The Soul of Chiang Mai: Old City, Lanna Temples & Doi Suthep

Itinerary

Temples of the Old City & Doi Suthep Sanctuary

Lunch

Chiang Mai

Temples of the Old City & Doi Suthep Sanctuary

Your English-speaking local guide meets you in the lobby of your hotel.
The day begins in the old city of Chiang Mai, once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and still defined by its temples, traditional craftsmanship and distinctive northern character.

Your first visit is Wat Chedi Luang, an important temple whose origins date to the late 14th century. Its monumental chedi once housed the revered Emerald Buddha, now kept in Bangkok.

You then continue to Wat Phra Singh, one of Chiang Mai’s most important Buddhist temples. The complex is particularly celebrated for its Lai Kham chapel, a fine expression of Lanna architecture and decoration, and remains closely connected to the city’s religious life.

Next, discover Wat Chiang Man, regarded as Chiang Mai’s oldest temple. It is associated with King Mengrai and the foundation of the city in the late 13th century, offering a glimpse into the earliest years of the Lanna capital.
Between temple visits, there is also time to experience a more contemporary side of Chiang Mai, browsing local craft shops and small artisan stalls and, depending on the pace of the day, pausing at one of the city’s cafés serving coffee grown in the surrounding northern mountains.

A lunch at a local restaurant is included.

In the afternoon, you leave the old city behind and begin the winding ascent towards Doi Suthep. The road climbs to around 1,000 metres above sea level before reaching Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

Traditionally, the sanctuary is approached via a staircase of 306 steps, lined by long naga balustrades representing the protective serpents of Buddhist tradition.

Founded in the 14th century to enshrine a sacred relic of the Buddha, the temple has become one of Chiang Mai’s defining symbols. Within the complex, gilded chedis, bells, gongs and devotional spaces reflect the enduring spiritual importance of the site.

From the mountain, sweeping views extend over Chiang Mai and the surrounding countryside.

At the end of the experience, you return to your hotel.

Meal included: lunch at a local restaurant

Experience details

Cancellation policy

We understand that travel plans may occasionally change. Cancellation fees are calculated according to the date on which the cancellation is received prior to the start of the experience:

More than 30 days before arrival: 25% of the total amount
29 to 16 days before arrival: 35% of the total amount
15 to 9 days before arrival: 50% of the total amount
8 to 3 days before arrival: 75% of the total amount
Less than 2 days before arrival: 100% of the total amount

Should a guest choose to interrupt or leave the experience once it has begun, any unused services will be non-refundable.

In the exceptional event that an experience must be cancelled by one of our local partners due to unforeseen circumstances preventing its proper operation, all amounts paid for the affected experience will be refunded in full. No additional compensation may, however, be claimed.

Our on-the-ground commitments

At Hilaire Expériences, we place particular care in the way each journey is conceived and delivered on the ground.

We favour local partners who share a more responsible approach to travel, with particular attention paid to preserving the environments we visit, respecting local communities and ensuring that tourism contributes positively to the destinations in which we operate.

A number of our experiences are operated by partners working in accordance with recognised standards such as Travelife and ChildSafe, with a continued focus on managing their environmental and social impact responsibly.

We are also progressively reducing the use of single-use plastics across selected programmes. Wherever possible, disposable bottles are being replaced by refillable solutions and drinking-water refill points available in hotels and aboard our vehicles.