Top Chiang Mai Half-day Tours

This half-day Chiang Mai temple tour explores the most famous and picturesque of the city’s 36 Buddhist Wats, the perfect introduction to Northern Thailand’s cultural and religious capital. Experience Chiang Mai’s most visually stunning Buddhist temples, including the gorgeous 600-year-old Wat Phrathat Doi Sutep atop the 5,300-foot (1,615 meter) Doi Suthep Peak, plus plenty of great photo-ops. The tour includes the services of a guide, entrance fees, air-conditioned transport and hotel pick-up and drop-off from central Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai has an abundance of beautiful and historic Buddhist temples, and this 3.5-hour tour takes you to some of the most interesting and revered in Thailand’s second largest city. Climb the staircase to the mountain temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and visit Wat Chedi Luang, among others. Upgrade your tour for a private guide.

Beat the crowds and see a spectacular sunrise from one of Chiang Mai’s highest points during an early-morning tour to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This unique tour offers you the chance to experience an alms-giving ceremony in the early morning and explore the famous temple without daytime crowds. Plus, a former-monk guide provides insight into Thai culture and the Buddhist religion.

This incredible tour combines the best of outdoor activities with a hike and mountain bike descent in Doi Suthep National Park. Trek to the top of the summit near a Hmong village, then cruise at high speeds towards Lake Huay Tueng Thao on your bike. This tour from Chiang Mai is ideal for fit adrenaline junkies and nature lovers alike. It includes round-trip hotel transfers, water, two meals, equipment, and an expert guide.

Once the sun sets, Chiang Mai takes on a completely different character. See the city magically illuminated on an evening tour that reveals two of Chiang Mai’s most-popular temples—Wat Umong and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep—at night. Visiting the temples at night means that you’ll benefit from cooler temperatures and less crowds.

Get a taste for the unique flavors of Thai and ‘Akha’ cooking during this 6-hour cooking class in Chiang Mai. Discover the culture and cuisine of the Akha, an indigenous hill tribe of Southeast Asia, with the help of your native host. You’ll visit the local market to shop for ingredients (morning class only), and learn to prepare 11 different dishes. A souvenir cook book from your session is also included.

Taste your way around Chiang Mai, on this half-day foodie tour. Whether you’re looking to start the day off right or bring your day in Chiang Mai to a close, this tour combines an authentic glimpse into local culinary culture with the chance to try delicious local specialties. From mango sticky rice to tapioca dumplings, this tour highlights a side of Thai cuisine that’s often absent from menus outside of the country.

Head out to Doi Inthanon National Park for a 2-hour trekking tour with a professional guide by your side. You'll hike the Pha Dok Siaw trail, ideal for birdwatching, with a stop to swim in a waterfall along the way. You'll also stop by the Phra Maha Dhatu Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri Pagodas, at the top of Thailand's highest peak. You'll also visit a Karen village and a Hmong market.

Explore Chiang Mai’s colorful night markets with a local on an evening food tour of the city on foot and by songthaew. Bring an appetite for this small-group Chaing Mai food tour, which includes samples of eight market foods, with pickup and drop-off at your Chiang Mai hotel.

Explore Doi Inthanon National Park on a full-day, private trip from Chiang Mai, then spend the day visiting spectacular waterfalls, browsing local handicrafts, summiting Thailand's tallest peak, and hiking through a landscape of paddy fields and coffee farms. Enjoy the flexibility of a personal driver/guide throughout the day, which includes pickup and drop-off at your Chiang Mai hotel, all transport by climate-controlled vehicle, and lunch, the perfect way to discover Chiang Mai's remarkable mountain scenery.

With literally hundreds of temples to choose from, you could spend weeks exploring Chiang Mai. Cut to the chase in just a morning (or an afternoon) on this guided door-to-door tour of three signature temples. Start at mountaintop Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, with sweeping views across the city; head to 14th-century Wat Suan Dok, with its bell-shaped stupa; finish at Wat Chedi Luang, once home to the Emerald Buddha.

Hike in Doi Inthanon National Park, visit a Karen village and a Hmong Market, and see the Twin (King and Queen) Pagodas with this small-group tour from Chiang Mai. You'll explore with a local guide and a small group of fellow travelers, making stops to take in views, visit a market, check out waterfalls, and dine on an included lunch of Thai fare.

Take a day trip to Chiang Rai and see the modern architectural marvel of Wat Rong Khun (White Temple). Explore the ancient royal city of Chiang Saen, take a long-tail boat ride on the Khong River, and explore the Golden Triangle. Your full-day itinerary includes a restaurant lunch plus round-trip hotel transport from Chiang Mai. Numbers are limited to a maximum of nine people to ensure a small-group experience with your professional guide.

Take in fantastic views over the countryside around Chiang Mai with this sunrise hot air balloon experience. You'll head out to a launchpad outside of town, where you'll board a shared hot air balloon for your 50- to 60-minute morning flight. After you land, you'll join your fellow passengers for a champagne breakfast before returning to your Chiang Mai hotel.

Ascend to 3,500 feet (1,069m) without breaking a sweat on a half-day tour that takes you to the mountaintop Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple and Phu Ping Palace. An early start means you avoid the crowds that congregate around midday, while exploring with a guide means you benefit from important social and historical context.

Treat yourself to a luxurious day in Chiang Mai that starts with a sunrise hot air balloon flight, and ends with a spa massage set in a tropical garden. You’ll lift off above a landscape of rice paddies and forests, get aerial views of the Chiang Mai countryside, then touch back down for a Champagne toast and breakfast buffet. Next, head to a spa in historic Chiang Mai for a spa consultation, massage, and lunch in the spa’s café. To ensure personal service, group size is limited to 12 people.

See cultural and natural sights of northern Thailand on this private full-day tour to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a temple located near the top of Mt. Suthep, and Bau Thong Waterfalls. This day trip provides the chance to visit one of Thailand's most sacred sites, enjoy impressive scenery, and learn about a local culture at Karen Long Neck Village. Hotel pickup and drop-off and lunch at an orchid farm are included.

If you’ve only got limited time in northern Thailand, opt for an attraction-packed tour that reveals the best of Chiang Rai in just one day. Departing from Chiang Mai, you’ll be transported between the iconic White Temple and the Golden Triangle in air-conditioned comfort. Plus, opting for a guide tours means that you’ll spend less time navigating and more time focusing on the spectacular scenery of Chiang Rai.

Learn to cook an authentic Thai meal with a half- or full-day cooking class that includes pickup and drop-off at your Chiang Mai hotel. Shop for ingredients at a local market, then roll up your sleeves to cook a meal of classic Thai dishes. An expert cooking instructor will walk you through each step, and you’ll get to enjoy the meal you’ve prepared at the end of the lesson. Both morning and evening classes are available.

See the highlights of Chiang Mai with the benefit of your own private guide who shows you around this vibrant city in northern Thailand. Go through the old city center and beyond to explore glittering temples, bustling markets, and museums that cover architecture and culture. Entrance tickets are included, along with light refreshments.

Discover the natural wonders of the Chiang Dao Valley on an action-packed full-day adventure from Chiang Mai. Paddle along the Mae Ping River on a kayaking excursion, admire the wild scenery of the Chiang Dao Jungle, then venture underground to explore the Buddhist shrines of Chiang Dao Cave.

Take a gentle boat ride on the Mai Ping River and see a different side of Chiang Mai. This half-day guided excursion ends at a local farm where traditional methods are used to make your bowl of 'khao soi' noodles for lunch. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

3 Best Experiences at an Amazing Price! 1. Meet adorable elephants at Meaklang Elephant Sky Camp (Living Green Foundation), an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary with a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor. The elephants are taken care of very well. You will closely observe the adorable creatures. Don't forget to bring spare clothes and a towel if you like to join the elephant bathing activity. 2. Visit Doi Inthanon, go to the highest point of Thailand, see beautiful King and Queen pagodas. Explore the local Hmong (a hill tribe) village. 3. Finish the tour with Kew Mae Pan nature trail. A.k.a. Heaven trail due to its stunning beauty. **During June - October, Kew Mae Pan is closed to visitors. We will trek at Pha Dok Siew instead.**

Visit Doi Inthanon National Park, home to Thailand's highest mountain, on this day trip from Chiang Mai. Stop for photo ops at the peak, check out Ang Ka Nature Trail to enjoy the area's lush landscape, visit the Twin Pagodas, see the Wachirathan Waterfall, visit the Karen Hill Tribe village and more. Lunch, entrance fees, and hotel transport are included.