Lampang

Day Trips

Touch down in Lampang and transfer to your riverside guesthouse. Savor a traditional Northern Thai coffee at a local café. Take a relaxed walk along Sena Phirom Road to soak in the city’s charm.

Check into your accommodation and freshen up before heading out. Explore nearby shops selling handwoven textiles and ceramics. Pause for a light lunch of khao soi at a family-run eatery.

Witness a magnificent sunset over the Wang River from the hotel terrace. Wander through the bustling night market sampling grilled street snacks. Return to your room for a restful first night in Lampang.

Depart early for Phra That Lampang Luang, one of Chiang Mai’s oldest temples. Admire the intricate Lanna architecture and golden chedi bathed in morning light. Participate in a blessing ceremony with local monks.

Enjoy a riverside picnic of sticky rice, grilled chicken and fresh fruit. Explore the temple grounds, spotting hidden Buddha statues and ancient murals. Climb the steps to the hilltop chapel for panoramic views of the valley.

Head back into town for dinner at a riverside restaurant serving spicy tom saap. Sample local desserts like khanom krok and luk chup. Wind down with a stroll along the illuminated temple walls.

Board a traditional horse-drawn carriage for a narrated city tour. Pass by colonial-era buildings, teakwood houses and the old city moat. Learn about Lampang’s history from your knowledgeable guide.

Visit the workshop of a master craftsman making ceramic horse figurines. Try your hand at clay molding under expert guidance. Enjoy afternoon tea with homemade sweets in the studio courtyard.

Dine at a riverside bistro offering fusion Northern Thai cuisine. Sample dishes infused with local herbs and spices. Cap the evening with a slow stroll past lit-up temples along the riverbank.

Travel to a nearby ethical elephant sanctuary for a day of hands-on learning. Help prepare nutritious banana and sugarcane treats for the gentle giants. Observe them bathing in the river and connecting with mahouts.

Hike through lush forest trails surrounding the sanctuary. Pause by a hidden waterfall for a refreshing dip. Enjoy a riverside picnic of khao niao and spicy papaya salad.

Return to Lampang town and savor a hearty Northern Thai stew called gaeng hang lay. Relax in your room or enjoy a traditional foot massage. Drift off to ambient jungle sounds through your open window.

Catch the scenic mountain train to Doi Khun Tan station at sunrise. Begin a guided trek through evergreen forest alive with birdcalls. Spot wild orchids and giant ferns along the misty trail.

Reach a secluded waterfall for a picnic lunch amid moss-covered boulders. Take a cooling swim in the natural pool beneath cascading water. Continue hiking to a viewpoint offering sweeping mountain vistas.

Descend back toward Lampang as twilight settles over the peaks. Enjoy a rustic dinner at a local hillside eatery serving sticky rice and grilled river fish. Return to town to rest after a day of adventure.

Drive to a nearby Karen long-neck community nestled in rolling rice fields. Greet villagers adorned with brass rings and learn about their matriarchal culture. Try weaving traditional textile patterns on a backstrap loom.

Cycle through emerald paddy terraces, passing buffalo grazing in shallow water. Enjoy a picnic lunch of spicy larb and fresh vegetables under a shade tree. Visit a local school to share snacks and conversation with children.

Return to Lampang and dine at a restaurant showcasing hill-tribe fusion dishes. Sample jungle-gathered mushrooms sautéed with garlic and chili. Watch a brief performance of traditional Karen folk dance.

Head to Ban Sao Nak, Lampang’s renowned ceramic village. Tour family-run kilns and observe potters shaping clay on spinning wheels. Participate in a hands-on workshop to craft your own tea cup.

Explore the Ceramic Museum’s vast collection of ancient bowls and vases. Learn about glazing techniques perfected over generations. Enjoy a light lunch of khao soi in a charming pottery café.

Cruise along Thung River on a wooden longtail boat as fireflies begin to glow. Stop at a riverbank for freshly grilled fish and sticky rice. Return under a sky full of stars reflecting on the water.

Travel to nearby Pong Phra Bat Hot Springs for a natural spa experience. Soak in steaming mineral pools reputed for their healing properties. Sip herbal tea in the surrounding bamboo grove.

Indulge in a Thai herbal steam bath followed by a cooling cucumber mask. Enjoy a healthy lunch of grilled chicken pandan wraps and mixed greens. Wander the hot-spring park’s walking paths lined with orchids.

Return to Lampang’s town center for a casual dinner at a local noodle shop. Sample beef noodle soup topped with fresh cilantro and chili oil. Unwind with a foot reflexology massage before bedtime.

Start at the morning fresh market where vendors sell produce, spices and street snacks. Learn to identify exotic ingredients like makhuea pro (Thai eggplant) and ga-pi (shrimp paste). Select herbs and vegetables for your cooking class.

Join a hands-on cooking course in a traditional teakhouse kitchen. Under your chef’s guidance, prepare iconic dishes: khao soi, laab moo and nam prik ong. Feast on your creations paired with fragrant jasmine rice.

Stroll through the Saturday Walking Street (if available) or the night bazaar. Taste local delicacies such as sai ua (Northern Thai sausage) and khanom mo kaeng (sweet custard cake). Enjoy live music performances among the market stalls.

Relax with a sunrise yoga session on a platform overlooking the Wang River. Enjoy a light breakfast of fresh tropical fruits and smoothies. Embark on a private longtail boat cruise upriver.

Stop at quiet riverside villages to interact with residents and browse handmade crafts. Lunch aboard the boat featuring grilled local fish and papaya salad. Continue upstream, admiring limestone cliffs and mangroves.

Return to Lampang for an elegant farewell dinner in a heritage teak villa. Relish a multi-course feast showcasing Northern Thai royal cuisine. Toast with a glass of locally brewed rice wine as you bid Lampang goodbye.