Highlights & Hidden Gems With Locals: Best Of Chiang Mai Private Tour

We had a wonderful time on our hidden highlights tour in Chiang Mai! Our guide, Eddie, made it so fun for us and our 3 children. He took us to see 2 of the 3 oldest Stupas in Chiang Mai, a couple beautiful temples where we could see monks working and people practicing meditation chants. Next, we strolled through a local artists' village and ended the evening with a delicious meal at a local restaurant. Eddie explained the different northern and north eastern dishes and spices while we dined! We had a chance to avoid the touristy spots and instead enmeshed ourselves in local Chiang Mai culture. Even the rain couldn't spoil a delightful evening! Chiang Mai is beautiful and green with fresh air which we really enjoyed after Bangkok! Thanks again Eddie!

Really lovely tour … great insight into the area including a visit to the market to taste good food, a coffee stop, a visit to a temple and lots of amazing information from May … 100% recommend

Eddie was a fantastic guide tailoring the tour to exactly what we wanted. A perfect mix of history, culture and nature, taking us to places we would have never found on our own. Really appreciated him taking the time to talk to us at the beginning of the tour to understand what our interests were. Would 100% recommend

Mondo was excellent very passionate and knowledgeable about Chiang Mai and its history. I recommend if first time to Chiang Mai

Ratana was charming and informative guide who told stories of growing up in town, history of the area and most importantly the meaning of the symbols and rituals of the Buddhist faith while visiting the temples.

Our guide was very sweet. She was very focused on the history of all the temples and I think we might have been more interested in the history of Chiang Mai in general. I will take responsibility for not being more direct with our expectations. Again, she was very sweet and informative, it was just a long, hot 3 hrs. I would probably recommend it and just advise that you make your wants known.

We were met on time and Boy gave us an over view of Chiang Mai history. Then we went on a walking tour around the various Wats! Boy was as very informative and interesting he showed us short cut to places with interesting places on route such as the old market we tried local produce. We enjoyed the tour which gave us point of interest to return to as we were unable to fully complete the walk in the allotted time.

This tour was the highlight of our trip to Chiang Mai. We love history, and our guide, Eddie, customized our tour to fit our interests. Eddie was incredibly knowledgeable about history and knew exactly where to take us to see the most important historical sights (but which are often missed by the guidebooks). He truly went above and beyond to make the day unforgettable. And, on top of it all, his picks for local food were excellent. I wish we could give more than 5 stars.

An amazing and quick highlight tour of the temples and market in Old City. Ratana was a lot of fun with a great personality and vast knowledge of Old City Chiang Mai. We saw just the right amount of temples, did some shopping in a small market, and even got a new year’s blessing from a monk! Highly recommend - thank you Ratana!

Good and informative tour. He spoke good English and answered our questions very well. Overall, good experience though we found it overpriced.

Eddy did s wonderful job. He offered to meet me at my hotel instead of the meeting point, which was very thoughtful of him! He customized the tour itinerary to my requests, and he was very knowledgeable of what we visited. Excellent tour!

Eddie is a fabulous guide. He has a deep knowledge of Thai history and the effects of religion, wars, and new and old trade routes on the development of a united Thailand and Thai culture, especially including architecture. He answers your questions thoughtfully and without judgment. He’s fun to be with, knows all the best spots for taking photos everywhere he takes you, and works really hard to give you an unforgetable experience. We were so happy with our adventure to Lamphun with Eddie: Wats galore, a personal visit with an abbot monk, lunch at a tiny outdoor cafe/restaurant locally famous for serving noodles in single-spoonful-size cups arrayed on a tray, a huge outdoor market with no tourists (except us), a local organic coffee and juice cafe, and a small silk maker and weaver that supplies the Thai Royal Family. What a day!

We saw more on this tour than we expected and learned a great deal about the history and culture. Minty was an excellent, kind, and generous guide who quickly identified what we liked and customized our tour. She really surpassed our expectations and was able to balance my husband's interest in seeing all the temples in the old city with my shopping the Sunday night market. We had so much fun and loved how this tour provided an excellent orientation to the city.

Purichat, or as May as she told us to call her, was a very knowledgeable and friendly guide. We enjoyed her tour and as well as her very witty sense of humour. Highly recommended :)

We had an excellent tour with Eddy. He was very well informed and enthusiastic about the sites we visited. I would thoroughly using him.

Our booking via Tripadvisor was suddenly cancelled a day prior. Since we were leaving the country the day after the tour the extremely short notice left us unable to book anything else. What a disappointment and unreliable experience that was.

This is a stellar opportunity to really get a sense of the history of Chiang Mai. Boy was an amazing guide and we learned a lot about the history and customs. My brother and I really enjoyed this tour and would recommend it to all.

Ratana our guide was delightful, friendly and chatty and full of information. She always had answers when we asked her about the history of Thailand and life now. We tried durian (not as bad as it’s made out to be??), saw lots of temples in the old city—some really beautiful—and she gave us good tips for the markets, local food, and hiking on the outskirts of the city. Thank you, Ratana!

Excellent tour. We learned a lot. . Our tour guide ,Boy was very kind and spoke excellent English. We had just arrived the day before. This was an excellent introduction.

Purdichat was an absolute delight and my friends and I enjoyed touring around Chiang Mai with her. It was so special and informative to see the city through the eyes of a local. What I appreciated most about her is the pride and care with which she answered our questions and informed us about Thai culture, the history of the sites and temples we visited, and the philosophy of Buddhism. My friends and I left the tour with an increased understanding of the city and the Thai people. I highly recommend her as a guide.

We loved getting to know the neighborhoods of Chiang Mai on this tour. It helped us to get to learn about the history of the city while learning our way around. A great way to kick-off our stay!

Wuthikorn (Boy) was an amazing tour guide. We got many recommendations for our stay and got to see things thru a locals eyes. He was very adaptable and great to speak with. Highly recommend using this tour service

We had a wonderful time with Boy. He showed us the old town, great places to eat, told us a lot about the city's history, and shared insights into the culture. We couldn’t have asked for a better tour guide. Thank you for the lovely hours! :)

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.

It was a great walk around the city! I got to learn about the history of Chiang Mai, see some nice local spots for food, coffee/tea, etc. It was relaxing and at my pace! Would really recommend this to anyone visiting Chiang Mai, especially if it's their first time.

Well-organized and comprehensive tour. The tour guide provided a wealth of information about the city and its culture.

We had an amazing experience with Boy as our tour guide! He truly made our first day unforgettable. Our family of six, including four children ages 7-14, learned so much about Thai culture, food, and religion. Boy’s ability to engage our kids was exceptional, tailoring the tour to keep them interested while ensuring we all got the most out of the experience. His English was excellent, and we really appreciated how he went above and beyond, spending extra time with us as we explored the market. His knowledge, warmth, and patience made the tour extra special. He also is an excellent photographer. Highly recommend Boy for anyone visiting Chiang Mai!

We had a perfect trip on our first morning to explore Chiang Mai on a bike. Ae was very easy going and knew her way around the old city.

The tour was excellent. Wuthikorn is very knowledgeable about the temples, religion, history, so it was very interesting. I really enjoyed my afternoon in Chiang Mai and learned a lot about the wonderful temples I was able to visit. I highly recommend this tour with Wuthikorn!

Boy expertly navigated us through so many different temples. A large of the tour felt private given these were less crowded. We also got many chances to cool off from the heat that set it pretty quickly. Great way to spend 3 hours If you want cultural context and see some amazing temples, a market and the sights of Chiang Mai, this is definitely the tour and I would highly recommend Boy for your trip.

Ratana was great, knowledgable and passionate about the city and its history. My wife and I loved the tour. Highly recommended.

Had such a great day on this walking tour with Boy! I was traveling solo and it felt like I spent the day with a friend. He was so informative and kind and I learned a lot. I was even able to partake in some things at the temple. He knew I had an interest in food and went above and beyond taking me to some street food places and a Michelin star spot for lunch. Definitely recommend this tour and request Boy!!

I had an amazing tour with Boy! I was sooo and it felt like I was spending the day with a friend. He taught me so much about daily life in Chiang Mai, the history of the city, and Buddhism. I was even able to partake in some activities at the temples. He definitely showed me some hidden gems around the city as well. He knew I was interested in food and went above and beyond taking me to lunch and some street food vendors. I highly recommend this tour! Definitely request Boy as your guide!

Our Old City tour in Chiang Mai with Naphat was truly unforgettable. She was an incredible guide, blending her deep knowledge with a warm, personable approach that made us feel like we were exploring the city with a local friend. Naphat not only took us to the most notable temples in town but also guided us through the vibrant community, sharing insights into daily life and local culture. The experience felt immersive and authentic, with highlights including learning about Buddhist religion and spirituality in a meaningful way and taking a fun tuk-tuk ride to a bustling local market. We can’t recommend this tour with Naphat enough—it’s the perfect way to see the best of Chiang Mai and connect with its rich history and culture!

Our guide, Purichat, was really lovely. She was able to show us a couple of places we wanted to see plus had other places in mind that we might have an interest in. During the tour she shared information about Thai culture and what we were seeing. For example the spirit houses which people have in front of their houses to shelter spirits and bring good fortune to the home. She was very well versed on temples and Thai culture. I would recommend the tour if want to know more about what makes Chiang Mai so special.

We had a great time biking with Ae through Chiang Mai. The cars are pretty respectful of bike riders and Ae makes sure that you are safe. Saw a lot in a short amount of time bc we were in a bike. I recommend her tour highly!

We booked on short notice the evening before and were warmly welcomed by Ae, who was (as we) already ready at the meeting point shortly before our meeting time. The bikes & helmets were ready and off we went on a wonderfully organized bike tour through the old town: Ae is super knowledgeable on all sights and one can only imagine how much thought went into the route! We went through smaller streets to multiple stops, had a relaxed chance to experience the city while Ae was always pointing out interesting things, answering questions and making sure we had a great experience. While riding the bikes, Ae was a superb Guide: Giving clear instructions, while making sure we are safe by either using smaller streets, or observing the traffic and waiting for a clear window on more buzzing streets. We are super happy we stumbled upon this amazing tour while scrolling for what to do in Chiang Mai. We highly recommend her and will be sure to have one of the other tours she offers when we come back to Chiang Mai!

If you’re looking to visit the normal tourist sites with a guide then this one isn’t for you. However if you’d like to see real life here in Chaing Mai the he’s your one! Boy took us to see lesser visited stuff, but in his opinion sites of significance. He explained in detail temples and shrines together with Buddhist culture. We visited flower and food markets and he explained street food and street food culture. Well worth spending 3 hours with him.

Great tour of Chiang Mai with a knowledgeable local guide! Would recommend for anyone who wants to see the highlights and learn about local culture.

Ae responded to our needs and desires during the day and made sure we had a positive experience. She went out of her way to make sure we experienced what she liked in the city.

I had a great tour with Boy. He was able to adapt the tour to suit my mobility needs and limit the amount of walking involved by using tuk tuk transport instead. He was informative, engaging and thoughtful. Being a solo traveller, I felt comfortable with him which is important. It was great learning more about the history of Chiang Mai and Lanna culture from him directly - beats reading it from a guide book. Overall I had a great tour, conversation was easy and free flowing and he’s been helpful with recommendations for further sights and cafes to explore during my stay. I highly recommend touring with Boy.

Our guy's name was Pipop. She was pleasant, friendly and knowledgeable. We saw a lot of things and got to know the city really well on took took and by foot. We started our tour at 11 AM so, in retrospect, Tour right through the hottest part of the day. If we would do it again we would start earlier or much later and avoid that 12 noon sun. She gave us lots of suggestions for things to do, places to eat and just fun stuff that allowed us to see how the locals live.

Minty was simply amazing! She picked us up in a luxurious van and timed our activities perfectly well. She suggested we visited a farm after we’d been to the sticky waterfalls and we just loved it. We learnt to plant rice, ride buffaloes and walked around the beautiful countryside. We didn’t feel rushed while doing lots. It felt more like spending the day with a friend than a guide, she also explained a lot of Thailand’s history, provided us with snacks and drinks and overall was very attentive and flexible. It’s not always easy to plan a day that makes both children happy (one is 11 and the other is 18) but Minty really aced it. The whole experience made for an effortless day we would have been unable to organise on our own. Thank you Minty 😊

We had a lovely tour with May. A great mix of culture, religious and historical stops as well as food and current life stops. It was well worth the time and money. We were a group of six with you kids 8 and 10, their parents and grandparents. Yet everyone had a great time and enjoyed May‘s tour. We can highly recommend and would do more tours with her. Thank you for a super awesome experience.

We contacted Naphat to spend a morning in peaceful places of Chiang Mai discussing mindfulness and practising meditation. Naphat is knowledgeable and was able to communicate this. We met in a temple and the time flew by as we learnt about Buddha and Naphat answered our questions before spending time in the park practising mindfulness and meditation in various ways. Naphat was flexible, knowledgeable and accommodating and we had a great experience- better than we could have expected

My time with Naphat was incredible. If you are looking to shift your thinking and mindset, examine your priorities, and dig in to your beliefs about your life, I highly recommend booking a tour with her. I had a few specific intentions during my time with Naphat as she is a wealth of knowledge, but she is also an excellent tour guide if you are not necessarily interested in the mindfulness and meditation wisdom she has to impart. Naphat has an understanding, kind way about her, and I’m very grateful I found this tour.

I would not recommend. Tour guide did not seem as knowledgable as other tours i’ve taken. Tour was not personable at all. I also got sick immediately after tasting the fruit that was provided on the tour. I only got 1 hour of the tour before i had to go back to my room. Save your money. Just book a cooking tour or tour of the temple instead.

We are loving With Locals! We booked the st my waterfalls with Minty and couldn’t be happier! Minty is wonderful, knowledgeable and responsible!

Naphat is such a lovely person and we very much enjoyed our time with her. Our tour was interrupted by a heavy rainstorm and Naphat stayed with us and chatted in a lovely temple even though it was longer than we had paid for. Highly recommended her as a knowledgeable and empathetic guide.