Experience hosted by Ratana, Wichit & other locals
Private Tour
Carbon Neutral
How do you imagine the perfect day trip from Chiang Mai? Now you can make it a reality! Hire a local guide and set off on a fully personalized journey beyond the city limits. Explore the stunning surroundings by car, and you get to decide where and when to stop. From famous landmarks to hidden treasures in the countryside, the choice is yours!
Destination
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Category
Day Trips
Duration
8 hours
Transport mode
Car
Available languages
English, ไทย
Included
Private Guide
Transport by Car
All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
Excluded
Entrance to Attractions
Meals
6 reasons to book this tour
Your personal adventure beyond Chiang Mai – by car!
Fully personalized: 100% tailored to your preferences
The best of the surrounding areas with the comfort of a private car
Ideal for special occasions or themed adventures
Explore at your own pace and on your schedule
Insider tips & tricks for navigating the areas outside Chiang Mai
What you can expect
What’s on your must-see list around Chiang Mai? From the renowned Wat Doi Suthep to the picturesque Mae Sae Valley, you’re in control of where to explore outside the city. With Withlocals Your Way, you’ll get a private car and local guide for the day, giving you the freedom to experience the surrounding region exactly as you want.
No more juggling public transport or sticking to a strict itinerary – this 100% personalized tour is all about you! Your local host will create a custom plan based on your interests, taking you from well-known sights to hidden gems that are just a bit further from the city center. Perfect for those looking to escape the bustle of Chiang Mai while making the most of their time.
Each host has their own unique style and recommendations. Take a look at their profiles and choose your ideal guide. They’ll have an itinerary in mind, but are always open to crafting a tour that fits your desires perfectly.
And if you’re up for even more exploration, your host can extend the journey beyond a single day. Whether it's a multi-day adventure or just a deeper dive into the countryside, they can tailor the experience to suit your travel dreams. Simply reach out to your chosen guide and let the adventure begin!
Please note: The price listed is for a full-day tour outside the city and may vary depending on your specific requests. Entrance tickets are not included.
Choose your local
Get to know these 4 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.
Ratana
The Tour Guide
4.8109 reviews
English
Wichit
Your Guide to Chiang Mai's Flavors and Wonders
5.0
English・ไทย
Naphat
Spiritual Tour Guide, Ex-Buddhist Nun and Trained Guide For All Accessible tourism
4.8185 reviews
English・ไทย
Kamutnadda
I'm historian and food lover.
5.03 reviews
English
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.
Meeting point
Meet at - Chiang Mai 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.
The Experience is YOURS!
Take control of your day and explore the areas around Chiang Mai on a fully personalized tour. With your private guide and vehicle, you decide where to go and what to see beyond the city. Just let your local host know your interests, and they’ll create a tailor-made adventure for you!
Discover the Must-See Landmarks!
What’s on your must-visit list outside Chiang Mai? Journey from one iconic spot to another in the comfort of your private car. Your host will provide insider tips and take you to the top attractions beyond the city’s limits, ensuring you experience the region’s best sights.
Uncover Hidden Treasures
Looking to skip the usual tourist crowds? Your local guide will lead you off the beaten path, uncovering lesser-known treasures and offering exclusive views of famous landmarks around Chiang Mai, while avoiding the crowds. Discover the hidden gems that most visitors miss!
Explore Beyond the City Your Way
With a car at your disposal, you can easily explore the areas beyond Chiang Mai. From hidden local gems to historic streets in nearby towns and countryside, there’s so much to discover outside the main city attractions. Where will your curiosity take you outside the city?
The Best of the Surrounding Areas
Enjoy a full-day adventure outside Chiang Mai with the flexibility to explore at your own pace. Choose the sights, decide the timing, and let your host craft the perfect itinerary, ensuring you tick off every must-see attraction in the surrounding areas.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
Paul
(About local )
9 February 2025
Started the day with an introduction to the history of the area, then touring temples, boat trip and finally south away from the tourist trapsFantastic passion and historical knowledge
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
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
Roman
(About local )
6 February 2025
Our trip to Chiang Rai with Ratana was very pleasant and interesting. In addition to the sights, Ratana's pleasant and humorous nature is worth mentioning. And not always a given: Ratana is a good and considerate driver. My wife and I can definitely recommend a trip with Ratana.Trip to Chiang Rai
Amy🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
4 February 2025
Kamutnadda (“Eddie”) took my best friend and I on a fantastic food tour in Chiang Mai! He is incredibly knowledgeable and provided great historical context while making it feel like a local experience and skillfully avoiding tourist crowds/traps. The timing was well thought out; allowing us to enjoy each stop without feeling rushed. He was also super flexible regarding food allergy accommodations and provided creative alternatives so we could each experience the best of Chiang Mai’s cuisine. I highly recommend booking with Eddie for anyone looking for an authentic and well-curated food tour - including the best fried chicken you’ll ever have!Local experience with a foodie!
Jemima
(About local )
3 February 2025
We had a fabulous tour with Eddie. He was very well informed and full of interesting facts and enthusiasm for the sites he took us to.
Our tour lasted an hour longer than expected, which was fine by us.
I thoroughly recommend himExcellent interesting tour
Marc🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
1 February 2025
I booked and took a day trip to Doi Inthanon with Naphat. This excursion made a huge impression on me historically, scenically and spiritually. Naphat is a very experienced and versatile trained tour guide with a flair for captivating people. The in-depth conversations and detailed explanations of the various places visited far exceeded my expectations. Among other things, I was able to experience first-hand insights into coexistence in a mountain village.
This and the explanations about Buddhism in everyday life touched me very much and I am very grateful to Naphat for that. I can highly recommend Naphat to anyone looking for something more than just landscape images.Very nice&educational trip to Doi Inthanon
Bret
(About local )
1 February 2025
I had such a wonderful experience with Naphat. She is very knowledgeable about the city, food and temples. She took me to the best scenic spots, the best food in town, as well as shared great knowledge about temples and Buddhism. I keep going back to the spot she took me for sunset and some of the amazing food we had. Some of the food places included famous spots that Anthony Bourdain visited while he was in Chiang Mai. I had such a great experience the first time that I booked another tour with Naphat. Don’t miss out and book a wonderful tour with Naphat, you won’t regret it! Wonderful Experience
Marc🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
31 January 2025
This day trip to Chiang Rai with a visit to the White Temple, the Blue Temple, the museum and the delicious lunch (not included in the tour) was overwhelmingly beautiful for me. Thanks to Naphat's very competent guidance, I was able to learn a lot about the temples, Buddhism and the culture. Naphat listened to me and took my individual interests into account and adapted the tour to them. Naphat is very pleasant to deal with and I had the feeling of being taken seriously throughout the day trip. Thanks also go to the driver, who drove very carefully and got us safely through the day.
I will always be happy to book Naphat for trips like this again.
Thank you very much for the wonderful experiences.Exciting excursion with Naphat
k7868nsy2q
(About local )
22 January 2025
Naphat was extremely knowledgeable and kind during our tour. She not only told us about the food and why the food is cooked a certain way but she also knew the history of Thailand. She was funny and kind and even gave us recommendations of where to visit while in Chiang mai. Very easy to talk as well. Book now! It’s worth it!Best experience to learn culture & eat
Jeffrey
(About local )
19 January 2025
Excellent job of explaining what I needed to see inside and outside of the temples. I left the tour with a good understanding of the old history and how it was designed. His personal experience as a monk and ex-monk story is worth hiring him for alone. Charin is a pro
Irene
(About local )
19 January 2025
We had a truly wonderful experience with Naphat as our guide. From the very start, she made us feel welcome and comfortable, taking the time to understand exactly what we were looking for and customizing the tour to match our interests. Her knowledge of the area and its culture is outstanding, and she shared fascinating insights at every turn, making our trip both beautiful and enriching.
Beyond her expertise, Naphat’s warm personality and genuine care for our enjoyment stood out. She went above and beyond to ensure we had memorable moments, whether it was recommending a hidden local eatery or adjusting the pace of the tour to suit us. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and would wholeheartedly recommend Naphat to anyone seeking an exceptional, personalized travel experienceWonderful experience with Naphat
Tesia
(About local )
15 January 2025
We had a great time with Ratana trekking through the national park, learning about plants, seeing the waterfall and finally making it to visit a local Karen village. We saw weaving and got to drink some coffee and eat at a local restaurant before heading off to Doi Ithanon. Overall it was a long day but Ratana got us a rice snack and was great at giving a lot of relevant information and making it fun!Ratana is the best!
Sam
(About local )
14 January 2025
Really enjoyed my time with Napaht, she had a wealth of knowledge of the area, was a great help in helping me understand Thailand rich history Wealth of knowledge
Natalie
(About local )
14 January 2025
Naphat showed us hidden places serving local delicacies. This authentic experience took us along alleyways in the old town.
The food we tasted ranged from delicious appetizers to tipical northern specialities spicy and tasty, ending with colorful Thai desserts.
Thank you Naphat for this exceptional experience.For foodaholics
Krishna
(About local )
14 January 2025
If you are vegetarian or vegan, do not book a daytime tour as the options are limited before the markets open in the evening. Our guide Naphat also seemed uncomfortable with the concept of vegetarian, so maybe better to pick a different guide.
When you book, specify your dietary restrictions and make sure the host acknowledges them and triple confirm with them that they can accommodate - otherwise you may be disappointed.
With locals - please update the description of this tour and train your hosts. Vegetarians - read this
Slavi
(About local )
11 January 2025
Naphat was an incredible tour guide in Chiang Mai! She took us around the various food markets and provided very insightful commentary on the dishes we tried together. It was truly some of the best food we had on our trip and Naphat provided a fun ambiance and took care of everything for us. Highly recommend her!!Best guide!!
Jo
(About local )
11 January 2025
We had a really great food tour with Naphat. She was very kind and explained a lot about food and thai culture. She also adapted the tour to our diats. We can definitley recommend the tour with her! Thank you again and many greetings!Great experience with Naphat
Robert🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
10 January 2025
My teenage children and I had a great day trip for Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with Naphant. She gave us a lot of information regarding the history of the area and then was very flexible in our itinerary for the day. We were able to add on an additional stop to see the Black House Museum in addition to the various temples that were included in the trip. I would highly recommend Naphant.Great tour of Chiang Rai
Joshua
(About local )
10 January 2025
Naphat was super knowledgeable and does a great job. Excellent
Joshua
(About local )
10 January 2025
Great tour guide, would highly recommend. Naphat is clearly passionate about what she does and ensuring guests get the most from the experience. Passionate guide
Andrea
(About local )
10 January 2025
É stato bellissimo, piacevole, Napath é allegra e disposta a parlare di tutto. Conosce bene Chiang Mai, la cultura thai, sa calibrare il tour in base alle esigenze. Ottimo! Grazie mille!
John🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 January 2025
We had a fantastic few hours across several markets with Naphat. The tour is for 10 tastings, but it seems like the food just kept coming! Khao Soi, Khao Kha Moo, papaya salad (with fermented fish sauce!), northern sausage, mango sticky rice, and more. Along the way, we learned about the history of the people and food, and Naphat was happy to answer any other questions we had about the area and our plans while there. Fantastic way to jump into Chiang Mai
Sissi🇦🇹 Austria
(About local )
8 January 2025
Naphat hat uns viele philosophische, kulturelle und faszinierende Einblicke in die Welt von Chiang Mai gegeben. Sie ist eine sehr angenehme Begleitung.Lanna Land
Ivan🇪🇸 Spain
(About local )
6 January 2025
Naphat was very welcoming and attentive. She was easy to adapt to our desires and preferences, while at the same time very attentive to our experience that made her adapt the tour to our taste. She taught us how to enhance every single bite of various Thai dishes just as the locals do. We had a wonderful thorough conversation about the food and the cultural influences on Thai food We visited a couple of night markets and one of them was clearly where only the locals go which made it very special for us. A truly authentic experience
Minty🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 January 2025
Ratana is very sweet, and we had a great time learning phrases to haggle and interact with local vendors. I would definitely recommend her to my family and friends. 😊Good experience
Minty🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 January 2025
Ratana was very sweet and kind to us throughout the trip! She is very friendly and easy going with the vendors, which makes everyone smile and treat us back with warm energy.
She took us to secret spots and we had a sneak peek in to the lives of locals, which added a lot of depth to our journey.
She felt like an auntie to us. Thank you Ratana! 🙏Best Tour Guide
Glenn🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
5 January 2025
Ratana took my wife and I to Chiang Rai to see the white and blue temples. While it takes 3 hours to get there from Chiang Mai it was totally worth it. Ratana did a great job driving us through the mountains to get there. She took us to some great spots where the big tours won't take you. I would highly recommend this tour and Ratana as your guide!What an awesome trip!
Claudia🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
5 January 2025
Thank you for this special day! We learned so much about Chiang Mai and Buddhismus and life. We saw a lot of things, we would have never seen. Thank you Naphat for this!Fantastic guide and day!
ELISABETH🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
3 January 2025
Naphat made all her best to find the best spots even if we selected the 1 jan 25, we loved itStreet food with Naphat
Troy🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
1 January 2025
Spending time seeing off the beaten track parts of the city with Naphat was an absolute joy. She has a great way of giving you knowledge of her country, the city and Buddhism in easy bite sized chunks that made it interesting! I think what added to the experience was her ex nun background. It felt like you were truly hanging out with a local in their town!Absolutely loved Naphat
Fenja🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
31 December 2024
Ratana was a great guide for us. She is very knowledgeable about Thai history and culture and answered all of our many questions. Her English is good to understand. She also brought us to non-touristy spots and took us to quiet corners of the temples to give us background information. We had a good time, thanks a lot, Ratana. Great History & Culture Guide
Tryphena🇭🇰 Hong Kong
(About local )
29 December 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Ratana who was very knowledgeable & very friendly. She was a safe driver & was very patient with us who are traveling with my mom who is slow in moving around. We will definitely call her when we come back to Chiang Mai again!Sunrise at Doi Suthep
ben
(About local )
24 December 2024
Naphat was a wonderful host
Slowly taking us around the city and teaching us all about the local culture.
A special moment was sitting in the temple, understanding Buddhism, and how the locals and her own family practice. We talked for hours about personal experiences and saw some wonderful places.
We then asked about food, live music, things to do, and are now armed with a list we’re working our way through, all of the recommendations were spot on and thoroughly enjoyed.
Naphat was kind, considerate, and listened well to our needs. She can even help with accommodation recommendations to help you enjoy your visit at a great price.
We would recommend her to anyone visiting and will look her up again if we’re ever back.
Thank you so much Naphat, wishing your family well at Christmas time.Tours with passion
steffenstoeckle🇹🇭 Thailand
(About local )
24 December 2024
The tour in Chiang Mai old town was great! We visited the most important sites and learned a lot about the life in Thailand. Especially the old neighbourhoods and houses and the market Warorot with very good food and beautiful flowers were fantastic to see! Thank you!Great Tour!
Carol🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
24 December 2024
We had a wonderful day and a wonderful experience with Naphat as our guide on the Doi Inthanon day trip. Naphat is not only knowledgeable about Thai history and culture, but was also able to provide us with insights on Buddhism, which we found not only interesting but also enlightening.
Pace of sightseeing and driving was set to our preferences.
Highly recommend Naphat as your guide in Chiang Mai. Enlightened
Juliette🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
21 December 2024
We had a wonderful experience with Ratana. She is so warm and friendly and have us a good glimpse at the deep history of Chiang Mai.
She was able to personalise the itinerary so that we were able to take breaks aa my husband’s back was playing up.
Strongly recommended her tour! Wonderful personalised tour
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.