Chiang Mai Province Day trips

The van ride was surprisingly comfortable. I expected a bumpy ride but we arrived smoothly. I was the second to board and the last to get off. There was a separate driver. The trip took about 1 hour and 20-30 minutes, with a short stop at a rest area. I didn't need to use the restroom, but a stranger from Thailand opened the van door, which startled me. The driver immediately came over and stopped him. There was also a child from another tourist group in the van, and they were scared too. It's probably better to travel with a group. Upon arriving at New Elephant Home, we were provided with a blue top, optional blue bottoms (no extra cost), a hat, and flip-flops. There were about 20 elephants, and they explained about African and Asian elephants, and things to be cautious of. There were also baby elephants and pregnant elephants. We fed them chopped sugarcane and pumpkin, as well as tamarind, rice, and bananas. We received a cross-body bag for food and then took a raft across to see the elephants. We spent a long time feeding them, and it was fun getting kisses from the elephants. The guide took great pictures. We returned by raft. I think it was a canal connected to the Mekong River. The elephants were splashing around in the water, and we helped wash them. After returning, we quickly washed up. There was a faucet at a good height to wash our legs and hands, and liquid soap was nearby. The restrooms weren't bad; they had toilet paper and were free. Towels were also provided. When bathing the elephants, you'll get splashed, so it's a good idea to bring extra pants and underwear. Wearing flip-flops is also recommended. Meals were included in the tour. It was a buffet with water, pad thai, fried food, rice, soup, watermelon, and what seemed like traditional Thai jelly. Other food items seemed to be ordered separately, and coffee or Coca-Cola were extra. Since you'll be touching and feeding elephants, you should expect to get dirty. Elephants are vegan, so their droppings don't smell bad; it's more like the smell of a rural area without fertilizer, which was interesting. I was the only Korean person. I heard that many Koreans go to Rang Khong. I actually felt more comfortable being with people from other countries, and everyone was very polite, which made it even better. Group size: Approximately 4+2+3+1+1 = 11 people today. Guide: Achin was playful and kind. He will send the photos later. Breaks: There were more breaks than expected, including rest stop time, waiting for the raft, and after bathing the elephants, before changing clothes and having lunch. I recommend the tour. It was fun.

We had a great time on our Chiang Rai day tour! 🩵 The trip was well-organized, enjoyable, and very informative. Our guide (Raine) was friendly and knowledgeable, and we learned a lot about the history and culture of each place we visited. The temples were beautiful, and everything was explained clearly without feeling rushed. Overall, it was a memorable experience and definitely worth it. Highly recommended! ✨

The driver was very nice, and the overall trip was reliable. The Sticky Waterfalls are located in a forest park in Northern Thailand. The rocks of the waterfall are grayish-white with a bluish tint, which is truly amazing! The water is cool, and you can interact closely with nature as you climb up!

Such an amazing tour with an amazing tour guide, his name is James. Very informative, open to lots of questions, made sure we are comfortable and suggested more places to visit to fully enjoy Chiang Mai. James is a highly recommended tour guide. He is calm and always have a big smile on his face. Will surely book this tour again if ever i visit again with ny family.

Our tour guide, M, was very kind and dedicated, switching between Chinese and English to assist everyone in the group. Before the trip, pay close attention to the travel agency's messages. The day before departure, they will send an email with the updated meeting time; the one I received was different from what was initially booked. The car arrived exactly on time. 8:50 AM: Chiang Rai Hot Spring. The foot bath was extremely hot, so I could only dip my feet in briefly. 9:20 AM: Long Neck Village. There's a coffee shop on a hill next to the parking lot, offering distant views. The owner had difficulty communicating in English, so it's best to double-check your order. 11:30 AM - 12:40 PM: White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). It was breathtakingly beautiful, and the route design was very meaningful. Photography is not allowed inside the main hall. 12:50 PM: Lunch. It was a buffet with freshly made noodle soup, various Thai desserts, and sweet fruits. 1:50 PM - 2:30 PM: Blue Temple (Wat Rong Seur Ten). You can take photos with the large Buddha statue inside the Blue Temple. Outside, there's a row of vendors where you can buy souvenirs and snacks. 2:50 PM - 3:30 PM: Black House (Baan Dam Museum). This is an artist's private collection with a unique style. 4:30 PM - 5:40 PM: Golden Triangle Park (optional boat tour for 300 baht per person). We returned to Nimman Road at 10:00 PM, an hour later than the scheduled 9:00 PM. Thankfully, I had brought snacks for the journey. The streetlights along the route were quite spaced out, and the mountain roads were not very smooth, so I recommend that those prone to motion sickness take medication beforehand. Although the tour ended very late, the guide remained energetic and provided excellent service throughout.

Aside from the slightly older shuttle vehicle, the entire trip was very satisfying. Although the supplier doesn't contact you again before the trip, the driver arrived on time for hotel pickup. We experienced heavy afternoon rain, but still thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and had a great time. Remember to advise tourists to wear swimsuits (because you'll be bathing elephants in the river) or shorts and sandals, and to definitely bring rain gear and a change of clothes! Then you can enjoy the whole process! At 1:00 PM, hotel pickups begin. At 1:30 PM, we depart for about an hour's drive. At 2:30 PM, you can store your belongings in lockers (locks provided), followed by an explanation and preparation of food for feeding the elephants. At 3:00 PM, you'll feed the elephants, take photos, walk with the elephants, take photos in the forest, play in the mud with the elephants, and bathe and take photos with the elephants in the river. At 4:15 PM, you'll be shuttled to the restaurant for a buffet meal (fried rice, fried chicken nuggets, fruit, soup). At 5:00 PM, we begin the return journey, arriving at the old city at 6:00 PM for drop-offs back to individual hotels.

My mum and I really enjoyed the full-day White & Blue Temple Cultural Tour. It was a wonderful experience with good service and the guide explained the culture and history very well. We learned a lot and truly enjoyed the whole trip.

Unfortunately, the tour started a bit outside the main area, which I found a little disappointing. Otherwise, I'm absolutely thrilled. The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and explained a lot. He also answered questions promptly. He made a special effort to integrate everyone into the group and gave us some tips and information. The temples were also breathtaking, and I don't regret doing it. To top it off, our tour guide even gave us mini pineapples at the end.

The top choice for getting close to elephants, and it's very close to the Old City! The driver was very friendly! We got to interact with the elephants, feed them sugarcane, walk with them, make medicinal balls to aid their digestion (banana, brown sugar, salt, tamarind, bitter melon root, rice bran powder), and bathe them in the river. The entire environment was wonderful; learning about elephants in nature was an amazing experience! The fee also helps support the elephant sanctuary, which makes it feel very worthwhile.