Thailand

Chiang Mai Tuk Tuk Adventure

8

An action-packed 5-day adventure putting you right into the heart of the most beautiful part of Thailand. Visit remote temples, off-the-beaten-track hill tribe communities, and an elephant sanctuary. You'll also go bamboo rafting and trekking, all while tasting incredible food, and, of course, riding or driving your very own Tuk Tuk.

Highlights in 60 seconds

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet your Tuk Tuk, and temple exploration

You’ll be picked up at 10 am from the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel in Chiang Mai city, where you'll then be taken to your hotel for the next couple of nights. Upon arrival, you’ll immediately get to meet your Tuk Tuk and of course, meet your guide and support team. After a delicious lunch, you'll receive some training, followed by a driving test in the Tuk Tuk's before heading out onto the open road. For those who prefer, there is an option to choose a chauffeur-driven option.

After your initial training, you'll head off to a remote temple where you'll receive a blessing from one of the local monks, before enjoying some traditional Thai food and live music in the evening.

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Day 2: Visit the Elephant Sanctury and Bamboo Rafting

After breakfast, you’re back into your Tuk Tuk and you’ll head through the countryside to a hilltop Temple with great views of the surrounding mountains. You'll then head North up the valley to the home of the elephants - here you can spend some time learning about their lives and what it takes to look after them.

After feeding the elephants, you'll walk them down to the river where they take their daily bath. From here, it's time to hop onto your bamboo raft and float gently downstream to your Tuk Tuk's. In the evening, you can enjoy dinner in a family-run restaurant.

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Day 3: Thailand's highest mountain

After an early breakfast, you’re back in the Tuk Tuk convoy and heading along some of the most spectacular roads towards Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon. You'll be given a walkie-talkie to communicate with the support vehicle, as you make your way up the gente curving roads, past the mountain tribes. Over lunch, you can enjoy some fresh coffee, which is grown in the area, along with some traditional Thai food.

In the afternoon, you'll arrive at your accommodation in the village of Mae Khlang Luang before then jumping into another classic Thai mode of transport - a ‘Songtaew’. A taxi adapted from a pick-up truck will take you to the summit of Doi Inthanon (over 2,500 meters) where you’ll explore some of the trails and take in the spectacular views. In the evening you'll enjoy a traditional Thai BBQ eaten over the rice fields as the sun sets behind the mountains.

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Day 4: Hike the foothills of Doi Inthanon

The Tuk Tuks have a well-earned rest today as you head to explore the foothills of Doi Inthanon. The day starts with a hike into the forest, and past stunning waterfalls and rivers. Keep a lookout for the wildlife in the forest, as you'll hear a range of tropical sounds. There are a number of spots where you can relax and just enjoy the waterfalls and scenery along the way.

Lunch is served on a bed of leaves, before continuing your hike down to the old-style mountain coffee shop – one of our favorite coffee shops in Northern Thailand. In the evening, you'll enjoy another superb Thai feast, and perhaps one or two well-deserved cold beers!

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Day 5: Departure

The 5-day adventure comes to an end this morning as you say goodbye to your Tuk Tuk and transfer back to Chiang Mai City by private minivan.

The transfer will take place in the morning and you will arrive in Chiang Mai (The Chiang Mai Gate Hotel) before midday.

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What's Included

Included
  • Tuk Tuk and fuel (2 people per vehicle, or 3 if you choose a self-drive option).
  • Chauffer (self drive available if you'd prefer).
  • Experienced guide and support team.
  • Temple entrance.
  • Elephant Sanctuary entrance.
  • Bamboo rafts.
  • Accommodation.
  • All meals: 4 x breakfasts, 4 x lunches, 4 x dinners.
  • Luggage transfer.
Not Included
  • International or domestic flights.
  • Transfer to/from Chiang Mai.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Tips and gratuities.
Have a question?

If you have any questions about this trip or want to speak with an expert, get in touch.

We're ready to help.

Team Images
Team Images
Team Images

Rated 5.0

8 verified reviews

Kareen
Kareen

(Mar 2024)

Absolutely EPIC!!! Every day was fun and the guides Boys and Big were beyond amazing!! Worth a trip to Thailand just for this adventure! Huge thanks for this memorable event.

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Leeanne
Leeanne

(May 2023)

What a unique experience. My husband and I chose the 5 day self drive trip with the Tuk Tuk Club. Great fun driving the Tuk Tuk ourselves. The first day, after passing our Tuk Tuk driving test, we took a trip into the countryside to a Buddhist temple for a blessing from a monk. We then enjoyed a lovely meal and got to know the others on the trip (7 of us in total). Day 2 we drove our Tuk Tuk to an elephant sanctuary, which belonged to our guide Bigg’s family. We had lunch, fed the elephants then walked them down to the river where we washed them. Fabulous experience. We then went bamboo rafting, again much more fun than it sounds. Day 3, we had a long drive up into the mountains. Beautiful countryside and nice and cool compared to Chaing Mai. Lovely stop for lunch before reaching the Karon Hill village where we stayed for 2 nights. We took a drive up to the highest point in Thailand, the Doi Inthanon, and to some beautiful temples. Day 4, we went for a trek in the jungle, walking along side some beautiful waterfalls. It was an easy walk as all downhill and took about 3 hours. Day 5, had breakfast and said our goodbyes to others as they were doing 11 nights on the tour. We are both in our 50’s and we were the youngest of the group on our trip. However none of the planned activities were too much of a problem for any of us. You are staying in local accommodation in the countryside so don’t expect 5 star luxury. The accommodation is very basic. We took this trip at the end of a 4 month stay in Asia, and I have to say it is the best trip we have ever done. Loved every minute.

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Sam
Sam

(Apr 2023)

Could not recommend the tours with the Tuk Tuk Club enough! I took part in the 5 day tour and shared driving responsibilities with a fellow traveler. The driving experience was incredibly enjoyable (facilitated by the wonderful support from all of the Tuk Tuk Club team). Plenty of activities were arranged for us with each day offering something new to enjoy- bathing with the elephants and river rafting had to be my favourite!

Lynn
Lynn

(Apr 2023)

What a delightful, 5-day tour with The Tuk Tuk Club and Khun Bigg! We chose the self-drive option, and my husband and I had such fun driving our own Tuk Tuk and following Khun Bigg's Tuk Tuk on this adventure. He was a most excellent guide - engaging, informed, attentive, and full of love and enthusiasm for his culture and his part of Thailand. Bruce, the founder of The Tuk Tuk Club, was very helpful in finding a spot for us in an otherwise fully booked month. The pace of our tour was just right, with interesting sites, activities and hikes, as well as some time just for the two of us. The food was delicious, very fresh and local and we enjoyed discovering new dishes from Northern Thailand. The accommodation (2 nights in the Mae Wang area and 2 nights in a small bungalow in a Karen Hill Tribe village) was just as described on their website - appealingly unique, comfortable and clean. And last, but certainly not least, our Tuk Tuk. Colourful, clean, with its own personality, "Rock" (each of The Tuk Tuk Club's tuk tuks have their own name proudly displayed on the front, and all are named after members of Bruce's family), was great fun to drive and we both enjoyed being a passenger as well (comfortable bench seat, with seat belt if you wan, and plenty of leg room, and great views). Several of our friends are now interested in this tour and we may gather a group of us and book an 11-day trip next year!

Karin
Karin

(Mar 2023)

I can't say enough good things about this experience! My friend and I were talking about it on our way home and had trouble choosing our best moment of the trip because every day and every activity was awesome in its own way. The whole experience was very well planned, balancing active adventures like hiking, rafting, and swimming in waterfalls with cultural experiences in the Buddhist temples and village markets and of course the great fun of interacting with elephants. The tuk tuks (and even the driving lessons) were a blast, and we loved getting to know our guides, who combined insider knowledge, humor, and experience to teach us about our surroundings, answer questions, and keep things running smoothly. They were also respectful of vegetarian and food allergy issues in my group and made sure we had delicious options throughout the trip. Highly, highly recommend!!

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FAQs

Before you go

Please see the section above for trip inclusions and exclusions.

The most important things to pack are a sense of adventure and a sense of humour! However, there are, of course a few other essentials: Travel Insurance - IMPORTANT: Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our trips but is not included. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have appropriate cover for all aspects of your trip. Clothing: Obviously, this is up to you, but we recommend: - Trainers (or similar) for hiking/exploring. - Flip flops/sandals for relaxing in your Tuk Tuk and the evenings. - Comfortable shorts, t-shirts - Long-sleeved t-shirts for driving days (that you don’t mind getting dirty and grimy!) If you’re travelling between November and February, please don’t forget some warm clothes for the evenings. It can get quite chilly from time to time at night in the mountains. A warm jumper/fleece is well worth packing. The hike doesn’t require walking boots, although when it rains, the paths can be muddy and slippery in the rainy season (approximately July through to late October). - Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen Spending money: - This is always difficult to gauge. All meals are included on the adventure, but you may wish to buy the odd snack en route, sample the mountain coffee, and, of course, enjoy a cold beer from time to time! - Beers range from 60THB up to 150THB for a large bottle (depending on where you buy them – sometimes even 150THB for a small bottle) While everyone’s needs are different, we’d suggest that you budget for around £50 (+/-2,000THB) or so for snacks, drinks and so on during your trip. This should be more than enough for even the thirstiest of travellers.

Yes - if you want to have your own room as a single traveller, you can optionally pay a single supplement. Please let us know using your trip form, and then the supplement itself can be paid on arrival. November - February (high season) - £145 March - October - £95

This experience is perfect for solo travellers, couples or groups of friends (or even adventurous families). If you’re travelling on your own you’ll be teamed up with a fellow solo traveller to enjoy your time travelling in these wonderful vehicles. For those booking the chauffeur- driven option, each Tuk Tuk can take a maximum of 2 people. For those booking the self-drive option, each Tuk Tuk can take a maximum of 3 people.

Our favourite time of year to travel is July – October. This is the rainy season, but it rarely rains every day or even all day. The forest is usually in full growth and at its greenest during this period and the rice fields and terraces look spectacular. And if you’re a fan of waterfalls then get ready…..If you’re looking for cooler weather, join us between November and February. This is winter in Northern Thailand and temperatures usually range from 25-30 Degrees C and it can get much cooler at night (down to around 12C in some spots on the route!). The rest of the year is then fantastic for anyone looking to enjoy some tropical heat!

On your trip

· All travellers who wish to drive a Tuk Tuk MUST have a driving license from their own country (manual gear) and an International Driving Permit (IDP). · No previous Tuk Tuk driving experience is necessary as you will receive in-depth training on Day 1. But please note that if you don’t usually drive a manual/stick shift car then we strongly recommend you choose the chauffeur-driven option. · At the end of the training session, all drivers must pass a test. If the guide/training team believe you have not reached the standard to pass the test then unfortunately, you will not be able to drive on the roads (although of course more time and training will be given to help you as is possible). The decision of the training team is final.

The accommodation is intentionally of a high standard throughout the trip to allow you to ‘adventure’ during the day but relax and enjoy great surroundings in the evenings. After all, who said that an adventure has to be uncomfortable…. Nights 1 and 2: Mae Wang ‘base camp’. Three to four-star accommodation - Khum Khun Wang Resort (or similar). A lovely rural Northern Thailand hotel in peaceful grounds with a laid back small outdoor meeting area. Run by a very friendly team and perfect for our ‘base camp’. Twin, double and family rooms available. Nights 3 and 4: Mae Khlang Luang. Two-star accommodation. You’ll stay in the Karen Hill Tribe village of Mae Khlang Luang. While this is the ‘simplest’ accommodation of the adventure, the rooms are spacious, clean, and overlook the rice terraces in a superb location. All the rooms have ensuite facilities, hot water, and are fan-cooled. There’s no need for air conditioning this high in the mountains. The fantastic location and the experience of staying in the village far outweigh the simple nature of the rooms!

Day 1 - 3 hours total driving, 45km distance Day 2 - 3.5 hours total driving, 70km distance Day 3 - 4 hours total driving, 85km distance Day 4 - 5-6 km hiking Day 5 - departure home

The adventure starts on Day 1 when we pick you up at our meeting point which is The Chiang Mai Gate Hotel in Chiang Mai city at 10:00 AM. The adventure ends on Day 11 when we deliver you back to The Chiang Mai Gate Hotel at around 11:00 AM / 11:30 AM.

The elephants we meet are at a small elephant sanctuary. The organisation is leading the way in taking elephants away from a life of trekking and instead creating an environment where people can learn about and spend time with elephants on their terms, not ours! On arrival, you’ll learn about the history of the elephants and what the team at the Elephant Home have been doing to continually improve the lives of the elephants. No riding of the elephants is allowed.

Other FAQs

Our adventure are open to all travellers with an adventurous spirit but we do have a minimum age of 5 years old for those travelling with their parents / parent. The minimum age to be able to drive is 18 years!

Tuk Tuk's are specially modified to not only cope perfectly with the twisty and sometimes steep mountain roads but also to give extra comfort and views. There are Bluetooth speakers for you to play your favourite road trip tunes and you can even roll back the roof if you fancy catching some sun!

Our adventures are open to all travellers with an adventurous spirit but we do have a minimum age of 5 years old for those travelling with their parents/parents. The minimum age to be able to drive is 18 years! We do offer child rates for those under the age of 18 years. Please drop us a message or email info@skyhookadventure.com for more information.

Your head guide is Bruce

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip your guides run The Tuk Tuk Club, based in Nonthaburi.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Bruce