Overview
Take a trip to Chiang Mai on your Thailand Vacation
The city of Chiang Mai is located in the northern region of Thailand, approximately 700 km away from Bangkok. Located in Chiang Mai Province, among the highest mountains in Thailand, Chiang Mai sits at an elevation of 316 metres, giving it a more temperate climate. Once considered a major trading route, the city runs along Ping River, a major tributary to the Chao Phraya River.
Chiang Mai, meaning ‘new city,’ was founded by King Mengrai in 1296 and succeeded Chiang Rai as the capital of the Lanna kingdom. Nearby Burma (now Myanmar), as well as troops of the Mongol Empire, were constant threats, so the city was surrounded by a wall and moat. Eventually occupied by the Burmese in 1556, Chiang Mai later became part of Siam in 1775. Chiang Mai started growing economically and culturally and soon became the unofficial capital of Northern Thailand.
Today, Chiang Mai’s walled city is its historic centre and features 30 ancient Buddhist temples. One of the most famous is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. Founded in 1383, this temple overlooks the city from Doi Suthep Mountain, located 13kms away, and stands as one of Chiang Mai’s cultural icons and can be experienced on Chiang Mai tours.
Amidst its cultural heritage and found on the outskirts of the city, Chiang Mai features an elephant farm, where visitors can take elephant rides through the lush jungle, leading to the nearby Karen Hill Tribe Village, home to various tribes including the Long Necks, best known for neck rings worn by their women.
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12 Trips Found
Classic Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket
Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceDiscover the beauty of Thailand on this ideal introductory tour, from bustling Bangkok to tranquil Chiang Mai and stunning Phuket. Experience rich culture, ancient temples, and serene beaches on your vacation.
10 days
From US$2,798/p.p.
Request a Quote
Deluxe Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket
Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceExperience the essence of Thailand with a journey through Bangkok's bustling streets, Chiang Mai's serene temples, and Phuket's stunning beaches. A sensory adventure awaits!
10 days
From US$3,804/p.p.
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The Spirit of Thailand: A Women's Journey
Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun Temple, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceExperience Thailand on a women’s journey of culture, wellness, and unforgettable beauty.
12 days
From US$3,759/p.p.
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Thailand for Foodies
Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceSavour Thailand’s flavours on this private-guided journey, from vibrant markets and serene temples to hilltribe traditions and palm-fringed shores.
11 days
From US$2,968/p.p.
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Essential Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Koh Samui
Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceDiscover the wonders of Thailand, from the stunning Grand Palace in Bangkok to the serene beaches of Koh Samui. Experience rich culture and breathtaking landscapes throughout your journey.
10 days
From US$1,832/p.p.
Request a Quote
Spiritual Thailand: Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun Temple, and Chiang MaiUnveil the spiritual essence of Thailand with this journey through Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Experience serene temples, lush landscapes, and engaging cultural encounters.
7 days
From US$1,473/p.p.
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Best of Northern Thailand: Temples, Trails & Elephant Tales
Hua Hin, River Kwai, Bangkok, The Grand Palace, and Chiang MaiNorthern Thailand invites you to explore its landscapes. Join cooking classes, visit serene temples, and experience memorable elephant encounters on lush trails.
13 days
From US$4,640/p.p.
Request a Quote
Active Thailand: Hike, Bike & Hilltribes
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun Temple, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceExperience the thrill of adventure in Northern Thailand on this journey, blending culture, stunning hikes, biking excursions, and rich hilltribe encounters.
11 days
From US$3,710/p.p.
Request a Quote
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Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
Classic Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket
Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceDiscover the beauty of Thailand on this ideal introductory tour, from bustling Bangkok to tranquil Chiang Mai and stunning Phuket. Experience rich culture, ancient temples, and serene beaches on your vacation.
10 days
From US$2,798/p.p.
Request a Quote
Deluxe Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket
Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceExperience the essence of Thailand with a journey through Bangkok's bustling streets, Chiang Mai's serene temples, and Phuket's stunning beaches. A sensory adventure awaits!
10 days
From US$3,804/p.p.
Request a Quote
The Spirit of Thailand: A Women's Journey
Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun Temple, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceExperience Thailand on a women’s journey of culture, wellness, and unforgettable beauty.
12 days
From US$3,759/p.p.
Request a Quote
Thailand for Foodies
Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceSavour Thailand’s flavours on this private-guided journey, from vibrant markets and serene temples to hilltribe traditions and palm-fringed shores.
11 days
From US$2,968/p.p.
Request a Quote
Essential Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Koh Samui
Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceDiscover the wonders of Thailand, from the stunning Grand Palace in Bangkok to the serene beaches of Koh Samui. Experience rich culture and breathtaking landscapes throughout your journey.
10 days
From US$1,832/p.p.
Request a Quote
Spiritual Thailand: Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun Temple, and Chiang MaiUnveil the spiritual essence of Thailand with this journey through Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Experience serene temples, lush landscapes, and engaging cultural encounters.
7 days
From US$1,473/p.p.
Request a Quote
Best of Northern Thailand: Temples, Trails & Elephant Tales
Hua Hin, River Kwai, Bangkok, The Grand Palace, and Chiang MaiNorthern Thailand invites you to explore its landscapes. Join cooking classes, visit serene temples, and experience memorable elephant encounters on lush trails.
13 days
From US$4,640/p.p.
Request a Quote
Active Thailand: Hike, Bike & Hilltribes
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun Temple, Bangkok, and The Grand PalaceExperience the thrill of adventure in Northern Thailand on this journey, blending culture, stunning hikes, biking excursions, and rich hilltribe encounters.
11 days
From US$3,710/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
What do the experts say?
Thailand is a friendly destination with fun & warm people, great food, and impressive cultural and beach experiences. Simply wandering neighbourhoods, visiting temples, shops & viewpoints, and eating at local restaurants are what I enjoy most when visiting Thailand. The south of Thailand is a special location with beautiful scenery and a seemingly laid back lifestyle, so visiting this area is always a special and memorable experience.
The experience of travelling from island to island on longtail boats in the south of Thailand is something that still resonates with me after many years.
For families, visiting a sustainable community in Koh Yao Yai can bring the trip to life with local interaction. For honeymooners, personalizing memorable experiences with special menus, in-room dining and more can really elevate the experience for Goway guests.
All the people that I met at the hotel, restaurants, and parks were always smiling at me. I can feel that they are grateful to all international tourists. A Thai smile inspires me most and makes me want to revisit.
Karen Long Neck hill tribe village
The Royal Flora temple is a great photo opportu...
A mature male bull elephant in the jungle near ...
Meditation Buddha statue under a Bodhi tree
Phra That Doi Suthep Pagoda on Doi Inthanon mou...
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Chiang MaiMostly Sunny
33°C / 92°F
7mm / 0.3"
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Everything was looked after and no stress for usJean WilloughbyVanessa from Goway Travel did a fantastic job pulling together a really comprehensive itinerary for our trip to Egypt. Her advice about "must see" sites was extremely helpful and she also provided great tips based on her own experience travelling to Egypt. Excellent planning by Vanessa meant we were able to thoroughly enjoy our trip. OlgaI want to Thank Vanessa Lloyd for putting together the most perfect itinerary for my husband and my dream trip to Santorini, Greece. Every detail was perfectly executed. From the pick ups, to tours and most certainly our hotel location, it was truly a dream!! We were so happy and completely blown away, that we couldn't help but shared our experience with several folks we met during our trip... and I just bet they will be using Goway Travel for any future plans of theirs, just like us. Africa, here we come....Tanya KashExceptional Customer Service, Accountability, and Leadership — Thank You, Goway Travel!
As a Canadian travel advisor with Discover Joy Travel, affiliated with TravelOnly, I want to recognize three exceptional individuals at Goway Travel: Jaime Vargas-Hernandez (Destination Specialist – North America and Latin America), Sean Hebert (Vice President, The Americas), and Jason Stratford (Business Development Manager).
I recently booked a cross-Canada vacation for my clients, and while the itinerary offered many wonderful experiences, there were several unexpected challenges along the way, particularly involving transportation, transfers, and certain aspects of the overall travel experience.
As a travel advisor, one of the most difficult situations is hearing that your clients are disappointed, especially when you've worked hard to create a memorable and seamless vacation for them.
What truly impressed me was how Goway responded when things didn't go as planned.
From the beginning, Jaime was responsive, professional, and genuinely committed to addressing our concerns. He listened carefully, communicated with the appropriate teams, and made sure our clients' feedback was taken seriously.
Jason Stratford was equally supportive, demonstrating the value of having a Business Development Manager who genuinely advocates for travel advisors and their clients.
I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to Sean Hebert, Vice President of The Americas, for his outstanding leadership and personal attention to our situation. His involvement demonstrated that customer satisfaction and accountability are priorities at Goway, even at the executive level.
What impressed me most was that Goway didn't simply acknowledge the challenges — they listened, took ownership, and made a genuine effort to rebuild our clients' confidence and trust.
In fact, despite the difficulties they experienced, my clients were so impressed with how Goway handled their concerns that they expressed interest in booking another international vacation through them, with another couple potentially joining!
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Exceptional customer service isn't about everything going perfectly. It's about how a company responds when things go wrong.
As a travel advisor, I value supplier relationships built on trust, transparency, accountability, and genuine care for travellers. Knowing that I have a team willing to listen, take responsibility, and work toward a resolution gives me greater confidence when recommending Goway to my clients.
Jaime, Jason, and Sean — thank you for your professionalism, patience, dedication, and for making me feel genuinely supported as a travel advisor. You didn't just help resolve a difficult situation; you helped restore confidence and strengthen a valuable business relationship.
Goway is fortunate to have individuals like you representing the company.
I look forward to continuing our partnership and creating many more memorable travel experiences for our clients.
Highly recommended — not because everything was perfect, but because Goway demonstrated what genuine accountability, strong leadership, and exceptional customer service should look like.
— Evangeline Fiset
Discover Joy Travel | TravelOnly
Fort St. John, British Columbia, CanadaEvangeline de Torres - FisetThank you Vanessa, always a pleasure dealing with you and knowing you'll give us the perfect customized trip. Everything was spot on with excellent guides, drivers.Terry F.Every detail was managed and executed beyond our expectations and everything flowed from one destination to the nextClinton G HughesThis is a review for my Goway travel guide in Ho Chi Minh City. Mr. PHẠM HỮU THIỆN (TONY) was a very kind and knowledgeable guide during our 5 day stay in the city. Friendly, likeable and funny, Very accommodating to our needs during our visit. He and his driver were always early for every excursion as well as the final day for our airport departure. He gave us wonderful recommendations for sights and restaurants for our personal time. I highly recommend Mr. Pham (Tony) for your stay in the Ho Chi Minh area.George C.Brooke Theron has booked 3 trips for us, France and Tunisia in 2025 and we have just returned from a 2 week trip from China.
The entire trip was flawless, from the research to the booking Brooke is always soo helpful in whole process.
Brooke always works with us to answer any questions and make sure any request we have can be added.
Our tour guides James, Helen, Felicity and Keira and drivers were all top notch with lots of information on each stop and sent us onto our next stop with no problems.
The hotels, trains and tours were all excellent. We couldn't have asked for more
I look forward to working with Brooke and Goway tours on our next vacation.MaddieBijal and Martin (tour guide in Kenya) made this the trip of a lifetime. I felt safe every minute of the trip. I did not care for the travel from the Serengeti to Ngorogoro Crater. I felt the last hotel was too far from the crater i was exhausted not wanted to travel to the crater. The travel was absolutely brutal for 6 hoursKathie BeckerJosie was incredible to work with. She replied to all emails quickly and effectively. She was very knowledgeable and always willing to help. Would definitely work with Josie again!! Clients had an incredible 14 days in Italy with no complaints. A dream vacation!!Chattell Blue
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