Scenic Chiang Mai Province: Karen Village, Sticky Waterfalls & Mae Taeng River in Chiang Mai - Day_trip_Bua_Tong_Waterfalls9.jpg
4.9

Scenic Chiang Mai Province: Karen Village, Sticky Waterfalls & Mae Taeng River

  • 8 hours
  • Day Trips
  • Chiang Mai
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Choose one of 6 locals available

Experience hosted by Ratana, Minty & other locals

  • Private Tour
  • Carbon Neutral

Imagine this: a scenic road trip from Chiang Mai to explore with stops along the way to discover viewpoints, villages, incredible nature, and cultural gems. Sounds like a dream? No, it’s possible on a Withlocals day trip with a local host leading the way!

Destination
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Category
Day Trips
Duration
8 hours
Transport mode
Car
Available languages
English, ไทย
Included
  • Private Guide
  • Transport per Car
  • Insurance Guest
  • All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
Excluded
  • Entrance to Attractions
  • Meals
  • Bamboo Rafting

6 reasons to book this tour

  • Discover the region off the beaten path
  • Check out Karen Village & Bua Tong Waterfall (Sticky Waterfall)
  • Connect with a local & discover their culture
  • Take in breathtaking sceneries & panoramas
  • Enjoy the freedom to make stops along the way
  • Can be 100% personalized to your wishes

What you can expect

Scenic Chiang Mai Province: Karen Village, Sticky Waterfalls & Mae Taeng River in Chiang Mai - Day_trip_Bua_Tong_Waterfalls9.jpg

Embark on an unforgettable journey to uncover the hidden treasures of Chiang Mai Province! Experience the breathtaking beauty of the area while exploring its unique highlights and off-the-beaten-path gems.

Ditch the typical tourist bus and let a local guide you through the stunning landscapes of Chiang Mai Province at your own pace. Spend the day discovering what lies beyond the city – trust us, it's worth it! With your expert host leading the way, you'll be treated to a scenic road trip filled with unexpected delights. Frequent stops will let you explore the wonders of Karen Village, the mesmerizing Bua Tong Waterfall (Sticky Waterfall), and the tranquil Mae Taeng River. For a truly serene experience, enjoy bamboo rafting on the Mae Taeng River, where you can drift peacefully through beautiful landscapes, surrounded by nature’s calm beauty.

Enjoy the convenience of a seamless pick-up and drop-off – all you need to do is sit back, relax, and take in the journey. To make this experience even more special, you can handpick your local host for the day. Each host brings a personal touch, sharing their passion and expertise, whether it's in arts, history, or local cuisine, all tailored to your interests.

Our hosts are natural storytellers who can’t wait to share their personal stories and cultural insights, making the trip both fun and enriching. Want to tweak the route? No problem! Your host is happy to customize the journey to fit your preferences. Get ready for a day of discovery, connection, and unforgettable experiences.

Choose your local

Get to know these 6 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

  1. Meeting point

    Meet at - Chiang Mai to start your journey

  2. Itinerary

    This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

  3. Convenient Pick-up & Drop Off

    On the day of your day trip, your local host will pick you up from your accommodation or an agreed location. Once the day trip comes to an end, they’ll drop you off at your accommodation
  4. Scenic Trip

    This full-day trip is arranged for you, so all you have to do is enjoy the sights as your host takes you through while telling you incredible stories and insights
  5. Only You & Your Host!

    Forget about cramped touristy buses, on this private day trip, you’ll have all of your host’s attention. Get the chance to speak 1-1 and get all of your questions answered for a personal experience that will make this trip more memorable
  6. What’s in Store for You

    Check out from viewpoints, nature, and cultural gems such as Karen Village, Bua Tong Waterfall (Sticky Waterfall) and Mae Taeng River plus other stops your local host has prepared for you along the way
  7. Optional Lunch

    Along the way, your local host will recommend you typical and local places where you can stop to have lunch and catch a break. Lunch is not included in the price
  8. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Feel confident booking

    Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

  • Change of plans?

    Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

  • Loved by travelers worldwide

    Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

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Ian🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
6 July 2025
We had a fascinating and insightful tour of Chiang Mai with Naphat. She knows so much about the history of the old kingdoms before Thailand became Thailand, and about how Buddhism is an integral part of Thai life, that she really brought the city to life for us. A fascinating tour of Chiang Mai
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David🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
5 July 2025
Ratana was sweet, fun, very knowledgeable particularly about the temples and city history. She was kind and chatted to all our family including our children. This tour focussed mainly on the several Buddhist temples that we visited, so if that’s what you mainly want then this tour is fine. The only reason we have to mark the tour with Ratana down was that we paid for a 3 hour tour (which isn’t cheap for 5 people) but it wrapped up just under 2.5 hours. If it’s a 2.5 hour tour it should be sold as that with the price relative.
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Ian🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
4 July 2025
We had a wonderful time being shown around by Purichat (aka May). It was fascinating to see the aspects of the city we would never have found on our own. Purichat is a local born and bred, and knows the city inside and out. She’s very friendly, speaks great English, enjoys sharing her city, and, as our adventures trying local fruits in a market proves, is maybe a little mischievous as well. 😀 As we’d already been to one place she was planning to take us, she quickly adapted the tour and took us to a new site. We’d happily recommend this tour and Purichat as a tour guide. A fascinating tour of Chian Mai.
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Russel🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
30 June 2025
We had the pleasure of a memorable 3 hours with our guide Naphat. During this tour we would visit several venues where we would taste 5 (or more) dishes. Naphat informed us that we would be tasting Chiang Mai's signature street food and that all the vendors had been vetted for their quality. We began with a tasting of arguably Chiang Mai's famous street food Khao Soi Gai. We also purchased some Khao Kha Moo and sat down to eat. They were both delicious and perfectly represented the amazing complex flavours in Thai cuisine. I have to say that the Khao Kha Moo was my favourite with its delectable gooey gelatinous pork melting in our mouths. Next we visited a local food market where we purchased some Sai Oua (Pork Sausage) and Chiang Mai's street food version of KFC. We stood on a bridge looking over Chiang Mai's night time lights twinkling over the river while we ate our delicious food with some sticky rice. Naphat has a infectious charismatic personality and we found ourselves deep in philosophical conversation between mouthfuls of delectable Thai street food. We thoroughly recommend Naphat. You will love her company and the food that she presents.Chiang Mai never tasted better
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Russel🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
30 June 2025
We had the pleasure of spending 3 hours visiting a variety of temples, sites and markets around Chiang Mai's old city. Minty is a wonderful guide and easily accommodated when a sudden rain storm hit where she took us to the Chiang Mai Museum until the rain passed. Minty had a fantastic local knowledge and gave us some hints and tips for visiting Chiang Mai's other areas. We thoroughly recommend Minty when you are in Chiang Mai for a friendly local who can show you the city sights.Wonderful tour with Minty
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Mark
(About local )
29 June 2025
May was a great tour guide. She was hugely flexible with her time the day of our tour since a couple of my boys got sick. So we rescheduled the second half of our tour for the late afternoon and she was incredibly generous with her time and knowledge. We thank her many times for a wonderful day in Chiang Mai.Great Tour and Flexibility
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Nate🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 June 2025
We had such a wonderful time strolling around Chiang Mai. Learning about Thai street food and Naphats life and about her story. It was a awesome time spending time with someone one who is from there and really feeling getting to know a local and not just being a tourist. Thank You. Wonderful Time
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Patty🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
18 June 2025
My daughter and I had the most special day with Naphat. We wanted to visit and learn more about the temples in/around Chiang Mai and she took us on a lovely tour through the Old City and to a few spots outside. She has such a wealth of knowledge and we learned so much about each temple as well as Buddhism and Thailand as a whole. She created a very meaningful connection with us and we had many conversations that gave us new perspectives. We also never felt rushed and she welcomed us to ask questions and take our time. Our hearts are full from this day and will cherish these memories. We are so glad we decided to take her tour instead of the more generic tours within the city. We highly recommend booking with Naphat!
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Eric🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
15 June 2025
We had an amazing experience with Purichat. She was an amazing tour guide and we got to experience a side of Chiang Mai that we would not have otherwise experienced. We got to taste delicious foods and fruits from street vendors. She also gave us some history for some of the spots we visited. I would highly recommend Purichat as a tour guide. Night market and street food tour
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Errol
(About local )
14 June 2025
A fun and exciting tour with Naphat, who was great company, very knowledgeable and adapted the tour to my preferences. Although there were several highlights as we walked around the old city and chatted, the real gem of the Chiang Mai tour was Naphat herself. Her enthusiasm, historical knowledge and explanation of Buddhist teachings made the afternoon unforgettable. I highly recommend this tour with Naphat. A fun and enlightening tour with Naphat
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Dan
(About local )
12 June 2025
I did a food tour with Richard and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had some great food and a good chat about living in Chiang Mai. He was very friendly and knowledeable. Recommended Lovely interesting guy
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Web🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 June 2025
She is knowledgeable, funny and flexible. These are the 3 traits I look for most in a tour guide. I highly recommend Ratana, you will not regret it.Ratana is fantastic!
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Simone
(About local )
6 June 2025
It was a great tour with a great guide. We were at many local places recommended and awarded from Michelin 2025 to taste the local food. It was very comfortable for us then we drove longer distances with the car from Minty - good air conditioning and cold water😊 Thank you Minty for this wonderful day with you and all the delicious, sweet, spicy and typical meals of Thailand, wich we tasted with you.Food Tour wirh Minty
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David
(About local )
3 June 2025
Only selected Minty by chance but she turned out to be one of the best guides we have ever had. Nothing was too much trouble as she explained everything about this wonderful old city. Even treated us to little snacks and provided plenty of water. Please select Minty. You will not regret it. Wonderful Chiangmai tour. Best guide ever
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Ranji🇸🇬 Singapore
(About local )
2 June 2025
My cousin and I had the best half-day introduction to Chiang Mai, thanks to MInty. In an afternoon, she walked us across the backlanes Old Town, offered us highlights of popular temples with an in-depth visit of the most breath-taking one (IMHO! :D) and finished off with an extremely comfortable drive in Minty's luxury van to the Chinatown Night Market / Flower Market PLUS a secret roof-top, birds-eye view of Chiang Mai along the river that we most certainly would have not discovered on our own. We appreciated that she was able to tweak the programme en route once she learned more about us (foodies!) and accommodated pit-stops along the way (coffee! fruit! glutinous rice snacks! braised pork rice!) that personalised this for us and really added value to the experience. We paid for all the extra eats, of course. The best introduction to Chiang Mai
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Peter🇮🇪 Ireland
(About local )
24 May 2025
What can we say about Naphet ? We met as planned on Wednesday morning and were very excited to begin our tour of the hidden Gems of Chiang Mai. Within 5 minutes we knew we had met one of them! Naphet is exceptional with her kindness, insight, and knowledge, she patiently educated us in Buddhism and Thai Culture. Each temple we visited was special and she explained why as well as the historical background of Chiang Mai. Under her guidance we became comfortable paying our respects correctly to the Buddha and the Monks. In one temple we received a blessing from the Monk and in another we got the opportunity to hang a wish like the local Thai people . We feel very lucky to have met Naphet. Without this tour we would have been wandering around on our own trying to gain an insight into the Thai way of life. To conclude our tour she brought us around the local market , explaining the different foods and produce that are available . The variety was amazing, and new to us. We concluded the tour with lunch in the market with the local people. Thank you Naphet you were above and beyond our expectations . We highly recommend Naphet as a tour guide especially for those curious about Thai Culture and History. Peter and Caroline 21st May 2025
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swathi
(About local )
20 May 2025
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with our food tour guide, Ae, in Chiang Mai! From the moment we met, she was incredibly kind and patient, especially with our 5-year-old. When our little one accidentally lost his toy jeep at the market and was visibly upset, she handled the situation with such care and understanding. To our surprise, later that evening, she thoughtfully arranged for a jeep to be sent to our hotel — a truly kind gesture that touched us all. Throughout the tour, Ae took us to local markets, introducing us to a variety of interesting and delicious foods. She was more than happy to accommodate my husband's request to try a dry noodle place, taking us to her personal favorites — which turned out to be some of the best food we had during our trip! Her passion for the local cuisine really shone through, making the experience not just tasty but also authentic. Ae was funny, charismatic, and engaging, making the entire tour enjoyable and memorable for our family. Her warmth and flexibility made us feel like we were exploring Chiang Mai with a friend rather than just a guide. We highly recommend Ae to anyone looking for a genuine, fun, and memorable food adventure in Chiang Mai. Thank you, Ae, for making our trip so special!Authentic, warm & memorable -thank you Ae!
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Bob
(About local )
15 May 2025
Having visited Chiang Mai on several occasions but have never had a more fulfilling day than when I spent time with Ratana. She has lived in Chiang Mai all her life and it shows. Her smile is as infectious as her personality! My request to her was a day of immersion into the local community and culture, away from the typical “tourist” atmosphere, and she delivered! I was able to get a feel for the logistical aspects of the overall city and visit some smaller Wats and villages as well. I was able to see the local markets and how the locals traded, she explained the proper etiquette when shopping and was able to communicate with the vendors to help me understand the different foods and their applications. If you’re looking for a wonderful way to spend a day and get to know Chiang Mai do not hesitate to reserve Ratana. 😎 🙏 A PERFECT day in Chiang Mai !
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Matthew🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
8 May 2025
Minty was absolutely brilliant for us the whole day. We got to see lots of cool things in Chiang mai and then the next day she took us to an elephant sanctuary and the sticky waterfall. She made sure we had the best experience! Amazing day with Minty
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Valentina🇮🇹 Italy
(About local )
27 April 2025
Naphat was not touring us. A deputy did
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Steven
(About local )
27 April 2025
My 11 -year old grandson and I had a wonderful experience with Ratana in Chiang Mai. We did two different tours with her and both were great. She was very attentive to our interests and went above and beyond to make our visit to Chiang Mai memorable.Great excursions with Ratana in Chiang Mai
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Justine
(About local )
27 April 2025
We had a brilliant day with Ratana, her knowledge of the city and temples was amazing. Through going on this tour it gave us a perspective of the city and was so helpful for us to be able to plan the rest of our time and get to see lots more of this wonderful area😊 Chaing Mai adventures
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Juli🇸🇬 Singapore
(About local )
22 April 2025
Our local host was Ae. She was fabulous right from the start. Connecting as soon as the booking was confirmed even if it was a month away! On the actual day of the tour, she was on time and energised to go! We stopped at the local market for coffee and she even got us snacks for the ride. Exploring Doi Ithanon was quite magical, the waterfalls, the hike around the natural environment together with a local tribe guide as well, was eye opening. Ae shared her knowledge of the various plants and animals occupying the forest. The twin pagodas were stunning and we ended at the highest point in Thailand. She treated us to lunch even though that was not included in the booking and got us souvenirs to bring back home. We could not have asked for more! Ae was more like a friend than a guide and we would definitely recommend her for those who would prefer a more personalised experience. Ae was a great choice indeed!
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Alexandra🇧🇪 Belgium
(About local )
21 April 2025
We can highly recommend Minty. She was the best guide, a good and safe driver and she took the best care of us and our little children. We would go is again in a heartbeat. Great!
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Christian 🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
16 April 2025
We had a great day in Chiang Mai during this special time … songkran with lots of water splashing ;-) ! Our guide( Ae) gave us a great tour , we highly recommend her !!!Great day
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Marie-Claude
(About local )
13 April 2025
We hard a great time with Ae. And she is very good to explain us everything Thanks Ae!!!!Super
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Lee🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
5 April 2025
As a former full time traveller and travel writer, I’ve done a LOT of tours and met many guides. Ae, however, is in another league to most. We booked the tour last minute and yet it was so well organised, catered perfectly to our very difficult group of people (oldest 80, youngest 2!) and was so seamless! The foods were adjusted to our needs, and it was the perfect mix of authentic with still making us feel comfortable. Honestly can’t say enough positive things about Ae and about this tours Authentic, easy and absolutely epic
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Ashley
(About local )
25 March 2025
Our day with in Inthanon national park with Ae was one of the highlights of our trip! Ae was so friendly and fun it was easy to get comfortable with her. She was very knowledgeable about Thailand and the area. She kept us on track and would bring any possible changes to us for consideration. Ae took us to all the top spots in the park and we had such a blast, we never felt rushed and the day was easy and thoroughly enjoyable. Would absolutely recommend to anyone visiting Chiang MaiAwesome day in Inthanon with Ae
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Mark
(About local )
19 March 2025
Great walking tour around Chiang Mai from Purichat - who told us many interesting facts about Northern Thai culture as well as walking us around interesting sites to see - would highly recommend Knowledgeable Local Tour
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Yvonne🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
17 March 2025
I recently had the pleasure of exploring Chiang Mai with Purichat and I can confidently say it was one of the best travel experiences I’ve had. From the moment we met, she was not only friendly and welcoming, but also incredibly knowledgeable about the city’s rich history, culture, and hidden gems. Purichat took the time to explain the significance of each place, from the ancient temples. What really stood out was their ability to connect the past with the present, offering fascinating insights into how the local traditions are still very much alive today.Informative and nice tour
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carolefreedman01
(About local )
3 March 2025
Wonderful experience with Naphat. She took us to local street food markets and ordered up our food. We would not have known what to choose but we now feel more confident trying local dishes as she explained what to look for. Not only did we try local food but Naphat showed us how to eat the food like a local by adding spices and vegetables from the table. She showed us how to mix the tastes to enable us to experience the wonderfully combined aromas and flavours. She was good company and very interesting. 10 tastings of Chang Mai with Naphat
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Matt
(About local )
2 March 2025
Such a fantastic afternoon out and our host Naphat was outstanding. I woukd 100% recommend this experience A brilliant excursion
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Eric
(About local )
24 February 2025
Purichat was very accommodating and enlightening for our city tour. We especially enjoyed the smoothie stop supporting the women’s rehabilitation program.Pleasant informative morning
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Rahil🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
21 February 2025
Purichat was nice, friendly, good English, explained local and Thai history well. Very accommodating with our needs (2 year old). Drove us around to each site in her car. Best go in the morning. It gets hot quickly. Great host, family friendly
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Charles
(About local )
20 February 2025
My wife and I had a great tour of the Grand Palace and other spots in Bangkok with Naphat. Naphat's English is flawless as is her knowledge of navigating her way around the city while finding all the shady cool spots in that very hot city. Highly recommended!The best guide in all of Bangkok.
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Margot
(About local )
20 February 2025
Ratana is rustig, vrolijk en lacht veel , vertelt genoeg, maar je krijgt geen ‘overload’ aan informatie. Alle vragen die je stelt, weet ze ook te beantwoorden. Een hele fijne gids !!! 🧡🙏Leerzaam en gezellig
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Briana
(About local )
20 February 2025
Our guide Naphat was very flexible and attentive, showed us new foods and provided excellent conversation and insight into life in the area. Definitely got to sample some things I would not have found on my own and ensured it was from reputable and safe stalls. This was my first time using WithLocals but I will definitely be using them more after this experience Chiang mai foodies
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Antonio🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
18 February 2025
Naphat is an amazing guide with a spiritual touch! It was a big pleasure to spend with her this 3 hours walking around Chiang Mai. She was very kind and she gave a lot of explanations about the story of Thailand. She knows a lot about the history and I really felt very good with her! I recommend her very much!A real spiritual person
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Antonio🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
18 February 2025
Mai (Purichat) is an amazing guide. It was a big pleasure to spend with her this 3 hours walking around Chiang Mai by night. She was very kind and she gave a lot of explanations about story in Thailand. I recommend her very much!Amazing guide for Chiang Mai
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Miroslav
(About local )
18 February 2025
We did the City Tour together with Naphat. Beside all the interesting places she took us we had a chance to learn quite a lot about the history of Thailand and Chiang Mai in particular, the people and the life in present times. It always brings a new viewing angle on a country if you get detailed comments on the things you can see and places you are visiting and can openly discuss with a local. And this was exactly the case with Naphat. Thank you.Local history and presence in a box
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Jutta🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
18 February 2025
Naphat was very friendly and explained interesting details about the night market, visited various stalls and showed us beautiful places in chiang mai that we would not have found otherwise. Thank you very much A beautiful meeting
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Unknown
(About local )
16 February 2025
We spent the evening with Naphat on our first day in Chaing Mai and are so glad we did. Visiting temples and getting her insights into the temples, Buddhism, and Thai culture was fantastic. Her introduction to the city , it's markets, massage oarlours and bars has allowed us to make the most of our time and feel comfortable in the city from the first day. Love Chaing Mai and thoroughly recommend Naphat Magical start to our Chaing Mai visit
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Sherri
(About local )
16 February 2025
We had a wonderful day with Naphat. She was gracious and accommodating. We enjoyed the sites and appreciated her flexibility to tailor the trip to suit our interests. Great time
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Mary
(About local )
15 February 2025
Would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants more than just a tour of Chiang Mai’s highlights and really get a cultural, spiritual and historical insight into the place and the country. We both loved our time with her and were very grateful to her for sharing her wisdom and knowledge about Buddhism with us. Fabulous tour with great guides
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Kathy
(About local )
14 February 2025
Terrific local street food. We would never otherwise have known what we should try. Really interesting cultural context made the whole experience even better. Purichat is knowledgeable, fun and very flexible. Fantastic local food tour
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Thomas
(About local )
13 February 2025
We did the 3 hour City Tour and came away with a great understanding of Thia culture. Would recommend.Very knowledgeable and friendly guide
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Monica🇨🇷 Costa Rica
(About local )
10 February 2025
Naphat was an amazing guide!! She shared much about Buddhist teachings, open-mindedness and kindness in the Thai way of life. Our only regret is that we wished we could have spent more time with her! She was also great with our youngest member of the group (2 years old) and helped keep him entertained in the Wats too. Would recommend!Great tour!
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Unknown
(About local )
9 February 2025
We had a lovely food tour with Purichat! She was very friendly and she helped us discover some Thai food we have not previously had in the US. We also discovered other areas of town we had not been too. We definitely recommend her! Ann & BlairChiang Mai food tour
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Jake
(About local )
9 February 2025
If you want an authentic experience of Chiang Mai, go on this tour with Naphat. She knew so much history about the city and knew all the local spots. As a previous nun, she knew the importance of Buddhism in the community. Amazing experience
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Debbie
(About local )
8 February 2025
My husband and I enjoyed our morning, half-day 10 tastings tour with Naphat. From local food trucks to a market near her home, we were able to try a huge variety of foods, including Khao Soi, papaya salad, mango sticky rice, and a yellow curry with squid. Naphat did a great job meeting my dietary restrictions, which included a shellfish allergy. In addition to great food, we loved hearing about Naphat’s family and life in Chiang Mai. Thank you so much, Naphat!Great Introduction to Northern Thai Food

Withlocals experiences
are always

Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.

Other Day trips in Chiang Mai

€71.69per person