Top Chiang Mai Outdoor Activities

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.

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.

Immerse yourself in nature and culture in northern Thailand on this full-day small-group tour to Doi Inthanon National Park. Hike the park’s trails, see lush waterfalls and the tallest point in Thailand, and visit the King and Queen Pagodas. Afterwards, visit the Hmong and Karen hill tribe village at Baan Klang Luang. Entrance fees extra, though lunch is included.

Explore Doi Inthanon National Park and stand at Thailand’s highest peak. Immerse yourself in lush natural surroundings as you walk to picturesque waterfalls. Visit a local Hmong hill tribe market. Discover a scenic Karen village, where you can experience traditional village life and enjoy a coffee tasting.

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.

This small-group tour makes it easy to explore some of Chiang Mai’s dispersed outdoor highlights in one day. Hotel pickup is included, which saves time going to a meeting place, and the route includes Doi Inthanon Elephant Sanctuary and Mae Sa Pok Waterfall, where a river rafting experience awaits. As an extra perk, lunch is included along the way, so you don’t have to worry about hunger pangs.

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.

This tour is the perfect option for nature lovers and thrillseekers alike. Make your time in Thailand go further by combining multiple outdoor activities in a day. Climb the Sticky Waterfall, ride an ATV through jungle trails, and enjoy 40-50 minutes of level 3-4 white water rafting along a 4 km route. A tasty Thai lunch is included to keep energy levels high.

Chiang Mai's waterfalls and gardens are spread across the countryside, and reaching them without a car means juggling taxis and tuk-tuks. Skip the hassle on this small-group tour, with a guide and driver handling the logistics. Visit the flowers and falls of Dantewada, stop at the Blue Temple, and climb the Sticky Waterfall, whose mineral surface gives enough grip to walk up.

Get more out of limited time in Thailand by going on this guided e-bike adventure in outer Chiang Mai. To help make the day run as smoothly as possible, the trip begins with hotel pickup. Then receive a special fat tire e-bike—a perfect vehicle for traveling on bumpy roads. The route showcases lots of diverse terrain and beautiful scenery, including Wat Ton Kwen temple, the Ping River, and Wat Chang Nam archeological site.

Perfect for nature and wildlife lovers, this guided tour combines two experiences in one day—a visit to an elephant sanctuary and bamboo rafting on the Wang River. Enjoy a respectful elephant observation as you help prepare their food and watch the majestic animals from a safe distance, without disturbing their natural rhythm. Explore remote natural spots such as waterfalls, forests, and rivers with ease, plus learn about the local Karen community.

Head up to Doi Inthanon National Park, home to Thailand’s highest peak, with this guided small-group trekking and cultural tour. You'll visit area highlights such as Wachirathan Falls, the King and Queen Chedis (pagodas), and a local coffee roasting facility, with a stop for an included lunch along the way.

It can be hard to get off the beaten track around Chiang Mai. Enjoy a little-known hike and get to know local villagers—activities that are hard to do independently—on this small-group tour to Mae Kampong, a village surrounded by forest and mountains. Look for rehabilitated gibbons, hike to a charming waterfall, and learn about local flora and fauna from your guide. Enjoy an authentic lunch before you return.

Enjoy a thrilling white water rafting adventure on the Mae Taeng River in Chiang Mai on this full-day adventure tour. Following the river’s meandering path through tropical jungle, lush rice paddies, and steep, towering mountains, this small-group rafting tour offers adrenaline-seekers and nature-lovers a chance to experience the plunging rapids and explore the incredible scenery around Chiang Mai at the same time.

Skip the crowds and explore the four temples of Chiang Rai at your own pace with this private tour. Discover the iconic White Temple, the vibrant Blue Temple, the 9-floor Wat Huay Pla Kang, and the intricately decorated Wat Sang Kaew Phothiyan. Combine your temple visit with your choice of the historic Golden Triangle, Lalitta Café, or a tea plantation for a varied experience.

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.

See rescue elephants roaming freely outdoors during this trip from Chiang Mai to an elephant sanctuary. Rather than a crowded group tour, this is a private experience, just for you. This means seamless private transport—without any other pickups—and a more personalized service. As well as elephants, the trip also includes a chance to see the Sticky Waterfall—where you can climb the rocks and swim if you wish to.

Satisfy an appetite for adventure on an exhilarating ATV tour, suitable for beginner and experienced ATV drivers. Traveling by ATV gives you access to off-road terrain that traditional tour vehicles can’t reach and reveals little-known spots far from the beaten path. Lunch and all safety equipment and protective clothing are included.

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.

Get the most out of your time in Chiang Mai by combining a hiking adventure with a visit to an elephant sanctuary. Rather than following a map, benefit from having a guide to navigate so you can focus on the views. As well as seeing Thailand’s highest mountain—Doi Inthanon, you can prepare food for elephants, and enjoy your own lunch along the way too.

Discover the natural beauty and adventure of Chiang Mai on this full-day tour combining three amazing experiences! Begin your journey at Dantewada Park, a peaceful garden filled with beautiful angel statues, colorful flowers, and scenic mountain views. Walk around and capture stunning photos surround by nature. Next, visit the Bua Tong “Sticky” Waterfall, one of Thailand’s most unique natural wonders. Thanks to its mineral rich limestone surface, you can safely walk and climb up the waterfall without slipping! Enjoy the refreshing crystal clear water and explore the sacred “Seven Colors Spring”. After lunch, head to the Mae Taeng River for bamboo rafting. Sit back as your local guide steers the bamboo raft through lush green forests, peaceful, and gentle river currents. It’s the perfect way to unwind and connect with nature. This tour is ideal for travelers who love nature, local culture, and soft adventure a perfect mix of relaxation and excitement in one unforgettable day!

Skip the hassle of researching and planning activities in Chiang Mai with this full-day adventure that combines an ATV ride through road and off-road jungle terrain with a visit to Sticky Waterfall, known for its climbable limestone formations and refreshing pools. The trip begins with hotel pickup, saving you the trip to a meeting point, and includes a delicious Thai lunch to round off the trip.

Spend the day admiring elephants that have been rescued from terrible conditions during a half-day trip to the Elephant Rescue Center in Chiang Mai. You’ll learn about how the elephants are cared for and what they do on a day-to-day basis, and watch the taking baths in conditions close to their natural habitat.