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Chiang Mai day tours

Surrounded by a walled moat, the historic centre of Chiang Mai is easy to find your way around. The mild climate, the colourful markets and temples and the laid back atmosphere make it a pleasant stopover on your Thailand trip. In the evening, just past the city gate leading out of the centre, you’ll find several cosy candle lit restaurants along the water. After dinner you can stroll back past the moat and breathe in the balmy night air. Once you enter through the city wall just follow the street back to the night market, a great place to shop around for souvenirs.

Chiang Mai is a popular departure point for travellers visiting northern Thailand for a jungle trek or visit to the hill tribes. Because of its relaxed, village-like atmosphere Chiang Mai is worth sticking around a couple of days longer before travelling on to your next destination. Whether you’re interested in learning more about Thai cuisine, a tree-top jungle adventure or a city bike tour, these Chiang Mai day tours will offer you a great introduction to Chiang Mai and its surroundings.

You can incorporate a trip to Chiang Mai into your Thailand holiday by choosing from our bite-sized Thailand tours. Alternatively, you can take your pick from our range of suggested Thailand holidays.

Day tour 1: Elephant training school

Duration	1 days - Departs daily	Accommodation	n/a
Price	£75 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Includes	Return transfer, lunch, training and guide
Transport	Minibus	Excludes	Other meals, drinks

Chiang Mai day tours - washing the elephants

No trip to the north of Thailand would be complete without an encounter with the country's national icon. On our special Mahout (elephant handler) training school trip, you'll come face to face with these gentle giants.
This Chiang Mai day tour starts with your collection from your hotel and transfer to a Mahout Training School. First, you'll be given an introduction into the body language of elephants before starting with the hands-on practice. Some of the real highlights of the day will be learning the commands necessary to handle an elephant as well as riding, bathing and feeding them fruits you've cut yourself. Lunch is also provided. You'll also learn about how to re-plant the foods the elephants need in order to ensure a sustainable food supply. After you've said your goodbye to your new friend you'll be transferred back to your hotel in Chiang Mai, arriving around 17:30.

What to bring: T-shirt, long/short pants, extra clothes, swimming suit, towel, shampoo, soap, sandals or slippers, sun block, lotion and insect cream

Day tour 2: Thai cookery course

Duration	1 Day - Departs daily	Accommodation	n/a
Price	£40 per person - based on 2 people	Includes	Transport, ingredients and meals made at the school
Transport	By tuk-tuk	Excludes	Other meals

Have a light breakfast this morning; you’ll want to save some room for the culinary delights you’ll be mastering today. After breakfast you’ll be picked up at your hotel and driven through the narrow streets of Chiang Mai to the home of our Thai cook. Once you’ve taken off your shoes at the front door you’ll be shown a seat on a pile of cushions around a low table. The most difficult task for today is choosing which Thai recipes you want to prepare. Once you’ve picked your dish the cook will jot down the list of ingredients and then it’s off to the local market. At the market you’re greeted by the aromatic scents of spices and fresh herbs and piles of exotic fruit and vegetables. You’ll do your own shopping (with the help of your guide) and learn all about the various herbs and spices that are used in Thai cooking.

Back at the house it’s time to get to work chopping and slicing. Perhaps you’ll be cooking a traditional pad thai stir fry, followed by fried banana with coconut ice cream. You’ll get to eat your own dish of course and compare notes. At the end of this Chiang Mai day tour you’ll receive a recipe book so you can try all the dishes at home.

To find out more about Thai food culture, take a look at our information page to learn more about food in Thailand.

Chiang Mai day tours - Cook your own Pad Thai

Day tour 3: Treetop adventure

Duration	1 day - Departs daily	Accommodation	n/a
Price	£78 per person - based on 2 people	Includes	Transport and guide, lunch
Transport	Minibus	Excludes	Other meals

Chiang Mai day tours - Discovering new heights

If you fancy seeing the jungle from a different perspective, and you’re not scared of heights, this Chiang Mai day tour is a great way to experience some jungle adventures. Early in the morning you’ll be picked up for the 1 ½ hour transfer to the rainforest near Chiang Mai. You’ll be given a safety helmet and harness and you’re ready to be hoisted up into the treetops. Climbing, swinging and flying along 2 km of zip lines, platforms and sky bridges you’ll spend a couple of hours high up in the rainforest canopy.

The enthusiastic guides help you navigate the ropes and platforms and halfway through the course you’ll be lowered down to the ground for a filling traditional Thai lunch. With your batteries recharged you’ll climb up into the canopy and zip your way through the treetops. At the end of the afternoon you’ll be transferred back to Chiang Mai. This treetop adventure day tour is also suitable for children, minimum age 6.

Day tour 4: Chiang Mai by bike

Duration	1 day	Accommodation	n/a
Price	£30 per person - based on 2 people	Includes	Bike hire and guide
Transport	Bike	Excludes	Meals

Chiang Mai is relatively compact, particularly compared to the large metropolis that is Bangkok. Chiang Mai is surrounded by green hills, which makes it ideal to explore by bike. On this Chiang Mai day tour your guide will meet you at your hotel with your bike. After some brief instructions you’ll hit the pedals and make your way through the streets of Chiang Mai towards the Ping River. On the way you’ll stop off to visit an old leper colony. You’ll cycle along narrow country roads through a scenery of lush green fruit plantations, farmers working in the fields and women sitting outside weathered wooden houses. In the villages groups of children wave and try to catch up with you as you cycle past.

Towards the end of the bike tour you’ll visit the 13th century temple ruins of Wiang Kum Kam, once the capital of the powerful Lana realm. The bike tour finishes back at your hotel in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai day tours - Explore Chiang Mai by bike

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