Visitors to Chiang Mai often end up on package tours, shuttled from one place to another with a group of other travelers, checking the boxes for elephant camps, river rafting and hiking. These types of tours can be lots of fun, but if you want a little more control over what you see and do, consider a self-drive trip around the Mae Sa Loop. The drive can be done in one to three days, and there are lots of places to stop along the way. Because it’s so close to Chiang Mai and so well traveled, you can do it on your own, at your own pace, without too much challenge.