Last updated on April 13th, 2024 at 10:30 pm
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This blog post contains my list of the best day trips from Chiang Mai. They are all available as group day tours!
Earlier this year I had the chance to visit Thailand for the first time. One of my favourite destinations I visited in Thailand was Chiang Mai. The bustling city and surrounding jungles made for some amazing adventures. I didn’t want to rent a car there (the roads in Thailand were a bit crazier than I’m used to!). So I relied on group tours to see the surrounding area. Read on to see my list of the best day trips from Chiang Mai!
1. Doi Inthanon National Park
One of my favourite day trips from Chiang Mai was to Doi Inthanon National Park. I went on a group tour that picked us up from our hotel, and took us to explore the park. The whole tour was about 9 hours long. It took us to to some beautiful waterfalls, a village, and some of the coolest temples I’ve seen.
Visiting a traditional village of a Karen tribe on this tour was one of the coolest experiences I had in Thailand. We got to learn about their daily life, and sample some of their fresh coffee and tea! We also visited a few gorgeous waterfalls. The highlight was the beautiful pagodas on the mountain summit. Such a cool place to explore! In my opinion, this is the best day trip from Chiang Mai.
2. Chiang Rai and the White Temple
Another great day tour I took from Chiang Mai was a tour to Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai is home to the famous White Temple, an absolutely stunning modern temple. In my opinion, this is a must-see on any trip to Thailand. The tour also stopped at the Opium Museum, a unique museum portraying the history of opium usage. The final activity on this tour was a boat trip to the Golden Triangle, which is the border between Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Such a unique and memorable exprience!
This tour also offered hotel pick-up, and lasted about 13 hours. A very long day, but totally worth it!
3. Elephant Nature Park
My absolute favourite day trip from Chiang Mai was to Elephant Nature Park. I knew I wanted to visit an elephant sanctuary while I was in Thailand, but I had hesitations. I’ve heard that a lot of the elephant sanctuaries do not treat the animals well, and I did not want to support a sanctuary that was not ethical. Elephant Nature Park seemed to be the perfect spot to go.
Everything I read online said they treat their animals well, and after visiting the park, I believe it! Unlike many sanctuaries, you can’t ride the elephants, or even bathe with them. Most of the elephants are in large enclosures where you can just observe them from a distance. There were a few opportunities to get up close though, as well as a raised platform from which you could feed the elephants fruit!
Elephant Nature Park offers day tours from Chiang Mai that can be booked directly through their site- including hotel pick up!
I hope you enjoyed this list of the best day tours from Chiang Mai! There were lots of other options available as well, including cooking classes, mountain biking, and other amazing temples. There really is something for everyone!
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