Best Activities & Tours in Chiang Mai

152 places found in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is Thailand's activity capital for cultural experiences. Watching rescued elephants at the ethical sanctuaries around the city, with no riding and, at the strictest ones, no bathing or touching, is the most sought-after experience in northern Thailand.

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Top Activities & Tours Rankings

The 12 Best Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai, Ranked The 13 Best Muay Thai Gyms in Chiang Mai, Ranked The 6 Best Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai The 9 Best Activities & Tours in Chiang Mai, Ranked Off-the-Beaten-Path Activities in Thailand The 13 Best Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand The 14 Best Activities & Tours in Thailand, Ranked

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Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai

4.6(2,560)$$$$

119/10 Tha Phae Road, Tambon Chang Khlan, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

No riding and no tricks, just a day of feeding and mud with rescued elephants in the Mae Wang hills.

Eco Tours Chiang Mai

5.0(37)

Soi Wua Lai 2, Tambon Hai Ya, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Eco-focused tour operator in Chiang Mai offering responsible travel experiences in northern Thailand.

Wonderful Chiang Mai Travel

5.0(240)

255 Tha Phae Road, Tambon Chang Khlan, เมือง Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

A personal tour agency on Tha Phae Road, connecting travelers with curated northern Thailand experiences.

CHIANG MAI J.M. CULTURE TOUR

5.0(81)

3 Soi Ratchamanka 9, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

A highly regarded cultural tour operator in Chiang Mai's historic old city, open daily from early morning.

Chiangmai Smiley Tour

5.0(187)

170 Prapokklao Road, Tambon Si Phum, เมือง Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

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.

5.0(189)

249 1 soi 12ก Tambon Chang Khlan, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Immersive full-day coffee farm tours into Chiang Mai's hill-tribe communities, blending culture and sustainability.

Where to stay

Best Hotels in Chiang Mai

BK Elephant Thailand

5.0(348)

77/1 Kotchasarn Rd, ช้างคลาน Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Ethical elephant sanctuary in central Chiang Mai offering hands-on rescue animal experiences.

Hidden Gem

ELEPHANT ECO TRAILS

5.0(145)

9, 8 Wua Lai Rd, Tambon Hai Ya, Mueang, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

An ethical elephant tour operator in Chiang Mai offering immersive jungle expeditions focused on observation and conservation.

POPCORN Chiangmai Tour

5.0(38)

61 21 Wiang Ping Road, Tambon Chang Khlan, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

A small local outfit for northern Thailand day trips, worth a message before you fly in.

Passionfood Thai Cooking School Chiang Mai

5.0(2,220)

7 Singharat Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Sriphoom, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

A Northern Thai cooking class that teaches regional recipes, not the same four dishes everyone else cooks.

Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School

5.0(4,417)

ตลาดสมเพชร Somphet Market(Mingmuang Market 7 Mun Mueang Rd, Tambon Si Phum, เมือง Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

A market walk, then a farm kitchen in Saraphi where you cook four dishes and a curry paste. Morning or evening, ฿1,400 with pickup.

Thai Akha Kitchen - Chiang Mai

5.0(743)

14, 10 Soi Rat Chiang Saen 2, Tambon Hai Ya, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand

Akha hill-tribe and Thai dishes, ten plus a curry paste, in a kitchen south of the Old City. Morning ฿1,400 with the market, evening ฿1,300.

Thai Farm Cooking School

5.0(1,646)

38 Mun Mueang Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

A market stop, then an organic farm in San Sai where you choose every dish. Half days ฿1,200, the full day ฿1,500, with pickup.

Hidden Gem

Sukjai Home Cooking School

5.0(169)

โครงการ @ราชดำเนินพลาซ่า เลขที่ 8 Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

A hands-on Thai cooking school in central Chiang Mai teaching authentic recipes and techniques with experienced local cooks.

Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School

5.0(4,114)

31 Rachadamnoen Rd Soi 5, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

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

5.0(243)

1, 4 soi 12, Tambon Chang Khlan, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Hands-on Thai cooking classes in Chiang Mai, featuring market visits and home-style instruction seven days a week.

Basil Cookery School

5.0(295)

381 witchayanon road, Tambon Chang Moi, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand

A hands-on Thai cooking school in central Chiang Mai, led by dedicated instructors with small, personalized classes.

Hidden Gem

We Cook Thai Home Garden Cooking School

5.0(110)

22/1 Soi 8, Tambon Wat Ket, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand

Intimate evening cooking school in Chiang Mai where host Mam guides small groups through authentic Thai cuisine.

Hidden Gem

Thai Kitchen Cookery Centre

5.0(148)

32 Loikhro Rd Tambon Chang Khlan, Changklan Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Hands-on Thai cooking classes in central Chiang Mai, from 2-hour express sessions to full-day courses.

Thai Cottage Home Cookery School

5.0(420)

57 Sookasam Rd, Tambon Chang Phueak, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

A highly regarded Chiang Mai cooking school offering hands-on Thai cuisine classes in an intimate cottage setting.

Hidden Gem

A lot of Thai : Home Cooking Class

5.0(88)

Soi9, 165 Thanon Chiang Mai-Lamphun, Tambon Nong Hoi, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand

A hands-on Thai home cooking class in Chiang Mai teaching authentic recipes in a welcoming, intimate setting.

Aromdii Cookery School

5.0(252)

6/2 ถ.ศรีปิงเมือง ซ.1 ก Tambon Chang Khlan, เมือง Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

A highly regarded Chiang Mai cooking school offering market visits and hands-on Thai cuisine classes daily.

Hidden Gem

Daddy's Thai Cooking School

5.0(74)

4 4 Thanon Rat Chiang Saen, Tambon Hai Ya, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

A hands-on Thai cooking school in Chiang Mai offering market tours, hotel pickup, and guided cooking classes.

Host Kitchen thai cookery school

5.0(25)

112 5 Thanon Rat Chiang Saen, Tambon Hai Ya, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

A hands-on Thai cooking school in Chiang Mai where guests learn to prepare authentic local dishes.

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About activities & tours in Chiang Mai

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.

All 152 activities & tours in Chiang Mai

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai is best?

Elephant Nature Park, founded by Lek Chailert in the Mae Taeng valley, is the one every welfare list names, with half days from ฿2,500 and full days at ฿3,500. For a stricter hands-off visit, BEES and Kindred Spirit in Mae Chaem are overnight stays where you watch the elephants without touching them, and ChangChill in the Mae Wang hills is the observation-only day trip. Book directly with the sanctuary to avoid resellers.

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 — about 2 hours away) is the best day trip. Chiang Rai (White Temple, Blue Temple — about 3.5 hours) is worth an overnight. Mae Hong Son loop (3-5 days by motorbike or bus) is Thailand's most scenic road trip.