Top Chiang Mai Day Trips

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Spend a day exploring Chiang Rai and its landmarks with this full-day tour from Chiang Mai. Visit the city's famous White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), the vivid Blue Temple (Wat Rong Seur Ten), and either the Black House or the colorful Red Temple. Upgrade to include a visit to a Long Neck Karen community.

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.

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.

Don’t just eat the incredible food in Thailand; with this hands-on half-day experience—you can visit an organic farm and learn how to make local dishes from scratch. Discover expert tips on how to grow herbs and vegetables, and then take part in a cooking class where you can make a variety of dishes—such as curry paste, curry, stir-fry, soup, and spring rolls.

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.

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.

If you're interested in learning more about the Karen people who live in Northern Thailand, visiting a community village with a guide is a good way to go. This tour takes you to a Karen community village, along with stops at the magnificent "White Temple" in Chiang Rai and Mae Khachan Hot Springs, where you can soak in thermal waters or use the heat to cook an egg.

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.

Explore the national park that surrounds Thailand’s tallest mountain, without the hassle of figuring out transport or navigating within the park, on this private tour of Doi Inthanon National Park from Chiang Mai. You set the pace as you venture off the beaten path and discover secluded waterfalls and a hill tribe Karen community, who offer deeper insight into the culture of northern Thailand.

Prepare your own Thai dishes during a cooking class at Chiang Mai, where you’ll start the experience at a local market for an introduction to ingredients and how to select them. Then pick fresh vegetables and collect eggs at an organic farm before taking your place at your cooking station in an open-air kitchen. Cook four authentic dishes, which may include hot and sour soup, green curry, or pad Thai, with hands-on guidance.

Discover Chiang Mai's delights: Enjoy cooking tasty Thai dishes at Team Aim Cooking School, hang out with friendly elephants at Joy Elephant Sanctuary. Perfect for foodies, animal lovers, and adventure seekers! • Visit the local market to handpick the ingredients for the cooking session, then meet your cooking class teacher with 10 years of experience, who will lead you to cook authentic Thai dishes (Vegan & Vegetarian options available) • Continue your adventure to Joy Elephant Sanctuary: Dive into our responsible tourism with Elephant Observation programs! • Fun Interactions: Change into traditional Karen clothing, Learn, prepare elephants food and observe our gentle giants on their completely natural behavior. • Elephant Paradise: Refresh yourself with herbal tea and take a break at the waterfall, located in lush forests and surrounded by serene rivers. • Engaging to the core of the culture: Learn how to craft your own Thai cultural handmade souvenir as a memorable gift

Discover the architectural wonders of Chiang Rai with a full-day tour featuring the iconic White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), the majestic Red Temple (Wat Huay Pla Kang), and the stunning Blue Temple (Wat Rong Seur Ten). You’ll also stop briefly at a natural hot spring and have the option to visit the Long Neck Karen Village, where you can learn about the traditions of this unique hilltribe — and meet other ethnic groups in the area. Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide who will share stories and cultural insights at each stop. All entrance fees are included, along with lunch, bottled water, and fresh seasonal fruits. Round-trip hotel transfers are also provided, making this a convenient way to explore Chiang Rai in one day. Full-day tour to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai, approximately 12 hours Visit the famous White Temple, Red Temple, and Blue Temple Lunch included along with bottled water and fresh fruits All tickets included

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.

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.