Things to do in Chiang Mai
Ziplining8 optionsGolden Triangle Tours27 optionsChiang Mai City Tour17 optionsChiang Mai Jungle Trek25 optionsDoi Inthanon National Park Tours25 optionsATV Chiang Mai7 optionsBike Tour Chiang Mai11 optionsChiang Mai Rafting Tour9 optionsElephant Tour Chiang Mai15 optionsBest Day Trips from Chiang Mai9 optionsChiang Mai Food Tour34 optionsChiang Mai Temple Tour7 options
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Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep Temple & Monk's Trail HikeYou hike the historic Monk's Trail through forest to the hidden temple of Wat Pha Lat, spend time in its quiet grounds, then climb to Doi Suthep at the mountain's peak for the view and the gold-covered chedi. Your guide is English-speaking, transport is by authentic red songthaew, and you get drinking water included. The entrance fee to the trail is paid separately in cash on the day.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see both temples without arranging transport or figuring out timing yourself, and you're comfortable with the uneven forest path and the open-sided truck—that's what makes the morning feel like you're traveling the way Chiang Mai actually does.
Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai: Market to Farm KitchenAn evening Thai cooking class at an organic farm 13km outside Chiang Mai where you tour Somphet Market, hand-pick fresh ingredients, then cook six authentic dishes at your own station in an open-air kitchen. A live English-speaking chef leads the class, which includes van pickup from the city, a colored cooking book, and a meal of what you've made. Children from age 5 are welcome.Is it for me?The class asks for an evening commitment of about five hours and involves standing and working at a cooking station in an open-air kitchen—so it suits someone with a few hours to spare and the energy for hands-on cooking, not someone looking for a quick demonstration or a seated experience.
Chiang Mai: Full-Day Cooking Class & Local Market TourYou spend a full day learning to cook five Thai dishes in a countryside home, starting with a real local market tour where you pick ingredients and taste street food. The instructor guides you through making curry paste, soups, stir-fries, curries, and desserts, then sends you home with a recipe book. Hotel pickup from downtown Chiang Mai is included, and the class runs about 20 minutes outside the city center.Is it for me?This works well if you want to learn real Thai cooking techniques in a home setting rather than a commercial kitchen, and prefer picking your own ingredients at an actual local market instead of a prepared class setup. The full-day format and included market tour mean you're not arranging transport or sourcing ingredients yourself.
Chiang Mai: ATV & Quad Biking Jungle Tour with PickupYou’ll meet local guides near Chiang Mai and get geared up for three hours of quad biking across jungle trails and quiet roads. Expect muddy fun, friendly faces, and lunch waiting when you return — plus hotel pickup so you don’t have to worry about getting lost or cleaning your own ride. You might come home dirty but you’ll remember that feeling for a while.
Chiang Mai: Sticky Waterfall Climbing & Half-Day Tour PickupYou’ll climb Chiang Mai’s famous Sticky Waterfall with bare feet (it’s really grippy!), splash in clear pools, and share laughs with locals and travelers alike. The tour includes pickup by air-conditioned van and a friendly driver who makes everything easy. Expect cool water on your skin, cheerful guides, and memories that stick with you long after you’ve dried off.
Doi Inthanon trek from Chiang Mai: Thailand's highest peakA full-day guided trek from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand's highest peak at 2,565 meters, with nature trail trekking, waterfall visits and hill tribe village stops. The route changes by season: Kew Mae Pan trail (November–May, 3km) or Pha Dok Siew trail (June–October, 2.5km) through cloud forest and coffee plantations. Hotel pickup at 7am, lunch, park entry and an English-speaking guide are included; the trek is moderate difficulty with uneven terrain, so proper trekking shoes matter.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you're hiking in the cool season and want to reach Thailand's highest peak with a guide who knows which trail is open—Kew Mae Pan (November–May) offers different terrain and views than Pha Dok Siew (June–October), and you'll need layers for temperatures that drop below freezing at night.
Doi Inthanon: Eco Trek, Hill Tribe Coffee & Waterfall Day TripYou’ll walk forest trails in Doi Inthanon with a local guide, reach Thailand’s highest point for windblown summit photos, share smoky coffee with Hmong villagers, and stand close enough to feel a waterfall’s spray on your face. Includes pickup and lunch—the rest is all small surprises along the way.
Doi Inthanon trek: Thailand's highest peak adventureThis 11-hour guided trek from Chiang Mai takes you to Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand's highest mountain at 2,565 meters, where you walk forest trails to waterfalls and viewpoints, visit the twin royal pagodas at the summit, and stop at Karen and Hmong hill tribe villages. Hotel pickup is included, along with a licensed English-speaking guide, meals, park admission and travel insurance; the trek route changes by season — Pha Dok Siew trail (May to October) leads to a hidden waterfall, while Kiew Mae Pan (November to April) offers panoramic views through cloud forest.Is it for me?Choose this shared-van tour if you want a full day exploring Doi Inthanon's trails without deciding which route suits the season—your guide selects the trail based on current conditions.
Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip & Jungle RaftingYou’ll walk forest trails near Chiang Mai with local guides, feed rescued elephants by hand, watch them play in mud spas and rivers, share a Thai lunch under bamboo roofs, then raft through rainforest before trekking to a hidden waterfall. Expect laughter, muddy feet, honest stories—and moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai: Learn 6 DishesA five-hour cooking class in Chiang Mai where you learn to prepare six authentic Thai dishes of your choice with an experienced chef from Tomyumthai Cooking School. You'll get hands-on instruction in technique and seasoning, cook the full meal yourself, and eat it at the end. Hotel pickup within Chiang Mai's old city, an English-speaking guide, all equipment, and a recipe book are included.Is it for me?Small groups work well here since you're cooking at your own station with the chef's attention rotating through the class. Book this if you want to actually make the food rather than watch it being made, and if you're staying in or near Chiang Mai's old city where pickup is straightforward.
Chiang Mai: Night Tuk-Tuk Temples Tour & Street Food MealYou’ll ride a tuk-tuk through Chiang Mai’s old city at dusk with a local guide who knows every shortcut and story. Visit glowing temples like Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang after dark, then share street food and dessert at the bustling Night Bazaar before wandering off into the night—maybe lingering longer than you planned.
Chiang Mai: Jungle Trek, River Tubing & Waterfall Day TripYou’ll trek jungle trails near Chiang Mai with a local guide, splash in Tard Mok Waterfall, float Mae Taeng River by tube (maybe spot elephants or buffalo), then cool off sliding into Saa Gee Falls’ pools. Includes pickup, homemade lunch, gear—and ends with hot tea in the jungle before heading home.
Chiang Mai: Thai Cooking Class & Market Tour with GardenYou’ll start your day in Chiang Mai with a local market visit to pick out fresh ingredients before heading to an organic garden for hands-on Thai cooking. Choose your favorite dishes and learn directly from friendly instructors who’ll share tips (and jokes) along the way. Enjoy your meal by a peaceful lake pavilion—and leave with new skills plus a few stories worth retelling.
Chiang Mai: Private Street Food Tour & 10 Tastings with LocalsYou’ll wander Chiang Mai’s streets with a local guide, tasting 10 real dishes from spicy Khao Soi to sweet banana-leaf treats. Pause for temple visits and city stories between bites. Pick your own Thai tea style and laugh along as you try new flavors—this private food tour is about more than what’s on your plate.
Whitewater Rafting Chiang Mai: Class III & IV RapidsWhitewater rafting in Chiang Mai on a 10km river with three distinct sections of class III and IV rapids, expert guides, and all safety gear included. You paddle yourself under instruction, with hotel pickup and drop-off in Chiang Mai city, lunch, and shower facilities at base camp. Children from age 7 are welcome; younger children or nervous adults can take the van around the hardest section instead.Is it for me?You're paddling the whole time, not watching a guide do it—this suits anyone who wants to be active on the water rather than a passenger. The shared raft and fixed schedule mean you're going with other people and the day is planned around the river's conditions, not built to your pace, so it works best if you're comfortable in a group and ready to follow the guide's calls.
Chiang Mai: Chiang Dao Cave & Jungle Kayak Day TripYou’ll step into the cool hush of Chiang Dao Caves with a local guide, share stories over lunch at a riverside spot, then paddle through bamboo jungle on the Mae Ping River. Expect laughter, real conversation, and moments when nature gets under your skin — in a good way.
Doi Suthep & Bua Tong Waterfall Private Chiang Mai TourA private full-day tour of Chiang Mai visits Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the city's most important temple perched at 1,100 meters, where you climb 306 steps (or ride the funicular), receive a holy blessing and participate in a wrist tying ceremony with a local guide. The afternoon moves to Bua Tong waterfall, where the limestone is sticky enough to climb and the water is clear enough to swim in; lunch is included, and the itinerary bends to your preferences. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; the day runs about 7 to 8 hours.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a private guide who can slow down at the temple or linger in the water without watching a group schedule. The fixed pickup time and included lunch mean you're not arranging transport or meals around other people's plans—just showing up at your hotel at 8 a.m.
Chiang Mai: Old City Bike Tour & Local Market StopYou cycle through Chiang Mai's Old City temples, historic gates, and quiet alleys on a small-group morning or evening tour. The route includes stops at Wat Chedi Luang, the Three Kings Monument, and a local market where your guide helps you try simple snacks. A mountain bike, helmet, water, and an English-speaking guide are provided, and the pace stays relaxed across 12–14 kilometers.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Chiang Mai's main temples and gates without navigating traffic or arranging your own transport—the bike lets you move at a pace where the details actually register, and the small group means the guide can answer questions instead of herding a crowd.
Chiang Mai: Evening Thai Cooking Class & Organic Garden TourYou’ll wander a Chiang Mai market with a local guide, pick fresh herbs from an organic garden, then cook six Thai dishes yourself — all at your own pace. Choose your menu, adjust spice levels, relax by the lake or in an air-conditioned dining room, and leave with recipes plus a few stories you didn’t see coming.
Chiang Mai: Sticky Waterfall, Elephants & Long Neck VillageYou climb a limestone waterfall, walk with elephants in an ethical sanctuary, explore a Karen village with a local guide, then choose between white water or bamboo rafting—all in one day with lunch, transport, and an English-speaking guide included. The fixed itinerary and included meals mean you show up and move through four separate experiences without arranging anything yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see four different sides of Northern Thailand in one day without arranging transport, tickets, or timing between stops—the fixed schedule is what makes it possible to fit a waterfall, elephants, a village, and a river into a single outing.
