Two people enjoying Thai food on the Mae Ping dinner cruise boat

Dinner on the Mae Ping cruise boat

Mae Ping river dinner cruise

If you’re looking for a break from the city, take a leisurely cruise on the Ping river.

Relax away from the crowds in Chiang Mai on the Mae Ping river cruise boat. Enjoy the river scenery and the cool river breeze during the heat of the day, take a romantic evening dinner cruise or a cruise to the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam.

The boat

Take a Mae Ping river cruise on a small open Thai style boat, which provides a more authentic experience than a large, modern cruise ship. Since the boat is open on all sides, there are good views from every seat.

Dinner table aboard the Mae Ping dinner cruise boat

Dinner table
Mae Ping dinner cruise boat

River scenery

The Ping river flows through Chiang Mai town. Although there are no famous landmarks on the river banks, the river scenery and riverside parks and temples are an attractive sight.

The boat driver gives some information about the river and some of the sights on the route. Watch local life on the river with children playing in the water and local fishermen reeling in their catch.

People watching the scenery on the Mae Ping River cruise

People watching the scenery
Mae Ping River cruise

A stop at the Thai Farmer’s House

The daytime cruise takes you upriver. The boat makes a stop at the Thai Farmer’s House North of Chiang Mai town. Take a short tour of the farm’s organic herb garden where herbs and spices used in Thai cooking are grown. Have a look around the farm with its animals as chickens, rabbits and ducks.

After a herbal drink and some fresh seasonal fruits, board the boat and cruise back towards the city.

River cruises

Mae Ping river cruise offers four different cruises daily. Each cruise includes pick up and drop off from Chiang Mai city hotel.

Mae Ping river cruise
The day time cruise will take you up river out of the city. Halfway there is a stop at the Thai Farmer’s House with a herbal drink and fresh seasonal fruits. The cruise is about two hours.
A boat departs every hour between 9 am and 5 pm.

The river cruise boat

Mae Ping dinner cruise
Enjoy dinner in a relaxed setting with a cool river breeze on the Mae Ping dinner cruise. Floating down the river sample dishes from both Thai and Northern kitchen.
Dinner cruise departure is at 6:30 pm daily. The boat returns at the jetty at about 8 pm.

Mae Ping river cruise with Khao Soi
The same daytime river cruise including a bowl of Khao Soi at the farmers house. Khao Soi is a dish from the North Thai cuisine. It’s a curry soup like dish with noodles, chilies and chicken or beef served in a bowl.
A boat departs every hour between 9 am and 5 pm.

A bowl of Khao Soi and several condiments

A bowl of Khao Soi and condiments

Mae Ping cruise to Wiang Kum Kam
The last option is a cruise with a horse carriage tour around the ancient fortified city Wiang Kum Kam.

In the 13^th century Wiang Kum Kam was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Because of numerous flooding, the capital was moved to Chiang Mai.

The trip starts with a 15 minute boat ride down river South to Wiang Kum Kam. Then get on a horse carriage and tour the old city. During the 45 minutes to one hour tour you will see six temples.

Enjoy some herbal juice and sweet Thai dessert aboard the boat on the way back to the city.

There are four cruises daily. Departure times are 9 am, 11:30 am, 2 pm and 4 pm.

Departure pier

All cruises depart from the jetty behind Wat Chai Mongkhon temple at 133 Charoen Prathet road, East of the old walled city center.
Pick up and drop off from Chiang Mai city hotel is included with every cruise.