Top Chiang Mai Outdoor Activities - page 2

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.

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.

Rather than a fixed itinerary of places that don’t interest you, this private Chiang Rai adventure gives you the freedom to customize the itinerary. The guide can recommend highlights—such as temples and the Golden Triangle—and then you can choose how long you spend at each place, or if you want to skip stops. You can also benefit from guide insights to get you up to speed on local landmarks.

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.

Tackle some of Thailand’s best white-water rapids on a full-day rafting adventure from Chiang Mai. Expert guides ensure your safety as you cruise through the jungle along class III and IV rapids, admiring parts of the countryside that you can only see from the water. An included lunch and other amenities make for a worry-free day in the wilds of Northern Thailand.

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.

See more of the historic streets of Chiang Mai’s Old City than you’d be able to on foot on a bike tour that takes in ancient temples, local markets, and landmarks. Follow your guide along back lanes as you learn about the city’s culture and history, pedaling for around 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) throughout the course of your tour.

Drive and Tour around Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai for a minimum pay and this is good for 2 or 4 or 5 people, a cool way to explore the area with the professional and fun guide Jimmy.

See a different side of Chiang Mai that few visitors experience with a gentle boat ride on the Mai Ping River past old homes and temples. Disembark at a local farm where you'll be served a herbal drink and a warming bowl of khao soi noodles for lunch before returning to your starting point.

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.

Explore the lush mountain scenery Chiang Mai is renowned for on this refreshing half-day adventure to the Bua Thong “sticky” waterfalls. A one-of-a-kind experience, the limestone walls of this waterfall are truly sticky, letting adventurous swimmers climb right up its face without slipping. Make a splash and cool off before enjoying a picnic of local Thai cuisine alongside the tranquil natural pool.

Visit an elephant care facility from Chiang Mai and see the animals in a more ethical way in their natural habitat. Instead of riding them, you will observe rescued elephants as they roam around and take baths. Your transportation from Chiang Mai is included, and so is a delicious local lunch.

Check out some spectacular Northern Thai temple culture on this private day tour, where you’ll visit several places that you might not fit in if you didn’t have a guide and driver. You’ll have round-trip transfers from your hotel, then visit the Sticky Waterfall, Bai Orchid and Butterfly Farm, Wat Banden, and much more.

Speed up your sightseeing when exploring Chiang Mai with this guided half-day bike tour. You can cover more ground than a walking tour, and benefit from having a guide to lead the way so you don’t get lost. Places showcased on the route include Warorot Market, the Silver Temple, and off-the-beaten-sites, including a vintage pharmacy.

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.

Discover the natural wonders of the Chiang Dao Valley on an action-packed full-day adventure from Chiang Mai. Paddle along the Mae Ping River on a kayaking excursion, admire the wild scenery of the Chiang Dao Jungle, then venture underground for a guided walk to the Buddhist shrines of Chiang Dao Cave.

Ride a bike through the Lanna countryside on a guided 5-hour bicycle tour, departing from Chiang Mai by air-conditioned vehicle. Pedal along easy back roads past rice fields and wooden stilt houses, and stop at a school in a traditional village. This family-friendly excursion in the morning or afternoon is perfect for all ages and skill levels.

Get off the beaten path and see a side of Chiang Mai that most first-time visitors miss on an electric bike tour of the Ping River banks. Riding an e-bike lets you cover more distance with less effort, and takes you to parts of the mountainous province that cars can’t—plus, you’ll visit traditional villages and even an archaeological site.

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 that are far from the beaten path. Lunch, hotel pickup and drop-off, and all safety equipment and protective clothing are included.

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.

The longest and highest Zipline in Asia! Challenge yourself with a total 3,600-meter-long zipline over the forest of Chiang Mai mountains. Test your body-controlling skill on various platforms including bridges, nets, and spiral staircases. KingKong Smile Zipline is exciting and fun experience you must try!

Once the sun sets, Chiang Mai takes on a completely different character. See the city magically illuminated on an evening tour that reveals two of Chiang Mai’s most-popular temples—Wat Umong and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep—at night. Visiting the temples at night means that you’ll benefit from cooler temperatures and less crowds.

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.

Forget touristic Muay Thai experiences and learn this traditional Thai martial art from seasoned professionals in a Chiang Mai gym where stadium champions train. Join a maximum of three other travelers for a morning workout tailored to your skills and fitness level, then sit down to an authentic Thai lunch. There’s no need to worry about transportation, as the operator collects and drops you at your Chiang Mai hotel.