Chiang Mai Province

Day Trips

Visit Chiang Mai’s sister city, Chiang Rai, on a 12-hour journey to visit 3 very different temples. Quirky, charming, and creative are words that could describe Chiang Rai. At the very least, this city is quite different from Chiang Mai, so join this trip to experience something quite new. Select the private option to have this experience with your friends and family only. Before you begin your tour, you’ll break up the long drive at the Mae Khachan Hot Springs to relax, dip your feet into steaming mineral water, have a snack, or walk around the gardens. Your first stop is the main attraction of the day: the White Temple. If you were expecting ancient ruins, then you might be surprised to find a modern architectural masterpiece designed and built by a local artist, Chaloemchai Khositphiphat. People say he spent over $40 million of his own money to create this unconventional art exhibit and through it, gain immortal life.   After exploring this Temple, head to the next stop, the Blue Wonder. Locally known as Wat Rong Seua Ten, this translates to “temple of the dancing tiger”, because it was built on a site where tigers were said jump over the river.   If the White Temple could be called the stairway to heaven, the Black House has been called a “dark, mysterious, and almost sadistic” place, complete with preserved animals and a collection of bones. Built by national artist Thawan Duchanee, the Black House (also called the Baan Dam Museum) is a cluster of nearly 40 shadowy structures exhibiting art dating back to the Ayutthaya period. After fully admiring these 3 very different structures, you'll be taken back to Chiang Mai.

Begin your private experience with a pick-up from your hotel in Chiang Mai city and take a scenic journey to a private elephant estate where you will be their caretaker for half a day. Upon arrival, Walk to the main base camp, located up the hill, get changed into an elephant caretaker outfit and prepare yourself for a day of fun. Learn about Asian Elephants' long and fascinating history as you learn to cook healthy herbal treats for them to eat for a snack. Afterward, feed the handmade treats to them and walk along their side through the beautiful lush forest. Continue with elephant bathing in the river and say a farewell to your new, big friends as you set off on the next part of your tour. Take some time out of your day to enjoy a delicious Tha lunch, eating dishes with rice and finishing off your meal with a selection of fresh tropical fruits. Then, visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the temple that is situated on the top of a mountain. You can reach the top by walking up or using the elevator. At the very top, there is a golden chedi and terrace adorned with small shrines, breadfruit trees, rock gardens and, an Emerald Buddha statue. From the mountain top you will be treated to breathtaking views of the lush greenery below.

After a 07:00 AM pick-up in central Chiang Mai, depart for Chiang Rai, stopping for a short break at Mae Kachan hot springs. Visit Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, before continuing to the Golden Triangle area. Go to Wat Phra That Chedi Luang (limited access). See the Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar borders from the Golden Triangle viewpoint. Stop for lunch before spending time at House of Opium. Enjoy a long-tail boat trip on the mighty Mekong River. On the way back to Chiang Mai take a break to stretch your legs in Mae Suay or Wiang Pa Pao district and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. The estimated arrival time in Chiang Mai city is 8:30 PM. The arrival time in Chiang Mai City depends on the traffic conditions, amount of passengers, and any other unforeseen circumstances.

Depart Chiang Mai and travel to the temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on Doi Suthep mountain. Follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims who climb up 309 steps to the stupa on the hilltop. Get spectacular views of Chiang Mai city and its surroundings. Then, visit a village and museum of the ethnic Hmong hill tribe, located inside the boundaries of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. Learn more about the life of the tribe, known for their colorful costumes and handicraft traditions. Return to Chiang Mai and get dropped off at your hotel.

After being picked up in the morning from your hotel in Chiang Mai city, you will head towards your local hiking adventure. 2 hours after beginning your ascent, you will reach Wat Doi Suthep at the 1,100 meter mark. Here you will start to traverse through highland jungle and the old Hmong Hill Tribe Village near the summit of Doi Pui which you will reach after your 3rd hour. After a hearty lunch at the village and an approximate 1-hour climb, you will tackle the summit of Doi Pui peak. Here we get to enjoy 180 degrees views of the Mae Ping Valley. The trip will be completed by a climb with a 30-minute downhill stroll to the Doi Pui Camp grounds ,where your ride back awaits you. Refreshed with cold drinks and snacks, you will then head back to the comfort of Chiang Mai, but not before making a stop at Wat Suthep to marvel at this rich temple which was built centuries ago in 1383.

Depart Chiang Mai for Doi Inthanon National Park to see Thailand’s highest mountain in the tropical forests south of the city. Go to the highest peak for a panoramic view and pay your respects at the shrine of King Intharawichayanont. Next, enjoy a short hike along the Angkha Natural Trail. See the twin stupas that commemorate the birthday of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. Go to a local market of the Hmong hill tribe before visiting the Royal Agricultural Research Center, set up to support local projects in place of opium farming. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the Karen hill tribe village of Mae Klang Luang and get a stunning view of the Vachiratharn Waterfall.

Don't miss this exclusive nature and cultural tour from Chiang Mai. Your tour starts at Chiang Dao Cave, which will take approximately 1.5 hours to reach on a route that goes through beautiful rolling hillsides. As you approach the caves, you'll see the scenic Doi Chiang Dao mountain range. The cave itself was the place where the Bermese soldiers rested before attacking Chiang Mai in the mid 1400s AD. Explore inside its complex of 5 public caves and see the the natural forms of their stalagmites and stalactites. Then, descend into a large cavern to see Burmese-style images of the Buddha and many shrines. You can freely explore two of the caves by yourself, as they are lit with electric lights! Continue on to Den Sali Teak Wood Temple, located north of the city. This is one of Chiang Mai's most remarkable temples - the complex contains a large number of structures including an ordination hall, a viharn (retreat house), a meditation hall, the kuti (monks' living quarters), a drum hall, and several other buildings, which are all built in a gorgeous traditional architecture. Finish the tour at Bautong Sticky Waterfall, where you can climb on the limestone rocks of the waterfall, and enjoy your time bathing in the cool waters of the pool below. The Sticky Waterfalls are an impressive sight - the rocks are cream-colored and bulbous, almost cartoonish, and contrast beautifully with the dark green forest. The multi-tiered waterfalls are also stunning - don't forget to bring your camera! If you don't plan on getting wet in order to see the rocks, there are a couple hundred steep stairs you could take instead to see the various levels of the waterfalls. In the evening, head back to Chiang Mai.

Depart Chiang Mai and journey towards Chiang Rai, stopping at the hot springs of Mae Kajan to soak your feet in the healing waters. Then, visit the temple of Wat Rong Khun and marvel at is white exterior inlaid with mirrored glass. Enter the "Golden Triangle" to see the city of Chiang Saen. Enjoy lunch at a famous restaurant before climbing aboard a boat for a ride along the Mekong River (optional). Cross into Laos and go to the market at Don Sao Island. Visit the Opium House Museum to learn more about opium and why it was once as expensive as gold.  Get the chance to stop at a hill tribe village en route back to Chiang Mai and meet the people of the Long Neck tribes.

Depart Chiang Mai and relax on the 1.5-hour journey to base camp, where you can pick up any last minute snacks for your white water rafting adventure.  Get a safety briefing and some time to practise with the certified guides on arrival. Then, face the challenge of the Class III and IV rapids of the Mae Taeng River. Experience an adrenaline rush as you venture through the jungle, and get some time to relax before rafting a continuous section of Class III rapids back towards base camp. Avail of the shower facilities before heading home for drop off at your accommodation.

Drive high up into the Northern Thai Jungle, to the Chiang Dao Valley and to the Mae Ping river. This creek-like river winds itself through the bamboo jungle and gives an intimate view of Northern Thai wilderness.  Then, embark on a kayaking trip, where undisturbed woods, overgrown banks with fallen trees and the shade from overhanging trees provide a unique environment as you navigate the task at hand. Abundant bird life, jumping fish and mysterious sounds from the forest accompany the journey.To complete this wonderful kayaking experience, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant or riverside.  Next, tackle Chiang Dao Cave, the most prominent cave system in Northern Thailand. Spend approximately 1 hour following a local guide through the side arms with headlamps and flashlights until joining the main route into well-lit caverns. Marvel at the Buddhist shrines and see the numerous bats that make the caves their home. Enjoy kayaking during the trip into the Caves to complete this day perfectly.