Top Chiang Mai Natural Attractions

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.

Explore Thailand’s Doi Inthanon National Park on this private excursion. After a convenient hotel pickup, enjoy experiences that include visiting Thailand’s tallest peak, strolling among Rhododendrons on Angkha nature trail, stopping by the Hmong hill tribe market, and marveling at the beautiful Wachirathan Waterfall. Learn about the region’s nature and culture from an informative local guide and savor a delicious complimentary lunch.

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.

Reaching Thailand’s highest peak independently can be challenging, especially with the distances and winding mountain roads. This small-group tour makes it easy to explore Doi Inthanon National Park in one day. Visit scenic waterfalls, take in sweeping mountain views, and learn about the traditions of local Karen communities while discovering the landscapes around Doi Inthanon.

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, all in one day without having to plan a complex itinerary, on this small-group guided tour from Chiang Mai. Hotel pickup is included. Private tour and longer hike option available.

Get up close and personal with the world’s largest land mammal on a visit to the family-owned Elephant Pride Sanctuary. The elephants here once worked on logging crews to cut down the protected forest, but today they live at leisure. This small-group adventure includes a Thai lunch, water, skip-the-line access, and hotel transfers from Chiang Mai.

This incredible tour combines the best of outdoor activities with a hike and mountain bike descent in Doi Suthep National Park. Trek to the top of the summit near a Hmong village, then cruise at high speeds towards Lake Huay Tueng Thao on your bike. This tour from Chiang Mai is ideal for fit adrenaline junkies and nature lovers alike. It includes round-trip hotel transfers, water, two meals, equipment, and an expert guide.

Eco fun awaits at Chiang Mai’s most creative attraction, Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park, where sustainability meets play in the most unexpected way. Enjoy a guided walking tour through a lush outdoor museum and explore eight unique pavilions that reveal each step of transforming elephant waste into eco-friendly paper, from collection and cleaning to handcrafted products. Discover local paper-making traditions, then get hands-on and try making your own elephant poo paper. Add more creativity with optional DIY crafts such as bookmarks or souvenirs, relax at the café, or browse the quirky gift shop for unique eco souvenirs, with optional activities, food, drinks, and purchases at your own expense. Perfect for travelers seeking a fun, educational Chiang Mai experience.

Take in a Muay Thai boxing match at Thapae Boxing Stadium in Chiang Mai and have the option to select standard, ringside, or VIP seats. The stadium is known for the high caliber boxers that perform, and you can skip the lines to this popular attraction by booking in advance. You may even be able to go ringside and snap photos with the boxers after their matches.

Explore the highlands outside of Chiang Mai on a full-day tour to Doi Inthanon, the tallest mountain in Thailand. Enjoy cooler temperatures and the expansive wilderness as you travel from the city to the mountains, where you see waterfalls, take a short nature hike, and visit a temple, royal shrines, and stupas. You'll also have lunch at an open-air restaurant with mountain views.