Thailand · CHIANG MAI TOURS

Chiang Mai Tours & Day Trips: The 15 Best Of Them

282 tours  ·  from $6

The north is cooler, greener and slower than the coast. These 15 sort the elephant sanctuaries, the cooking schools, the Doi Inthanon road and the temple runs up to Chiang Rai, with prices and how early each minibus leaves.

Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai - Choosing five types of Thai dishes
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Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai

1.Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19,087 reviews · from $29Our pick

Spend about six hours visiting a local market and Smile Organic Farm, then choose dishes from five Thai cooking categories. Guides such as Lily, Luna, K, Love, and Cici lead you through curry paste, curry, stir-fry, soup, and spring rolls. Vegetarian and vegan menus, adjustable spice, and hotel pickup make this a practical Chiang Mai food experience.

“We had Cici as our tour guide and she was really sweet and great at instructing us! I thought the visit to the market wasn’t really necessary but maybe they get discounted ingredients if they take us there. You make a TON of food that I couldn’t even finish. I loved that we got to pick what we wanted to cook and they were super organized on who was cooking what and what ingredients people needed. Despite us being a group of like 12, she helped each one of us and carefully walked us through each part! I definitely recommend!”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting - Cooling off at Mae Wang Waterfalls
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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

2.Elephant Sanctuary, Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 9,160 reviews · 9 hours · from $60

Spend nine hours outside Chiang Mai with rescued elephants at Pon Elephant Thailand. Feed bananas, walk through the forest, bathe in river pools, swim at Mae Wang Waterfalls, eat a Thai lunch, and raft down the Mae Wang River. English-speaking guides such as Nop, Paul, Yaya, and Mimi lead the day.

“This tour made our holiday! Mel was so informative, full of energy and had us laughing at every activity. We were really pleased to see how happy all the elephants were and the experience was well balanced between for seeing and interacting with the animals whilst respecting them at the same time. Would recommend to anyone who comes to Chiang Mai!”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour - Meeting the elephants at Pon Elephant Thailand
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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

3.Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 5,780 reviews · 7 hours · from $50

Travel 80 minutes from Chiang Mai to Pon Elephant Thailand in Mae Wang. With an English-speaking guide such as Beer, Yaya, Nop, or Amy, you will learn about rescued elephants, feed them, walk beside them, and help cool them in the river. A Thai lunch, seasonal fruit, and a waterfall visit complete this active day.

“Beer was a great guide, explaining everything during the way. The experience with the elephants is unique.”

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Chiang Mai: Cooking Class, Market & Thai Herbs Garden Tour - Starting at a local Chiang Mai market
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Chiang Mai: Cooking Class, Market & Thai Herbs Garden Tour

4.Cooking Class, Market & Thai Herbs Garden Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 4,824 reviews · 3h 30m · from $31

Spend 210 minutes with Thai Cottage Home Cookery School, visiting a local market, learning about herbs, and cooking several Thai dishes in an organic kitchen garden. English-speaking guides such as Wave, Flook, Tu, Kat, and Balloon lead the class. Choose your menu, make curry paste by hand, then eat what you prepare.

“Absolutely loved it! Wave was an amazing, informative and fun teacher. I'm so happy I got to do my favourite thai dishes, I definitely recommend this!”

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Chiang Mai: Authentic Cooking Class with Market & Farm Visit - Grandma’s Farm and the Mushroom Hut
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Chiang Mai: Authentic Cooking Class with Market & Farm Visit

5.Authentic Cooking Class with Market & Farm Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 4,546 reviews · 210 minutes - 7 hours · from $34

Start with hotel pickup, then learn Thai ingredients at a local market and Grandma’s organic farm. Feed chickens, pick mushrooms, make curry paste, and cook dishes such as Pad Thai, Khao Soi, curry, soup, and mango sticky rice. Choose a morning, afternoon, evening, or full-day class, with guides including Kiki, Jimmie, Patty, and Roger.

“Fantastic, so much fun, loved learning about all the different flavours and we thoroughly enjoyed the cooking, Joyzaa was a brilliant teacher.”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour - Meeting the elephants and the sanctuary team
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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour

6.Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,527 reviews · 5 hours - 330 minutes · from $27

Travel south of Mae Wang to Pon Elephant Thailand, where English or Thai-speaking guides explain elephant care, habits, and local hill-tribe ties. Feed bananas, sugarcane, and Napier grass, prepare herbal treats, and walk with the elephants toward the river. Bathing depends on the animals choosing to enter the water, so bring a change of clothes and expect a flexible plan.

“A truly unforgettable experience. This tour made me fall in love elephants even more and it was great to see them in their own habitat with tonnes of space and freedom. None of the interactions felt forced (feeding and getting in the water with them) and felt like an actual ethical elephant sanctuary as many are branded as them but aren’t. Booking was easy, meeting point straight forward to find. Bit of a delay in leaving but the transport was clean, comfortable and spacious. I liked that we were in a small group (7 I think) and the drive took about an hour. We learnt the basics about Thailand on…”

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Thai and Akha Cooking Class in Chiang Mai - A menu that keeps you busy for six hours
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Thai and Akha Cooking Class in Chiang Mai

7.Thai and Akha Cooking Class in Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,358 reviews · from $42

Spend about six hours cooking Thai and Akha food with instructors such as On, Niti, Jasmine, Rita, or Ano. The morning option adds a local market visit, while both sessions include an individual station, coffee, a full meal, hotel pickup within 3 kilometers, and a color cookbook.

“We had the best day starting at the local market and learning so many amazing things about the different foods and spices. We also got to try various items, so yummy! Then off to the cooking class/school. Everything was super organizeRead more”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall - River bathing and what to pack
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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall

8.Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,262 reviews · 9 hours · from $63

This $63 day trip combines an elephant sanctuary, Long Neck village, Thai lunch, and Buatong Sticky Waterfall. You will prepare herbal treats, feed and bathe elephants, then climb the limestone falls. Guides such as Fluke, Amy, Tiger, and Pong are praised for clear English, humor, and careful timing.

“This trip is totally worth it and absolutely well worth going! Everything was just perfect. The most interesting part was interacting with the friendly elephants, which was an unforgettable experience. Our guide, Fluke, was very professional and responsible. His knowledgeable explanations and considerate planning made the trip even better. Highly appreciated!”

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Chiang Mai: White, Red/Black & Blue Temples Tour with Lunch - A buffet lunch near the White Temple
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Chiang Mai: White, Red/Black & Blue Temples Tour with Lunch

9.White, Red/Black & Blue Temples Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,017 reviews · 12 hours · from $33

Travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by air-conditioned van with a guide such as Danai, Andy, Suzy, or Pom. Visit the White Temple, Blue Temple, Huay Pla Kang Temple, and Baan Dam Museum, with lunch, hot springs, and an optional Karen village stop. It is a packed 12-hour day, but the $33 price covers a remarkable amount.

“Very nice day trip, included the main tourist spots in Chiang Rai, very well organised and right on time. The guide was also very hepful with a lot of explanations along the way. We were aprox. 10 people in a minivan with air conditioning, very good travelling conditions. The White Temple is magnificent, highly recommend choosing this trip, very good value for money.”

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From Chiang Mai: Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour - Changing clothes and meeting the elephants
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From Chiang Mai: Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour

10.Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,899 reviews · 5 - 6 hours · from $53

Spend five to six hours at Elephant Retirement Park Chiang Mai, about an hour from the city. Feed rescued elephants, prepare medicine balls, watch their behavior, and join mud and bathing activities only when they choose to participate. Guides such as Francesco, Tin, and Disney explain elephant care, while lunch, showers, and hotel transfers keep the day easy.

“The half day experience was amazing! It was the highlight of my trip to Thailand. The staff was outstanding and passionate about their elephants. I highly recommend this excursion.”

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Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep and Wat Umong Enchanting Evening Tour - The short ride to Wat Umong
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Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep and Wat Umong Enchanting Evening Tour

11.Doi Suthep and Wat Umong Enchanting Evening Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,811 reviews · 5 hours · from $27

Spend an evening with a guide such as TomTam, Boon, or Atii at two very different Chiang Mai temples. Walk through Wat Umong’s forest tunnels, climb 309 steps at Doi Suthep, join a monk ceremony, and watch the city light up. Hotel pickup is optional, and the $27 price includes transport, entry fees, a guide, and glass-bottled water.

“Tour was great! In total it took 4.5 hours. I liked it a lot because I got to see a new temple (Wat Umong) and Doi Suthep in the evening light when I think it looks more beautiful than in the day because it helps to accentuate the golden colour. The guide Layla did a brilliant job. She provided lots of useful information & assisted with taking photos. I really appreciated her clear communication style - at all times we were aware of where we were going, what we were doing next etc. I recommend the tour because it's a nice experience & good value; just beware that there are…”

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Chiang Mai: 3 Hour Old City and Temples Guided Walking Tour - Wat Chedi Luang and Chiang Mai’s great stupa
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Chiang Mai: 3 Hour Old City and Temples Guided Walking Tour

12.3 Hour Old City and Temples Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,568 reviews · 3 hours · from $16Best value

Spend three hours walking Chiang Mai’s Old City with an English-speaking TripGuru guide. See the great stupa at Wat Chedi Luang, carved teak at Wat Phan Tao, and the mosaic-filled Wat Phra Singh. Guides such as Nana, TomTam, Sunny, and Popcorn add stories about Buddhism, Lanna culture, meditation, and daily Thai life.

“We loved our tour. The guide was very informative and knowledgeable. We learned a lot about Buddhism and different Thai beliefs. She also taught us about the different languages.”

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Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep, Wat Umong, and Pha Lat Sunrise Tour - Climbing the 309 steps to Doi Suthep
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Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep, Wat Umong, and Pha Lat Sunrise Tour

13.Doi Suthep, Wat Umong, and Pha Lat Sunrise Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,425 reviews · 4 hours · from $32

Start before dawn for Doi Suthep’s 309 steps, a quiet sunrise, and city views. With guides such as James, a former monk, you’ll visit the Kruba Srivichai Monument, jungle-set Wat Pha Lat, and tunnel-filled Wat Umong. Choose hotel pickup or meet at Tha Pae Gate. Plan for an early morning and modest temple clothing.

“I really enjoyed Wat Umong. It is a unique temple compared to others.”

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Chiang Mai: Sticky Waterfall & Angel Waterfall Park Day Tour - Angel Waterfall Park before the climb
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Chiang Mai: Sticky Waterfall & Angel Waterfall Park Day Tour

14.Sticky Waterfall & Angel Waterfall Park Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,371 reviews · 6 - 8 hours · from $41

Spend 6 to 8 hours visiting two very different Chiang Mai attractions. Climb the natural limestone terraces of Bua Thong Sticky Waterfall, then stroll through Dan Tewada Land of Angels, a man-made park with misty paths, gardens, caves, animals, and cafés. Guides such as Avi, Nine, Lily, and Amy are known for friendly help and photos.

“Amy was our guide. she was very helpful and friendly during the whole experience. the experiences itself where unique, nver had the chance to climb up a waterfall safely. totally recommended!”

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Chiang Mai: Cooking Class with Market and Pickup - Returning to Daddy’s Kitchen for hands-on cooking
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Chiang Mai: Cooking Class with Market and Pickup

15.Cooking Class with Market and Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,365 reviews · 3h 30m · from $25

Chiang Mai Daddy’s Kitchen combines a fresh-market visit with a hands-on Thai cooking class in a family-style setting. English-speaking instructors such as Cha-em, New, Wave, and Tu guide you through your chosen dishes, from curry and stir-fries to mango sticky rice. You get hotel pickup, your own wok and station, a digital recipe book, and plenty to eat.

“Our guide wave made it so enjoyable! She was so knowledgable about all the ingredients and made it super fun. All the ingredients and appliances were high quality. Nice small groups. Food was amazing and I liked the fact that you could pick your own menu!”

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New in Chiang Mai Tours

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