Northern Thailand Discovery: Mae Hong Son Loop, Self-Launched
7 days · Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Mae Sariang, Pai, Lampang)
Bravo Indochina Tours charges £600
No-markup version: ~£490 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself version of the classic 7-day Mae Hong Son Loop tour from Chiang Mai — covering Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon National Park, the small riverside town of Mae Sariang, the backpacker haven of Pai, and the temple town of Lampang. Instead of a private van and guide, you'll use local songthaews, public buses, minivans and a rented scooter, and book your own guesthouses. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP based on budget guesthouse/hostel rates, street food and local transport; they exclude international flights and travel insurance.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Chiang Mai & Doi Suthep sunset
Chiang Mai
Land in Chiang Mai and check into a guesthouse in the Old City (the walled square is walkable, cheap and full of cafes). Settle in, then in the late afternoon take a red songthaew from Chang Phuak Gate or Pratu Tha Phae up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (~40 THB each way). Climb the 306-step naga staircase, see the golden chedi, and catch the sunset over the city from the terrace. Eat khao soi for dinner at a street stall near the north gate.
🚌Airport to Old City: metered taxi or Grab ~£3-4. Songthaew up Doi Suthep ~£1 each way.
🛏Old City guesthouse or hostel, dorm/private budget room (~£12-15)
- →Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- →Old City evening walk
- →Khao soi dinner near Chang Phuak Gate
Doi Inthanon National Park day trip
Chiang Mai / Doi Inthanon
Spend the day in Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand's highest mountain. Either join a small-group day tour booked via GetYourGuide or Klook (typically ~£30-40 including park entry, transport and lunch) or, if you're comfortable on two wheels, rent a scooter (~£7-9/day) and ride yourself. Highlights: the summit viewpoint and Ang Ka nature trail, the twin Royal Pagodas (Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon and Naphaphonphumisiri) with their flower-filled gardens, the Siriphum waterfall, and the botanical gardens near the summit. Back to Chiang Mai for the evening.
🚌Small-group tour minivan, or self-drive scooter ~£7-9/day (fuel ~£2). Park entry ~£6.
🛏Old City guesthouse or hostel (~£12-15)
- →Doi Inthanon summit & Ang Ka nature trail
- →Royal Pagodas & gardens
- →Wachirathan/Siriphum waterfall
- →Botanical gardens
Chiang Mai to Mae Sariang
Mae Sariang
Take the morning public bus from Chiang Mai's Arcade Bus Terminal to Mae Sariang along the scenic Route 108 — roughly 4 hours winding through jungle hills. Mae Sariang is a sleepy, characterful riverside town with a strong Shan/Burmese influence and very few tourists. Afternoon: walk the riverside, visit Wat Chong Kham and Wat Chong Klang on the riverbank with their Burmese-style temple architecture, and browse the small markets. Sunset from the river bridge is lovely. Quiet dinner at a local restaurant.
🚌Public bus Chiang Mai (Arcade Terminal) to Mae Sariang, ~4 hrs, ~£4-5 one way. Local walking/songthaew in town.
🛏Riverside guesthouse (~£10-14)
- →Scenic Route 108 bus journey
- →Wat Chong Kham & Wat Chong Klang
- →River walk & local market
Mae Sariang to Pai via Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son & Tham Lod
Mae Sariang / Pai
An early start: local bus from Mae Sariang to Khun Yuam (about 1 hr) to see the small World War II museum and the Japanese memorial site. Continue on to Mae Hong Son town, climb the steps to Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu for panoramic views over the valley, and have lunch by the lake. Then take a songthaew or shared ride to Tham Lod Cave near Soppong, where you hire a bamboo raft with a local guide to drift through the caverns past stalactites and swifts (~£4-5 for raft + guide). In the late afternoon catch a minivan or bus south to Pai (~1.5 hrs). Check into a guesthouse in Pai.
🚌Mae Sariang–Khun Yuam–Mae Hong Son local bus ~£3; songthaew to Tham Lod ~£3-4; Soppong–Pai minivan ~£3-4. Alternatively book a shared minivan transfer Mae Hong Son–Pai via the cave.
🛏Pai guesthouse or bungalow (~£12-16)
- →Khun Yuam WWII museum
- →Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu viewpoint
- →Tham Lod Cave by bamboo raft
- →Pai night market
Pai: temples, Chinese village & viewpoints
Pai
Rent a scooter for the day (~£5-7) — the classic way to explore Pai. Start at Wat Mae Yen and climb to the White Big Buddha for valley views. Ride out to Baan Santichon, a Yunnanese Chinese village with mud-brick houses, tea shops and horse rides, and stop at Yun Lai viewpoint on the ridge. Then head to Huay Sai Ngam natural spring (or the hotter Tha Pai hot springs if you prefer), and finish with sunset at Pai Canyon (Kong Lan) if you have energy — the ridge walk is spectacular. Evening in Pai's walking street night market.
🚌Scooter rental ~£5-7/day plus fuel ~£2. Or hire a songthaew driver for the day ~£15-20 (can be shared).
🛏Pai guesthouse or bungalow (~£12-16)
- →Wat Mae Yen & White Buddha viewpoint
- →Baan Santichon Chinese village
- →Yun Lai viewpoint
- →Huay Sai Ngam hot spring
- →Pai Canyon sunset
Pai to Chiang Mai via Lampang temples
Pai / Lampang / Chiang Mai
Take an early minivan from Pai down the 762 curves to Chiang Mai (3-4 hrs, ~£5). If you want the Lampang temple stops, break the journey: take a bus from Chiang Mai's Arcade Terminal to Lampang (~2 hrs, ~£3) and visit Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (a gorgeous, deeply revered Lanna temple about 18 km out of town — reachable by songthaew), Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao in town, the teak-wood merchant house Ban Sao Nak, and Chedi Sao Lang in the afternoon. Then catch an evening bus or train back to Chiang Mai (~1.5-2 hrs). Note: this is a long day — many independent travellers skip Lampang and instead enjoy a slower afternoon in Chiang Mai; it's your call.
🚌Pai–Chiang Mai minivan ~£5; Chiang Mai–Lampang bus ~£3; local songthaews ~£3-4 total; Lampang–Chiang Mai bus/train ~£2-3.
🛏Old City guesthouse or hostel (~£12-15)
- →Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
- →Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao
- →Ban Sao Nak teak house
- →Chedi Sao Lang
Chiang Mai markets & departure
Chiang Mai
Last morning: a Thai cooking class half-day via Klook (~£20-25) if time allows, or simply wander Warorot Market for souvenirs, coffee and snacks, visit Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh in the Old City, and treat yourself to a traditional massage (~£6-8/hr). Head to the airport or bus/train station for onward travel.
🚌Songthaew/tuk-tuk around the Old City ~£1-2 per hop; Grab to airport ~£3-4.
🛏None (departure day) — or one extra guesthouse night if needed (~£12-15)
- →Warorot Market
- →Wat Chedi Luang & Wat Phra Singh
- →Optional Thai cooking class
- →Traditional Thai massage
Self-launched vs. Bravo Indochina Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bravo Indochina Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£490 | £600 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £110 per person (18%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bravo Indochina Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£490
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Northern Thailand Discovery: Mae Hong Son Loop, Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £490 per person for 7 days in Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Mae Sariang, Pai, Lampang). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Bravo Indochina Tours?+
Yes — Bravo Indochina Tours charges around £600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £490 — a saving of roughly £110 (18%) per person.
How long is the Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Mae Sariang, Pai, Lampang) trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Mae Sariang, Pai, Lampang).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Mae Sariang, Pai, Lampang), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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