Tours and Trips in Chiang Mai

Hike to the most sacred temple in Chiang Mai - Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep - with a park ranger-guide who leads you through the jungle-lined trails of Doi Suthep National Park. Start in the morning with a short drive to Mon Tha Than Waterfall, then trek up the mountain to Wat Doi Suthep. Have time to look around the temple grounds and eat lunch before returning by car to Chiang Mai. Sturdy walking shoes and swim gear are recommended for this active full-day tour that covers rugged terrain.

Hike and bike through Mae Sa Valley during this active tour from Chiang Mai. Start with a 2-hour morning hike that takes you past hill tribe villages and rice paddies, and into the lush rain forest of northern Thailand. Rest by a waterfall and refuel with a buffet Thai lunch before your afternoon bike ride. Ride down a combination of paved and dirt roads that lead through the rural valley to an orchid farm where your bike ride ends. Transfer to your Chiang Mai hotel to wrap up a memorable day.

Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a temple located near the top of Mt. Suthep, on this 8-hour Chiang Mai private tour. In addition to the temple, which is one of Thailand's most sacred sites, you'll also check out a home industries center to watch talented makers of lacquer, woodcarvings, paper umbrellas, and silk. This tour provides insight into the history of Doi Suthep Temple and the industry of crafts and handmade items in northern Thailand. Hotel pickup and drop-off and lunch are included.

Discover the ancient Wat Doi Suthep temple and Phu Ping Palace on this half day trip from Chiang Mai. Explore historic monuments in Wat Doi Suthep, enjoy scenic views of Chiang Mai city atop the temple, and visit the royal winter palace was built in1962. - Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's most sacred temple - Gold spire that crowns the temple & can be seen for miles - Detailed shrines & pagodas that illustrate Thai history - Insight into the temple's founding from your expert guide - Delightful gardens with tropical and temperate flowers in bloom at Phu Ping Palace

Soak in the sights of Chiang Mai at night during a dinner cruise on the Ping River. Savor a meal of Thai dishes from different regions as you view the city and countryside alongside the river. Includes dinner, boat cruise, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Paddle your way through the jungle on this full-day kayaking tour. Venture off the beaten track to explore the creeks, bamboo forests and wetlands of the Ping River and get up close to local wildlife as you journey through the heart of the rainforest. Your back-to-nature adventure includes hotel transport from Chiang Mai and a delicious lunch by the waterfront.

This is the perfect choice for animal lovers. Spend a day seeing the amazing work being done at a sanctuary and rescue center that looks after elephants - Elephant Nature Park. After meeting in Chiang Mai, you'll travel with ease in a comfortable vehicle. Along the way, you'll see stunning countryside views. Once you arrive, you'll bypass long visitor lines, as entrance fees are included. Explore the park with a guide and enjoy plenty of time to see elephants playing, bathing, and relaxing.

Chiang Mai has an abundance of beautiful and historic Buddhist temples, and this 3.5-hour tour takes you to some of the most interesting and revered in Thailand's second largest city. Climb the staircase to the mountain temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and visit Wat Chedi Luang, among others. Upgrade your tour for a private guide.

See more of the Chiang Mai region on a full-day tour to the lushly forested mountains of Doi Inthanon National Park. With your guide, you'll take a nature walk on Doi Inthanon, visit an important pair of stupas, stop at Hmong and Karen hill tribe villages, and see the tumbling streams of Wachiratharn Waterfall. Soak in the views from Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand, and have lunch at a Royal Project restaurant. Includes lunch, entrance fees, guide, and hotel pickup and drop-off from Chiang Mai.

Go mountain biking near Chiang Mai on a downhill ride that is suitable for beginning and intermediate mountain bikers. Your guide transports your small group by 4WD vehicle from your hotel to the top of Doi Pui mountain, above the village of Doi Pui, Bhubing Palace and the revered temple Doi Suthep. Descend on a dirt track that runs through lush forest, stopping for coffee, and passing hill tribe villages on your way to Mae Ping valley. Afterward, celebrate your ride with a leisurely lunch at Lake Huay Tueng Tao.

Observe skilled craftsmen plying their trade as you learn about Chiang Mai's unique handicraft industry on this half-day tour. Explore various local workshops and factories that produce everything from lacquerware, gems, silk, and cotton fabrics to furniture and other wood products. - Sankampaeng - Thailand's handicraft center - factories & shops - Demonstration of high-quality furniture production process - Learning about unique Saa-paper umbrella making - Opportunity to purchase high-end silk & cotton fabrics - Exhibit displaying locally made costumes & jewelries

Take a gentle, 45-minute boat ride on the Mai Ping River and see a different side of Chiang Mai. This half-day guided excursion ends at a local farm where traditional methods are used to make your bowl of 'khao soi' noodles for lunch. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Explore the countryside of Chiang Mai on a full-day bike tour led by an experienced guide. Ride the train a short distance to Lamphun, former capital of the ancient Mon Kingdom. Disembark in the small city and pedal to the famous temple Wat Phra That Hariphunchai. Continue past villages and rice paddies, stopping at the market for a simple Thai lunch. Visit the wood-carving village of Ban Tawai, a beekeeper near Doi Suthep and the forest temple of Wat Umong as you return by bike to Chiang Mai.

Paddle into a serene landscape of jungle-fringed rivers, grazing water buffalo and rolling hills on a full-day kayaking trip through the Mae Ngat Valley from Chiang Mai. Learn the basics of paddling, and practice your skills in the slow-moving, gentle current. Watch for bright tropical birds as you wind through the Mae Taeng Forest Reserve, and enjoy a wonderfully undeveloped side of Northern Thailand.

Trace the origins of Thailand's favorite drink from tea leaves to teacup on this 2-hour tea plantation tour near Chiang Mai. Go behind-the-scenes of the Araksa Tea Plantation as you stroll through the tea bushes, help out picking the tea leaves, and learn the art of brewing the perfect cup. Along the way, sample the plantation's aromatic Assam tea, learn about Thailand's tea-making traditions, and see the production process from start to finish.

Enjoy the challenge of an advanced level full-day mountain bike ride near Chiang Mai. Start biking from the top of Doi Pui mountain, where landmarks below include the village of Doi Pui, revered Doi Suthep temple and Bhubing Palace. Your guide leads you on a ride along rough dirt tracks with plenty of ruts, roots and altitude changes to negotiate. Stop for coffee at a plantation in the forest, then end your ride at Lake Huay Tueng Tao, where you celebrate with a delicious Thai lunch.

Gain insight into local life in Chiang Mai on a 5.5-hour morning tour. Start early in order to give alms to the monks at the temple, then visit Warorod Market, and the Chiang Mai Art and Cultural Centre. Cap off the morning with a longtail boat cruise on the Ping River. Includes guide, entrance fees, transportation, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Discover Chiang Mai’s traditional arts and culture with a full-day, small-group handicrafts tour. Learn about Thailand’s artistic history at the city’s arts and cultural center, then meet the makers in the Puak Tam community. See how artisans craft ceremonial umbrellas and brassware, then continue to the Muen Sarn community where craftsmen have made fine silverware for centuries. Enjoy lunch in the home of a local family, then meet a group of traditional lacquerware makers and try crafting your own before returning to Chiang Mai.

The original founding of the temple remains a legend and there are a few varied versions. The temple is said to have been founded in 1383 when the first stupa was built.