The 15 1-Day Tours in Chiang Mai That Earn Their Price

1.Chiang Rai’s Temples Exploration Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 871 reviews · 1 day · from $51Our pick

Travel from Chiang Mai in a group of up to 12 to see Chiang Rai’s White, Blue, and Red Temples. English and Thai-speaking guides such as Bee, Goi, Phone, and Nine explain the sites, with lunch, hotel transfers, a hot spring stop, and possible extra stops included.

“Great trip , Nine was a very good and funny guide full of fun and knowledgeable , we were a group of 10 and he looked after us very well. The driver was a very good driver by the name of Tony I would certainly recommend this trip”

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2.Doi Inthanon Park with Kew Mae Pan Hike Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 841 reviews · 11 hours · from $62

Travel by air-conditioned van from Chiang Mai to Thailand’s highest peak, hike the 2.78-kilometer Kew Mae Pan trail from November to May, visit the King and Queen pagodas, taste local coffee, and finish at Wachirathan Waterfall. Guides include Paul, Mo, James, and Wanida.

“5/5 Stars – Magical Scenic Tour to Doi Inthanon: Highlights Galore! The tour exceeded my highest expectations in every way. Transportation was punctual, swift, but the bus was a little packed with 12 people in our van. We returned in the dark about 19:00 after a long bumpy ride back to Chiang Mai. The curated attractions were pure magic, each a standout highlight with plenty of time to soak it all in. First stop at Wachirathan Waterfall was stunning. So much water coming down. Non-stop photo ops for almost an hour! The Kew Mae Pan Hike was pure joy hiking through scening landscapes with wild roses on 2.200 m sealevel.…”

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3.Chiang Rai Day Trip from Chiang Mai City with Golden Triangle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 531 reviews · from $81

Travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai in a small group of up to 18 people. See Wat Rong Khun, ancient Chiang Saen, the Golden Triangle, and the House of Opium, with a Mekong long-tail boat ride, Thai lunch, bottled water, and hotel transport included.

“It’s a long day but certainly worth it. The White Temple was truly amazing. Visiting the Golden triangle very interesting being able to see all 3 countries at the same time. Our guide Ekky & driver Tai were very good. Lunch was beautifully cooked vegetarian food.”

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4.Doi Inthanon National Park with Nature Trail Trekking 1-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 230 reviews · from $47

Travel from Chiang Mai to Thailand’s highest peak in a small group of up to 13 people. Expect Wachirathan Falls, twin royal pagodas, a seasonal 2 to 3 km nature trek, Karen village coffee, lunch, and guides such as Billy, Choo, or Kalaya, depending on the day.

“Great day all around guide was fantastic and very knowledgeable. Driver was excellent. We had a great time.”

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5.The Giant Café & Mae Kampong Village Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 207 reviews · 8 hours · from $54

Spend eight hours in the mountains east of Chiang Mai with an English-speaking driver such as Nine, Peter, Eikzy, or Charlie. Visit Mae Kampong Village, a forest waterfall, two scenic cafés, and The Giant Chiangmai treetop café, with free time to explore and eat locally.

“What an amazing day trip from Chiang Mai! I loved the scenic drive into the mountains, exploring the authentic Mae Kampong village with its wooden houses and peaceful vibe, and of course the Giant Café perched in the trees, a true paradise for photos with jungle views!A huge shoutout to our guide Eikzy, who was outstanding: punctual for hotel pickup, super friendly, and full of great stories about local culture and nature. She made the day smooth and unforgettable, even on the uneven trails. Perfect for a nature immersion without too much effort. I highly recommend it, would love to do it again with Eikzy! 😊”

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6.White, Red/Black and Blue Temples Full Day Trip From Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 201 reviews · from $32

Travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by air-conditioned minivan for the White Temple, Blue Temple, Baan Dam Museum, hot spring, and optional Karen village. Lunch, water, fruit, guide, insurance, and hotel-area pickup are included. Expect a 13 to 14-hour day with plenty of road time.

“The guide was very kind and the whole trip was very well organised. We loved the white temple, very impressive!”

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7.Inthanon Day Trip from Chiang Mai with Lunch – Group or Private

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 182 reviews · from $81Top rated

Spend 8 to 9 hours exploring Doi Inthanon with a guide such as Aom, Tui, or Ekk. Visit Thailand’s highest point, Ang Ka Nature Trail, the Twin Pagodas, Wachirathan Falls, and a Karen village with local coffee. Lunch, park fees, transport, and Chiang Mai pickup are included.

“Fue un día magnífico. Em, nuestro guía y su conductor fueron muy amables y complacientes. Incluso modificaron un poco el tour para que pudiésemos bañarnos en el río del parque nacional. Nos dieron agua cuanta quisimos y comimos en un lugar en mitad del parque rodeadas de selva.Fue todo impresionante. Pocos guías tienen tanta amabilidad. Un 10.”

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8.Chiang Rai Famous Temples & Hot Springs Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 129 reviews · 13 hours · from $24Best value

You’ll leave Chiang Mai early for a full day in Chiang Rai, with hotel pickup, a shared van for up to 12 people, and stops at Mae Kachan Hot Spring, Wat Rong Khun, Wat Rong Suea Ten, Baan Dam Museum, Lalitta Café, and Huay Pla Kang Temple. Package choices change the included tickets, lunch, café visit, and Karen village stop.

“From the outset, the transport was completely unsuitable. The bus was extremely cramped, with no air conditioning. My partner is currently recovering from a broken leg and had absolutely no space or support during the journey. The entire trip was uncomfortably hot, overcrowded, and caused significant discomfort. The buffet lunch was equally unacceptable. The venue was overcrowded, food was either stone cold, not heated properly, or had completely run out. As a result, I was unable to eat anything at all. When raising this with the tour guide, they were unhelpful and showed little concern. We were also disappointed with what was described as a “snack,” which consisted only of…”

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9.Chiang Rai Highlights in One Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 78 reviews · 1 day · from $48

Join an English-speaking guide such as Wanida, Goi, Bee, or M&M for a full-day van trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Choose a route with the Red Temple and Lalitta Café, or the Black House Museum. Lunch, water, transport, temple fees, and insurance are included.

“Our guide MM was fantastic! She told us some history and stories. Real nice and funny lady”

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10.One Day Hiking and Elephant experience by Chiang Mai Elephant Home

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · from $93

Spend about nine hours hiking through jungle, farmland, and rice terraces, rafting on bamboo, swimming at a waterfall, and meeting rescued elephants with mahouts at Chiang Mai Elephant Home. Guides such as Su, Perla, Te, and Bang Bang are praised for friendly, clear explanations.

“Amazing experience, would highly recommend. So much time up close and personal with elephants in their natural habitat. Thanks to our guide Su for the fun and adventure!”

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11.Doi Inthanon Park Day Trip with Kiw Mae Pan Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 75 reviews · 1 day · from $61

Travel from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon with a small group of up to 12, guided by English-speaking staff such as Paul or Steve. Visit Thailand’s highest point, hike Kew Mae Pan, see the King and Queen Pagodas, browse a Hmong market, eat lunch, and stop at Vachiratharn Waterfall.

“Our guide Steve was fantastic! His instructions were clear all the time and he volunteered excellent background information on nature and culture of the area. The two Hmong mountain trail guides Pen and Pa were also very helpful and friendly. We enjoyed this tour very much, including the visits to the Hmong and Karen villages. Great coffee discovery! The only thing needing improvement is the minivan, which has seen better days. A more modern transport van would be better suited for this long trip with many stops. But overall, we highly recommend this tour!”

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12.One Day Tour Chiang Rai(White Temple , Blue Temple, Black House) Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · from $156

Spend 10 to 11 hours traveling by private air-conditioned car or minivan from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. With an English-speaking guide, you visit Mae Khachan Hot Spring, the White Temple, Blue Temple, and Black House, with lunch, water, and city hotel transfers included.

“Fabulous...our guide was amazing. He was so informative. The 4 of us loved the entire day. We stopped for the most amazing coffee and lunch was delicious. We would all highly recommend this tour...”

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13.City Escape: Doi Inthanon & Karen Village Private Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $224

Spend 10 hours with a private local host exploring Doi Inthanon, waterfalls, a Karen village, coffee traditions, and a Thai lunch with mountain views. Pickup is available anywhere in Chiang Mai. A guide such as Boi may add local folklore, snacks, photos, and personal stories along the way.

“Boi was an excellent guide with a wealth of knowledge about the local area, history and Thai folklore. At various points in the trip, he told stories, took pictures and even picked up some regional snacks for us to taste. It was refreshing to have Read more”

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14.1 day Private Tour to Unseen Temple in Lampang

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · from $138

Travel privately from Chiang Mai to Lampang with a guide such as Tong, Yut, Jackie, M, or Puma. Visit the 13th-century Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, stop for free local lunch, then climb to Wat Chaloem Phrakiat for wide northern Thailand views.

“I had a wonderful day. My guide, Tong, was fantastic - he even brought fresh made rice crackers for me. He took me to a local market, to a temple where there were horse and carriage rides and to the unseen temple. The unseen temple is at tRead more”

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15.1 Day Private Tour Doi Inthanon And Phachor Canyon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $159

This 8 to 9-hour private trip from Chiang Mai visits Doi Inthanon’s summit, King and Queen pagodas, Wachirathan Waterfall, and Pha Chor Canyon. Your guide may be Yut, Tong, or Pug, with time to adjust the route and stop at a tribal village or local market.

“This tour was very enjoyable -- full of beautiful and interesting sights. Our guide, Yut, was punctual, professional, friendly, and very helpful. His informative conversation was much appreciated.”

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