CHIANG RAI, NORTHERN THAILAND
Quiet roads.
Forested hills.
Journeys taken slowly.
Lanna Paths arranges small-group outdoor experiences across Chiang Rai province — from a half-day cycling loop through the old town's temple lanes to a six-day traverse of borderlands tea country. Every route is led by a licensed local guide who knows the terrain and is happy to stop.
Who We Are
Lanna Paths grew out of a conversation in a noodle shop on Soi 7. A pair of long-time Chiang Rai residents — one a retired park ranger, the other a cycling enthusiast who had spent a decade mapping back roads — decided that the best parts of the region deserved more than a minivan window. They began walking and pedalling visitors along routes they knew personally, keeping groups small and the pace easy.
Today the team has grown to seven guides, all licensed and all local. The routes now span half-day town loops, overnight hill treks, and week-long borderlands journeys. What has not changed is the approach: the guide sets the rhythm, the group decides when to stop, and the afternoons are unhurried enough to notice things.
Lanna Paths is based at 309 Soi 7, Phaholyothin Road, Wiang, Mueang Chiang Rai. Every experience runs in conditions suited to the season — the dry months from November through February bring the clearest skies and the coolest walking weather.
Three Ways to Travel Slowly
Choose your pace. The landscape obliges.
HALF-DAY · ON TWO WHEELS
Town & Temple Cycling
Easy pedalling through quiet lanes, riverside markets, and old temple courtyards. 12 kilometres, gentle pace, regular stops.
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TWO DAYS · HILLS & HOMESTAY
Hills, Hot Spring & Village
Two days through forested hill country, a natural hot spring soak, and a night in a quiet farming village.
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SIX DAYS · DEEP NORTH
Borderlands Journey
Tea terraces, river valleys, hill villages, and forest paths across the far north. Rest days built in; the schedule bends to the weather.
Ask about this tripWhat Comes With Every Trip
A few things that are true of every Lanna Paths experience, regardless of length.
Licensed Local Guides
Every guide holds a Tourism Authority of Thailand licence and has led routes in this landscape for years. They grew up here; they know whose gate to knock on for fresh lychees.
A Measured Pace
Itineraries are written around comfort, not distance. Groups walk at a human speed, with time built in for shade, photographs, and conversation that does not feel rushed.
Small Groups
Groups cap at eight people. Smaller groups put less pressure on the villages and trails involved, and make it easier for the guide to give proper attention to everyone.
Local Accommodation
Overnight journeys use family guesthouses and village homestays rather than resort chains. The beds are comfortable and the breakfasts are cooked by the household.
Seasonal Scheduling
Trips run when the conditions suit them. Cycling and shorter treks work through the dry season; the six-day journey is offered only when trails are clear and village access is straightforward.
Clear Inclusions
Each listing describes exactly what is covered — guide, equipment, transfers, meals, entry fees — so the price you see is the one you pay. No supplements discovered at departure.
THE TERRAIN
Where the Routes Go
Chiang Rai province extends north to the borders of Myanmar and Laos, through a landscape that changes quickly from irrigated paddy to forested ridge. The routes stay away from highways. Town loops run along the river and through temple grounds. Hill routes follow paths used by farming families rather than marked tourist tracks.
The far north, where the six-day journey travels, is tea country: terraced hillsides with views that open on clear mornings to ridges in three countries at once.
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THE FOOD
Meals Along the Way
On overnight and multi-day routes, all meals are included and all are cooked locally. Breakfast in a village homestay tends to be rice porridge with pickled vegetables and boiled eggs; lunch often comes from a roadside kitchen the guide has been visiting for twenty years. Dinner, depending on the village, may be communal.
Dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice. Please mention them when you enquire.
Enquire about mealsHow We Keep Trips Safe and Honest
Outdoor travel in a remote province involves real terrain and real conditions. Here is how we approach that responsibly.
TAT-Licensed Guides
All guides carry current Tourism Authority of Thailand licences and first-aid certification.
Routes We Know
We operate only on routes we have walked recently and confirmed with the relevant village or ranger station.
Fitness Briefings
Before booking, we share an honest description of physical demands so each traveller can judge if the route suits their condition.
Weather Flexibility
If conditions change and a route becomes unsuitable, we rescheduled without penalty. Traveller safety comes before the calendar.
Our Approach
Three things shape how Lanna Paths works and why.
Community first
The villages and communities along our routes are hosts, not backdrop. Payments for accommodation and meals go directly to households. We ask permission, we explain what to expect, and we leave things as we found them.
Depth over distance
Covering fewer kilometres more carefully tends to produce a better day than covering many kilometres quickly. Routes are measured in what you notice, not just what you pass through.
Plain communication
We describe what trips involve clearly — the terrain, the distances, the accommodation type. If something is not a good fit for a traveller, we say so early and suggest what might work better.
Our Journeys
Three experiences, each designed to fit a different kind of traveller and a different length of stay.
HALF-DAY · ≈12 KM
Old Town Cycling & Temple Loop
An easy ride along quiet lanes linking the river, the old town, and a few peaceful temples. The guide keeps a gentle rhythm and shares small stories along the way — there are regular stops for shade and something cold to drink. Suited to anyone comfortable on a bicycle, including beginners. Bicycle, helmet, guide, and water are included.
- Bicycle & helmet included
- Licensed local guide
- Water throughout
- Best in the dry season (Nov–Feb)
TWO DAYS · HILLS & HOMESTAY
Hills & Hot Spring Trek
Two days through forested hills and farming country, with a soak at a natural hot spring and a homestay night in a quiet village. Distances are moderate; the pace is steady, with time to rest and take in the scenery. All meals, a night's accommodation, hot spring entry, and transfers from Chiang Rai are included.
- Licensed guide
- Village homestay & all meals
- Hot spring entry
- Transfers from Chiang Rai
SIX DAYS · DRY SEASON ONLY
Northern Borderlands Journey
A longer, reflective journey through hill villages, river valleys, tea terraces, and forest paths across the far north — with rest days planned in. The route adjusts to conditions and weather rather than a rigid schedule; walking is balanced with slow visits and local meals. A licensed guide, all accommodation, every meal, and transfers are included, along with a pre-trip briefing.
- Licensed guide + pre-trip briefing
- All accommodation & meals
- All transfers
- Runs dry season only
How Booking Works
A straightforward sequence — nothing presses you to decide before you are ready.
Send an enquiry
Fill in the contact form or drop us an email. Tell us which journey interests you, your planned travel dates, and the size of your group. There is no commitment at this stage.
We confirm availability
We check the season, available guides, and group size against our schedule and reply within one working day. If the dates do not work, we suggest alternatives that do.
Secure your place
Once dates are agreed, we send a deposit invoice. On receipt, your place is held. Full payment and the pre-trip briefing follow closer to the departure date, along with a packing list suited to the route.
Traveller Notes
A selection of feedback from recent trips.
"The cycling day was the highlight of our week in Chiang Rai. Our guide knew every lane and every family. We stopped at a temple we would never have found on our own and were invited in for tea."
Marcus H.
Berlin — May 2025
"Two days felt like four, in the best way. The hot spring was a surprise — much more remote and quiet than I expected. Sleeping in the village and eating with the family the next morning was worth the trip on its own."
Sienna P.
Melbourne — Jan 2025
"We did the six-day borderlands journey in December. Six of us, two of them in their sixties. The pace was right for the whole group. The tea terraces on day four — genuinely one of the most beautiful mornings I have had travelling."
Tomas N.
Amsterdam — Dec 2024
Common Questions
A few things travellers often ask before booking.
What fitness level do the treks require?
When is the best time to come?
How large are the groups?
What happens if the weather changes?
Are dietary requirements accommodated?
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
How is my booking information used?
Get in Touch
Send us a note about the journey you have in mind. We reply within one working day.
Contact & Location
- 309 Soi 7, Phaholyothin Road, Wiang, Mueang Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand
- +66 53 714 069
- [email protected]
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Office Hours
Mon–Sat: 08:00 – 18:00 (ICT)
Sunday: 09:00 – 14:00
Enquiries sent outside these hours are answered next business day.
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Find Us
309 Soi 7, Phaholyothin Road, Wiang, Mueang Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai 57000