15 Private Car Days in Chiang Mai the North Does Best

1.Chiang Mai Half Day Tour: Sticky Waterfall & Hotel Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 611 reviews · 4h 30m Our pick

Ride from Chiang Mai to Bua Thong, where mineral-coated limestone lets you climb parts of a flowing waterfall. This is a transfer, not a guided tour: an English-speaking driver takes you there and back, with roughly two hours to explore. Morning departures usually reach the falls before the crowds build.

“Easy transfer from my hostel to the waterfalls. I recommend choosing the earlier time, as I was able to enjoy the waterfalls with no crowds! People started flowing in after I had already climbed.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Siam Dragon Cabaret Show with Optional Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 367 reviews · 1h 10m · from $25

Spend 70 minutes at Siam Dragon Cabaret in Chiang Mai, where transgender performers present cabaret, modern dance, music, and Thai cultural numbers in an intimate 400-seat theatre. Choose Standard or VIP seating, and add pickup and drop-off from a hotel in the city center. The show includes a complimentary bottle of water.

“Good variety show with choreographed dances from different countries, music genres. The lady boys wore beautiful costumes well. Drawback is the guests are surprised after the show the ladyboys pull you in for photo op and expect tips. I recommend the production to post signs of fees for a photo op. Otherwise have more catwalks with costumes and upbeat music”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Mae Ping River Cruise & Optional Transfer

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

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”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Full Day Car Hire with an English Speaking Driver in Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 166 reviews Top rated

Set your own Chiang Mai day with a private English-speaking driver, hotel pickup and drop-off, and up to nine people in your group. Plan around temples, Doi Suthep, an elephant sanctuary or Doi Inthanon, or ask your driver for ideas. Drivers such as Anan, Jen and Otto have helped guests shape flexible routes. The service covers Chiang Mai province, not Chiang Rai.

“Reasonable Communication. We didn’t get to do our whole planned itinerary although I was clear what we wanted to do”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Sticky Waterfall, Chet Si Fountain Park Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 60 reviews · 5 hours · from $21

Ride from Chiang Mai to Bua Thong Sticky Waterfall in Chet Si Fountain National Park, then spend about two hours walking, swimming or climbing the mineral-coated limestone. The shared transfer takes roughly five hours round trip, with an English-speaking driver and groups limited to 10. A tour guide is not included, so plan on exploring at your own pace.

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Lady Driver and Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews

Spend about 7 to 8 hours exploring Chiang Mai with Wilai, a private lady driver and guide. Visit Doi Suthep, the Silver Temple, Wat Chedi Luang, Warorot Market and jungle-side Wat Pha Lat, with room to adjust the plan. A car with air conditioning is included; temple fees and lunch are extra.

“We just recently finished a 2 day tour of Chiang Mai and the surrounding area with Wilai and it was nothing short of amazing.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Chiang Mai Airport Arrival – Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 51 reviews · from $14

Meet an English-speaking representative at Chiang Mai International Airport, then ride in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to your pre-booked hotel. The transfer takes about 20 minutes and runs 24 hours a day. Porterage covers one standard-size bag and one hand-carry item per person.

“So wonderful company so reliable thanks 🙏😃and so polite 5 star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️o I will recommend to everyone”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Chiang Mai Airport Private Transfer – Hotel or Airport

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 51 reviews · from $8Best value

Arrange a private ride between Chiang Mai Airport and your hotel, with no shared stops. Your driver meets you with a name sign, helps with luggage, and takes your group in an air-conditioned car or van. The service runs 24/7, with English and Chinese-speaking support. Airport arrivals should message the provider on WhatsApp after landing.

“Taxi driver had good communication & clear instructions on where to meet. He arrived on time. I would definitely recommend this service”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Zipline & High Rope Park with Lunch & Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 32 reviews · 4 hours · from $32

At Phoenix Adventure Park in Mae Rim, choose a 10- or 24-challenge zipline program, or a high-rope course with 20, 25, or 45 obstacles. English- and Thai-speaking staff provide equipment with a triple safety system. Your four-hour outing includes hotel transfers, a meal, and time for a tiny train ride past a flower field and farm.

“It was good, we only did the option A. Which is about 30 minutes of ziplining, but we had food & relaxed saw the animals and sat in the cafe whilst we waited for our van. All the staff were very kind and friendly”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Elephant Habitat Park Feeding Entry & Rafting Van Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 28 reviews · from $33

Travel about 1 hour 20 minutes south of Chiang Mai to meet elephants at Mae Wang Elephant Habitat Park. Local handlers explain their care before you feed them and make herbal vitamin balls. The afternoon visit includes watching the elephants bathe, followed by about 45 minutes of bamboo rafting on the Mae Wang River.

“The tour guide John was great and it was an Overall great experience feeding and looking after the elephants then the rafting would highly recommend to others John Deserves a pay rise what a guy he took photos for me off his phone when my phone was broke”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.5 Day Tuk Tuk Adventure in Chiang Mai – with driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $827

Travel in a specially converted tuk-tuk with your own expert driver and a guide leading the group. Over five days, head from Chiang Mai toward Mae Wang and Doi Inthanon for an elephant-home visit, village time and a guided forest walk. Bamboo rafting is part of the advertised adventure. Meals are included, and the group is capped at 12.

“My friends and I did the 5 day tour with OA, Bigg, YaYa and Win but mainly OA and Bigg.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Private Luxury Car rental + English speaking driver:

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews

Set your own route around Chiang Mai with a private air-conditioned car and an English-speaking driver. You get about seven hours, fuel and drinking water, with pickup offered and stops chosen to suit your plans. Drivers such as Tom, Sipohn and Phon have helped visitors with local history, temple suggestions and food tips. Chiang Rai requires an early start.

“Absolutely amazing experience. Sipohn was literally perfect and showed us local spots to eat and was very informative”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Siam Dragon cabaret show : Ticket & Optional Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 18 reviews · from $25

At Siam Dragon Cabaret Show in Chiang Mai, expect about 70 minutes of fully lip-synced performances blending Thai and international influences, with costumes and professional lighting and sound. The ticket includes entry and bottled water; an air-conditioned transfer is optional. Afterward, you can take photos with performers, with a tip expected for each dancer in your photo.

“Fun show! Great attitudes! Seemed like everyone in the crowd had a good time. Bring 50 baht bills for pictures afterwards.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Sticky waterfall (Half Day Tour) Hotel Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 17 reviews · from $19

Ride an air-conditioned van from central Chiang Mai to Buathong Waterfall, where the mineral-coated rocks let you climb up and down the cascades. You get two hours at the falls, park entry and return transport for $19 per person. There is no guide or food, so bring what you need and enjoy the site at your own pace.

“effective and comfortable service. the driver was nice and everything was on time”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Half Day Car Hire with an English Speaking Driver in Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews

Set your own four-hour route around Chiang Mai with a private English-speaking driver, hotel pickup, bottled water, and an air-conditioned car or minibus. You choose the stops, with drivers such as Arrin and Otto noted for helpful suggestions. This is transport with local recommendations, not a guided sightseeing tour, so decide what you want to see before setting off.

“A bit expensive, but most convenient way to have a fully flexible program. The driver was helpful, everything went well.”

Check availability →Read our full review