Many food travelers to Thailand add Chiang Mai into the destination list. It’s certainly one of the most interesting cities when it comes to temples and Buddhist culture. But, it’s also an interesting city to visit for traditional Thai food. This post shares our recommendations for some of the Best Chiang Mai food tours.
Why Book A Food Tour In Chiang Mai
Whether it’s a Chiang Mai street food tour or tuk tuk food tour that zooms around the city, this selection of tours helps travelers make the most of their visit to Chiang Mai. We offer recommended tours at every budget as well as tours that run in the morning or at night. There are also half day tours and full day tours.
In the end, our goal is to help you demystify the food scene in Chiang Mai. They can help you find the best street food in Chiang Mai while educating you about Thai food culture and traditions. Many of these food tours also focus on the dishes that are unique to Chiang Mai – real Northern Thai food specialities.
Check out our recommendations for the Best Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai.
Booking Food Tours In Chiang Mai
In Chiang Mai, we recommend two main companies for booking your food experiences. Below, are experiences booked with Viator and Klook.
Viator is a TripAdvisor company. They offer tours and experiences around the world. We’ve booked many experiences through them in the past.
Klook operates similarly to Viator. They tend to offer more experiences in Asia, which is why we recommend them in Thailand.
Both companies allow you to book with a credit card and offer instantaneous or pretty quick confirmation. The information on their sites is very detailed and hopefully will answer any questions you have about the tour. We’ve compared all of the tour options with both companies (as well as others) and find the ones recommended below to be the best tours in Chiang Mai for foodies.
*This post contains compensated links. Find more info in my DISCLAIMER.
Recommended Food Tours In Chiang Mai
Small-Group Chiang Mai Evening Street Food Tour
The northern Thai city of Chiang Mai is often overlooked for its culinary offerings. During this three hour evening Chiang Mai street food tour that will all change. Explore Chiang Mai and its amazing night markets to learn what sets Northern Thai food apart from that found in Bangkok.
With the help of a local food expert, guests will visit two of the city’s night markets on foot and by songthaew (a covered pick up truck with rows of seats). Begin with a pickup at your Chiang Mai accommodations. During the tour, sample eight different local Thai treats.
From kannom jin Chinese noodles to coconut dumplings, stewed pork, and sweets, guests will enjoy a full spectrum of northern Thai cooking. To help guests navigate Thai menus after the tour, the local guide will teach simple Thai food ordering phrases. The tour provides a leaflet explaining the most popular street food dishes, to help explore markets on your own.
With a small group and an experienced guide, guests will have plenty of time to ask questions about Thai foods, ingredients, and customs. When the tour is over, guests are free to continue exploring the market or be transported back to their hotel.
Book This Food Tour Here.
Food Tour Details
Pricing for tour begins at $30. Vegetarian meal options are available during the tour. Prior notification is requested at the time of booking of dietary restrictions. The tour is not wheelchair accessible. Comfortable shoes and water are recommended for the tour. Groups are limited to no more than eight travelers.
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Chiang Mai Northern Food Tour by Truck
The food of a country or region speaks volumes about its people, customs and traditions. This private Chiang Mai food tour showcases northern Thai cuisine, its ingredients, and influences from neighboring countries.
The Chiang Mai street food tour will take guests around Chiang Mai at night in an iconic rod daeng truck, a communal taxi, to taste traditional northern Thai dishes from across the city. Experience the full range of local northern Thai flavors including delicious spices, curries, and noodles. Guests will sample more than 15 different food and drink specialities during this four hour tour.
Your local guide and Thai food expert will lead the group to tucked-away Burmese restaurants and street-stalls around Chiang Mai. They will explain the heavy influence Burmese food has on modern northern Thai cuisine. By the end of the tour, guests will have a better understanding for what makes Chiang Mai foods unique from other regions around Thailand and best of all, guests will leave completely full.
Book This Food Tour Here.
Food Tour Details
Pricing for this tour begins at $60. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers. It is also not wheelchair accessible. Guests with any dietary requirements should let those be known at the time of booking. The tour group is limited to eight people.
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Chiang Mai Street Eats
Chiang Mai is a city bursting with food stalls and places to drink. The best Chiang Mai tours are the ones that help you figure out what to eat and drink while teaching you about Thai food culture. In this three hour food and drink tour, guests will not only will learn about the best food in Chiang Mai.
Led by a local food expert, the small group will visit Chiang Mai’s old town to dive into many of the most famous and authentic food stalls in the city. Walking past historic buildings like Wat Chedi, guests will receive a personalized history of Chiang Mai and its many famous sites.
Of course food is the main focus of the tour and exploring Chiang Mai night market is a must. With countless food stalls, guests are certain to fill up on a wide variety of local specializes. After enjoying the many treats the night market has to offer, it’s time to head over to Chiang Mai’s famous “bus bar” to finish the tour with a cocktail or Thai beer along the Ping River.
Book This Food Tour Here.
Food Tour Details
Pricing for the tour begins at $45, which includes pick up and drop off at a hotel or guesthouse. Comfortable shoes and a bottle of water are recommended for the tour. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for pregnant travelers or travelers with serious medical conditions.
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Chiang Mai Tasty Treasures Tour
Time to get up “early” to witness how everyday life in Chiang Mai gets started in this three hour food tour. Beginning at 9am, guests will meet at Tha Pae Gate where their local guide and Thai food expert will get things started. It’s one of the most interesting Chiang Mai sightseeing options.
Heading by tuk tuk or songtaew the group will first visit Muang Mai wholesale market, the thriving fresh produce market in Chiang Mai. Here guests will take in the sights, sounds and aromas of the market as they explore row upon row of food vendors.
From the market, it’s time to visit Chiang Mai’s famous ‘Three Kings’ Monument at the heart of the walled Old Town. After capturing a few beautiful photos your guide will lead the group to several other beautiful ancient temples in the city. With your appetite built up, it’s time to begin eating.
The group will head over to a local market and sample delicious Thai delicacies like the Sai Oua, northern Thai sausage. Other dishes to sample include ‘Khao Soi,’ arguably the most famous northern Thailand dish. And of course no trip to Chiang Mai is complete without sampling Thai milk tea. Rounding out the tasty treats, guests will enjoy chicken and rice and of course sweet mango sticky rice for dessert.
Book This Food Tour Here.
Food Tour Details
Pricing for this three hour food experience begins at $60. Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended as well as a hat or umbrella for sun and water. This tour is not suitable for infants under four years of age. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and requires a considerable amount of walking. Guests with dietary requirements such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or halal diets cannot be accommodated.
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Private Chiang Mai Tuk Tuk Tour
The northern Thai city of Chiang Mai is a nice break from its big brother Bangkok. While still a big city with lots to see, one of the best ways to experience the city is with a private night tour in a tuk tuk.
Experience the local nightlife while driving along the city’s moats, old walls and back alleys. Experience quiet temples that light up after the sun goes down and learn about life in Chiang Mai from your local guide. Get ready to capture stunning temples, gates and other sites all light up.
The evening tour begins at 6:00pm with a pick up at your hotel. From there, guests will explore Chiang Mai until approximately 9:30pm when they are returned to their accommodations.
During the three and a half hour tour, your private tuk tuk driver will take you to Chiang Mai’s Old City to visit Wat Suan Dok an old temple known for its large number of pagodas. From here it’s off to Wat Phra Singh. Known as “The Monastery of the Lion Buddha” it is an active temple and home to hundreds of monks. As your tour continues, guests will visit the Three Kings Monument is dedicated to the three Northern Lao Kings – King Mengrai, the founder of Chiang Mai. Finally it’s onto Warorot Market and Chiang Mai Night Bazaar for some shopping.
Book This Tour Here. Although this tour is not an explicit food tour it’s a great price for a private guide and experience and food can be picked up along the way.
Food Tour Details
Pricing for the tour begins at $40. A minimum of two guests is required for the tour. As This is a private tour, only your group will participate. Unfortunately the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
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