1 Day Tuk Tuk Tour of Northern Thailand

The Valley Of Mae Wang

Tuk Tuks, elephants, bamboo rafting, mountains and amazing rural communities The very best 1 Day Adventure in Chiang Mai

1 Day Tuk Tuk Adventure in Chiang Mai

Learn to drive your very own Tuk Tuk (yes, that's right!) and then explore the stunning rural back roads and communities of the foothills of Doi Inthanon. Explore remote mountain Temples, travel through spectacular scenery and get a glimpse into real Northern Thailand life. You'll also meet a small group of beautiful elephants and learn about their lives and then float gently downriver on a bamboo raft. This day really does have it all along with the added excitement of being behind the wheel of your very own Tuk Tuk! So, if you’re looking for a real, action packed Chiang Mai experience and to enjoy the best one day adventure in Northern Thailand...then look no further.

Have a look at the detailed itinerary

What do you get?

  • Chiang Mai city pick up and drop off at the start and end of the day
  • Detailed and thorough Tuk Tuk driver training session
  • Drive along beautiful rural backroads through picturesque villages and countryside
  • Explore a remote mountain Temple
  • Learn about, help feed and watch as beautiful elephants bathe
  • Bamboo rafting along the local river
  • A simple but tasty Thai lunch
  • Drinking water throughout the day
  • An superb, professional English (and Thai!) speaking local tour guide

Available Dates

Our 1 Day Adventure runs every day of the year (except Christmas Day and New Years Day) but, with a maximum of 12 travellers per day, the trips can get booked up quickly. So don’t delay, get yours spaces booked or get in touch to organise a fantastic day exploring the very best of Chiang Mai

2024 - £117 Per Person (18+)
£76 Per Person (ages 5-17)

2025 - £135 Per Person (18+)
£87 Per Person (ages 5-17)

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Where you'll go

Mae Wang

The Mae Wang valley is just 60 minutes from Chiang Mai city but feels like a world away. With mountains, forests, rice fields and picturesque rural villages Mae Wang is one of the prettiest parts of Chiang Mai province and the base for our 1 Day Adventure making sure you get to experience the very best of this wonderful part of the world.

Temples and Rural communities

Once you're finished your driver training you'll head out onto the tiny rural backroads and through small traditional farming communities up to a remote, mountain Temple. A real insight into rural Thailand rarely seen by travellers. You'll then continue on through more picturesque villages and mountain scenery seeing the community going about their daily lives - working in the fields, fishing in the river and just enjoying a rest and a chat at the local food stalls. Rural Northern Thailand at it’s most authentic and very best

Elephants

A real favourite with our travellers, this small elephant home has led the way in taking their elephants out of the 'riding industry' and instead provides a relaxed and comfortable life where they are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. You’ll learn about the history of the home and the elephants, help the mahouts feed them and then head out on a walk through the countryside with these wonderful animals.. You'll then arrive at the local river where the elephants enjoy their daily bath and you can either just watch the elephants enjoy the water or help the mahouts giving them a good scrub! A great experience that’s helping to ensure a sustainable future for the elephants, and the community who have lived with them for generations.

Rafting

Climb aboard a bamboo raft and enjoy the local scenery from a very different perspective. Expertly steered by local villagers, all you need to do is sit back, relax and watch the world go by as the river winds it’s way through the very pretty countryside. You will get wet (but don’t worry - there are no huge rapids!) but it’s the best waay of keeping cool during the heat of the afternoon!

Itinerary

07:45 - 08:30 - Chiang Mai city pick up
We offer a pick up service from your hotel / guest house in Chiang Mai city (pick ups are from between 07:45 – 08:30 depending on where you are staying and will be confirmed when you book) and our team will transfer you by private minivan to The Tuk Tuk Club HQ in Mae Wang, around 60 minutes South West of the city.
09:00-09:30 - Arrive at Mae Wang
On arrival in Mae Wang, our team will introduce you to your Tuk Tuk and begin your detailed driving training. The team take things very slowly to give you lots of time to get used to the controls (don’t worry – they are simple to drive once you are used to them) and to make sure everyone is feeling comfortable behind the wheel. And don’t worry – if you don’t want to drive a Tuk Tuk you can take in the scenery and enjoy the cool breezes from the super comfy back seats!
10:30 - On The Road
The Tuk Tuks are pretty easy to master and once everyone is ready to go (and has passed the driver test) you’ll off on convoy along tiny rural roads, snaking through farming villages and past rural Temples. Your guide always drives the lead Tuk Tuk making sure that you don’t lose your way and no-one is tempted to go too fast! With frequent stops to explore and, importantly, make sure everyone has a good opportunity to drive, you’ll get a great insight into real rural life in Northern Thailand and be able to enjoy some spectacular scenery
12:30pm - Lunch for the elephants, and for you.
By lunchtime you’ll arrive at a lovely small elephant home where you’ll not only learn about the past, present and future of the Thai Elephant but also have the opportunity to interact with them. Once you’ve been introduced to the elephants – who have been taken out of a life of trekking and can now relax and enjoy their time more naturally – you’ll be able to help the mahouts feed them. After you’ve fed the elephants it’s time to sit down to a hearty Thai lunch. You’ll eat close to the elephants giving you a great chance to watch these wonderful animals.
2:00pm Bath time
After lunch you’ll walk with the mahouts and the elephants through the countryside to the river where the elephants have their daily bath and enjoy playing in the water. Sit back and enjoy this wonderful scene or get into the river and watch the mahouts scrub the elephants clean, it’s up to you!
3:00pm Bamboo rafting
Now it’s time to enjoy some water activities of a different kind as you float gently along the river on a traditional bamboo raft. Don’t worry, there are no rapids along the way, rather this is a great opportunity to see the local surroundings from a different angle and have a huge amount of fun as a local villager steers your raft negotiating the twists and turns as you head downstream.
4:00pm Tuk Tuk back down the valley
It’s time to jump back into your Tuk Tuk and wind your way back down the valley enjoying your last moments behind the wheel of Thailand’s iconic vehicle, the Tuk Tuk .The road curves and sweeps gently down the valley. as you make your way back to our base.
4:45pm Minivan to Chiang Mai
On reaching The Tuk Tuk Club HQ you’ll transfer back into a private minivan and we’ll take you back to your hotel, arriving around 5:30 – 6:00pm giving you plenty of time in the evening to reflect on the incredible day you’ve had and the fact that you’re now a fully fledged member of The Tuk Tuk Club!
5:30 - 6:00pm
Arrive back at your hotel in Chiang Mai city.
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"This one day tour has the lot...the super fun Tuk Tuk experience, bucket list experience walking the elephants to the river to swim and then river rafting. Well recommended"
1 day tour
Three Tuk Tuks in convoy on a dirt road in the mountains of Northern Thailand with bright blue skies
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A small wooden hut with a golden Buddha and offerings inside in a forest in Chiang Mai
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An adventurous traveller sitting on a bamboo raft floating through the forest of Northern Thailand
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A beautiful small Thai Temple in a small village in Chiang Mai
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Two Tuk Tuks going round a corner through a small village in the mountains of Northern Thailand
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A family of elephants standing in a river cooling off in the sun
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Five Tuk Tuks in convoy on a Thailand adventure driving down a small road with mountains and forest in the background
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A traveller smiling as she controls a bamboo raft downstream through the forest in Thailand
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A large elephant walking along the side of a stream whilst carrying a bundle of food in it's trunk
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Six people on a Tuk Tuk Adventure in Thailand standing at a viewpoint over the moutains
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Four Tuk Tuks in convoy on a snall road with a large palm tree in the background
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Two elephants walking through grassland in the mountains of Northern Thailand
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Three Tuk Tuks with 6 women smiling and standing by them after having learned to drive the Tuk Tuks
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Two elephants walking through deep grass
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A man selling boiled eggs next to a river in the forest of Northern Thailand
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Two adults and three children smiling standing next to their bright orange Tuk Tuk in the middle of an adventure
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An elephant in deep grass with it's mahout
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