All Northern Thailand Tours & Excursions in 2026

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.

Chiang Rai’s most striking temples are spread across the province, making them difficult to visit in a single day. This small-group tour from Chiang Mai connects the highlights with ease thanks to private transport. Visit Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), admire the vivid blue tones of Wat Rong Suea Ten, and explore the striking red complex of Wat Huay Pla Kang, all while learning about the region’s modern temple architecture and symbolism.

Explore Chiang Rai at your own pace with a private car and driver for 10 hours. Visit famous attractions such as the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten), Golden Triangle, Choui Fong Tea Plantation, Wat Huay Pla Kang, Long Neck Karen Village, and Lalitta Café. You may choose from our recommended itinerary or customize your own tour based on the places you would like to visit. This flexible experience is perfect for couples, families, and small groups who want to travel comfortably without rushing. Enjoy a relaxed and stress-free journey with convenient hotel pickup and flexible stops along the way. Spend more time at the places you love, take photos at scenic viewpoints, or enjoy local cafés and hidden spots recommended by your experienced local driver. Mountain destinations such as Doi Chang, Doi Tung, Doi Mae Salong, and Doi Pha Hee may require an additional charge due to longer mountain routes and travel time.

Experience the spirit of moonlight at the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival 2026 with a ticket that includes convenient round-trip transfer from The Pantip Lifestyle Hub. Release your sky lantern, send your wishes into the glowing night sky and watch thousands of shimmering lights rise beneath the moon in a peaceful moment of hope, blessing and renewal. Float your handmade Krathong at the designated floating area, join an eco-friendly workshop to craft your own floral offering, and enjoy dazzling fireworks throughout the evening. Savor Northern Thai treats, watch traditional performances, cheer on the Noppamas contest, and capture sparkling, unforgettable memories. Choose Standard, Premium, or VIP and take part in one of Chiang Mai’s most meaningful once-a-year traditions.

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).

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.

Small group of no more than 9 travellers, a TAT-licensed English-speaking guide and complete flexibility — you only pay entrance fees for the sites you choose to visit. No hidden costs, no forced extras. In one day, visit 7 iconic landmarks: the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten), the Black House (Baan Dam), Choui Fong Tea Plantation, the historic Golden Triangle, the Opium House and a hill-tribe village. A Thai buffet lunch is included, with a vegetarian option on request. The Long Neck Karen visit is optional (300 THB). Hotel pickup 08:00–08:30, back around 18:00–19:00.

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.

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 with a slightly longer visit, and climb the Sticky Waterfall, whose mineral surface gives enough grip to walk up.

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.

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 the rich culture found at Mae Hong Son. Visit local villages, sample authentic Thai cuisine, and enjoy the vibrant scenery found in rice paddy fields and surrounding lakes. Perfect for groups wanting to avoid the hustle of Thai city life, this tour lets you experience Thailand like a local.

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.

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.

Don’t worry if you’ve only got limited time to visit Chiang Rai; this time-saving tour from Chiang Mai helps you tick off multiple temples and local highlights in a day. Discover Rong Khun Temple (also known as the White Temple); see the Golden Triangle—where the borders of Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand meet; enjoy a boat trip, and visit the Karen Long Neck Hill Tribe too, with lunch included to save you the hassle of bringing food with you.

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.

Chiang Mai comes into its own at night, with soft lights illuminating the ancient temples and cooler temperatures than day. Experience the city like a local with a guide to clue you in on the sights on this charismatic tuk-tuk tour. See four of the city’s signature temples (optional entrance fees apply) then hit Chiang Mai Night Bazaar for a simple but authentic dinner with dessert.

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.

Phuket's sights are spread across the island, from the beaches and viewpoints to the temples inland, too far apart to link in a day without a car. A private tour covers them in one trip, with stops at Karon Viewpoint, Promthep Cape, and the beaches at Karon and Patong along the way. It also takes in Old Phuket Town, the Wat Chalong temple, and the towering Big Buddha on the Nakkerd Hills.

The majestic Mekong River has been the lifeblood of the region since time immemorial, from its humble origins deep in the Tibetan plateau, down to the delta rice lands of Vietnam. Now you can taste its alluring aura in a cruise along the stretch from Houy Xai to Luang Phra Bang. Aboard the regal Nagi of Mekong , you can experience the history and drama of this eminent watercourse and thrill to the spectacular scenery of river forests and looming emerald green mountains.

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.

• Magical release of 3 sky lanterns beneath the star-filled sky. • Enjoy Northern Thai dinner, snacks, herbal drinks, and free-flow refreshments. • Receive Jasmine Garland welcome and Lanna blessing ceremonies. • Create memories of DIY activities, lantern hanging, and Krathong floating. • Watch cultural performances, as Tai Lue Dance, and Victory Drum & Sword Fire Dance. • Surrounded by rice fields, mountain views, and Kruba Srivichai Monument. • Benefit from convenient round-trip transfers by coach or van. Join us on 24 or 25 November 2026 for one of Thailand's most enchanting celebrations. Immerse yourself in authentic Lanna traditions, make wishes for health, wealth, and good fortune, and witness thousands of glowing lanterns illuminate the night sky. With limited seats available for this highly anticipated festival, secure your place today and be part of a truly unforgettable Chiang Mai experience at Lanna Cultural Village.

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.