going to Chiang Mai Airport, allow around 15–25 minutes from the city in light traffic, plus extra time for congestion, check-in and security.
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