✈️ Northern Thailand on $950: 2 Weeks, 3 Cities, No Hostels
- Rasha Mediene
- Aug 5, 2025
- 5 min read
Want to explore Chiang Rai, Pai, and Chiang Mai without skimping on adventure, privacy, or comfort, while checking off temples, elephants, jungle rafting, and more? Here's exactly how I did it in 2 weeks for under $950: no hostels, no skipped experiences, no BS.
✅ Prefer guided day trips instead of planning it all yourself?
Just know day trips usually cost more than doing it solo. But if that’s your thing, here are some great budget-friendly options I found for each city:
Pai Viator Link - ALOT more options on walking street
Let’s break it all down 🧭✨
Get ready for a city by city breakdown that includes scooters, temples, elephants, waterfalls, jungle stays, and more!
🛏️ Where to Stay
Chiang Rai
Stay near the Night Market and Clocktower, it makes everything easier. That’s what I did, and it was perfect. Affordable, clean, and walking distance to everything you’ll want to do.
The Rama Hotel - 5 minute ride to center
Pai
I stayed in two different spots. One was peaceful and quiet, about 10–15 minutes away from the Walking Street. The other was closer to the center and better if you're short on time or just want the convenience.
The Nest, Pai Love Resort - 10 minute ride to center
Pai Yard Guesthouse - Closer to center
Chiang Mai
I stayed in three different places, including one literally right across from the bus station — perfect if you're just passing through. Rooms were all-white, gave luxury vibes, had balconies, and were only $25 a night. Just note that the Wi-Fi might still be spotty because the hotel is new.If you're staying in Old City, aim to be near Tha Phae Gate for the best access. Otherwise, stay outside the walls for a change of pace.
The Voyager Guesthouse - Old City, Near Phae Gate
The Prince Hotel - between old city and the bus station, opposite of airport.
Cloud9 Stay - Directly across fro bus station
🛵 How to Get Around
Scooters are the way to go in all three cities, but Chiang Mai is the biggest of the 3 cities and using the Grab app can be conviennent, but if you dont get picked up by a scooter you maybe stuck in traffic for a while. Also, scooters don’t need to be reserved in advance, just pull up and grab one. Most places will ask you to give up your passport or give a 2,000 baht deposit, which is very reasonable.
🚌 From Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai: $11 bus
🚐 From Chiang Mai to Pai: $4 van
🚐 Pai to Chiang Mai (return): $4
🚆 Overnight train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok: $30
Just a heads up the road to and from Pai is wild. It’s packed with curves, so if you get motion sick, take something before the ride.
📍 What to Actually Do
Chiang Rai
🕍 White Temple – spooky and surreal, with a golden temple out back and a hidden cave museum behind the waterfall.
💙 Blue Temple – also a bit eerie but with deep, rich colors and intricate designs
🛕 Goddess Temple (Wat Huay Pla Kang) – take the elevator to the top inside the big statue. It’s stunning
🦂 Scorpion Temple – all purple with a black scorpion out front. Not your average temple
🌁 Glass Skywalk – overlooks Myanmar and feels like you’re walking on air.
🛍️ Clocktower Night Show – happens every hour on the hour starting at 8 PM
🧠 Hall of Opium + Museum of Opium – fascinating and heavy, but super informative
🚤 Golden Triangle Boat Ride – quick and scenic ride through the iconic tri-border area
🧘 Northernmost Point of Thailand – Get as close to Myanmar without actually crossing over
🐒 Monkey Temple – monkeys everywhere. Keep your snacks close
🌺 Singha Park – goes way beyond just flower fields. Ziplining, tea plantations, and more
🛍️ Night Market Restaurant in the Center – surprisingly gorgeous setup and good food
☕ Lalitta Café – I didn’t get to go, but it’s highly recommended. Hit it if you can
🤷 Baan Dam Museum (Black House) – personally not worth it for me. Lots of animal skins and bones.
🤑 Total for Chiang Rai: $169
Pai
🛶 2-Day Rafting + 1 Night Jungle Camp – two full days of rafting, followed by a night sleeping deep in the jungle at a bamboo-built campsite. Raw and unforgettable
🍓 Strawberry Love Pai – a cute strawberry-themed stop where you can try strawberry coffee and stock up on unique local snacks
🌊 Mor Paeng Waterfall + Tha Pai Hot Springs – the perfect nature day combo. One’s great for a dip, the other for a soak
🔥 Fire Show at Paradise Bar – entertaining fire performance every Thursday and Sunday at 8 PM. Fun, chaotic energy
🌸 Chinese Village Flower Garden – Beautiful garden, pool, zip lining, and a cafe with netted seating to enjoy the mountain views
🌳 Abandoned Treehouse – eerie, hidden, and a little creepy but definitely worth exploring if you’re into offbeat adventures
🤑 Total for Pai: $146
Chiang Mai
🐘 Patara Elephant Farm – you can choose baby elephants and spend the day feeding, bathing, and bonding with them. The farm will pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation. Book in advance, it’s popular
💦 Sticky Waterfalls – nature’s staircase! These waterfalls have a unique limestone surface that makes it easy to climb up and down without slipping. Way more fun than it sounds
📿 Wat Ban Den – massive temple complex with dozens of uniquely styled temples, each representing a different Thai province. Colorful and impressive
📚 Library Bar – decorated like an actual library, with cozy corners and a great vibe. Perfect for laid-back drinks or solo hangs
🌌 Transit 8 Café – Subway-themed café with a unique interior
🌿 Chum Restaurant – jungle mist, bridges, and even small waterfalls running through the dining area. Feels straight out of a dream
🚀 Mars Café & Bar – starts as a coffee shop, turns into a bar at night. Outer space meets cozy hangout
🌍 Pluto Café – a small spot with a fun outer space theme. Great for a quick stop and IG pics🌊 Dan Tewada Waterfall Park – nature park with trails, waterfalls, and a small café inside. Scenic and peaceful
🍛 The Hill Restaurant – laid-back mountaintop views and simple food done right
🛩️ Air Diamond Café – airplane-themed café where you can sit inside a real plane and sip your coffee like a captain
🥥 Coconut Market (Sat & Sun only) – not just a market! You’ll find rows of perfectly aligned coconut trees surrounded by still green water. The entire vibe feels magical
💆♀️ Women’s Correctional Facility Massage – run by current inmates, and the massage quality is actually top tier for 250 Baht/hour. That’s less than $8
🤑 Total for Chiang Mai: $438
💸 Money Tips
💳 Most ATMs charge fees on both sides — a local fee and then often one from your bank,
plus a bad exchange rate
💸 Western Union is usually your cheapest option. It’s a flat fee, and in most cases ends up being way cheaper. Depends on who you bank with.
🏍️ Day trips are cool, but doing them with tour groups will almost always be way more expensive. If you can manage on your own, it’s much cheaper and more flexible
🧭 For transport tickets, 12Go Asia is great for planning, but booking directly with the transport company is often a little cheaper
✅ Final Total: $936
That’s 13 nights in private rooms, 3 cities, scooters with gas, solid meals, and every single thing you’d actually want to do. You don’t need to be rich, you just needed this game plan.
The Links
📍 Google Maps Links:
Chiang Rai - Pai - Chiang Mai
🛍️ Everything you need from Amazon for North Thailand
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