Chiang Mai Private Tours: 5-6 Days

Chiang Mai is the old Lanna capital, a moated city of temples in northern Thailand, with mountains and hill villages little more than an hour away. A private car and driver makes sense here: the old city rewards slow wandering, but Doi Suthep, the Mae Taeng valley and Chiang Rai sit well beyond a comfortable stroll, and having your own vehicle lets you set the pace rather than fit around timetables. It also means the day can bend around heat, rain or a tired traveller without spoiling the plan.

Charter — car and driver

Chartering a car with a driver is the simplest way to see Chiang Mai and its surroundings on your own terms. You decide where to stop and how long to linger, whether that is an extra hour at Wat Chedi Luang or a detour up to Doi Suthep for the late-afternoon light. Your driver handles the mountain roads, the traffic around the old city and the parking, and can drop you at the Sunday walking street market in the evening. For families, older travellers or anyone carrying shopping and camera gear, it removes the small frictions that add up over a day. We agree the shape of the day with you in advance, then leave room to change it.

Private tour — the route planned too

A private tour goes a step further: we plan the route as well as provide the car. That means a sensible order of stops, realistic driving times between them, and a day built around what you actually want to see rather than a fixed group schedule. Perhaps a morning at the temples in the old city, lunch on khao soi, then an afternoon at an elephant sanctuary in the Mae Taeng valley. Or a longer day north to Chiang Rai and the White Temple. Because it is your group alone, the itinerary can be adjusted as you go, and the pace stays yours throughout.

What to see

• The old city temples, including Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang, set within the moat and best explored slowly on foot.
• Doi Suthep and the mountain temple, about 30 minutes up from the city, with views over the plain below.
• The Sunday walking street market, when the old city's main street fills with stalls, food and crafts.
• An elephant sanctuary in the Mae Taeng valley, about 1 hour from the city.
• Chiang Rai and the White Temple, about 3 hours north, as a long day out or an overnight stop.

What to eat

Northern Thai food is distinct from what you may know from Bangkok, and Chiang Mai is the place to try it. Khao soi, the curry noodle soup topped with crisp noodles, is the city's signature dish and worth seeking out for lunch. Sai ua, northern sausage, is herbed and grilled and turns up at markets and roadside stalls. Nam prik dips with vegetables let you taste the region's chilli pastes, and northern laab is a fragrant, herb-heavy salad that differs from its central Thai cousin. Your driver can point you to places that suit your group, from market stalls to sit-down restaurants.

Getting there and around

Chiang Mai airport to the old city is about 15 minutes, which makes arrival straightforward. Chiang Mai to Doi Suthep is about 30 minutes, an easy half-day. Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is about 3 hours, and Chiang Mai to the Golden Triangle is about 3 hours 30 minutes, both better done with a driver than by juggling connections. If you are combining the north with the capital, Chiang Mai to Bangkok is about 1 hour 15 minutes by air. Within the city, the old city is compact, but the surrounding sights are spread out, so a car and driver keeps the day moving.

When to come

November to February is cool and clear, the most comfortable stretch of the year and a good time for temples, mountains and markets. March and April are hot and smoky from burning season, which can affect views and air quality, so plan accordingly if you travel then. The green season runs May to October, bringing rain and lush countryside, often in short bursts rather than all day. Each season has its character; we can help you match the itinerary to the weather you are likely to meet.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chiang Mai a good destination for families with young children?

Yes. The old city temples are easy to walk, the elephant sanctuary in the Mae Taeng valley is a popular outing, and a private car means you can stop when the children need a break. We can keep driving times short and build in rest stops.

Can older travellers manage the mountain temple at Doi Suthep?

The drive up is about 30 minutes and the temple has steps, so it helps to take your time. A private car drops you close to the entrance, and your driver can wait while you visit at your own pace.

How much time should we allow for Chiang Rai and the White Temple?

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is about 3 hours each way, so it makes a long day. Many travellers prefer to stay overnight, or to treat it as one part of a longer northern route. We can plan either.

Do we need a car and driver, or can we use local transport?

For the old city alone, local transport works. For Doi Suthep, the hill villages, the Mae Taeng valley and Chiang Rai, a car and driver is far more practical and lets you cover more without wasting time on connections.

What should we eat in Chiang Mai, and is the food suitable for children?

Try khao soi, sai ua, nam prik dips with vegetables and northern laab. Khao soi is mild and popular with children; nam prik can be spicy, so ask for it on the side. Your driver can suggest places to suit your group.

When is the best time to visit, and what about the burning season?

November to February is cool and clear. March and April are hot and smoky from burning season, which can affect views and air quality. The green season runs May to October, with rain and lush scenery. We can advise on timing for your trip.

bliss-costlink

Cost: what a private tour here costs, route by route.

How much does a private tour in Chiang Mai cost?

A private tour in Chiang Mai currently runs HK$4,290 to HK$5,390 per person, depending on the number of days, the party size and the vehicle class. The fee covers the vehicle and driver, the licensed guide and the hotel nights inside the itinerary; flights, visas and personal spending are separate. Because the vehicle and guide are shared, the per-person fee falls as the group grows.

Chiang Mai private car charter cost

Charter — vehicle and driver only — is quoted separately and is the cheaper option when you already know your stops and do not need commentary. The price moves with days, vehicle size and whether the driver waits overnight.

Guide cost: private guide versus driver

A driver handles the road; a licensed guide handles the explanation, tickets and timing. In Chiang Mai both are possible on most routes, and the difference is the guide day fee.

Do you need a private guide in Chiang Mai?

Not always. On a first visit the guide usually pays for itself; on a repeat visit with a fixed plan, a driver alone is often enough. Ask us and we will say which days need one.

Chiang Mai incentive travel: private tours for company reward trips

Incentive travel is the trip a company gives its staff, dealers or partners as a reward. We run it as a private tour rather than a seat-in-coach package: the whole group travels on one itinerary, approved by the company before anyone books, and the same driver and guide stay with the group from the first pick-up to the last drop-off.

Four things work differently from an ordinary private tour. Procurement runs to the company's process — a written quotation first, then an invoice the finance team can book, with the trip name and cost centre on the paperwork. Departures can be split into batches: the same route can run over several weeks so not every team travels at once, with the same standard of vehicle and guide each time. Activities are built around a company moment — a welcome dinner, a prize presentation, a half-day meeting — and the driving plan is ordered around it rather than fitted in afterwards. And the budget is agreed per head before the route is fixed, so the itinerary is designed to the number instead of adjusted after it.

We do not publish incentive prices, because they depend on the number of travellers, the days, the vehicle class and the activities arranged. Tell us the headcount, the dates or the month, and what the company wants to happen on the trip, and we will quote the route section by section.

Chiang Mai corporate group tours

Companies book Chiang Mai with us for department trips, management offsites and client hosting. The structure is the same as a private tour but built around the business purpose: one vehicle per team so groups can split, a fixed daily schedule that leaves room for a meeting or a factory visit, and a single invoice covering transport, guide and hotels. We run the whole group on one itinerary so nobody is waiting for a coach to fill.

Chiang Mai incentive travel

Incentive trips reward a team that hit a target, so the itinerary has to feel earned: better hotels than the standard route, one signature dinner, and an activity the group will talk about afterwards. We plan these around the award night rather than around sightseeing, and we keep the budget lines separate so the company can see what each element costs.

Chiang Mai family private tours

Families with children or grandparents need a slower rhythm than a standard route: shorter drives, a hotel with rooms that connect, meal times that fit, and the freedom to drop a stop when someone is tired. Because the vehicle and guide are exclusive to your party, nothing is fixed to a group schedule — the day can be shortened or reordered on the spot.

Chiang Mai hotels: city hotels, five-star hotels and hot-spring hotels

City hotels

Central, walkable to dinner, close to the station we leave from in the morning — the right base when the itinerary moves every day.

Five-star hotels

Room size, service and a view worth paying for. On longer routes we use one or two nights rather than every night, so the budget stays with the experiences.

Hot-spring hotels

Where the water is the point: dinner served in the building, the bath as the centre of the stay, and a deliberately slower pace. We book the ones that accept a single night and can handle dietary requirements.

Compare Chiang Mai hotels on Trip.com · or send your dates and we quote hotels inside the tour price.