Northern Thailand · CHIANG MAI HILL TRIBE VILLAGE TOURS

Hill Tribe Villages: The 15 Best Trips out of Chiang Mai

27 tours  ·  from $22

Karen, Hmong, Lahu and Palaung villages sit at different heights in the hills, and the 15 trips below differ a lot in how long they stay and what happens while they are there. Prices, driving times and what is included are set out for each.

Chiang Mai: Chiang Rai Temples, Karen Tribe and Hot Springs - Mae Kachan Hot Springs: a gentle first stop
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Rai Day Trips, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews

Chiang Mai: Chiang Rai Temples, Karen Tribe and Hot Springs

1.Chiang Rai Temples, Karen Tribe and Hot Springs

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 5,401 reviews · 11 hours - 810 minutes · from $35Our pick

Travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with an English-speaking guide such as Benz, Ruby, or Kwan. Visit Mae Kachan Hot Springs, a Karen long-neck village, the White and Blue Temples, and Huay Pla Kang Temple. Bring lunch money, modest clothing, and your own earphones for the 41-language audio guide.

“Having Benz as a guide was a pleasure, he’s really friendly and truly passionate about what he does, he’s constantly making sure everyone is enjoying the tour and giving great tips for pictures, the information he brings is clear and easy to understand. 10/10 highly recommend guide Benz!”

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Thai and Akha Cooking Class in Chiang Mai - What happens at the cooking school
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Mai Thai Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes, Tour Reviews, Workshops

Thai and Akha Cooking Class in Chiang Mai

2.Thai and Akha Cooking Class in Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,358 reviews · from $42Top rated

Spend about six hours cooking Thai and Akha food at Thai Akha Kitchen in Chiang Mai. Morning sessions add a local market visit. Instructors such as On, Niti, Jasmine, Rita, and Ano guide you through curries, soups, desserts, and Akha specialties in a small group.

“I am glad we decided to do the morning session, as Niti, our cooking teacher first took us to the morning fresh market, we got to see and learn about the fresh ingredients of Thai cooking. The class itself was really fun and interactive, Niti gave good tips and instructions.”

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Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall - Preparing herbal treats for the elephants
Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary Visits, Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Mai Sticky Waterfall Tours, Tour Reviews

Chiang Mai: Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall

3.Elephant Sanctuary, Long Neck & Sticky Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,262 reviews · 9 hours · from $63

You’ll visit a private elephant sanctuary, make herbal treats, feed and bathe elephants, stop at a Karen long-neck village, enjoy Thai lunch, then climb Buatong Sticky Waterfall. English-speaking guides such as Fluke, Amy, and Pong are known for clear explanations and helpful photos.

“We enjoyed our daytrip very much. The guide, Tiger (Satya) and the driver were amazing. It was such a beautiful experience. Can definitely recommend.”

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4-Hour Doi Suthep & Hmong Hill Tribe Village from Chiang Mai - The mountain drive to Doi Pui
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Mai Temple Tours, Doi Suthep Temple Tours, Tour Reviews

4-Hour Doi Suthep & Hmong Hill Tribe Village from Chiang Mai

4.4-Hour Doi Suthep & Hmong Hill Tribe Village from Chiang Mai

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 696 reviews · 4 hours · from $36

Travel by air-conditioned minivan from Chiang Mai to Doi Pui Hmong Village and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. An English-speaking guide such as Pae, Pookie, Tui, or Nut explains local culture, Buddhism, and the temple, with the cable car included.

“Great to see the village with authentic population. The guide had an interesting perspective about Buddhism.”

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Chiang Mai: Long Neck Village & Chiang Rai’s Iconic Temples - The road from Chiang Mai to Mae Kajan Hot Springs
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Rai Day Trips, Tour Reviews

Chiang Mai: Long Neck Village & Chiang Rai’s Iconic Temples

5.Long Neck Village & Chiang Rai’s Iconic Temples

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 338 reviews · from $55

Travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with a Thai and English-speaking guide such as Andy, MM, Maxi, Mit, or Yoyo. Visit Mae Kajan Hot Springs, the White Temple, Black House, Blue Temple, and Karen Long Neck Village. Lunch, transport, entrance fees, water, and fruit are included.

“Blue and white temples are beautiful and worth to see. Also long neck women are friendly and you can take picture with them. I give 4 stars because our guide was drinking beer all trip and was drunk. He was making not funny jokes about my partner’s weight. At the end he forgot to take us to our hotel - we were like few minutes from it but he didn’t inform the driver. I had to tell them about that, we turned to our hotel but wasted about 30 min for that. The seats in bus are not comfortable, should be better for such long trip (about 3 hours driving…”

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Chiang Dao Cave & 5 Hill Tribe villages - Meeting the five hill tribe cultures at Ban Huai I-Ko
Chiang Dao Cave Day Trips, Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Tour Reviews

Chiang Dao Cave & 5 Hill Tribe villages

6.Chiang Dao Cave & 5 Hill Tribe villages

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 181 reviews · from $52

Travel from Chiang Mai to Ban Huai I-Ko, where Akha, Meo, Lisu, Karen, and Palong cultures are presented with local guides. Visit Bai Orchid and Butterfly Farm, then enter Chiang Dao Cave by lantern, with narrow passages that require crawling. Guides such as Tik, Jane, Saman, and Amy are noted for strong local knowledge.

“The day trip is a really nice tour, it was interesting to see what life is like outside the big city of Chiang Mai and of course the cave is breathtaking. We would especially like to thank our guide Saman. He has an incredible knowledge of plants, customs and history. Last but not least, we also laughed a lot with him, great sense of humour.”

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Chang Mai: Doi Inthanon Day Tour w/Waterfalls & Hilltribes - Starting at Baan Meesuk and heading into the hills
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Doi Inthanon Day Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

Chang Mai: Doi Inthanon Day Tour w/Waterfalls & Hilltribes

7.Chang Mai: Doi Inthanon Day Tour w/Waterfalls & Hilltribes

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 145 reviews · 1 day · from $61

Travel in a small group of up to 12 from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon National Park. Walk the Ang Ka trail, visit two pagodas and waterfalls, browse a Hmong market, eat lunch, and taste coffee at a White Karen plantation. Guides such as Tae, Paul, and Mr Don are praised for friendly care.

“Dum was a phenomenal guide, so thoughtful and knowledgeable. He knew all the perfect photo spots and made it a very enjoyable trip!”

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4 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall Tour - Visiting the Karen Long Neck Village
Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary Visits, Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Mai Sticky Waterfall Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

4 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall Tour

8.4 in 1 Elephants Long Neck Rafting and Sticky Waterfall Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · from $88

Spend about 10 hours with guides such as Yoong and Mr. K exploring Chiang Mai’s Sticky Waterfall, feeding and bathing elephants at an ethical sanctuary, visiting a Karen Long Neck Village, and choosing white-water or bamboo rafting. Lunch, transport, water, fees, and local insurance are included.

“This was easily the best tour I have taken in more than 10 years travelling through South East Asia. Absolutely fantastic guide (Mr K), a small group and really fun activities. The elephant sanctuary was great and the elephants treated very well. The rafting was a blast, as was the Sticky Waterfall. I would highly recommend this tour, especially with Mr. K. 🙂”

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Chiang Rai Full Day Tour with Boat Trip and Longneck Village - Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, is the star of the day
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Rai Day Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Full-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours

Chiang Rai Full Day Tour with Boat Trip and Longneck Village

9.Chiang Rai Full Day Tour with Boat Trip and Longneck Village

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 112 reviews · from $55

Spend 13 to 14 hours traveling from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by air-conditioned minivan. Visit the White Temple, Black House, Blue Temple, Karen Longneck Village, Mae Khachan Hot Spring, and Golden Triangle, with lunch, a guide, and a short boat ride included.

“The long neck tribe was the most memorable and amazing experience! The temples were interesting, the boat trip also a load of fun! Our tour guide Apple was the best! My only suggestion would be to ditch the black museum to make the day not as long. As nice as it was, I felt it a little unnecessary.”

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Half Day - Small Group - Doi Suthep Temple and Hmong Village Tour - Reaching Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Mai Temple Tours, Doi Suthep Temple Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Half Day – Small Group – Doi Suthep Temple and Hmong Village Tour

10.Half Day – Small Group – Doi Suthep Temple and Hmong Village Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · from $37

Spend four hours visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Doi Pui Hmong Hill Tribe Village with an English-speaking guide. Expect temple views, Buddhist and northern Thai culture, a small museum, souvenir stalls, and air-conditioned transport. Pickup covers central Chiang Mai hotels.

“The tour leader didn't contact my friend in advance as usually other tour operators did and I didn't know there were two names of 'Come On' in Chiang mai”

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From Chiang Mai: Chiang Dao Cave & 5 Hill Tribe Villages - Five villages, five names, and a broad cultural snapshot
Chiang Dao Cave Day Trips, Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Tour Reviews

From Chiang Mai: Chiang Dao Cave & 5 Hill Tribe Villages

11.Chiang Dao Cave & 5 Hill Tribe Villages

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 75 reviews · 8 hours · from $51

Travel from Chiang Mai with an English-speaking guide such as Tik, Maggie, or Maki to visit five hill tribe communities, Chiang Dao Cave and Temple, an orchid farm, and a butterfly farm. Expect a full day, a cave crawl through two narrow passages, and local guides who add cultural context.

“My trip was fantastic I had enjoyed a lot, Mr Tikky explained everything very nicely. I am giving rating to Mr. Tikky my tour guide and driver 10/10 . highly recommended this tour and Mr. Tikky.”

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Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep and Hmong Village Half-Day Tour - The drive up Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Mai Temple Tours, Doi Suthep Temple Tours, Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours

Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep and Hmong Village Half-Day Tour

12.Doi Suthep and Hmong Village Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 74 reviews · 4 hours · from $28

You’ll visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, ride or climb to its mountaintop sanctuary, then walk through a Hmong village with an English or Thai-speaking guide. Hotel pickup covers Chiang Mai’s Old Town and Nimman area, with air-conditioned transport and admission included.

“Quick but great tour if your not wanting to spend all day seeing temples”

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Chiang Rai Day Tour from Chiang Mai + The Long Neck Hill Tribe With Boat - The Golden Triangle adds borders and a short boat ride
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Rai Day Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Chiang Rai Day Tour from Chiang Mai + The Long Neck Hill Tribe With Boat

13.Chiang Rai Day Tour from Chiang Mai + The Long Neck Hill Tribe With Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 74 reviews · from $79

Travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai in a small, air-conditioned group of up to 15 people. Visit the White and Blue Temples, Black House Museum, Mae Khachan Hot Spring, Long Neck Karen Village, and Golden Triangle, including a 20-minute boat trip toward Laos.

“A very nice guide but the program is too much for a day.. we had to speed up at everything and we came back late around 11pm at Chiang Mai. A very long day. The places we visited are nice”

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Online Thai and Akha Cooking Class - Thai food with an Akha connection
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Mai Thai Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes, Tour Reviews, Workshops

Online Thai and Akha Cooking Class

14.Online Thai and Akha Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · from $34

Join Niti or Kiti from Thai Akha Kitchen for a private 90-minute online cooking class from your own kitchen. You will learn Thai techniques, explore Akha food culture, receive tailored advice, and get a full-color digital cookbook. Ingredients and equipment are not included.

“What a fun and informative cooking class! Niti was a wonderful teacher, was patient, and friendly. Would love to do another class soon. We did thus with a group of friends and everyone had a great time. Thank you, Niti, for taking us to Thailand from the comfort of our homes!”

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Long Neck Village, Silver Temple & Chiang Mai Top Cultural Sites - Wat Chedi Luang and Chiang Mai’s great stupa
Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours, Chiang Mai Temple Tours, Tour Reviews

Long Neck Village, Silver Temple & Chiang Mai Top Cultural Sites

15.Long Neck Village, Silver Temple & Chiang Mai Top Cultural Sites

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · from $22Best value

See Wat Sri Suphan, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Phra Singh, then meet the Karen Padaung community on a four-hour Chiang Mai tour. You travel by open-sided red songtaew with an English-speaking guide, such as Maggie, and a small group of up to 10 people.

“Have to rush through sites to get to all three temples. Walking was uneven for seniors. Lots of things to buy. Tour guide was knowledgeable and communicated well.”

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New in Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Village Tours

★ 5.0Hmong Village, Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat TrekFrom $573 reviews
★ 4.2Half day Doi Suthep and Meo VillageFrom $345 reviews
★ 4.4Elephant Sanctuary Local Hill Tribe CaretakersFrom $5118 reviews
★ 4.7Doi Suthep Temple & Hmong Hill Tribe CultureFrom $254 reviews
★ 4.6Doi Suthep Temple & Hmong Village TourFrom $2215 reviews
★ 4.8Chiang Rai Temples and Long-Neck Karen VillageFrom $6112 reviews

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Explore Chiang Mai

Pick a mountain, a market or a kitchen.

Temples

Wats in the Old CityDoi SuthepWhite & Blue TemplesMonk ChatThe Monk Trail

In the hills

Doi InthanonBua Thong FallsJungle TreksChiang DaoMae Kampong

Food and markets

Cooking ClassesStreet FoodMarketsFood & DrinkFarm Visits

Out and about

Elephant CampsCyclingZiplinesWhite WaterTuk-Tuk Runs