THAILAND · WHAT TO DO
The ones worth your time.
The 13 morning tours travellers book most, with what each one includes, who runs it, and what you pay.
A 4-hour Chiang Mai sunrise tour linking Doi Suthep, Wat Pha Lat, and Wat Umong with a small-group feel and responsible touches.
Morning speedboat from Phi Phi to Maya Bay for a crowd-avoiding sunrise, plus snorkel stops with blacktip reef sharks, lagoon swim, monkeys, and optional Bamboo Island.
Small-group Phi Phi sunrise or day trip from Phuket by speedboat: Khai Island, Maya Bay, Viking Cave, and Bamboo snorkeling.
“Wow! Sunny was our guide and he was SO AWESOME, the entire crew was! These guys pampered every guest and treated us like gold! We did the early Sunrise tour and we highly recommend it! Beautiful islands and beaches, great food and wonderful staff who made this trip so memorable!”
Morning half-day Chiang Mai temple tour to Wat Pha Lat and Doi Suthep. Jungle serenity, 306 steps, and a gold relic pagoda with an English guide.
Ride Chiang Mai’s Old City by bike with a small group, temple stops, and a market snack break, morning or night.
Wake to free-roaming elephants in Chiang Mai, spend a night in a forest homestay, then bamboo raft and swim at Mae Wang.
Chiang Mai morning market and organic garden tour, then cook 6 Thai dishes at your own wok, with lunch and a recipe book included.
“Brilliant cooking class, made 6 courses of delicious food. Vegan and vegetarian friendly, and able to make as spicy or mild as you like. Our instructor, Cream, was very kind and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and would book again.”
Cycle Chiang Mai Old City by morning or night with an English guide, temples, gates, and a market stop, plus snacks and helmet.
“This was such a great experience! Kitty and Tom were fantastic guides. The bikes were easy to use and the route is flat. Tom took so many videos and photos that he airdropped to us while we had coffee together at the end of the tour. Kitty was very knowledgeable of Chiang Mai’s history. In…”
Sunrise hike, canoeing through Phang Nga lagoons, and a no-crowd James Bond Island stop on a small-group day from Phuket.
“Saw a variety of sites, all beautiful. Sunrise view was gorgeous. Arrived before the crowds at James Bond island. Yeah!”
Chiang Mai organic farm cooking class with Somphet Market tour and hotel pickup. Learn Thai basics, cook several dishes, $29.
“We booked this tour and were picked up from our hotel, taken on a tour of the local market and got to try lots of tit bits and also were given info on what different types of food were.”
Morning Thai cooking in Chiang Mai with a market visit and organic farm tour, then make four dishes at open-air stations plus mango sticky rice.
“Grandma’s Home Cooking School was the highlight of our entire Chiang Mai trip! The transportation to the farm was timely, and it was nice to be outside of the busy city-it felt like a peaceful retreat. We learned so much touring the farm, and being able to use freshly picked organic ingredients made the dis”
Morning ethical elephant sanctuary near Pattaya with small groups, hands-on feeding and bathing, Thai lunch, and hotel transfers.
“This is the most beautiful experience you will have . The elephants are so cared for and looked after . The caretakers are so gentle and you can see the respect between them and the elephants.”
6 a.m. speedboat from Phi Phi Don to Maya Bay at sunrise, plus Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, and Bamboo Island snorkeling.
“Couldn’t recommend this experience more. Joe was our tour guide and he was great. Word recommend bringing a quick dry towel and some snacks cause you don’t really eat until lunch but really liked being able to beat a lot of the crowds.”
