The 15 Best Cruises & Boat Tours in Chiang Mai

1.Chiang Rai Temples, Golden Triangle & Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 518 reviews · 15 hours · from $70Our pick

Travel from Chiang Mai in a small group of up to 12 to see Chiang Rai’s White Temple, Black House and Blue Temple, then visit the Golden Triangle and take a Mekong boat ride. The day also includes a hot-spring stop, lunch and a Karen village visit. Choose the option with village admission or plan to wait while that group visits.

“guide Little B was helpful talking care of us. managed to change to another van when the old one air conditioning wasn't working”

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2.Mae Ping River Cruise & Optional Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 336 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $17Best value

Take a small-group long-tail boat ride on the Mae Ping River, past wooden homes, riverside cafés, and city landmarks, then stop at a local farmhouse. You can add lunch, herbal juice, and ice cream, with hotel transfers available in central Chiang Mai. The English-speaking driver may point out sights, though a live guide is not included.

“Excellent cruise,, with interesting stop at herb and fruit farm. Guide fun and informative”

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3.Chiang Rai Full Day Tour with Boat Trip and Longneck Village

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 112 reviews · from $55

Leave Chiang Mai around 7am for a long day of temples, the Black House Museum, a Karen village and the Golden Triangle, with a boat trip, lunch, transport and a guide. The White Temple is the star; guides have included Manny, Apple and Mi, though the assigned guide varies. Expect about 13 to 14 hours, and possibly longer.

“A must do the temples where just amazing to see in person. Only downfall that It truly took 14 hrs. But other than that it was great. Got to see everything I wanted to see and it was well planned out. We had plenty of time to roam around before having to meet back up to head to the next location. Highly recommend if you got the time.”

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4.Chiang Rai:White-Black-Blue Temple-Golden Triangle-Keren-Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 96 reviews · from $79

Leave Chiang Mai around 7 a.m. for a long, small-group day visiting the White, Blue and Black sites, a Karen Long Neck village, the Golden Triangle and the Mekong by boat. Lunch, entry fees and transport are included. Groups are capped at 12, and English or Mandarin guides are offered. Plan for a late return.

“Was a great opportunity to see the temples and the Golden triangle, get in a refreshing boat ride, and learn about the Karen tribes- I had a really nice experience. The guide Nomi was excellent, knowledgeable and very helpful. Was a long day and worth every minute!”

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5.Chiang Rai Day Tour from Chiang Mai + The Long Neck Hill Tribe With Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 74 reviews · from $79

Leave Chiang Mai at 7:00 am in an air-conditioned vehicle for a full day of Chiang Rai sights: Mae Khachan Hot Spring, the White and Blue Temples, the Black House Museum, a Karen Long Neck village and a short Golden Triangle boat trip. An English-speaking guide, lunch and the boat fees are included. Expect a long day on the road and brief visits at some stops.

“I don’t understand why this tour has mixed feedback - it's been AWESOME! The guide was incredibly knowledgeable and we saw everything worth seeing in Chiang Rai. The price was also very reasonable, so I highly recommend it!”

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6.Chiang Mai Farm Life & Khao Soy Tasting on a Half-Day Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 64 reviews · from $19

Take a gentle boat ride along the Mae Ping River, passing temples and homes before stopping at a local farm garden. Learn about rice and herbs, sample seasonal fruit and herbal drinks, and have a bowl of khao soi. The roughly 2.5-hour trip includes English-speaking assistance and limited downtown hotel transfers.

“Really enjoyed it. They were organized, welcoming and put together a fabulous, informative tour finishing with an amazing lunch. Don't miss out on that part! It was step 14 of the rice planting process!!! Our guide Kao was the best!”

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7.Chiang Rai:White+Black+Blue Temple+Golden Triangle+Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 63 reviews · from $74

This 13-hour minibus tour links Chiang Mai with the White Temple, Black House, Blue Temple, Golden Triangle, and a Mekong boat trip. Hotel pickup is offered, Thai lunch and listed admission fees are included, and groups are capped at 12. Guide assignments vary, so do not count on a particular guide by name.

“Amazing trip guide and driver great only thing really long day not 12 hours more like 15 hours but the sights are amazing”

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8.3 Day 2 Night Slow Boat to Luang Prabang

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 26 reviews · 3 days

Travel from Chiang Mai through Chiang Rai to Laos, stopping at the White Temple before crossing the border and spending the first night in Huay Xai. Then ride the Mekong slow boat via Pakbeng to Luang Prabang. The tour includes shared transfers, the first night’s accommodation, boat tickets, and water. Visa, meals, temple entry, and Pakbeng lodging cost extra.

“Everything about the trip was a nice slow pace. The river scenery was the highlight 😊”

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9.Sticky Waterfall Chiang Mai and Mae Ngat Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $63Top rated

This eight-hour Chiang Mai outing pairs Wat Ban Den’s expansive temple grounds with a Mae Ngat reservoir boat trip, a stop at Chedi Mae Krua Market, and time at Bua Thong’s multi-tiered Sticky Waterfalls. An English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport are included. Guide names can vary; Saman is one guide associated with the tour.

“I did lean a lot 1) agriculture of Thailand and water system 2) Buddha information and why the religion was important to guide. 3) Sticky Waterfalls was incredible Last, l was able to see things outside of the city. I am giving a five star review bRead more”

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10.Chiang Rai One Day : White Temple, Golden Triangle, Boat Ride to Laos, Long Neck

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · from $141

Leave Chiang Mai around 7 a.m. for a full-day trip to Chiang Rai, with a guide, buffet lunch and air-conditioned transport. See the White Temple, Mae Khachan Hot Spring and Golden Triangle, then visit a Karen Long Neck village. A boat ride toward Laos is included, but bring your passport and check whether an extra 300 THB applies to the optional river ride.

“It was definitely a very long day. There was much to see and there was ALOT of driving. That said, the sites we saw were amazing. Hot springs where the local women boil their eggs in handmade baskets. The Long Neck Hill Tribe with beautiful women and equally beautiful Read more”

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11.Half Day Private Chiang Mai Trishaw Ride and Mae Ping River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · from $95

Start with a songthaew pickup, then cruise the Mae Ping River by longtail boat, walk through Warorot Market’s flower stalls and ride a traditional trishaw past Chiang Mai’s old city walls and temples. The tour ends at Wat Phra Singh. Guides have included Nannie and Touch, though your guide may differ.

“The boat ride was so so, nothing much to see but ended well with dessert ice cream :). The ricksaw ride was much better as its the first time we travel in a ricksaw convoy! That was cool!”

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12.Magical Evening Dinner Cruise on the Ping River

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 6 reviews · from $75

Board a 30-seat boat for a two-hour evening cruise on the Ping River, with a Thai set dinner, an English-speaking guide and round-trip hotel transfers. You’ll pass a small riverside Buddhist temple and local market areas. Drinks cost extra, and the meal is fixed, so check carefully if you have dietary needs.

“Wonderful experience! Cocktails were terrific, and the place (Riverside Restaurant) seems to be famous for them. The cruising view of all the riverside businesses with their lights was magical. Ordering drinks after arriving on the boat put too Read more”

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13.3-Days Slow Boat Trip to Luang Prabang, Loas

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 5 reviews · 3 days · from $101

Travel from Chiang Mai by minivan, pause in Chiang Rai for a planned White Temple stop, then cross into Laos with help from an English-speaking guide. After a night in Huay Xay, take the public slow boat via Pakbeng to Luang Prabang. The guide does not travel with you on the boat, and your Pakbeng lodging and Laos visa cost extra.

“Meget skuffende. Intet besøg ved Det hvide tempel. Total forvirrende med busserne. Guiden kom for sent til grænsen, så måtte selv stå for visum. Guiden forsøgte at snyde mig med at veksle penge og tog overpris for simkort. Guiden er kun på første stop og ikke med på slowboaten. Så det er IKKE en guidet tur. Meget billigere, nemmere og unden frustrationer at gøre turen selv. IKKE pengene værd. Hotelværelset er virkelig et skod hotel.”

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14.Chiang Rai Temples Tour & Golden Triangle Including Boat to Laos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $145

Leave Chiang Mai at 7 am for a private, roughly 11-hour trip to Chiang Rai. Visit the White and Blue Temples, Wat Huay Pla Kang, Mae Khachan Hot Spring, and the Golden Triangle, with a Mekong boat ride that includes a crossing toward Laos. Hotel pickup, lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a guide are included. John and Mr. Big are named guides, though you should ask if you have a preference.

“Had an absolutely wonderful experience with Mr. Big on 2/7/25. Picked us up at hotel, drove to all destinations while chatting with us in learning more about Thailand. He took us around the popular temples in bypassing the tour bus crowRead more”

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15.Chiang Mai Mae Ping River Cruise and Thai Farmer House Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3 reviews · from $20

From Wat Chai Mongkol jetty, cruise north on the Mae Ping River toward the Thai Farmer’s House, with an option for a round trip or a visit featuring seasonal fruit, herbal drink, premium ice cream, or Khao Soi. Expect a quiet boat ride, garden visit, and no formal river commentary. Hotel transfer is offered from Chiang Mai Old City.

“This was a lovely experience, floating along taking in the view. It was as described- no commentary but didn’t expect one. Didn’t have the meal. The herb garden is interesting and the setting is relaxing. I recommend for a great way to spend a few hours. Kids on board seem to enjoy.”

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