Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai Discovery - 8 days

tour fromChiang Rai, Thailandtour finishChiang Mai, Thailand
From $720 per person
  • Duration Duration: 8 days
  • Start Start: Chiang Rai, Thailand
  • Finish Finish: Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Tour type Tour type: Private tour
  • Meals Meals: 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches

This 8-day journey through Northern Thailand takes you from the tranquil charm of Chiang Rai to the cultural heart of Chiang Mai. Discover magnificent temples, vibrant markets, and hill tribe villages, while cruising along scenic rivers and exploring lush national parks. Enjoy unique experiences such as a Thai cooking class, trekking in Doi Inthanon, and visiting the legendary Golden Triangle where three countries meet. With a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, this itinerary offers an unforgettable adventure.

Tour Highlights

  • Explore Chiang Rai’s cultural treasures, including Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Phra Singh, and the Black House (Baan Dam).
  • Cruise along the Mae Kok and Mekong Rivers, with visits to Karen villages and the Golden Triangle.
  • Discover Mae Salong’s tea plantations, Akha and Padong Karen hill tribe communities, and the stunning Chiang Dao Cave.
  • Wander Chiang Mai’s Old Town temples, bustling Warorot Market, and the sacred Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
  • Join a hands-on Thai cooking class at an organic farm and enjoy a Mae Ping River cruise.
  • Trek through Doi Inthanon National Park with waterfalls, rice terraces, and twin royal pagodas.
  • Travel styleTravel style: Cultural & Classic
  • Tour guideYour guide: English speaking
  • MealsMeals: 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches
  • Tour typeTour type: Private tour
You will visit

You will visit

Chiang Rai - Mae Kok river (B) - Mae Salong - Chiang Saen - Thaton - Chiang Mai - Doi Suthep - Thai Farm Cooking - Doi Inthanon

Route map

Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai Discovery - 8 days
Click to enlarge

Itinerary

info B(breakfast), L(lunch), D(dinner)

Day 1: Chiang Rai arrival (-)

Arrival in Chiang Rai. Free time to stroll around the city.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Rai
Meals: None
Private car & tour guide

Day 2: Chiang Rai & Mae Kok River (B)

After breakfast, visit the local market to discover regional products. Continue to the world-famous Wat Phra Kaew, where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined, and Wat Phra Singh, home to one of Thailand’s most beautiful Buddha images.

A short drive takes you to the Black House (Baan Dam), a unique creation of national artist Thawan Duchanee. Part art studio, part museum, and part home, Baan Dam is an eclectic mix of traditional northern Thai buildings and outlandish modern designs.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise along the Mae Kok River to visit a Karen village before returning to Chiang Rai.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Rai
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

Day 3: Chiang Rai – Mae Salong – Chiang Saen (B)

After breakfast, depart for the northern highlands, a wooded and mountainous area. Travel to Mae Salong, a region of rolling green hills blanketed with tea plantations. Visit one of the plantations to taste the locally grown tea.

Continue to the Akha minority village of Loyo, then visit the Mae Fah Luang Botanical Garden.

In the afternoon, head to the Golden Triangle and take a boat trip on the Mekong River, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos converge.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Saen
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

Day 4: Chiang Saen – Thaton – Chiang Mai (B)

After breakfast, depart for Thaton. Stop at Patai village to meet the Padong Karen tribe, famous for its “long-neck women” who wear copper rings to elongate their necks. Then visit a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, where an expert explains the uses of herbs, roots, and ointments.

In the afternoon, continue to Chiang Mai, stopping en route to explore the fascinating underground galleries of Chiang Dao Cave.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

Day 5: Chiang Mai City & Doi Suthep (B)

After breakfast, begin a walking tour of Chiang Mai’s old town. Visit landmarks such as the ancient walls, the moat, and one of the city gates. Explore Chiang Mai’s most beautiful temples, including Wat Phra Singh, Wat Phan Tao, and Wat Chedi Luang.

Stroll along charming streets lined with traditional houses before taking a rickshaw ride. Visit Warorot Market, Chiang Mai’s bustling central market.

In the afternoon, drive up to Doi Suthep Hill to visit the sacred Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. In the evening, browse the lively Night Market at your leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

Day 6: Chiang Mai – Cooking Class at Thai Farm Cooking (Join-in) & Mae Ping River Cruise (B, L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 – 14:00: Join a Thai cooking class at Thai Farm Cooking School (join-in basis).

Activities include:

  • Visiting a local market
  • Learning about herbs and ingredients at an organic farm
  • Cooking jasmine rice and sticky rice
  • Preparing curry paste from scratch
  • Cooking one curry, one soup, one noodle dish, and a dessert

In the afternoon, enjoy a two-hour boat cruise along the Mae Ping River. Admire traditional teak houses and lush greenery along the riverside.

Return to the hotel for free time.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Join tour (cooking class guide & shared transfer)

Day 7: Chiang Mai – Doi Inthanon – Chiang Mai (B, L)

Today, transfer to Doi Inthanon National Park (approx. 2 hours). Trek for 2–3 hours through jungle trails leading to a hidden waterfall. Along the way, pass coffee plantations, flower farms, and rice terraces.

Visit a Pagagayaw Karen hill tribe village, taste locally grown coffee, and continue to the spectacular 70-meter-high Vachiratharn Waterfall.

Afterward, visit the twin pagodas Napamaytanidol Chedi and Phra Mahathat Napaphon Bhumisiri, built to honor the 60th birthdays of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. Return to Chiang Mai in the evening.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Private car & tour guide

Day 8: Chiang Mai – Departure (B)

Free time until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & driver only

Personal Support
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Inclusions

  • Accommodation based on double/twin sharing room with daily breakfast
  • Experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary
  • Private transportation with AC (Except Join in tour by sharing transfer)
  • All sightseeing tickets
  • Rickshaw tour in Chiang Mai city
  • Lunches and dinners as indicated in the itinerary
  • Taxes and services charges

Exclusions

  • International & domestic airfares, airport taxes
  • Early check-in / late check-out
  • Visa fees, tips & personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Services not clearly mentioned in program
  • Surcharges for festivals (Loy Krathong, Songkran…), Christmas & New Year
  • Compulsory Gala Dinner (24 & 31 Dec, if any)
  • Airport transfer surcharge (10:00 pm – 6:30 am: USD 15/way)

Notes

  • Tour Price

    The tour rate is based on twin/double sharing rooms at 3* hotel category. The price will vary slightly depending on the number of people in your group. For an accurate tour price, please click the "INQUIRE NOW" button to discuss with our sales consultant.

  • Deposit & Payment

    After you have agreed on the tour itinerary and pricing, we will send you an email to confirm and provide information on our payment policy. You can choose your preferred payment method and make payment to us according to the following regulations:

    • With tour bookings, you do not need to pay total in advance, we just need 30% for deposit. The balance will be settled before your trip or upon arrival.
    • With flight, hotel or train ticket bookings, we require 100% total payment in advance.

    The balance will be settled before or upon arrival by cash, credit card or bank transfer. We accept major credit cards such as Visa, Master, JCB and Amex. If you pay by credit card, please add 3% of bank commission.

    After receiving your deposit, our team will process your booking and send you the confirmation by email within 1 - 2 working days.

  • Food Requirement

    If you have any specific food requirement (vegetarian, vegan, food allergies, etc.) please inform us in advance, we will provide notices to our restaurants, tour guides and partners so they would be able to serve you the best.

  • Cancellation

    We apply non refundable deposit of 10 USD for hotel, air ticket booking, 100 USD/per person for tour package upon service confirmation. Cancellations will be charged as following:

    • 30 days before arrival: No cancellation charge.
    • 29 - 14 days before arrival: 10% of the tour cost is forfeited.
    • 13 - 7 days before arrival: 40% of the tour cost is forfeited.
    • 6 days before arrival: 100 % of the tour cost is forfeited.
    • No show: 100% of the tour cost is forfeited.

     

  • Child Policy

    • Infant under 2-years-old free of charge land tour and 25% of airfare.
    • Child under 12-years-old sharing room with adult without extra bed charge 50% of adult land tour and 75% of airfare.
    • Child under 12-years-old sharing room with adult with bed charge 80% of adult land tour and 75% of airfare.
    • Upon 12-years-old - 100% charge of tour cost.

How to book this tour

Step 1
Send us your inquiry
Step 2
Dealing with travel consultant
Step 3
Final tour itinerary and rate
Step 4
Deposit the tour
Step 5
Receive the confirmed itinerary
Step 6
Settle the balance when arrival