You'll arrive at the Chiang Mai International Airport and transfer to your accommodation in the old city. Spend the afternoon exploring the walled city, visiting temples, and sampling street food at the night market.
Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary in the morning and spend the afternoon exploring the "sticky waterfalls" near the town of Chiang Dao. Swim and climb up the multi-tiered limestone falls that are not slippery, despite the sticky name.
Take a hands-on cooking class and learn how to make famous Thai dishes in the morning. The class includes a visit to a local market to shop for ingredients, guided cooking, and a feast of your creations. Spend the late afternoon visiting the sacred Doi Suthep Temple, sitting atop a hill for stunning views over the city.
Fly through the jungle canopy and over the Mae Kampong valley with a zipline adventure in the rainforest outside of Chiang Mai. This adventure includes 33 different zip lines, abseiling, and sky bridges.
Drive a scenic road from Chiang Mai to the village of Pai. Explore the Pai Canyon, a natural wonder that features narrow paths, steep drops and breathtaking views. Afterward, relax in the nearby hot springs and soak in the natural pools or rent a private hot tub.
Go on an adventure on the Pai River with a bamboo rafting excursion. Relax on a handcrafted bamboo raft and float downstream while enjoying the view of the riverbanks.
Return to the Pai Canyon and hike on some of the harder trails, experience the rugged terrain and scenic views. Spend the evening shopping and sampling local specialty foods at the Pai Night Market.
Travel to the small town of Mae Hong Son, stopping in scenic towns like Mae Chaem, visiting the Pha Sua waterfall and coffee plantation. Arrive in time to visit the temple on the hill and catch the sunset over the valley.
Explore the village of Ban Ruam Thai and trek in the lush Namtok Mae Surin National Park to see the orchids and rare bamboo forest. Take a dip in the icy cold waters of the waterfall.
Go caving in the Tham Lod cave system, one of the largest and most extensive cave networks in Southeast Asia. Take a bamboo raft while being guided through the caverns to witness bizarre limestone formations and ancient rock paintings.
Discover the beautiful waterfalls of Mae Hong Son, including Mae La Oop, Mae Surin, and Pha Bong hot springs. Later visit a nearby Karen hill tribe village to experience their traditional ways of life.
Visit the beautiful Pang Oung Lake and paddle around in one of the long-tail boats. Have lunch at one of the floating restaurants and take a leisurely walk around the waterfront. Afterwards, continue driving back to Chiang Mai.
Take another round of the famed Flight of the Gibbon zip line located closer to Chiang Mai in the morning.
A day full of adventure sports in Mae Sa Valley, including bungee jumping, ATV driving, mountain biking and paintball.
Depart from your accommodation in Chiang Mai and transfer to the Chiang Mai International Airport.
For the most comfortable and efficient travel experience, rent a private vehicle or hire a local guide with a car to take you around the region. The estimated cost for a private transportation service with a guide is around 3,000 THB ($100) per day. Also, local songthaews (pickup truck taxis), motorbikes, and tuk-tuks are available for transportation between nearby towns and attractions, which typically costs between 30-150 THB ($ 1-5 USD).
If you have less time, consider spending fewer days in Mae Hong Son and Pai but keeping the activities as they offer great adventure opportunities. More time can be added to Chiang Mai, for example, to visit the nearby mountains or the Golden Triangle. Seasonal variation should also be taken into account as the area might be more crowded during peak season, which is typically from October to February.
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) - The airport is located about 2 miles from the city center of Chiang Mai with a travel time of about 10-15 min by car. The airport is served by several regional Asian airlines, as well as a few international airlines from China, Korea, Japan, and Europe.