Online School & Homeschool in Chiang Mai

Online homeschooling in Chiang Mai

For Chiang Mai families across Nimmanhaemin (the digital nomad and university heart), Old City (Mae Hia area), Hang Dong (premium suburban — Prem and APIS area), Mae Rim (north), San Sai, Doi Saket, plus the broader Chiang Mai region — Prem Tinsulanonda International School (IB World School), Lanna International School (Cambridge), Chiang Mai International School (CMIS — established 1954, one of Thailand's oldest), American Pacific International School (APIS), Nakornpayap International School (NIS), Grace International School alternative-seekers, digital nomad and remote-working professional families (Thailand's digital nomad capital), retiree expat families, Chiang Mai University academic families, plus Thai families targeting English-medium universities.

Live online Cambridge IGCSE, A-Level, Pearson Edexcel, IB Diploma and American AP for Chiang Mai families across Nimmanhaemin (the digital nomad heart and Chiang Mai University area — Nimmanhaemin Road, Sirimangkalajarn, Soi 17, Soi 11, Suthep Road), Old City (within the historic Old City moat — Mae Hia, Phra Singh, Sri Phum, Chang Phueak gate areas), Hang Dong (premium suburban south — where Prem Tinsulanonda International School and APIS are located, plus Mae Hia ICONIC Highland), Mae Rim (north — Mae Sa, the Royal Park Rajapruek area, plus the broader northern Chiang Mai foothills), San Sai (north-east), Doi Saket (east), Sankampaeng (east), plus the broader Chiang Mai Province extending to nearby Mae Hong Son and Lamphun. Built for Prem Tinsulanonda International School (Prem — IB World School established 2001, boarding option, the major Chiang Mai IB anchor), Lanna International School (Cambridge IGCSE/A-Level), Chiang Mai International School (CMIS — established 1954, American curriculum, one of Thailand's oldest international schools), American Pacific International School (APIS — American + IB, established 1996), Nakornpayap International School (NIS), Grace International School (Christian American), plus the smaller offerings alternative-seekers; the substantial Chiang Mai digital nomad community (Chiang Mai is consistently ranked among the world's top three digital nomad destinations — Nimmanhaemin coffee shops, co-working spaces, the broader remote work ecosystem); retiree expat families across British, German, American, Australian, French, Scandinavian, Japanese communities drawn by lower cost of living, Chiang Mai's cultural heritage and Northern Thai climate; Chiang Mai University academic faculty and student family households; plus Thai families targeting English-medium universities and lifestyle Bangkok elite families relocating to Chiang Mai for its more relaxed pace.

Challenges Chiang Mai families face

Chiang Mai international school capacity: Prem Tinsulanonda International School (IB World School, established 2001, the major Chiang Mai IB anchor with boarding option), Lanna International School (Cambridge), CMIS (American, established 1954), APIS (American + IB), NIS, Grace serve the Chiang Mai expat and Thai elite community. Capacity at popular grade levels constrained relative to growing digital nomad and retiree expat arrivals.
Distance from Bangkok international schools: Chiang Mai is ~700km north of Bangkok, requiring 1hr 15min flight. Daily commute to Bangkok international schools impossible.
Digital nomad family schedule flexibility: Chiang Mai's status as one of the world's leading digital nomad destinations brings substantial remote-working professional family presence with diverse global time zone work patterns and travel rhythms. Traditional school schedules don't fit.
Retiree expat family configurations: substantial British, German, American, Australian, French, Scandinavian, Japanese retiree communities — grandparent-headed households needing curriculum for visiting grandchildren, mixed-cultural families, lifestyle expat children.
Hang Dong / Mae Rim commute reality: premium international schools (Prem in Mae Hia, APIS in Hang Dong) are 20-40 minute drives from Nimmanhaemin and Old City — manageable but eliminating daily commute is preferable.
Bangkok elite second-home families: substantial population of Bangkok elite families with Chiang Mai second homes for weekend/lifestyle access. Curriculum continuity between Bangkok and Chiang Mai locations.
Time zone: ICT (UTC+7), same as Bangkok and Vietnam. Smartious afternoon/evening live class windows apply.

Why Chiang Mai families choose Smartious

Prem Tinsulanonda / Lanna International / CMIS / APIS / NIS / Grace alternative: Smartious provides Cambridge, IB or American from USD 5,076/year vs premium Chiang Mai international school fees.
Digital nomad and remote-working family schedule flexibility: For Chiang Mai's substantial digital nomad community — Cambridge, IB or American curriculum delivered live online with internationally portable qualifications that transfer to wherever the family's remote-working life takes them next (Bali Canggu, Lisbon, Mexico City, Tbilisi, Medellin).
Retiree expat family flexibility: For British, German, American, Australian, French, Scandinavian, Japanese retiree families — multi-generational households, grandchildren visits, mixed-cultural family configurations supported by recorded sessions and 1-on-1 Premium tier flexibility.
Hang Dong / Mae Rim commute elimination: Live online classes from Nimmanhaemin, Old City, Mae Rim eliminate 20-40 minute commute to Prem (Mae Hia) or APIS (Hang Dong).
Bangkok elite second-home family curriculum continuity: For Bangkok elite families maintaining Chiang Mai second homes — Smartious provides identical curriculum delivery from either Bangkok or Chiang Mai residence.
ICT afternoon/evening live classes: Classes scheduled 1 PM – 5 PM Indochina Time matching Thai post-school hours.
Cambridge exam access via Bangkok flight: British Council Thailand (Bangkok). Chiang Mai to Bangkok: 1hr 15min flight from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). Twice-yearly travel manageable.

Thailand operates a regulated education sector under the Ministry of Education. Chiang Mai families should consult the Ministry of Education and qualified legal advisors. For digital nomad, retiree expat, Chiang Mai University academic, plus Thai families, Smartious operates under the relevant documentation arrangement.

Premium 1-on-1 support (USD 15/hour) includes optional in-person home tuition supplementation for Nimmanhaemin, Old City, Hang Dong, Mae Rim Chiang Mai families during examination preparation periods.

Live online via Smartious LMS. Classes 1 PM – 5 PM ICT or 5 PM – 8 PM ICT. Chiang Mai has reliable fibre internet — AIS Fibre, True Online, 3BB — across Nimmanhaemin (extensively wired for digital nomad community), Old City, Hang Dong, Mae Rim and the broader Chiang Mai residential area.

Chiang Mai is Thailand's northern cultural capital and second-largest city by international profile (after Bangkok), with approximately 1.2 million metro residents. Chiang Mai serves as the historic capital of the Lanna Kingdom and remains the spiritual and cultural heart of Northern Thailand, anchored by 300+ Buddhist temples (including Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh), Chiang Mai University (one of Thailand's top universities), and the historic Old City within the 13th-century moat. Over the last 15 years, Chiang Mai has emerged as one of the world's leading digital nomad destinations — consistently ranked alongside Bali (Canggu/Ubud) and Lisbon — drawing substantial remote-working professional family presence centred on Nimmanhaemin (the digital nomad heart with extensive coffee shops, co-working spaces — Punspace, CAMP at Maya, AIM at Nimman — and the broader remote work ecosystem). International school provision in Chiang Mai centres on Prem Tinsulanonda International School (Prem — IB World School established 2001 in Mae Hia, with boarding option, the major IB anchor), Lanna International School (Cambridge), Chiang Mai International School (CMIS — established 1954, American curriculum, one of Thailand's oldest international schools), American Pacific International School (APIS — American + IB), Nakornpayap International School (NIS), Grace International School (Christian American). Premium residential concentrates in Nimmanhaemin (digital nomad and university heart), Old City (cultural heritage), Hang Dong (where Prem and APIS are located), Mae Rim (northern foothills). The combination of digital nomad family schedule flexibility needs, retiree expat curriculum needs (substantial British, German, American, Australian, French, Scandinavian, Japanese retiree communities), Bangkok elite second-home family configurations, Chiang Mai University academic family curriculum needs, and the established residential fibre internet makes Chiang Mai a distinctive market for live online Cambridge, IB and American curriculum delivery.

Family situations we work with

Nimmanhaemin families — Nimmanhaemin Road, Sirimangkalajarn, Soi 17, Soi 11, Suthep Road — the digital nomad and university heart.
Old City families — within the historic Old City moat, Mae Hia, Phra Singh, Sri Phum, Chang Phueak.
Hang Dong families — premium suburban south where Prem Tinsulanonda and APIS are located.
Mae Rim families — north Chiang Mai, Mae Sa, Royal Park Rajapruek area, foothills.
San Sai families — north-east Chiang Mai.
Doi Saket families — east Chiang Mai.
Digital nomad and remote-working professional families — Chiang Mai is consistently ranked among the world's top three digital nomad destinations alongside Bali (Canggu/Ubud) and Lisbon. Remote-working ecosystem includes Punspace, CAMP at Maya, AIM at Nimman, plus the broader Nimmanhaemin coffee shop and co-working network.
Retiree expat families — British, German, American, Australian, French, Scandinavian, Japanese retiree communities drawn by lower cost of living, cultural heritage, Northern Thai climate.
Chiang Mai University academic faculty and student family households — Chiang Mai University is one of Thailand's top universities.
Lifestyle Bangkok elite families relocating to Chiang Mai or maintaining second homes for weekend/lifestyle access.
Sino-Thai families in Chiang Mai trading and business community.
NGO and development organisation families serving Northern Thailand and Mekong region — UN agencies, AusAID, USAID, GIZ, plus the broader development sector Northern Thailand operations.
Christian missionary families — Grace International School and broader Christian community.

Chiang Mai communities and nearby areas

Nimmanhaemin (Nimmanhaemin Road, Sirimangkalajarn, Soi 17, Soi 11, Suthep Road) · Old City (Mae Hia, Phra Singh, Sri Phum, Chang Phueak, within the historic moat) · Riverside (Charoenrat Road, Wat Ket area) · Santitham · Hang Dong (Prem Tinsulanonda, APIS area — Hang Dong Road, Sankampaeng Road) · Mae Rim (Mae Sa, Royal Park Rajapruek, foothills) · San Sai (north-east) · Doi Saket (east) · Sankampaeng (east — Saturday Walking Street) · San Pa Tong (south) · Hot (further south) · Mae Wang · Greater Chiang Mai region: · Lamphun (~25km south) · Mae Hong Son (~250km west) · Chiang Rai (~180km north) · Pai (~150km north-west) · Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)

Common questions from Chiang Mai families

My family is a digital nomad / remote-working household in Chiang Mai. How does Smartious work?

Chiang Mai's position as one of the world's leading digital nomad destinations brings substantial remote-working professional family presence. Smartious provides Cambridge, IB or American curriculum delivered live online with internationally portable qualifications. ICT live classes work alongside the family's remote work schedule, with recorded sessions for flexibility. Qualifications transfer to wherever the family's remote-working life takes them next.

How does Smartious compare to Prem Tinsulanonda International School?

Prem Tinsulanonda International School (Prem — IB World School established 2001 in Mae Hia, boarding option) provides physical campus education with established Northern Thai heritage. Smartious provides live online IB Diploma from USD 5,076/year with immediate enrolment, small class sizes (4-6 students), ICT time zone, and elimination of any commute from Nimmanhaemin, Old City or Mae Rim residences.

How does Smartious compare to Chiang Mai International School (CMIS) — one of Thailand's oldest international schools (established 1954)?

CMIS (established 1954, American curriculum, one of Thailand's oldest continuously operating international schools) provides physical campus education with extraordinary 70+ year Chiang Mai heritage. Smartious provides live online Cambridge, IB or American at a fraction of fees with immediate enrolment.

My family is a retiree expat household in Chiang Mai. How does Smartious work for grandparent-headed or multi-generational families?

Chiang Mai's substantial retiree expat community — British, German, American, Australian, French, Scandinavian, Japanese — frequently includes multi-generational households, grandchildren visits, mixed-cultural family configurations. Smartious provides curriculum flexibility through recorded sessions and 1-on-1 Premium tier for fully customised pacing.

My family is in Hang Dong or Mae Rim and wanting to avoid the Prem / APIS commute. How does Smartious work?

Hang Dong (where Prem Tinsulanonda is located in Mae Hia, plus APIS Hang Dong) and Mae Rim (northern foothills) are 20-40 minutes from Nimmanhaemin and Old City residences. Smartious eliminates this commute by delivering live online curriculum from any Chiang Mai residence.

Where do Chiang Mai students sit Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level examinations?

British Council Thailand (Bangkok). Chiang Mai to Bangkok: 1hr 15min flight from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). Twice-yearly travel manageable.

How reliable is internet connectivity in Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai has reliable fibre internet — particularly Nimmanhaemin which is extensively wired for the digital nomad community — AIS Fibre, True Online, 3BB across Nimmanhaemin, Old City, Hang Dong, Mae Rim and the broader Chiang Mai residential area. Live HD video conferencing reliable.

Guides for families in Thailand

What parents say

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 130+ reviews. Read our Google reviews

“What stands out most about Smartious Homeschool and Tuition is their dedication to each learner. They don't rush through topics but ensure the child fully understands before moving forward. The progress my child has made in a short time is impressive. I would definitely recommend them to any parent.” — Google reviewer, Google review