Best Activities & Tours in Chiang Mai
132 places found in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is Thailand's activity capital for cultural experiences. Ethical elephant encounters at sanctuaries north of the city — where you can feed, bathe, and walk alongside rescued elephants without riding — are the most sought-after experience in northern Thailand. Book at least a week ahead in high season. Cooking classes are the second essential activity: Chiang Mai's cuisine is distinct from Bangkok's, and learning to make khao soi and sai oua is a more meaningful souvenir than any market trinket.
Beyond these highlights, the city offers zip-lining through jungle canopy at Flight of the Gibbon, white-water rafting on the Mae Taeng River, mountain biking down Doi Inthanon (Thailand's highest peak), and guided night safaris at the Chiang Mai Night Safari. Closer to town, a guided Old City cycling tour covers 30+ temples in a single morning at a human pace.
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Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai
No riding, no tricks: a day of feeding and mud with rescued elephants in the Mae Wang hills.
Eco Tours Chiang Mai
Eco-focused tour operator in Chiang Mai offering responsible travel experiences in northern Thailand.
Wonderful Chiang Mai Travel
A personal tour agency on Tha Phae Road, connecting travellers with curated northern Thailand experiences.
CHIANG MAI J.M. CULTURE TOUR
A highly regarded cultural tour operator in Chiang Mai's historic old city, open daily from early morning.
Chiangmai Smiley Tour
A centrally located Chiang Mai tour operator open daily with long hours for flexible booking.
Chiang Mai Hill-tribe Coffee Tour, Chiang Mai sustainable Tour.
Immersive full-day coffee farm tours into Chiang Mai's hill-tribe communities, blending culture and sustainability.
BK Elephant Thailand
Ethical elephant sanctuary in central Chiang Mai offering hands-on rescue animal experiences.
ELEPHANT ECO TRAILS
An ethical elephant tour operator in Chiang Mai offering immersive jungle expeditions focused on observation and conservation.
POPCORN Chiangmai Tour
A small local outfit for northern Thailand day trips, worth a message before you fly in.
Passionfood Thai Cooking School Chiang Mai
A Northern Thai cooking class that teaches regional recipes, not the same four dishes everyone else cooks.
Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School
A market walk, a garden kitchen outside the city, and four courses you actually cook yourself.
Thai Akha Kitchen - Chiang Mai
Hands-on Akha hill tribe cooking classes with market tours, hotel pickup, and a perfect 5-star reputation.
Thai Farm Cooking School
A full day that starts at a market and ends on a farm with four dishes you picked yourself.
Sukjai Home Cooking School
A hands-on Thai cooking school in central Chiang Mai teaching authentic recipes and techniques with experienced local cooks.
Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School
Market trip, farm tour and five or six dishes you cook yourself, and 4.5 hours goes faster than you'd think.
Tom Yum Thai Cooking School
Hands-on Thai cooking classes in Chiang Mai, featuring market visits and home-style instruction seven days a week.
Basil Cookery School
A hands-on Thai cooking school in central Chiang Mai, led by dedicated instructors with small, personalised classes.
We Cook Thai Home Garden Cooking School
Intimate evening cooking school in Chiang Mai where host Mam guides small groups through authentic Thai cuisine.
Thai Kitchen Cookery Centre
Hands-on Thai cooking classes in central Chiang Mai, from 2-hour express sessions to full-day courses.
Thai Cottage Home Cookery School
A highly regarded Chiang Mai cooking school offering hands-on Thai cuisine classes in an intimate cottage setting.
A lot of Thai : Home Cooking Class
A hands-on Thai home cooking class in Chiang Mai teaching authentic recipes in a welcoming, intimate setting.
Aromdii Cookery School
A highly regarded Chiang Mai cooking school offering market visits and hands-on Thai cuisine classes daily.
Daddy's Thai Cooking School
A hands-on Thai cooking school in Chiang Mai offering market tours, hotel pickup, and guided cooking classes.
Host Kitchen thai cookery school
A hands-on Thai cookery school in Chiang Mai where guests learn to prepare authentic local dishes.
All 132 activities & tours in Chiang Mai
- 50FLY!® Family Entertainment Center Chiang Mai
- A lot of Thai : Home Cooking Class
- All Chiang Mai Tours
- Ang Ka Nature Trail
- Aromdii Cookery School
- Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School
- BaanThai Cookery School
- Bamboo elephant family care
- Ban Rabiang Na Pa Bong Piang
- Basil Cookery School
- BK Elephant Thailand
- Blue Tao Elephant Village
- Buatong Waterfall
- Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park
- Chae Son National Park
- Chaloem Phra Kiat Pavilion Viewpoint
- Chansom Memorial Bridge (Khua Khaek)
- Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary
- Chiang Mai Footsteps Travel
- Chiang Mai Hill-tribe Coffee Tour, Chiang Mai sustainable Tour.
- CHIANG MAI J.M. CULTURE TOUR
- Chiang Mai Mountain Sanctuary tours (Elephant)
- Chiang Mai Night Safari
- Chiang Mai Thailand Tour Center
- Chiang Mai Trekking by Piroon & Baan Nantaya Guesthouse
- Chiang Mai Zoo
- Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium
- Chiangmai Smiley Tour
- Chiangmai Tours by Sightseeing Chiang Mai
- Co van Kessel - Chiang Mai Bicycle Tours
- Daddy's Thai Cooking School
- Doi In Elephant Sanctuary
- Doi Inthanon National Park
- Doi Khun Tan National Park
- Doi Pui Viewpoint
- Doi Saket Hot Spring
- Doi Suthep-Pui National Park
- Eco Tours Chiang Mai
- ELEPHANT ECO TRAILS
- Elephant Freedom Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai
- Elephant Freedom Project, Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai
- Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai
- Elephant Nature Park
- Elephant Parade House
- Elephant Pride Sanctuary
- Elephant Sanctuary Thailand
- Ethical elephant sanctuary chiangmai by Big Boy
- Golden Tower Observation Deck
- Grand Canyon Water Park
- Grandma's Home Cooking School
- Hidden Village Chiang Mai
- Hongthong Muay Thai
- Host Kitchen thai cookery school
- Huai Tueng Thao
- Huay Keaw Waterfall
- Hug Elephant Sanctuary
- Hug Me On Tour
- Into the Wild Elephant Camp
- JAO Ping River Cruise
- Joy Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai
- Jungle Adventure Park
- Kanta Elephant Sanctuary
- Karen Tribe Native Elephant Chiang Mai
- Khroua Baan Thai
- Khua Lek (Iron Bridge)
- Khua Si Wiang Phing Bridge
- Khun Chae National Park
- Khun Khan National Park
- Living Green Elephant Sanctuary (Chiang Mai)
- Mae Kampong Waterfall
- Mae Kha Rakaeng Bridge
- Mae Klang Waterfall
- Mae Ping River Cruise
- Mae Sa Waterfall
- Mae Sap Cave
- Mae Takhrai National Park
- Mae Wang waterfall
- Mae Ya Waterfall
- Maerim Elephant Sanctuary
- Mama noi Thai Cookery School
- Manop Gym
- Maya Square
- Mok Fa Waterfall
- Mon Pha Dham Viewpoint
- Montha Than Waterfall Trailhead
- Montha Than Waterfall Visitor Centre
- My Chiang Mai Tour
- Nam Phu Chet Si
- Nawarat Bridge
- Ob Khan National Park
- Pa Bong Piang
- Passionfood Thai Cooking School Chiang Mai
- Pha Dok Sieo Nature Trail
- Phoenix Adventure Park
- PON ELEPHANT THAILAND
- Pong Kwao Hot Springs
- Pong Yang Jungle Coaster & Zipline
- POPCORN Chiangmai Tour
- Sabai Tour Chiang Mai
- Samsen Villa
- San Kamphaeng Hot Springs
- Santai Muay Thai
- Siam Home Cooking Class
- Siriphum Waterfall
- Sirithan Waterfall
- Sit Thaharnaek
- Skyline Adventure
- Snowbuddy Winterland Chiang Mai Zoo
- Sukjai Home Cooking School
- Team Quest Thailand
- Thai Akha Kitchen - Chiang Mai
- Thai Cottage Home Cookery School
- Thai Farm Cooking School
- Thai Kitchen Cookery Centre
- Thailand Mountain Trail
- The Big Old Tree
- The Chiangmai Experience Travel
- Tom Yum Thai Cooking School
- Toto's Elephant Sanctuary
- Touring Center
- Tube Trek Waterpark
- Viewpoint
- Wachirathan Waterfall
- Wang Bua Ban Pha Ngoep
- We Cook Thai Home Garden Cooking School
- Wheat Fields Samoeng Rice Research Center
- Wild Adventures Chiang Mai
- Wonderful Chiang Mai Travel
- Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School
- Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School & Organic Farm
- Zipline Adventure
- ZIPLINE MAEWANG ADVENTURE
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai is best?
Elephant Nature Park (founded by Lek Chailert) is the most established ethical sanctuary — full-day visits from 2,500 THB. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and Ran-Tong Save and Rescue Centre are also well-regarded. All three prohibit riding. Book directly with the sanctuary to avoid commission fees from middlemen.
Are Chiang Mai cooking classes worth it?
Absolutely. A half-day class (typically 1,000-1,500 THB including market tour) teaches 4-6 dishes you'll actually cook at home. Thai Farm Cooking School is popular for its organic garden setting. Asia Scenic and Zabb E Lee are consistently top-rated for Old City locations and small class sizes.
What day trips can I do from Chiang Mai?
Doi Inthanon National Park (Thailand's highest peak, waterfalls, hill tribe villages — 1.5 hours away) is the best day trip. Chiang Rai (White Temple, Blue Temple — 3 hours) is worth an overnight. Mae Hong Son loop (3-5 days by motorbike or bus) is Thailand's most scenic road trip.