Mae Ping River Experience

Spend your day wandering markets, meeting monks, cruising the river, and slurping noodles on this Chiang Mai tour that immerses you in all types of typically Thai situations. Want to see the real Chiang Mai? Come along then! We've got temples and monks to discover, a cruise on the Mae Ping River to enjoy, yummy noodles to slurp, a local farmer to meet, and markets to explore. Our Chiang Mai city tour adventure will begin by exploring the Warorot Market, one of the largest markets in Chiang Mai. Almost everything is for sale here from food to clothing to hill tribe crafts. At the market, you'll have plenty of time to taste and sample local specialties before moving on to the Ton Lam Yai Flower Market, overflowing with colorful, fresh cut flowers. Next, we’ll take a songthaew to Wat Chai Mongkol, a magnificent temple that was built on the banks of the Mae Ping River. Take part in a local Buddhist practice by offering alms to monks and learning about other interesting religious traditions. Then it’s time to take a cruise up the Mae Ping River, one of the main rivers in northern Thailand and the lifeline of Chiang Mai. Our Mae Ping River cruise will reveal villages and rural life played out on the river shores, and your guide will offer insight into local livelihood and history throughout the journey. Next, on our Chiang Mai tour, we'll enjoy a sumptuous Khao Soi lunch at a local farmer’s house. This noodle dish is often made with chicken or beef, served over Chinese egg noodles, and garnished with shallots, cilantro, pickled mustard greens, fried whole chilies, and a squeeze of lime juice. It's totally delicious, and a must-try food in Chiang Mai! After lunch, we'll visit a garden to learn about local vegetables, herbs, and the medicinal properties of plants, before returning to Chiang Mai by cruise back. This is where our Chiang Mai city tour will come to an end, and you're free to continue exploring Chiang Mai at your leisure.