One Week in Northern Thailand – Self-Launched

Arrive in Bangkok and check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in the Chinatown (Yaowarat) or Sukhumvit area — both are well-connected and buzzing with street food. Lub D Bangkok Chinatown is the same hostel Intrepid uses and dorm beds are bookable directly for a fraction of the tour price. Spend the afternoon wandering Chinatown's gold shops, noodle stalls and temple alleyways. In the evening, hit the roadside stalls along Yaowarat Road for pad see ew, boat noodles and mango sticky rice. Navigate the BTS Skytrain and MRT independently — both are cheap, fast and well-signed in English. Apps like Google Maps work excellently for Bangkok transit.

🚌From Suvarnabhumi Airport: take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai (~£1.50, 30 mins), then BTS/MRT to your area. From Don Mueang: take bus A1 or A2 to Mo Chit BTS (~£1). Avoid metered taxis unless you use the official taxi queue — expect ~£8–12 to Chinatown.

🛏Lub D Bangkok Chinatown (dorm ~£10–12) or nearby hostels e.g. Nap Park Hostel, Silom Art Hostel. Book via Hostelworld or Booking.com.

• →Self-guided walk through Chinatown (Yaowarat Road) – free
• →Street food dinner along Yaowarat or Sukhumvit Soi 38 – approx £5–8
• →Optional: Grand Palace – THB500 (~£11), bookable on arrival
• →Optional: Thai massage on Sukhumvit – THB300 (~£7)
• →Optional: Tuk-tuk ride – negotiate directly with drivers, aim for THB100–200 per trip

A free morning and afternoon in Bangkok before your overnight train north to Chiang Mai. Start with a Thai massage (easily booked walk-in at any reputable parlour for THB300–400). Then explore Talad Noi, Bangkok's atmospheric riverside quarter with street art and old shophouses, or rent a bicycle via Klook to cycle to the temple cluster of Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Store your luggage at the hotel, then take the BTS to Hua Lamphong (or Krung Thep Aphiwat station, Bangkok's newer rail hub) for your overnight train. Book your train ticket in advance at 12go.asia or seat61.com — a 2nd class sleeper costs around £15–20 per person. The train departs in the early evening and arrives in Chiang Mai the following morning.

🚌BTS Skytrain to relevant stations (~£0.80–1.50 per journey). Overnight train Bangkok to Chiang Mai: ~13 hours, departs ~18:00–20:00, arrives ~07:00–09:00. 2nd class sleeper ~£15–20. Book in advance, especially for weekends.

🛏Overnight Sleeper Train (2nd class AC sleeper bunk – book via 12go.asia or directly at Bangkok station)

• →Thai massage (walk-in) – THB300–400 (~£7–9)
• →Self-guided visit to Wat Pho – THB200 (~£4.50)
• →Optional: Wat Arun – THB100 (~£2.30)
• →Talad Noi street art walk – free
• →Book overnight train ticket via 12go.asia or at the station – 2nd class sleeper ~£15–20

Arrive at Chiang Mai train station in the morning. Take a red songthaew (shared pickup truck taxi) from the station to your guesthouse in the Old City for around THB50–80 per person (~£1–2). Check in, freshen up, then do a self-guided orientation walk of the Old City moat area — it's compact and very walkable. Head up to Doi Suthep Temple in the afternoon via a red songthaew from Chiang Mai Zoo (shared ride ~THB60 each way) — the views over the city are spectacular. In the evening, explore the famous Night Bazaar on Chang Khlan Road and the Anusarn Market nearby for street food, handicrafts and souvenir shopping. Nimman area has a great bar scene if you want to go out — a short songthaew ride from the Old City.

🚌Train station to Old City: red songthaew ~THB50–80pp (~£1–2). Around Chiang Mai: red songthaews (shared, ~THB30–60 per ride) or hire a bicycle for the day.

🛏Guesthouses in the Old City: Julie Guesthouse, Earthhome Hostel or Deejai Backpackers – dorm £8–12, private £18–25. Book via Hostelworld or Booking.com.

• →Self-guided Old City moat walk – free
• →Doi Suthep Temple – THB50 (~£1.10) entrance + songthaew THB60 each way (~£1.40)
• →Night Bazaar & Anusarn Market – free entry, budget for food/shopping
• →Optional: Cooking class at Cooking at Home Cookery School via GetYourGuide – THB1,400 (~£32)
• →Optional: Bicycle hire around Old City – THB100–150/day (~£2.30–3.50)
• →Optional: Ziplining via Flight of the Gibbon or similar – from THB1,900 (~£43) book via Klook

Today you join the 2-day hilltribe trek — book this independently through a reputable Chiang Mai-based trekking agency rather than via Intrepid's mark-up. Highly rated operators include Eagle House Trekking, Summit Trekking, or Pop Guesthouse — all offer 2-day/2-night hilltribe treks with similar routes for around THB2,500–3,500 (~£57–80pp), including transport, meals and village accommodation. Your group departs Chiang Mai at around 08:00, stops at Mae Malai Market for snacks, visits Mok Fah Waterfall, then treks approximately 8km (4 hours) along mountain ridges to Mae Ma Nai Hilltribe Village. An included home-cooked dinner awaits you by the fire, followed by an evening chatting with village locals. Sleep on traditional roll mats in a wooden village house.

🚌Minivan transfer from Chiang Mai to trek start point – included in trek package. Recommended agencies: Eagle House Trekking (+66 53 235 387), Summit Trekking, or ask at your guesthouse for vetted operators. Carry ~£10 worth of Thai baht for personal water/snacks.

🛏Hilltribe Village House (multi-share, roll mats) – included in trek package. Bring a sleeping bag liner (Nov–Jan especially).

• →2-day hilltribe trek – book via local agency in Chiang Mai, ~THB2,500–3,500pp (~£57–80) all-inclusive for both days
• →Mae Malai fresh market visit – included
• →Mok Fah Waterfall – included
• →8km mountain ridge trek (~4 hours)
• →Home-cooked dinner in hilltribe village – included
• →Evening village walk and interaction with locals

Wake to birdsong and jungle sounds. After a village-cooked breakfast, continue today's ~10km (5 hour) trek through farmland and jungle, passing through additional hilltribe villages and learning about the differences in lifestyle, culture and traditions between them. Keep your camera ready — the landscape is stunning. Lunch is included along the trail. Reach Pong Ngan Lahu Village in the afternoon with time to rest, wash in a nearby stream and explore the village before another home-cooked dinner around the fire. All meals today are included within your trek package.

🚌Trekking on foot between villages – no additional transport cost. Trek package includes return transfer to Chiang Mai on Day 6.

🛏Hilltribe Village House (multi-share) – included in trek package booked on Day 4.

• →Approx 10km jungle and farmland trek (~5 hours)
• →Village-to-village exploration, comparing hilltribe cultures
• →Included breakfast, lunch and dinner
• →Evening rest and relaxation at Pong Ngan Lahu Village

This morning, head to the Mae Taeng River for 2–3 hours of kayaking downstream to Sop Kai Village — this is usually included or offered as an add-on by your trekking operator, so confirm when booking your 2-day trek. If not included, you can book it separately via GetYourGuide or Klook for around THB800–1,200 (~£18–28). The river is beautiful, winding through lush jungle scenery. If you're feeling adventurous, add on whitewater rafting further downstream for THB1,800 (~£41) — book at the activity desk on the day or pre-book via Klook. Return to Chiang Mai by songthaew or minivan (included in trek package or ~£3–5 independently). Spend the evening exploring Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang temples in the Old City (both very cheap or free), then find a bowl of khao soi at one of Chiang Mai's famous noodle shops.

🚌Return transfer Chiang Mai from Mae Taeng River area – included in trek package or shared minivan ~£3–5. Red songthaew around Old City ~THB30–60.

🛏Return to same Old City guesthouse as Day 3 – dorm £8–12, private £18–25. Confirm re-booking before departing for the trek.

• →Mae Taeng River kayaking (2–3 hours) – book via trek operator or Klook, ~THB800–1,200 (~£18–28)
• →Optional: Whitewater rafting – THB1,800 (~£41) via Klook or on-site
• →Wat Phra Singh Temple – THB40 (~£0.90)
• →Wat Chedi Luang Temple – THB40 (~£0.90)
• →Khao soi dinner at Khao Soi Khun Yai or similar local spot – ~THB80–120 (~£2–3)

A relaxed final morning in Chiang Mai. No set agenda — the city rewards slow exploration. Consider a Muay Thai class at Lanna Muay Thai (~THB500, £11), a final cooking class, or a half-day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park (Thailand's highest peak) via shared minivan (~THB800 all-in, bookable at most guesthouses). Visit the ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary for an ethical elephant encounter — book directly on their website for THB1,900 (~£43). Or simply wander the Sunday Walking Street if it's the right day, grab a cheap massage and enjoy your last bowl of pad thai. Fly home or onward from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), or extend your trip south toward Pai, Chiang Rai or beyond.

🚌Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is ~15 mins from Old City. Red songthaew to airport ~THB80–100 (~£2) or Grab app taxi ~£3–5. Flights to Bangkok from ~£20–35 one-way (AirAsia, Thai Lion Air).

🛏Check out of Old City guesthouse. Book extra nights via Booking.com if extending.

• →Optional: ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary – THB1,900 (~£43), book direct at changchill.com
• →Optional: Doi Inthanon National Park day trip – ~THB800 (~£18) all-in via shared minivan
• →Optional: Muay Thai class at Lanna Muay Thai – THB460–500 (~£11)
• →Optional: Final cooking class – THB1,400 (~£32) via Cooking at Home or similar
• →Sunday Walking Street (if applicable) – free entry, budget for food/shopping
• →Final massage at Chuan Chom Vocational Training Centre – from THB250 (~£6)