Chiang Mai

Activities

Get picked up from your hotel in Chiang Mai city center for a day to explore one of Thailand’s original national parks and highest mountain, Doi Inthanon. Perfect for adventurers and culture enthusiasts alike, this tour will feature picturesque landscapes, remote villages, and incredible viewpoints. The first stop is one of the largest and the most beautiful waterfalls in the country, the Wachirathan Waterfall. Over 80 meters high, the power of this waterfall creates a refreshing mist that feeds the surrounding vegetation. The next stop is the stunning 50-meter cascade, Sirithan Waterfall fed by the Mae Klong River.  Next, you’ll stop at the famous twin pagodas: the Napamatanee Don and Napaphon Bhumisiri. Built for the Royal King and Queen, they are located at the highest point in Thailand. The last stop is a visit to the Karen Tribe locale. Learn a bit about the hill tribes people’s culture and way of life in their village of Sobhad.

Depart Chiang Mai for Doi Inthanon National Park to see Thailand’s highest mountain in the tropical forests south of the city. Go to the highest peak for a panoramic view and pay your respects at the shrine of King Intharawichayanont. Next, enjoy a short hike along the Angkha Natural Trail. See the twin stupas that commemorate the birthday of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. Go to a local market of the Hmong hill tribe before visiting the Royal Agricultural Research Center, set up to support local projects in place of opium farming. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the Karen hill tribe village of Mae Klang Luang and get a stunning view of the Vachiratharn Waterfall.

Set off on a nighttime kayaking tour of Chiang Mai. Start at dusk and see the city as its lights turn on for the evening. Journey on an easy-to-navigate river past restaurants, homes, and Mai Yai trees. Discover the romance of the Ping river as you set out on a 6 kilometer kayaking trip. Paddle through the city center and take in views of the sights from the water. Drift slowly with the river. Float by massive native Mai Yai trees. Go under brightly lit bridges and listen to the music spilling out of riverside restaurants. Admire charming waterside homes. Enjoy the colors of the Chiang Mai skyline at night.

Visit Chiang Mai’s sister city, Chiang Rai, on a 12-hour journey to visit 3 very different temples. Quirky, charming, and creative are words that could describe Chiang Rai. At the very least, this city is quite different from Chiang Mai, so join this trip to experience something quite new. Select the private option to have this experience with your friends and family only. Before you begin your tour, you’ll break up the long drive at the Mae Khachan Hot Springs to relax, dip your feet into steaming mineral water, have a snack, or walk around the gardens. Your first stop is the main attraction of the day: the White Temple. If you were expecting ancient ruins, then you might be surprised to find a modern architectural masterpiece designed and built by a local artist, Chaloemchai Khositphiphat. People say he spent over $40 million of his own money to create this unconventional art exhibit and through it, gain immortal life.   After exploring this Temple, head to the next stop, the Blue Wonder. Locally known as Wat Rong Seua Ten, this translates to “temple of the dancing tiger”, because it was built on a site where tigers were said jump over the river.   If the White Temple could be called the stairway to heaven, the Black House has been called a “dark, mysterious, and almost sadistic” place, complete with preserved animals and a collection of bones. Built by national artist Thawan Duchanee, the Black House (also called the Baan Dam Museum) is a cluster of nearly 40 shadowy structures exhibiting art dating back to the Ayutthaya period. After fully admiring these 3 very different structures, you'll be taken back to Chiang Mai.

Depart Chiang Mai and journey towards Chiang Rai, stopping at the hot springs of Mae Kajan to soak your feet in the healing waters. Then, visit the temple of Wat Rong Khun and marvel at is white exterior inlaid with mirrored glass. Enter the "Golden Triangle" to see the city of Chiang Saen. Enjoy lunch at a famous restaurant before climbing aboard a boat for a ride along the Mekong River (optional). Cross into Laos and go to the market at Don Sao Island. Visit the Opium House Museum to learn more about opium and why it was once as expensive as gold.  Get the chance to stop at a hill tribe village en route back to Chiang Mai and meet the people of the Long Neck tribes.

After a 07:00 AM pick-up in central Chiang Mai, depart for Chiang Rai, stopping for a short break at Mae Kachan hot springs. Visit Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple (limited access), before continuing to the Golden Triangle area. Go to Wat Phra That Chedi Luang (limited access). See the Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar borders from the Golden Triangle viewpoint. Stop for lunch before spending time at Golden Triangle Park. Enjoy a long-tail boat trip on the mighty Mekong River. On the way back to Chiang Mai take a break to stretch your legs in Mae Suay or Wiang Pa Pao district and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. The estimated arrival time in Chiang Mai city is 8:30 PM. The arrival time in Chiang Mai City depends on the traffic conditions, amount of passengers, and any other unforeseen circumstances.

Learn how to make authentic Thai dishes with this fun, small-group cooking class in Chiang Mai as you prepare classic dishes using ingredients from a local market. Choose between a half-day class during the morning or the evening and cook five dishes, or go for the full-day class to cook an extra two courses! Get picked up at your hotel within Chiang Mai, then meet up with the rest of your group and choose what you want to cook from the menu. Visit a local market and buy the necessary ingredients, and tour an organic farm filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Once you're done, head to the classroom and prepare your individual cooking stations for the lesson. Follow the instructions of your professional English-speaking guide as you cook a variety of authentic Thai dishes such as mango sticky rice, pad thai, and curry, and make curry paste with your own two hands! Enjoy the fruits of your labor by sharing a meal with your group. Exchange stories as you sample each others' cooking before you head back to your accommodation.

Depart Chiang Mai and journey into the mountains of northern Thailand to visit the ethical Lanna Kingdom Elephant Sanctuary (approximately 1-hour drive from the city center). Upon arrival, learn about the elephant conservation program and benefit from an introductory talk and the chance to interact with the rescued animals. Get the chance to give them a hug and discover how to prepare a healthy meal to feed them. Go for a walk around the sanctuary with the elephants and stop to give them a mud bath to keep their body temperature down and protect them from parasites. Feed them before enjoying a homemade lunch at a restaurant inside the sanctuary.

Drive high up into the Northern Thai Jungle, to the Chiang Dao Valley and to the Mae Ping river. This creek-like river winds itself through the bamboo jungle and gives an intimate view of Northern Thai wilderness.  Then, embark on a kayaking trip, where undisturbed woods, overgrown banks with fallen trees and the shade from overhanging trees provide a unique environment as you navigate the task at hand. Abundant bird life, jumping fish and mysterious sounds from the forest accompany the journey.To complete this wonderful kayaking experience, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant or riverside.  Next, tackle Chiang Dao Cave, the most prominent cave system in Northern Thailand. Spend approximately 1 hour following a local guide through the side arms with headlamps and flashlights until joining the main route into well-lit caverns. Marvel at the Buddhist shrines and see the numerous bats that make the caves their home. Enjoy kayaking during the trip into the Caves to complete this day perfectly. 

Be picked up from your hotel in Chiang Mai city center and go on a short drive to Wat Umong temple in the late afternoon. At this time of day, the crowds are few and views are prime. Upon arrival, explore the underground tunnels, bask in the beauty of the temple, and enjoy the forest surroundings. It is said that the trees in this forest have words of wisdom for those who pass by. After Wat Umong, the next stop is Doi Suthep temple. At this ornate structure, which is reached by a 306-step staircase, enjoy a beautiful sunset that lights up the golden temple. Also, take in the spectacular views of Chiang Mai at night from the summit of the mountain. Join a traditional ceremony performed by the temple's monks at the Golden Pagoda. After an afternoon spent exploring Chiang Mai’s temples and enjoying the sunset over the city, be returned to your hotel.