Chiang Mai Private City Tour: Temples, Market & Monument

Five temples, one market, and the view from 1,053 meters

A private guided city tour of Chiang Mai visiting Warorot Market, Wat Chiang Man, the Three Kings Monument, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep—the sacred hilltop temple with over 300 dragon staircase steps and views across the Ping valley. The tour includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, all entrance fees, lunch, and runs 5 to 6 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Chiang Mai city highlights

• Visit Warorot Market
• See Wat Chiang Man temple
• Stop at Three Kings Monument
• Tour Wat Chedi Luang temple
• Explore Wat Phra Singh temple
• Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple

The Experience

Warorot Market is where the day begins—the place locals call Kad Luang, near the Ping River, where narrow walkways overflow with sai oua sausage, crispy pork rinds, pickled tea leaves, and curry pastes alongside textiles and handmade items from hill tribe communities. Your guide will walk you through the stalls and explain what you're seeing, so the market becomes a real window into how Chiang Mai lives instead of just a place to wander.

From there the tour moves through four temples, each one anchoring a different moment in the city's history. Wat Chiang Man dates to 1296, when King Mengrai founded the city and ordered this as the first temple inside the new walls; it still houses the Crystal Buddha, a small quartz image believed to have belonged to a queen in the 8th century. Wat Chedi Luang sits in the Old City with a towering brick chedi that began construction in 1391 and once reached 82 meters—an earthquake in 1545 collapsed the upper part, but the weathered structure still dominates the skyline. Wat Phra Singh, built in 1345, holds the Phra Singh or Lion Buddha image and is known for its carved wooden structures, golden stupas, and painted murals depicting Buddhist stories. A short stop at the Three Kings Monument honors the three rulers—Mengrai, Ramkhamhaeng, and Ngam Muang—who strengthened their kingdoms in the 13th century and whose cooperation shaped the northern region.

The final stop is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the most sacred pilgrimage site in Thailand, perched 1,053 meters above sea level about 35 minutes from the city. You can climb the dragon staircase with its 300-plus steps flanked by a seven-headed Naga serpent, or take the cable car to the top. Once there, the temple unfolds in layers—statues, pagodas, shrines, rows of bronze bells, and the gold-covered chedi at the center where sacred relics are kept. On clear days the view sweeps across Chiang Mai and the Ping valley below. The tour includes lunch and returns you to your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking guide.
• entrance fees to all temples and Warorot Market.
• lunch.
• drinking water and snacks.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by WanderSiam Chiang Mai

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a steady pace across six stops over 5 to 6 hours with walking at each temple and the market—manageable for most fitness levels, though the dragon staircase at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep has over 300 steps (a cable car option exists). Choose this if you want the major temples and the city's founding history woven together by someone who knows the stories, rather than navigating them on your own.

Top questions

What is Warorot Market and what will I find there?

Warorot Market, called Kad Luang by locals, is Chiang Mai's most authentic market near the Ping River where residents shop for northern Thai specialties like sai oua sausage, crispy pork rinds, and curry pastes, alongside textiles, clothing, and handmade items from hill tribe communities. The narrow walkways and colorful stalls give you a real sense of daily life in the city.

How old is Wat Chiang Man and what makes it historically important?

Wat Chiang Man was built in 1296 as the first temple inside Chiang Mai's city walls when King Mengrai founded the city and established the Lanna Kingdom. It houses the Crystal Buddha, a small quartz image believed to have once belonged to Queen Chama Thewi of Hariphunchai in the 8th century.

What happened to the chedi at Wat Chedi Luang?

The brick chedi at Wat Chedi Luang began construction in 1391 and was completed in 1475, reaching an estimated 82 meters tall—the tallest building in Chiang Mai for centuries. A powerful earthquake in 1545 collapsed the upper part, but the structure remains standing and is still one of the city's most striking landmarks.

Can I walk up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep or is there another way?

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep sits 1,053 meters above sea level and can be reached by climbing the dragon staircase with over 300 steps flanked by a seven-headed Naga serpent, or you can take the cable car to the top instead.

What is included in this tour?

The tour includes hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide, all entrance fees to the temples and market, lunch, drinking water, and snacks. The total time is 5 to 6 hours.

What should I wear to visit the temples?

Temples are sacred places and require respectful dress: shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women. Avoid sleeveless shirts, leggings, ripped jeans, flip-flops, or revealing tops.