Workation in Chiang Mai: A short guide to your remote work in the North of Thailand

If you work remotely, you surely know that one of the most popular destinations in Thailand for people like you is Chiang Mai. This is where digital nomads and freelancers gather to spend the winter and work. Check out what you need to know to spend a workation in Chiang Mai.

When I lived in Chiang Mai, I worked there full time, I was a teacher in a Thai school. Then I lived in all sorts of places, and I also returned to the north of Thailand for a few months. So I didn’t have any opportunity to see what workation was really like.

In the last couple of years I have been spending 1 month per year in Thailand. I usually work during this time and have fun. It’s easy to organise it for me as I know the city, I know where to stay and how to move around. I know, however, that it might look like a challenge for someone who hasn’t been in Thailand before and would like to come here to do some work and get to see the country.

If you are going to Thailand to work and relax, the following information will help you organize your trip and spend a productive, beautiful time in Chiang Mai.

What is a workation?

Workation comes from the words work and vacation. It is a time during which you can combine vacation with remote work.

Your boss may, for example, give you a month off from sitting in the office, but during that month you have to work for 2 weeks, the other two you can take a vacation and spend them however you want.

That’s what we do with my husband during our workation. We work full time during the first month in Chiang Mai. Then, we take some time off and travel around the south of Thailand. I normally work on some urgent things during this time, but my husband enjoys his holidays.

Why is workation in Chiang Mai so great?

Chiang Mai is a mecca for digital nomads for a reason. It’s a city that combines the modernity and amenities that westerners like to have, like movie theaters and shopping malls, with all the coolest things Thailand has: markets, temples and street food.

There are many cafes where you can hole up with your laptop, meet other digital nomads, and make interesting friends. Throughout the winter there are meetups, presentations and events. The expat and nomad community is growing tremendously.

Most places offer good quality wi-fi. So you can work freely from your apartment, from a stylish cafe or from a coworking space.

It’s certainly impossible to get bored in the city, but if you run out of contact with nature, you can hire a cab or scooter and head out of town to the mountains. Nearby is Doi Inthanon, the San Kampeang hot springs, Chiang Dao, or Mea Sa with its waterfall and botanical garden.

In addition, Chiang Mai also attracts with its climate, which is very favorable in winter. It’s about 25-28 degrees during the day and 15 at night. Compared to Bangkok, or the south, these are quite low and cool temperatures.

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Have I encouraged you to come here? Great! Read on to find out how to organise your remote work in Chiang Mai.

Visas – It’s not so hard really

The first thing you need to pay attention to is, of course, a visa. How long do you want to stay in Chiang Mai?

Currently (2025), you can stay in Thailand for 60 days without a visa (please check if you’re eligible first). After arriving at the airport, you get a stamp in your passport and you’re allowed to stay here for 2 months.

It is also possible to get a tourist visa for a little longer. I refer you to my post on visas to Thailand, which explains this issue in more detail. In addition, I would like to point out that theoretically you are not allowed to work in Thailand and to do so legally you must have a work or business visa, which are impossible for many to obtain.

The newest addition to visas in Thailand is the DTV visa. It’s specifically created for digital nomads. I haven’t used this one and not sure how easy it is to get, but I know a few people that managed to do it. DTV allows you to stay in Thailand for 5 years.

SIM cards and wi-fi

You can buy your SIM card at the airport after you arrive, or in 7-11. There are plenty of options. I normally buy mine for 30 days and then I top it up. You can also buy an E-SIM before you leave. This will save you time and energy. Basically, you buy it before leaving and when you land you switch your phone on and you’re connected!

In the recent years the internet connection in Chiang Mai has improved a lot. In most of the places you’ll be staying, the internet is quite fast, enough for uploading things, or make calls. In cafes the internet is fast, too. The best are coworking spaces that offer super fast internet and rooms where you can work in peace.

Vaccinations and health

It’s a good idea to get vaccinated before traveling to Thailand. You don’t have to take all the vaccinations listed on the Ministry of Health website, but some of them are quite important. Talk to your tropical medicine doctor and make the right decision together.

If you are taking any medications you can ask your doctor to give you a prescription for the supply of medications you will take with you. You can also take a leaflet with you and go to your doctor in Chiang Mai. Health care in Thailand is very good and they will definitely be able to help you.

Taking more medicine with you is pointless. Pharmacies in Thailand are well stocked and you can really find most of the things we have at home.

Insurance

Buy good insurance. Here you have quite a few choices. You can stay with travel insurance, or try new options specifically designed for remote workers. There are a couple of companies on the market today that offer insurance for digital nomads. They are a bit more tailored to people who live abroad and work remotely from other countries.

Personally, I can recommend Genki or SafetyWing. They are designed for people like you in mind and allow you to use these policies at all times, without having to book a flight back home.

Another good option is Luma. This is a medical insurance for expats and will be ideal if you’re planning to stay in Thailand longer.

Accommodation

Before you leave, you can book an apartment in Chiang Mai. When I stay there for a longer period of time, I look for a place on the spot, not through online portals. It’s cheaper then. However, if you are going for a shorter period of time, it is best to book something in advance.

You can, of course, do it through Booking.com.
I recently stayed at 51 Hometel, which I like a lot, but for people who don’t know the city and who don’t drive a scooter, the location may not be suitable.

Fortunately, Chiang Mai has many areas that will be great for digital nomads. There really is a lot to choose from.

Transportation

In Chiang Mai you have quite a few transportation options to choose from. There are, of course, tuk-tuks, which are generally designed more for tourists. Many people use the so-called songthaew, or red cabs. There is also the Grab app, which is the equivalent of Uber and which is definitely worth downloading in Thailand.

If you’re feeling adventurous, renting a scooter in Chiang Mai shouldn’t be difficult. Keep in mind, however, that the police are often on the road and catch anyone without a helmet. They also check everyone’s driver’s license. If you don’t have an international scooter license, you will definitely get a fine. Fortunately, the paper is valid for 3 days, after which you must pay the fine, and then you can continue to ride. However, if you have an accident and don’t have a valid driving licence, you might have to cover your bills and that won’t be cheap! You can also do your driving licence in Thailand.

Where to work?

You can work from your apartment. Usually wi-fi is good and rooms are provided with a desk and a chair, but they are not very comfortable. There are a lot of cafes and coworking places to work remotely from in Chiang Mai. You will have no problem with finding them. Most of them provide you with good internet connection.

How to meet people?

If you would like to meet other people who also work remotely in Chiang Mai, I recommend a couple of tried-and-true ways:

• Facebook groups for digital nomads in Chiang Mai. Search by keywords: digital nomads Chiang Mai or expats Chiang Mai.
• Meetup.org
• Instagram and hashtags: #digitalnomadchiangmai or #digitalnomadachiangmai.

Food and other activities

There is no shortage of good food in Chiang Mai and you can get it at every turn. For the best, head to Chiang Mai Gate Market, North Gate Market, Maya Mall (there’s a food court at the very bottom, near the parking lot), Nimman One (although very touristy and looks posh, the food court has really good food).

If you’re in the mood for a good cup of coffee, I recommend this post with the most beautiful cafes in the city.

And if you’re a party animal, you’ll definitely find the best bars and clubs in Chiang Mai in this post.

On weekends and during your free time, don’t forget to take a trip outside of Chiang Mai. There are really many places to see in the area. Don’t limit yourself to just the city!

Want to know what else to see in Chiang Mai, take a look at my city guide! There you’ll find everything you need to get to know the Rose of the North even more!
Click here to find out more!

And that would be it! I hope you have a productive, but also an extraordinary time in Chiang Mai. Have a successful working vacation in Thailand!

Have I forgotten something? Let me know. You can always contact me.

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