Top Chiang Mai Day Trips

With this full-day tour from Chiang Mai, you can check off Chiang Rai’s top landmarks with ease. Save hours of research time, and benefit from having a full itinerary organized for you. As you ride between sites in an air-conditioned vehicle, enjoy stops at the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), the Baan Dam Museum, the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Seur Ten), and The Black House.

Chiang Rai is famed for its temples, including the spectacular White Temple. The city is roughly a 3.5-hour drive from Chiang Mai so a day trip by public transportation is tricky, but this bus tour makes it easy. An official guide ensures you don’t miss a single detail of the temples. Plus, enjoy a soak in some hot springs and visit a “longneck” village (entrance at your own expense).

If you’re short on time in Chiang Mai but want to experience all the area has to offer, this convenient tour lets you enjoy three distinct experiences. Observe elephants up close in their natural habitat at the Living Green Elephant Sanctuary, visit Doi Inthanon National Park, home to the highest mountain in Thailand, and hike along the Pha Dok Saew trail to see a gorgeous waterfall.

Visit an elephant sanctuary, relax at Bua Tong waterfall, and take part in river rafting—all in a single day without the hassle of planning transportation and logistics. Start the day with hotel pickup from Chiang Mai accommodations, followed by a day full of activities—with entrance fees included, as well as lunch along the way for the ultimate stress-free adventure.

Getting to Doi Inthanon, the tallest mountain in Thailand, from Chiang Mai can be a hassle, and so can navigating the national park once you are there. This tour includes hotel pickup and takes care of the details so you experience a variety of what Northern Thailand has to offer. Your guide also takes you to a waterfall, a hill tribe village, and more for a well-rounded experience.

Chiang Rai’s most striking temples are spread across the province, making them difficult to visit in a single day. This small-group tour from Chiang Mai connects the highlights with ease thanks to private transport. Visit Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), admire the vivid blue tones of Wat Rong Suea Ten, and explore the striking red complex of Wat Huay Pla Kang, all while learning about the region’s modern temple architecture and symbolism.

Visit the magnificent temples of Chiang Rai on a full-day, private-tour from Chiang Mai to a series of iconic Buddhist sites. Enjoy the flexibility of a private driver/guide throughout the day as you visit Wat Sang Kaew Photiyarn, Wat Rong Khun, Wat Huai Pla Kung, and more, with a break for lunch in a local restaurant. This 13-hour temple tour from Chiang Mai includes pickup and drop-off at city hotels, lunch, and entrance fees, and it’s a fun, personal way to explore the sites of northern Thailand.

Have a three-adventure day when you join this group tour from Chiang Mai. You’ll get to spend time at the elephant sanctuary, go for a jungle trek, and raft on the rapids and smooth waters through the rainforest. You’ll keep costs down by booking this group tour, but still have plenty of attention from your guides, and plenty of opportunities for fun.

Hike in Doi Inthanon National Park (entrance extra), visit a waterfall and the highest point in Thailand, stop at a Karen village and a Hmong Market, and see the Twin (King and Queen) Pagodas with this small-group tour from Chiang Mai. You'll explore with a local guide, making stops to take in views, dine on an included lunch of Thai fare. Private tour and longer hike option available.

Those looking for an experience that combines nature with culture can enjoy this small-group tour to the Doi Suthep Temple and Wat Pha Lat in Chiang Mai. Hike to Wat Pha Lat, nestled within a lush forest, and discover its serene ambience and captivating statues. Then, make a trip to see the splendor of Doi Suthep Temple, adorned in shimmering gold. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience, though entrance fees are extra.

Explore Doi Inthanon National Park on a full-day, private trip from Chiang Mai, then spend the day visiting spectacular waterfalls, browsing local handicrafts, summiting Thailand's tallest peak, and hiking through a landscape of paddy fields and coffee farms. Enjoy the flexibility of a personal driver/guide throughout the day, which includes pickup and drop-off at your Chiang Mai hotel, all transport by climate-controlled vehicle, and lunch, the perfect way to discover Chiang Mai's remarkable mountain scenery.

This small-group tour is a convenient way to tick off three examples of magnificent architecture in a day without having to look up public transport schedules. Zip around the city in an air-conditioned van or car and see Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, and Wat Pha Lat temples—with admission included to save you time waiting in ticket lines. Upgrade to a private tour that also includes a visit to the Chiang Mai Night Market.

Ideal for those short on time in Chiang Mai, this experience packs three adventures into one well-organized day. Ride an ATV through the countryside, stop for a picnic at a scenic waterfall, then drift along the river on a bamboo raft. With transportation and a delicious lunch included, it’s a smooth and time-saving way to experience multiple outdoor highlights in Chiang Mai.

Head out to Doi Inthanon National Park for a 2-hour trekking tour with a professional guide by your side. You'll hike the fantastic nature trail around 2 hours. You'll also stop by the Phra Maha Dhatu Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri Pagodas, at the top of Thailand's highest peak. You'll visit a Karen village and a Hmong market. Lunch and round-trip hotel transfers are included.

Engage with rescued elephants at E-Co Adventure Elephant Camp and explore a hidden jungle waterfall in Chiang Mai. This eco-adventure offers a chance to hand-feed gentle giants and walk alongside them in their natural habitat. After enjoying a delicious Thai lunch, dive into a secluded waterfall for a refreshing swim or glide down natural rock slides shaped by the flowing water. With round-trip transport included, this tour promises a unique blend of wildlife encounters and fun in nature without compromising ethical standards. - Discover rescued elephants in an ethical, no-riding camp - Hand-feed and walk with elephants amidst lush jungle trails - Swim and unwind at a hidden waterfall, exclusive to locals -Enjoy a delicious Thai lunch or dinner with a vegetarian option available, supporting a local village restaurant.

Beat the crowds and see a spectacular sunrise from one of Chiang Mai’s highest points during an early-morning tour to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This unique tour offers you the chance to experience an alms-giving ceremony in the early morning and explore the famous temple without daytime crowds. Plus, a former-monk guide provides insight into Thai culture and the Buddhist religion.

Thailand’s second city, Chiang Mai was once capital of an independent kingdom—and its temples and architecture display that. Get a handle on the city’s rich heritage on this time-saving door-to-door tour. You’ll see the Tha Phae Gate, medieval Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Pha Lat, built beside a stream, while savoring city views from mountain-top Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Travel in a small group, or upgrade for a private tour.

Get ready for an unforgettable day as you meet gentle elephants and climb the amazing Sticky Waterfall on a full-day tour from Chiang Mai. Begin at an elephant sanctuary where five elephants, including a playful baby, enjoy a life of freedom. Feed them bananas and bamboo, walk beside them in the jungle, and join in the fun of a mud bath and river splash. With no riding, no chains, and no performances, this sanctuary offers a rare, hands-on connection in a cruelty-free setting. The journey continues at the famous Sticky Waterfall, a limestone cascade where you can climb directly up the flowing water without slipping. Surrounded by lush jungle, it is a refreshing and unforgettable highlight, making this tour the perfect combination of culture, adventure, and nature in one day.

Watch the sun rise over Northern Thailand on this private hiking tour to Mount Doi Inthanon National Park. You'll head out from Chiang Mai early in the morning and drive out to the park, where you'll watch the sunrise before heading out on a hike with a local guide. You'll see a waterfall, rice paddies, and a flower garden, with stops to sample local coffee and have lunch.

Visit Doi Inthanon National Park, home to Thailand's highest mountain, on this day trip from Chiang Mai. Stop for photo ops at the peak, check out Ang Ka Nature Trail to enjoy the area's lush landscape, visit the Twin Pagodas, see the Wachirathan Waterfall, visit the Karen Hill Tribe village and more. Lunch, entrance fees, and hotel transport are included. Private option is available.

Visit several of Chiang Mai’s most famous temples on this half-day small group tour, where you’ll have air-conditioned transport and a guide the entire tour, so you won’t need to organize those yourself. You’ll be with a small group, which will keep costs down, but you’ll still have an intimate experinece at Wat Umong, Wat Pha Lat, and more.

If you’ve just arrived in Chiang Mai, don’t waste time getting lost when you could be sightseeing. Instead, zip between the Rose of the North’s top sights on a private tuk-tuk tour that showcases the best of the Old City. Cover more ground than you would on foot, and delve deeper into local culture with stories and tips.

Visit several cultural and religious sites around Chiang Mai on this 8- to 9-hour tour that includes lunch at a local restaurant. You'll see Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of the most sacred temples in the area, as well as Wat Umong, Wat Suan Dok, and Wat Phra That Doi Kham (Temple of the Golden Mountain).