Northern Thailand · TOURS

The 15 Best Chiang Mai Day Trips & Guided Tours

300 tours  ·  from $10 a head

Everything with a guide, a driver or a pickup attached, in one list. The 15 below are the ones worth a full day, priced and timed, with the rest underneath.

Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park Eco-Friendly Tour - Ang Ka’s short boardwalk is an easy forest walk
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Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park Eco-Friendly Tour

1.Doi Inthanon National Park Eco-Friendly Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 6,667 reviews · 9 hours · from $46Our pick

Spend nine hours exploring Doi Inthanon National Park with a guide, from the summit and a 360-meter boardwalk to the Twin Pagodas, a hill village coffee stop and Wachirathan Waterfall. Guides such as Nom, Jin and Jackie have earned praise for adding local context and keeping the day lively. Transport is included, while lunch and some entry fees may cost extra.

“Doi Inthanon is totally worth visiting of you are staying in Chiang Mai. The hill tribe coffee degustation makes for a nice break too. Our guide was very nice and helpful!”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour - Feeding, walking, and watching the elephants
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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

2.Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Group Tour

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

Travel about 80 minutes from Chiang Mai to Pon Elephant Thailand for a guided visit with rescued elephants: learn their stories, prepare snacks, feed them, walk nearby, and, if conditions allow, help cool them in the river. Then head to Mae Wang Waterfall for a short nature hike and a swim when safe. Guides such as Beer, Yaya, and Nop have led the tour.

“Such an amazing day at Pon Elephant Sanctuary from start to finish, our guide was great, the sanctuary was amazing and the elephants are really chilled and are really well looked after by the staff”

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Chiang Mai: Cooking Class, Market & Thai Herbs Garden Tour - The Garden Turns Ingredients Into a Meal
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Chiang Mai: Cooking Class, Market & Thai Herbs Garden Tour

3.Cooking Class, Market & Thai Herbs Garden Tour

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

Spend three and a half hours with a local Thai instructor, starting at a Chiang Mai market and continuing in an organic kitchen garden. Choose dishes to cook, pound curry paste with a mortar and pestle, and finish with mango sticky rice. Instructors include Wave, Tu, Flook, Kat, Balloon, Toey, and Mew.

“Everything was well organised, the market tour was great and Balloon, our guide and cook is great and fun”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour - First, learn how to behave around elephants
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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour

4.Elephant Sanctuary Feeding Program Half-Day Tour

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

Travel south from Chiang Mai to Pon Elephant Thailand for a five-hour visit with English- and Thai-speaking guides. Learn about elephant behaviour, prepare herbal treats, feed the animals and walk with rangers. If the elephants choose to go, you may also join them at the river. Guides such as Pat, Jackie and Toto have been praised for making the visit informative and fun.

“Toto and On are the best guides! They taught us so much and made it really fun and funny. Highly recommended!”

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Chiang Rai White Temple and Blue Temple Day Tour - The road north from Chiang Mai
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Chiang Rai White Temple and Blue Temple Day Tour

5.Chiang Rai White Temple and Blue Temple Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,366 reviews · from $27

Travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai for three distinctive temples: the art-filled White Temple, the blue-hued Wat Rong Suea Ten, and Wat Saeng Kaew Phothiyan. The day includes a coffee stop, a lunch break at your own expense, an English, French, Spanish, or Chinese-speaking guide, and roughly six hours of driving. Guides such as Avi, Banana, and Atii have earned particular praise for their care and clear explanations.

“Pranom was a very nice and informative tour guide. We had a wonderful day in Chiang Rai.”

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Chiang Mai: White, Red/Black & Blue Temples Tour with Lunch - Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple
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Chiang Mai: White, Red/Black & Blue Temples Tour with Lunch

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

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

Travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with an English or Thai-speaking guide, stopping at the White and Blue Temples and, depending on the tour plan, the Red Temple or Baan Dam Museum. The day also includes lunch, Mae Kachan Hot Spring and an optional Karen village visit. Guides such as Danai, Andy and Pom have led trips, but names vary.

“The temples were so beautiful and the trip was so worth it. The lunch was buffet style and really delicious.”

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From Chiang Mai: Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour - Meet the elephants on their terms
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From Chiang Mai: Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour

7.Elephant Care Program and Nursery Tour

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

Travel from central Chiang Mai to Mae Tang for a half-day visit with rescued elephants. An English-speaking guide introduces their behavior and care before you prepare food, feed them, and join or watch their mud-pool play and bath. A Thai vegetarian buffet and hotel transfers are included. Guides have included Francesco, Tin, and Disney, though assignments vary.

“I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who would like to have an extraordinarily special encounter with the elephants. K’Neung & K’Ann were both amazing and made the experience wonderful. The program in the tour is packed with so much activities and encounters with the elephants without compromising safety and ethical practices. Everyone in the rescue park were very friendly, accomodating and very professional. Loolinh forward to taking this tour again when I am back in Chiang Mai. Thank you very much!”

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Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep and Wat Umong Enchanting Evening Tour - What a good guide adds to the visit
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Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep and Wat Umong Enchanting Evening Tour

8.Doi Suthep and Wat Umong Enchanting Evening Tour

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

Spend an evening at Wat Umong and Doi Suthep with a local guide, air-conditioned transport, and both temple entry fees included. Explore Wat Umong’s tunnels, then climb 309 steps to the hilltop temple for sunset views, city lights, and a monk-led ceremony. Guides on this route have included TomTam, Boon, Atii, James, and Happy.

“we had a super guide, TomTam, and driver, James. Trip was well paced and Tom was full of good information about Thailand, the Lanna people, the sights we saw and Buddhism in Thailand. A tour and tour guide I would highly recommend. Tom's english was excellent and we could tell that he loved his job.”

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

9.3 Hour Old City and Temples Guided Walking Tour

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

This three-hour walking tour visits Wat Chedi Luang, teak-built Wat Phan Tao and ornate Wat Phra Singh. An English-speaking local guide explains Chiang Mai’s history, Buddhist traditions and temple details; past guides have included Nana, Sunny and TomTam, though your guide may differ. Expect extra entrance fees, warm weather and frequent shoe removal.

“Excellent tour, guide Nana was fantastic. I’d recommend this to anyone in Chiang Mai”

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Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep, Wat Umong, and Pha Lat Sunrise Tour - A short pause at the Kruba Srivichai Monument
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Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep, Wat Umong, and Pha Lat Sunrise Tour

10.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 golden chedi and city views, then visit the Kruba Srivichai Monument, forest-set Wat Pha Lat and Wat Umong’s underground tunnels. Guides such as James, a former monk, explain Buddhist customs along the way. Transport, entrance fees and water are included. Bring modest clothes and be ready for an early start.

“The tour was fantastic from start to finish. Nuttaya is a great tour guide and we had the best time, learning lots about the temples, Buddhist culture and Thailand in general - all while seeing amazing sights! Would 10000% recommend :)”

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Chiang Mai: Sticky Waterfall & Angel Waterfall Park Day Tour - Dan Tewada, a garden made for wandering
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Chiang Mai: Sticky Waterfall & Angel Waterfall Park Day Tour

11.Sticky Waterfall & Angel Waterfall Park Day Tour

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

Ride from Chiang Mai to Dan Tewada Land of Angels Waterfall Park, with its misty paths, flowers and animal-feeding areas, then climb the mineral-coated rocks of Bua Thong Sticky Waterfall. The six-to-eight-hour tour includes transfers, entry fees and bottled water. Guides such as Avi, Nine and Lily have been praised for helping with photos and keeping the day fun, though your guide will vary.

“We had a lovely guide and a really good time. Both places were a bit crowded but I guesthid can't be avoided in the high season. Literally a refreshing activity”

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Chiang Rai Temples: Private Tour from Chiang Mai - Lunch in a local restaurant
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Chiang Rai Temples: Private Tour from Chiang Mai

12.Chiang Rai Temples: Private Tour from Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,267 reviews · from $144Top rated

Leave Chiang Mai at 7 a.m. for a private, roughly 13-hour day trip to four Chiang Rai temples. A guide and driver take you to the White Temple, Wat Sang Kaew Photiyarn, the Blue Temple, and Wat Huai Pla Kung, with lunch, entrance fees, and hotel pickup and drop-off included. Guides such as Tong, Yut, and O have made the long journey more personal with temple explanations, photo help, and rest stops.

“We had an AMAZING experience visiting the White Temple and Blue Temple in Chiang Rai with our incredible tour guide, Tong! He customized the trip perfectly for our family and went above and beyond by sharing so many helpful tips, local insights, and extra resources that made our time in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai even more special. Everything was seamless, fun, and thoughtfully planned, allowing us to truly relax and enjoy quality family time. We are extremely happy with this experience and can’t wait to come back again. Highly, highly recommended!”

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Chiang Mai: Wat Pha Lat & Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Tour - Doi Suthep: 306 steps to the golden pagoda
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Chiang Mai: Wat Pha Lat & Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Tour

13.Wat Pha Lat & Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,207 reviews · 4h 30m · from $24

Spend an evening visiting Wat Pha Lat’s waterfall-side shrine and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep’s gold pagoda, with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport. Expect a 306-step climb, city views and time to explore. Guides such as Art, Mui and Ponpon have brought Buddhist customs and temple details to life for past groups.

“These two temples are a must-see in Chiang Mai. This tour offers a comfortable way (van) to get to see both temples and visiting the 2nd temple during the golden hour and with the chanting of the monks was just magical!”

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3-in-1: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, and Trekking Trail - Reaching Doi Inthanon’s high point
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3-in-1: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, and Trekking Trail

14.3-in-1: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, and Trekking Trail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,087 reviews · from $48

Leave Chiang Mai around 7 a.m. for Living Green Elephant Sanctuary, Doi Inthanon’s summit and royal pagodas, then a guided forest trek to Pha Dok Siew Waterfall and Ban Mae Klang Luang. Expect a Thai lunch, mountain roads, and a long day. Guides have included John, Jon, Rainbow, Note, and Sandy, but assignments can vary.

“Even there was a communication or language issue, I enjoyed this tour. The elephants were scary for me but I finally manage to be able and feed them. The Inthanon temple was amazing!”

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Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, Bamboo Rafting and Waterfall Tour - Meeting the elephants in Mae Taeng Valley
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Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, Bamboo Rafting and Waterfall Tour

15.Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, Bamboo Rafting and Waterfall Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 870 reviews · from $58

Spend a day outside Chiang Mai at Bua Tong’s grippy limestone waterfall, an elephant sanctuary in Mae Taeng Valley and a bamboo rafting camp. Lunch and entrance fees are included. Guides such as Paul, Fluke and Mr. Poppy have led past tours, though the guide on your date may differ. Expect a full day, with pickup offered and a return to Three Kings Monument.

“We absolutely loved this trip! Feeding the elephants was a real highlight for us. And Paul was a great guide.”

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