Chiang Mai Mae Ping River Cruise and Farmer House Visit

The river opens up to lush green the moment the city bridges fade.

A Mae Ping River cruise departing from Wat Chai Mongkol jetty in Chiang Mai, with hotel pickup included, that drifts past local riverbanks and ends at a working Thai farmer's house where you explore gardens and eat fresh fruit or a bowl of Khao Soi. Choose between a one-way trip to the farm, a two-hour round-trip cruise, or the same cruise with a creamy curry noodle soup lunch included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mae Ping River Cruise and Farmer House Visit

• Board boat at Wat Chai Mongkol jetty
• Cruise north along Mae Ping River
• Enjoy scenic river and green landscapes
• Choose one-way trip or round-trip cruise
• Visit Thai Farmer’s House
• Enjoy herbal drink and fruit or ice cream
• Explore rice fields, herb gardens, orchards
• Optionally savor Khao Soi curry noodle soup
• Relax and return from scenic journey

The Experience

You start at Wat Chai Mongkol jetty on the Mae Ping River, where you board a traditional boat and drift north as the city fades behind you. The river opens to lush green landscapes and tree-lined banks, and you pass local scenes—kids splashing in the water, houses tucked into the vegetation. The boat moves slowly enough that you can watch the shift from urban to rural unfold. Hotel pickup from Chiang Mai Old City is included, so the morning logistics are already arranged.

At the Thai Farmer's House, you step off the boat into gardens where rice fields, herb gardens, and tropical fruit orchards grow without chemicals. You walk through the working farm, see what is being grown, and taste fresh fruit and local coffee before heading back. The three options let you shape the day: a one-way trip ending at the farm with an herbal drink and seasonal fruit platter or premium ice cream; a two-hour round-trip cruise if you want to stay on the water longer; or the same cruise with a bowl of rich, creamy Khao Soi—the local curry noodle soup—served at the farmer's house. The whole experience runs about two and a half hours from start to finish.

A live English-speaking guide is with you throughout, and the tour requires a minimum of two participants to run. The operator caters to dietary requirements and food allergies, so if Khao Soi is not your choice, let them know when you book. On the rare occasion a tour needs to be cancelled, you'll be offered a different date, an alternative tour, or a full refund.

What’s included

• Hotel transfer from Chiang Mai Old City.
• Mae Ping River cruise on a traditional boat with a live English-speaking guide.
• Thai Farmer's House visit with access to rice fields, herb gardens, and tropical fruit orchards.
• fresh fruit and local coffee.
• herbal drink and seasonal fruit platter or premium ice cream (one-way and round-trip options), or a bowl of Khao Soi curry noodle soup (Khao Soi option).

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Oh-Hoo

Is this one for you?Book the two-hour round-trip cruise if you want to stay on the water and soak in the river views without a meal commitment. Add the Khao Soi option if you'd rather eat lunch at the farm and have a fuller sense of how the place works—the noodles are served there, not on the boat, and you get time to walk the gardens before heading back.

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Top questions

What is Khao Soi and why is it served at the farmer's house?

Khao Soi is a creamy curry noodle soup, a signature northern Thai dish. It's served at the Thai Farmer's House as part of the Mae Ping River Trip + Khao Soi option, pairing the river experience with a local meal you eat on the farm itself.

How long does the whole tour take from hotel pickup to return?

The tour runs about two and a half hours total, including the boat ride, time at the farmer's house, and the return journey. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Chiang Mai Old City are part of that time.

Can I choose what to eat if I pick the Khao Soi option?

The Mae Ping River Trip + Khao Soi option includes the curry noodle soup at the farmer's house. The operator caters to all dietary requirements, food allergies, and intolerances, so contact them when booking if you need an alternative.

What grows at the Thai Farmer's House?

The farm grows rice fields, herb gardens, and tropical fruit orchards, all cultivated naturally without chemicals. You explore these gardens during your visit and taste fresh fruit and local coffee before the boat ride back.

Is hotel pickup really included, or is that an extra cost?

Hotel pickup from Chiang Mai Old City is included in the tour price. The boat departs from Wat Chai Mongkol jetty, and the operator arranges your transport there and back.

What if I want to book this for just one person?

The tour requires a minimum of two participants to operate. If you're traveling alone, you'd need to either join a group departure or arrange a private boat, which costs an additional 200 baht per person.