Top Northern Thailand How to Get Around

Covering the very north of Thailand, Chiang Rai Province is home to an interesting mix of cultural and natural landmarks. It’s not always easy to reach some of them. Join a small-group tour with hotel pickup from Chiang Rai city to conveniently combine visits to temples, museums, tea plantations, and ethnic villages around the province. Learn what makes this corner of Thailand interesting in just a day trip.

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.

The temples, museums, and tea plantations of Chiang Rai aren't conveniently clustered together, which can make checking them off in a limited time a challenge. This full-day tour covers seven of the Northern Thai city’s top attractions, saving you from hiring a scooter or a car and navigating the winding mountain roads.

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.

Discover the best of Chiang Mai in just a few hours on this walking tour. Soak up the city's unique atmosphere as you follow your guide to landmarks including Wat Phan Tao and Wat Phra Singh while hearing stories about the history of the city. Leave with a deeper understanding, and greater appreciation, of Chiang Mai.

Combine a visit to Chiang Rai with a trip to a Karen village on this small-group tour from Chiang Mai. You'll visit the famous Blue Temple and White Temple, see the architecture of the Baan Dam Museum, and meet members of the Karen community, who live in a nearby village.

Explore Chiang Mai’s temples and cultural heritage with ease on this half-day small-group tour that takes care of transportation and logistics. Travel in a converted pickup truck, and visit key temples such as Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Sri Suphan. The itinerary also includes a stop at a Karen Long Neck Village, offering invaluable insight into local cultural traditions.

Chiang Mai’s temples are popular stops for visitors, but this tour stands out as you can go beyond sightseeing and take part in mindfulness and meditation practices. After meeting your guide, enjoy a tour to ancient temples and monasteries, with in-depth insights on the history and practices of Buddhism. You can also enjoy plenty of great photo opportunities throughout.

Experience Chiang Mai’s night markets with an insider guide on this evening food tour. Enjoy a mixture of exploring the city on foot and by songthaew (shared truck). Bring an appetite for this small-group food tour, which includes samples of all sorts of tasty treats, and learn how to order in Thai.

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.

Discover the best of Chiang Mai and cover more ground than is possible on foot on a private tuk tuk tour. Cover Chiang Mai's most important landmarks in less time, including Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, Tha Phae Gate, and Wat Sri Suphan. Get insights from your guide as you hear the stories behind each attraction.

See southern Thailand's highlights on this private tour of Phuket with hotel pickup. Travel in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to scenic spots such as Karon Beach, Old Phuket Town, and Patong Beach. Cover more ground in a vehicle and get local cultural insights from your guide along the way.

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.

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.

Learn to cook like a local with this evening cooking class, held in a farm area a short drive away from Chiang Mai. You'll be set up with your own cooking station, where you'll learn to whip up Thai favorites from scratch. After your class, you'll sit down to dine on your creations before returning to your Chiang Mai hotel.

See the most important temples in the temple-filled city of Chiang Mai with the benefit of a half-day small-group tour. You’ll travel through the busy streets in comfort in an air-conditioned minivan, and stop to visit standout temples including Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Mai, and Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre—an ideal introduction to northern Thailand’s history and culture.

Cuisine can tell you a lot about a place. Take this food-focused tour and taste first-hand how the region’s plant life and history have shaped its food. Your tour takes you to 15 different tucked-away restaurants and street-stalls that few travellers make the time to try on their first visit to Chiang Mai. Treat your taste buds to a night tour of Chiang Mai on this private trip.  Make sure you come hungry.

See the jungles of northern Thailand from a completely new perspective during a Skyline zipline experience outside of Chiang Mai. Ideal for thrill seekers, this tour grants you access to 24 ziplines and four suspended bridges, and includes hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-off, and a Thai lunch for a seamless experience.

Discover the thrill of climbing up a waterfall with naturally grippy rocks on this half-day trip to Bua Tong sticky waterfall. To ensure you get there with ease—travel in an air-conditioned vehicle is included. Then enjoy the thrill of exploring a stunning Chiang Mai nature spot that offers lots of spectacular photo opportunities.

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.

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.

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.

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.