Songkran Chiang Mai tour guide
During Songkran, Chiang Mai's festival centers on the Old City moat and Tha Phae Gate, and April daytime reaches 35-40 degrees. This guide gathers 6 Chiang Mai tours you can do in the morning and finish before the midday heat or join in the afternoon: an Old Town temple walk through Tha Phae Gate, morning and afternoon cycling with a northern Thai meal, a Doi Suthep sunrise and water-based rafting.
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Tour 22 Co Classical Chiang Mai (Co Van Kessel Chiang Mai)View tour MONKEYTRAVEL TOUR GUIDE
Compare by start and end times, route relative to Tha Phae Gate, and inclusions rather than by rank.
Chiang Mai Tour
Good for these time slotsFinish an Old City ride before the sun gets high
After an 08:00 check-in you cycle through Chiang Mai's temples, markets, alleys and a hill-tribe village area with a few drink and snack stops, finishing at 11:00. Bikes, helmets, a guide and insurance are included; round-trip pickup is extra. Pregnant guests and those with back problems are advised against it.
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Chiang Mai Tour
Good for these time slotsA cycling half day that starts in the afternoon and runs into the evening
After a 14:00 check-in you explore temples and alleys at 15:00, cross the Ping River at 15:30, visit a community temple at 16:30, eat northern Thai food at 17:00 and finish at 18:00. Bikes, helmets, a guide, the meal and drinks, and insurance are included. Bring a raincoat if it rains.
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Chiang Mai Tour
Good for these time slotsA group that wants photos in traditional costume at an Old City temple
A shop near Tha Phae Gate in the Old City, surrounded by Lanna-style temples, rents traditional costumes you can photograph in right away. It is open 09:00-20:00 with last entry at 15:00, and costumes must be returned before 20:00 the same day. Hair, makeup and photography are paid options, and it runs in light rain.
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Chiang Mai Tour
Good for these time slotsA dawn tour that frees the whole day before the heat
A 05:00 hotel pickup brings you to Doi Suthep for sunrise over the city at 05:30, then Chaloem Phra Kiat viewpoint at 07:00 and the forest temple Wat Pha Lat at 07:30, finishing at 08:00. It is a private-vehicle tour; entry (30 baht Doi Suthep, 20 baht cable car) and a guide are extra. It runs in light rain.
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Chiang Mai Tour
Good for these time slotsA family day at a waterfall park and gardens
A private taxi day that picks up at 08:00, visits Maetaman Elephant Camp at 09:30, Dantewada Waterfall Park (artificial falls and gardens) at 11:20 and Wat Ban Den at 13:20, and is back at the hotel at 15:00. Admissions are extra, and it runs in light rain.
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Chiang Mai Tour
Good for these time slotsCarrying the water-play mood into rafting and ATVs
A day of white-water rafting, an ATV drive and a jungle trek, with a choice of session 1 (08:00-16:00) or session 2 (11:30-19:00). Round-trip pickup, meals, safety gear, a locker and a towel are included, led by an English-speaking Thai guide. It runs in light rain, and skipping on your own forfeits the full refund.
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Continue with city guides for attractions, restaurants, massage and shopping.
Songkran in Chiang Mai centers on the Old City moat and Tha Phae Gate. This guide puts Old Town routes through that area first and groups the rest by morning and afternoon; April daytime reaches 35-40 degrees.
The Old Town temple half day runs 07:30-11:10 past Tha Phae Gate, the Three Kings Monument and Wat Chedi Luang, and the EV tuk-tuk gathers at 10:00 and ends at 12:00. Both leave you easy access to the festival inside the Old City afterward.
Cycling has two slots. The classic ride is 08:00-11:00, and the combo is 14:00-18:00, crossing the Ping River and ending with a northern Thai meal. Bring a raincoat if it rains.
The costume rental near Tha Phae Gate is open 09:00-20:00 with last entry at 15:00, and costumes must be back before 20:00, so plan the photo session within the afternoon.
The Doi Suthep sunrise picks up at 05:00 and ends at 08:00, leaving the day free, and Rafting & ATV offers 08:00-16:00 or 11:30-19:00. The waterfall-park private tour picks up at 08:00 and returns at 15:00.
Pack clothes that meet temple dress rules, and check pickup surcharges for outlying hotels on each listing. Some tours have minimum numbers.
The Old Town temple half day runs 07:30-11:10 past Tha Phae Gate, the Three Kings Monument and Wat Chedi Luang, and the EV tuk-tuk tour gathers at 10:00 and ends at 12:00 on the cafe street. Both leave you close to the moat afterward.
The Doi Suthep sunrise picks up at 05:00 and ends at 08:00, the classic cycle runs 08:00-11:00 and the combo cycle 14:00-18:00. Use these slots to save energy for joining the festival in the 35-40 degree April daytime.
White-Water Rafting & ATV offers a session 08:00-16:00 or 11:30-19:00 with meals, safety gear, a locker and a towel included. The waterfall-park day links the artificial Dantewada falls, an elephant camp and Wat Ban Den.
The Old Town temple tour excludes admissions and insurance, and the cycling tours do not include round-trip pickup. The Doi Suthep sunrise excludes the 30-baht entry and the 20-baht cable car. Temples have dress rules, so carry a change of clothes.
TRAVEL ROUTE
The temple half day runs 07:30-11:10; the EV tuk-tuk 10:00-12:00.
Classic 08:00-11:00; combo 14:00-18:00.
Sunrise is 05:00-08:00; costume rental has last entry at 15:00.
Rafting session 1 is 08:00-16:00; the waterfall park picks up at 08:00 and returns at 15:00.
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