Want to see the best of Chiang Rai? We got you covered. But as you can expect from a Withlocals experience, the real excitement is its hidden gems. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour that has it all, so you can say: I experienced the real Chiang Rai!
Destination
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
3 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English
Included
Private Guide
Local Snack or Drink
All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
Excluded
Entrance to Attractions
6 reasons to book this tour
Explore the best of the city in only 3 hours
Spot classics like Clock Tower Chiang Rai & Wat Mung Muang
Discover hidden gems away from the tourist paths
Experience the city from a local’s perspective
Can be 100% personalized to your wishes
Privately guided by a local expert
What you can expect
Chiang Rai, is a magical place! And with the local host of your choice, you are going to experience it all. So get ready; culture, history, and local lifestyle await!
Dive into the origin of Chiang Rai as you see the city’s main landmarks like Clock Tower Chiang Rai, Wat Mung Muang, and Wat Phra Sing. And how about the hidden gems? Oh, you’re in for a surprise! Every host has its own story to tell, so pick your favorite, and you’ll discover the city through their eyes. Experience their Chiang Rai to the max based on their passions and expertise. They’ll make sure you have fun enjoying a unique and local perspective of Chiang Rai.
Want to take a break? Leave it up to your host! This is the perfect opportunity to visit that special eatery where only the locals come and your chance to enjoy a local treat hand-picked by your host. Feel free to ask your host more about their life in their city or get recommendations about the top things to do in Chiang Rai. Remember, the locals know best.
The best part of any city tour is definitely the unique stories. Everybody has a story to tell, especially your host. Each one of the local hosts has a different background ranging from arts to history. They can’t wait to share their knowledge with you and exchange ideas and perspectives! Feel like changing the route a bit? No problem, the hosts will be happy to personalize the tour to your wishes and make their Chiang Rai, your Chiang Rai!
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 Tepthai.
Meeting point
Meet at Entrance of Pankhon Coffee - Chiang Rai to start your journey
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.
City Highlights
See from Clock Tower Chiang Rai, Wat Mung Muang, Wat Phra Sing, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Chiang Rai so unique
Hidden Gems
Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience
Magical Storytelling
Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!
Special Treat
Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions
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.
I can personalize this tour for you
I can personalize this tour for you
Tell me your preferred date and group size
Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!
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
Jessica🇳🇱 Netherlands
4 September 2025
Mr. Tepthai picked us up from the airport which was very kind. We did a check in at a hotel and went on a city tour. We stayed also at his homestay for 1 night at a great green jungle location. He prepared one of the most romantic dinners we ever had at the veranda with candle light and the food was home made and amazing. Also the breakfast was amazing. He has a good heart and is taking care of animals. Lovely cats and dogs. If you want a real nature experience we recommend staying at his homestay. He is driving very safe and we had some nice snacks during the daytours. We felt very relaxed and not in a hurry. The only thing that could be improved is his English, this is sometimes a bit difficult. We may expected more story's about the places we visited. But just keep asking and he will explain. The more we start to know him the more we appreciate him. For a city tour or multiple days tour we recommend him. Friendly and relaxed!
Florence and Andrew 🇸🇬 Singapore
19 May 2025
We ended up doing 2 full days with Mr Thep including going to the Golden Triangle.
We really enjoyed the tours and the variety.Enjoyed Chiang Rai and Golden Triangle
Nadine
2 April 2025
Een tour met local Mr. Thep raad ik iedereen aan!
Mr. Thep is bovenal uiterst vriendelijk. Hij kent alle ins- en outs van de omgeving en door zijn enthousiaste verhalen word je op slag verliefd op Chiang Rai. Een geweldige tempel tour met Mr. Thep
Jennifer🇨🇦 Canada
12 February 2025
We were 2 couples and we had a wonderful time with Thep. He took us to Buffalo Hill, White Temple, Big Buddha, Lallita Cafe, Black House and Blue Temple. Thep was a fantastic host! Courteous with his knowledge and time. A very comfortable and safe driver too. Thank you Thep for a wonderful day! Tour of Chiang Rai
Jurgen
12 December 2024
We were driven to 3 temples and visited a nice selection of various locations around Chiang Rai.Visit of Chiang Rai temples
Camilla🇮🇹 Italy
28 May 2024
We had an incredible experience exploring Chiang Rai with our guide, Mr. Teph. He was absolutely amazing, showing us every corner of the city and ensuring all our wishes were fulfilled. His knowledge and enthusiasm made our trip truly memorable. We highly recommend Mr. Teph for anyone seeking an unforgettable tour of Chiang Rai.Unforgettable Chiang Rai Experience
Kesha🇺🇸 United States
9 February 2024
We spent 5 hours exploring temples of Chiang Rai with Thep. It was better than we had even hoped. He let us go at our speed and engaged in such a great way. He gave us time to take in what we were seeing, shared helpful information, took great photos of the 2 of us, made the whole day so smooth. His truck was a great way to get around and he took us to a hidden gem of the best vegan restaurant with Thai food!! Delicious!! We really appreciated the time we spent with him. He also made sure we stayed hydrated! Thep has 25+ years of experience in giving tours, most of it focused on Chiang Rai and is a member of Lahu and Akha hill tribes. (Side note) Thep also does home stays in his village about 15km outside Chiang Rai if you want that experience. Had we known about that before we probably would have done it. You want to book with him! If we had more time we would book with him again. If we return we definitely will! An amazing day in Chiang Rai with Thep!
Elena🇩🇪 Germany
8 February 2024
We had a wonderful afternoon and evening with Thep.
He picked us up at our hotel, drove us to the white temple. We drove through the nice countryside which was great and an additional add on.
Back in Chiang Rai we toured different markets and tried different delicious food.
He was also very pleasant with our two little boys.
Would definitely recommend touring with Thep!Excellent Chiang Rai Tour
Philip🇦🇺 Australia
9 January 2024
Tep was a very good guide who took us to some interesting places in and around Chiang Rai. We were pleased with his services. Enjoyable experience
Jungho
5 May 2025
Very relaxing, never rushed! I would highly recommend if you are visiting Chiang Rai!Great tour with a great guide!
Susan🇬🇧 United Kingdom
16 February 2025
Pleasant courteous & reliable
Interesting tour of the white temple, OPM museum and golden triangle.Good all round trip
Michael🇬🇧 United Kingdom
27 January 2025
We were hosted by Tepthai (Tep) for a 3 hour tour of the highlights of Chiang Rai. Tep was an excellent host who added lots of his experiences and local history to the delights of Chiang Rai temples and houses. A great tour with transport, water and local snacks provided. 3 hour tour of Chiang Rai
Patti🇺🇸 United States
23 January 2025
More of a driver than tour guide, Thep was very friendly. Recommend. Very polite and punctual driver
Charlotte🇬🇧 United Kingdom
21 January 2025
Mr Thep communicated well right from the first time I messaged. He was happy to answer any questions I had and I was very confident in my booking. On the day he drove us to the temples and sights. He was very polite, chatty and funny. He really made our visit to Chiang Rai excellent. Thank you Mr Thep A lovely man and a great tour
Sally🇬🇧 United Kingdom
10 January 2025
We struck gold in booking Tep. He was flexible and accommodating from our initial enquiry and he gave us the best itinery and day out ever.
He was calm and informative when needed.Choose Tep - great day
Jill
5 January 2025
He was punctual and very nice. Apparently he owns a guest house in a mountain village as well. Chiang Rai temple tour
Sandra🇦🇹 Austria
4 January 2025
Tepthai war pünktlich und an sich freundlich, jedoch haben wir bereits mehrere ähnliche (Withlocals)Touren in Thailand / Südostasien gemacht,die viel lockerer und informativer waren (mehr Interaktion mit dem Guide etc). und daher können wir im Vergleich nur gut gemeinte 5 Punkte vergeben.
Sein Englisch ist nicht besonders gut und es gab zwar Informationen zu den einzelnen Stopps, aber eher oberflächlich. Wir hatten eine kombinierte Sightseeing / Food-Tour und beim Essen hat uns weniger gut gefallen, dass die Speisen meist gekauft wurden, ohne uns vorher zu fragen und auch kaum erklärt wurde, was wir bekommen. Er hat einiges davor auf die Schärfe getestet (das war bestimmt gut gemeint), hat aber eines unserer beiden Spießchen dafür benutzt und es dann wieder in unser Essen gesteckt (evtl. für Thais ok, aber wir fanden es unangemessen).
Eine ungeschickte Situation hatten wir zb beim Glockenturm. Wir waren 10 min vor 20.00 Uhr dort und er setzte sich kommentarlos auf die Stufen in der Nähe. Erst auf Nachfrage erklärte er uns, dass es um 20.00 Uhr eine "Show" gibt (Musik und Farbwechsel des Turms).
Je später es wurde, desto lockerer wurde er und somit auch die Tour angenehmer, jedoch wie oben erwähnt, aufgrund vieler Vergleiche können wir nicht besser bewerten.Freundlich, aber Verbesserungsbedarf
Bina
16 September 2024
Mr Tepth was very nice. He took us to all the White temple, the Blue temple, The Black House and Buffalo hill. We only had the afternoon and he catered to our needs. He was very kind buying us water and ice cream as well. I would recommend using him. He was also very knowledgable. Thank you for looking after us.Temple visits
Helen🇺🇸 United States
21 June 2024
We had a wonderful experience with Mr. Thep. If you’re looking to customize and maximize your time and experience in Chiang Rai, call him! He will take to you to landmarks and recommend local gems. We are very happy with him and look forward to booking with him again. Highly recommended. Bespoke Thai Experience
Sammy
12 June 2024
Tep was such a great guide for our tour. He picked us up at our hotel and took us to all the places listed and some that were not listed. He was an amazing guide with great knowledge for the area. He also took us to great buffet for lunch right across the street from the white temple. We stopped by a tea plantation and were checked out the views and grabbed some tea while we were there. He went above and beyond and took us to a cafe that we wanted to go to since it is a big attraction for the area. I would highly recommend Tep. Excellent guide for Chiang Rai
Sarah🇦🇺 Australia
19 May 2024
Mr Thep is very friendly, helpful and polite. He caters to our needs and is a patient. He knows the history of the tourist attractions and is a good guide. Thank you Mr Thep.A day trip experience in Chiang Rai
Julie
6 April 2024
He was super polite, on time, and offered great insights into different areas. Definitely recommend him!Great Insight!
Janice🇺🇸 United States
5 March 2024
Tep picked us up as stated in his correspondence through Whats App. He picked us up in his personal truck. We went to a market and walked around and he bought a few food items but we did not eat them there. He did not explain anything about the market. We had to ask a lot of questions to get any information out of him. In my opinion he was not very knowledgable about the foods. Next he took us to a local restaurant. He ordered all of the food for us since the menu was only written in Thai. Again I had to ask questions about what he ordered. He did not explain much about the food or the culture or the restaurant. Next he took us to a larger city restaurant market. He ordered all of the food. A woman showed up at our table but we were never introduced. I ended up introducing myself and asked her name. She joined us in eating the food and had a beer. Tep told us she was there to save us a table. I just found it a bit odd!! Very little conversation amongst Tep and the rest of us. My husband and I were both very disappointed in this food tour. There was nothing extraordinary or special about the foods we ate other than that they were kind of weird and not something typical we would eat in the US. I was hoping for more educational information and higher quality foods/restaurant We probably could have done pretty much this same tour on our own. The price point for this tour was way more than it should have been.Street Food tour
Sharon🇬🇧 United Kingdom
1 March 2024
The tour was exactly what we wanted and Tepthai was the perfect guide for us. The temples and The Baan Dam Museum are magnificent on any day, but the service provided by Tepthai really added to our experience.
He arrived on time, provided very comfortable transportation, provided juice and water and even took us to a 'hidden' local restaurant for lunch.
This tour and Tepthai are highly recommended.Wonderful Experience
Catherinw 🇺🇸 United States
14 February 2024
Mr Thep took us all the places we wanted to see as well as a few places he knew of that we did not …which we were happy happy to experience… He looked out for us , made sure we had water , drove safely etc He gave us additional information about the sites , patiently answered our questions and never rushed us.. Good guide
Philip🇦🇺 Australia
10 January 2024
Tep was a very good guide who looked after us in a most professional manner. Enjoyable experience
davempa1🇺🇸 United States
24 December 2023
Tepthai,
Was on time and provided local insight into numerous topics. He was knowledgable, friendly, and patient helping along the way with photos and local information. I liked how he let us go at our pace without rushing or hurrying us along even allowing us to do our thing but always close by. Great day with our guide
Tom🇦🇹 Austria
19 December 2023
We got a specialized tour to some of the top attractions of Chiang Rai. Tep came up with a suggested tour adapted to our interests. Thank you for this wonderful day!
Very kindful guide with a lot of knowledge
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.
More about me
Hello everyone, my name is Tepthai Powwai, but feel free to call me Mr. Thep. With 25 years of experience in the tourism industry, I have honed my skills in both Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai cities in Northern Thailand. Currently, I run a quaint local traditional homestay and work as a travel guide in Chiang Rai city. I specialize in managing various tours in Chiang Rai city, ranging from amazing jungle trekking adventures that can span from one to three days, to comprehensive sightseeing tours also lasting up to 1 week or more.
Additionally, I manage a homestay in a traditional hill tribe village.
You're warmly welcome to the small, beautiful, and peaceful Chiang Rai city in Northern Thailand.