How to Play the Most Reasonable Route and Shopping in Chiang Mai+Bangkok, Thailand Self guided Travel Guide

Doi Suthep

DAY1: Arrived at Chiang Mai Airport at 6 pm. Prebooked airport pickup online and reached the hotel smoothly. Highly recommend Dusit Princess Hotel in the Night Bazaar area During our days in Chiang Mai we never needed a tuk‑tuk—the location is super convenient. Lets Relax is right across the street; plenty of eateries nearby; 7‑Eleven, Watsons, and Boots are all within 500 meters. On the first night we went to the popular Lemongrass—taste was average. Interestingly, many Thai staff speak good Chinese.

Lemongrass Restaurant

DAY2: Mae Wang Elephant Camp + Jungle Zipline day tour. Booked via Taobao for convenience—it was indeed convenient; morning pickup directly at the hotel, just wait in the lobby. Departed at 7:30 am, 1.5‑hour drive to Mae Wang. Elephants there carry people all day—buy more sugarcane and bananas to feed them. If you’re sensitive like me, this activity may feel uncomfortable; consider skipping.
For lunch we had a fish rice at McDonald’s—okay; then went to the popular UGO restaurant whose chicken wings were disappointing
At 1:30 pm we left the hotel again—another 1.5‑hour mountain road that’s quite bumpy. We chose the Skyline zipline; different shops cooperate with different operators. Our group had nine guests and six young instructors—professional and friendly. Follow instructions to avoid injury; it’s worth a try.

Skyline Jungle Zipline

These were tiring activities—not great for photos and outfits weren’t flattering. For ziplining, wear sneakers and preferably long sleeves and pants.
After a hard day, we booked a 9 pm Lets Relax traditional 2‑hour massage and paid with Alipay—book in advance and leave a deposit; don’t choose a seat right under the A/C—it’s cold

DAY3: Chiang Mai Old City + Weekend Night Market. Slept in, then walked about 1 km to Tha Phae Gate to feed pigeons and take photos—they’re bold and pecked my fingers

Tha Phae Gate

The old city is small—half a day is enough to see highlights. I recommend Wat Chiang Man; lots of friendly dogs and a peaceful vibe. Photos online may be over‑edited, but it’s beautiful in person. Wat Chedi Luang is very crowded. Thailand doesn’t seem to mind posing with Buddha statues; photos are common and the temples look magnificent.

Wat Chiang Man

Lunch at a popular spot, 92 Rechadamneon—again, just average. By around 3 pm we finished the temples—all on foot without renting a car or taking a songthaew, so it was tiring. We walked back to Tha Phae Gate, start of the weekend market. Spent an hour at Boots and ended up with a heavy bag—shop rationally! The night market starts setting up after 4 pm. Don’t miss mini pineapples and coconuts—tasty and cheap. There’s a keychain stall where you can combine letters and patterns to make custom gifts and handmade dreamcatchers—great quality and cheaper than Taobao.

Sunday Night Market

DAY4: Doi Suthep half‑day + Nimman half‑day, booked via Taobao—very convenient. Departed at 8 am. After a bit over an hour we reached Wat Umong, a tunnel temple with tranquil atmosphere—loved it.

Wat Umong

Then a winding mountain drive to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. If you get carsick, take medicine—those curves are real. Queue for the elevator up; you can walk down the famous twin‑dragon staircase later. The temple truly defines “gold and jade splendor”—stunning and grand, a must‑visit! The viewpoint overlooks Chiang Mai; photos can’t capture the awe. One word: beautiful.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

After Doi Suthep we headed to Bhubing Palace. In October there aren’t many flowers and it’s not very exciting. Dress modestly—my long‑sleeve top and floor‑length skirt were still deemed “too thin”. This stop is optional; skip if short on time.

For lunch we went to MAYA mall for some snacks—not great. In the basement there’s a ChaTraMue Thai Tea shop—signature sweetness

MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center

There’s a large NaRaYa Bangkok bag store diagonally opposite MAYA.
In the afternoon we strolled along the main road and checked out the “internet‑famous” Nimman area; it’s not a single road and shops are spread out—nothing particularly special to browse.

Nimman Road

Today’s top pick: we walked to a bird’s‑nest dessert stall at night. After many tries in Chiang Mai, this Dianping‑recommended spot is the most reliable and tasty. The milk bird’s nest is so good I could eat it daily, served in a pretty bowl. It’s a roadside cart run by a couple.

After dessert we walked a long way—forgot that songthaews stop on demand. When we were exhausted we finally hailed one (80 THB, no bargaining). It was just the two of us—basically a private ride. Back at the hotel we freshened up and went out again. The location is great: food right across the street; next to Lemongrass there’s a tasty fish‑ball noodle shop; next door Hard Rock served a strong Long Island Iced Tea—the music was good and the bartender was handsome.

DAY5: Chiang Mai Bangkok (Don Mueang). Booked an airport transfer via Taobao, but too early—hotel to airport is only 30 minutes and we waited for 3 hours. Chiang Mai is small; no need to leave too early. At noon we landed in Bangkok. No pickup arranged. For buses: Terminal 1 Gate 6, Terminal 2 Gate 12; take Bus Line 1, get off at Mo Chit to transfer to BTS. It’s a major transport hub. Bangkok transport is quite expensive; we didn’t take taxis—mostly BTS.
In Bangkok we focused on shopping; the Grand Palace and Wat Pho were closed. Dinner at NARA—so‑so.
DAY6: Siam district—Bangkok malls are huge; impossible to finish. Had Somboon Seafood—good and worth trying.
DAY7: Suvarnabhumi KING POWER duty‑free. Again booked transfer too early and waited long at the airport. Bangkok China.

Bangkok was mostly shopping. Notes below; most places accept Alipay or UnionPay.
Dried fruit (mango, durian): if you visit Chiang Mai, buy at the market near the Night Bazaar—cheap and authentic. For personal snacks, choose simple packaging; tastes better than fancy packs.
L’Oréal: cheapest at Watsons with promotions; airports also have deals but stock is smaller than Watsons.
Boots: pay with Alipay; frequent promotions (e.g., buy 2 get 1). Don’t buy at the airport.
Latex pillows: good selection and negotiable prices at Chiang Mai Night Bazaar market; not recommended to buy in Bangkok.
NaRaYa: Alipay 2500 THB often gets 15% off—buy in one go.
Thai silk: JIM THOMPSON at Central—great craft; silk scarves are perfect gifts and better selection than airport duty‑free. Their T‑shirts are very comfortable with Thai style.
THANN: buy at Bangkok mall counters to use Alipay discounts; sunscreen is around 170 RMB with Alipay.
Snacks: Tao Kae Noi seaweed—largest cheap pack found at Chiang Mai Night Bazaar 7‑Eleven for 40 THB; later prices were higher. In Bangkok, Terminal 21 B2 has vast selection; you can also find ChaTraMue Thai Tea there.
KING POWER: if you like it, buy it—with coupons it’s not much more expensive, and stock is plentiful. I regret buying CPB at Isetan downtown; airport is cheaper with coupons, though counters downtown give more samples. At the airport it’s rushed.
Bird’s nest drinks and Yakult: just drink freely at 7‑Eleven—Alipay accepted everywhere.