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Chiang Mai Small group activities

Our most recommended Chiang Mai Small group activities

From Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park Full-Day Tour

1. From Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park Full-Day Tour

Get picked up from your hotel in Chiang Mai city center for a day to explore one of Thailand’s original national parks and highest mountain, Doi Inthanon. This tour will feature picturesque landscapes, remote villages, and incredible viewpoints. After getting picked up from your hotel in Chiang Mai, head to your first stop, one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the country, Wachirathan Waterfall. Over 80 meters high, the power of this waterfall creates a refreshing mist that feeds the surrounding vegetation.  Next, stop at the stunning 50-meter cascade, Sirithan Waterfall, which is fed by the Mae Klong River.  Then, stop at the famous twin pagodas: the Napamatanee Don and Napaphon Bhumisiri. Built for the Royal King and Queen, they are located at the highest point in Thailand.  Round out the tour with a visit to the Karen Tribe locale. Learn a bit about the hill tribes people’s culture and way of life in their village of Sobhad.

From Chiang Mai: Chiang Rai Temples Group/Private Tour

2. From Chiang Mai: Chiang Rai Temples Group/Private Tour

Experience Chiang Rai on a full-day trip from Chiang Mai to White Temple, Wat Rong Seua Teb, and Baan Dam Museum. Travel in a comfortable car and choose from a group or private tour. Enjoy the convenience of being picked up from your accommodation in Chiang Mai. Sit back and relax on the air conditioned drive. Stop at the Mae Khachan Hot Springs to relax, dip your feet into steaming mineral water, have a snack, or walk around the gardens. Continue to the modern architectural masterpiece known as the White Temple. Explore this fantastical space that was designed and built by a local artist, Chaloemchai Khositphiphat. Head to the Wat Rong Seua Ten (temple of the dancing tiger) to uncover the secrets of this religious site that was built where tigers were said to have leapt over the river. Admire the stunning blue and gold colors of this temple. Make your way to the Baan Dam Museum (Black House Museum). Explore a cluster of nearly 40 shadowy structures exhibiting art dating back to the Ayutthaya period. See preserved animals and a collection of bones. Travel by car back to your accommodation in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Small Group Tour

3. Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary & Waterfall Small Group Tour

Take a visit to the Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai. Start with a convenient pick-up from your hotel in the city center of Chiang Mai and take a drive to the elephant sanctuary. Learn how to make healthy snacks for elephants and see the rescued animals. Go for a swim at Mae Wang Waterfall. Relax as you are picked up from your city center accommodation in Chiang Mai. Sit back as you are driven southwest of the city on a scenic 1.5-hour drive. Encounter local farms, hill tribe villages, and rice fields. Receive a warm welcome when you arrive at the Pupha Elephant Sanctuary. Put on your traditional Karen Hill tribe clothes to look like an elephant caretaker. Listen to a briefing on Asian elephants and the background of the sanctuary. Gain new knowledge as you are taught how to make healthy snacks for the elephants. Feed the rescued elephants as you walk up a hill in the deep jungle. Watch the elephants foraging for food and see elephant families interacting with one another. Bathe in the river with the elephants and walk them back to the sanctuary, where you will be taught how to make elephant medicine balls. Take a shower and pack up your belongings. Eat a traditional Thai lunch and fresh fruits. Leave the elephant sanctuary and stop at Mae Wang waterfall for a quick swim before transferring back to your hotel in Chiang Mai city center. Finally, return to your starting point after the tour.

Chiang Mai: Small Group Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Tour

4. Chiang Mai: Small Group Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Tour

Meet elephants on this guided day trip from Chiang Mai to the Lanna Kingdom Elephant Sanctuary, located in the middle of a lush national park. Here the elephants are able to roam freely in a large green space. Keep your clothes clean by wearing local clothes and boots. Feed and interact with rescued elephants before sitting down to a freshly cooked lunch.  Depart Chiang Mai aboard an air-conditioned van and journey into the mountains of northern Thailand to visit the ethical Lanna Kingdom Elephant Sanctuary (approximately 1-hour drive from the city center). Upon arrival, learn about the elephant conservation program and benefit from an introductory talk, and the chance to interact with the rescued animals. Get the chance to give them a hug and discover how to prepare a healthy meal to feed them. Go for a walk around the sanctuary with the elephants and stop to give them a mud bath to keep their body temperature down and protect them from parasites. Feed them before enjoying a homemade lunch at a restaurant inside the sanctuary.

From Chiang Mai: White Temple & Golden Triangle Day Trip

5. From Chiang Mai: White Temple & Golden Triangle Day Trip

Uncover the secrets of Thailand's famed Golden Triangle on this day trip from Chiang Mai. Travel aboard an air conditioned van from a centrally-located meeting point. Visit the Mae Kachan hot springs and the White Temple.  Explore the Mekong river on a longtail boat and enjoy a tasty lunch. Enjoy a pickup 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. 

Chiang Mai: Authentic Thai Cooking Class and Farm Visit

6. Chiang Mai: Authentic Thai Cooking Class and Farm Visit

Learn how to make authentic Thai dishes with this fun, small-group cooking class in Chiang Mai as you prepare classic dishes using ingredients from a local market. Choose between a half-day class during the morning or the evening and cook five dishes, or go for the full-day class to cook an extra two courses! Get picked up at your hotel within Chiang Mai, then meet up with the rest of your group and choose what you want to cook from the menu. Visit a local market and buy the necessary ingredients, and tour an organic farm filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Once you're done, head to the classroom and prepare your individual cooking stations for the lesson. Follow the instructions of your professional English-speaking guide as you cook a variety of authentic Thai dishes such as mango sticky rice, pad thai, and curry, and make curry paste with your own two hands! Enjoy the fruits of your labor by sharing a meal with your group. Exchange stories as you sample each others' cooking before you head back to your accommodation.

Doi Suthep Temple & Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip.

7. Doi Suthep Temple & Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip.

Experience an ethical elephant estate and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on this outdoor adventure tour from Chiang Mai. Interact with the elephants in the forest and feed them treats, enjoy a Thai meal, and visit a temple on top of the mountain. Begin your trip with hotel pickup and a scenic journey to a private elephant estate where you'll get to be their caretaker for half a day. Upon arrival, walk to the main base camp located up the hill and get changed into an elephant caretaker outfit. Hear about the long history of Asian elephants 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 lush forest. Continue with elephant bathing in the river and say farewell to your new, big friends before taking some time to enjoy an authentic Thai lunch. Taste dishes with rice and a selection of fresh tropical fruits. With a full stomach, visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep next, a temple situated on the top of a mountain. You can reach the top by walking up or using the elevator. At the top, see a golden chedi and terrace adorned with small shrines, breadfruit trees, rock gardens, and an Emerald Buddha statue. Round off your day on the mountaintop with breathtaking views of the greenery below, followed by drop-off back at your hotel.

Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park & Trek to Village

8. Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon National Park & Trek to Village

Explore Doi Intanon National Park, home to Thailand’s highest peak, on this full-day tour from Chiang Mai. A member of the local Karen hill tribe will be your guide during the hike. Walk through the jungle and spot exotic birds and butterflies. Reach the hill tribe village after about 2 hours of hiking. Drive through Baan Khun Klaang, the largest karen community in the park, and then see the beautiful Wachirathan Waterfall. Take a break for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, drive to the summit of the mountain and explore the Ang-Kha Nature Trail. Continue to the twin pagodas built in honor of the King and Queen of Thailand. Admire the royal flower garden surrounding the site.

Doi Suthep, Wat Umong & Wat Pha Lat Sunrise Small-Group Tour

9. Doi Suthep, Wat Umong & Wat Pha Lat Sunrise Small-Group Tour

Begin your morning tour by climbing the 306 steps up to Doi Suthep Temple with your local guide. Bask in the golden rays of sunrise after conquering the staircase and take photos of the unrivaled view of the city of Chiang Mai.  Then, stand in the shadow of the golden Kruba Srivichai Monument, named after the Thai Buddhist monk and engineer of many temples and roads. Gain an insight into how the monks live and choose to make a merit (offering) with them.  Head to Wat Pha Lat, a hidden temple in the lush jungle. Admire the serene statues, shrines, and surrounding nature.  Wrap up your half-day tour with a stop at Wat Umong, a 700-year old temple built back in 1297. Explore the forest and underground tunnels. Marvel at the architecture of the chedi.

Private Doi Suthep Temple and Sticky Waterfall Tour

10. Private Doi Suthep Temple and Sticky Waterfall Tour

Get picked up from your hotel or accommodation in Chiang Mai and drive up the curvy mountain roads to Doi Suthep - Pui National Park. You will visit the most important temple here. Walk up 306 steps (or, if you prefer an easier method, take a funicular ride) to the temple, which sits at 1,100 meters above sea level. The famous golden pagoda is stunning and the temple contains the relic of the Lord Buddha. Here, you'll also have the chance to get a holy blessing from a Buddhist monk and participate in a wrist tiding ceremony. From the balcony, enjoy a panoramic view of Chiang Mai. Next, you'll continue to Bua Tong waterfalls. Swim around the clear water or climb the "sticky" limestone and enjoy the gorgeous natural scenery.

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What people are saying about Chiang Mai

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 22 reviews

This was a very good tour! Our guide, “Poon,” was extraordinarily personable, knowledgeable, and proactive. He answered all of our questions, and gave us great recommendations. He even offered to give me friend and I an independent tour of the waterfalls the following day (which we were unfortunately unable to do). The highlight of this trip for me was definitely the pagodas. They were among some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. One recommendation for future travelers, is to bring a light jacket and/or pants. This is because when you reach the highest point of the mountain, it actually does get a little chilly– don’t let the Chiang Mai heat fool you! All in all, great tour!

Cookkie was an amazing host, my favorite in all of the time I spent in Thailand so far. She went above and beyond to explain all the history, and made the experience extra special. She even took extra time to take photos of us (my first photos of myself on this trip)!! The tour was gradual, didn’t feel rushed at all, it was perfect. I would suggest to make sure and bring sunscreen, a mask (Smoke in air this time if year),sunglasses and bug spray. The hot springs pit stop was pretty cool too, well worth the money, loved the entire tour!!!!!

Our host and guide was Jimmy. We had an awesome day. Fed the elephants, interacted with them, hiked with them and bathed them. Afterwards we had a good lunch of chicken pad thai with pineapple and watermelon. The day finished with spending some time at a small waterfall. Worth it.

Our guide Young and our driver Shachou were amazing! We had so much fun! Could not imagine a better day. Thank you Young for your excellent work as a guide, but most of all for being such a beautiful person!

Had a really lovely time and Saman, our guide shared a lot of interesting information.