Drive your own Tuk Tuk in Chiang Mai

Get behind the wheel of your very own tuk tuk! These iconic three-wheeled rickshaws offer a classic Thai experience but with a unique twist – instead of being driven around, you’re going to do the driving. Fully insured and meeting high standards for quality and safety, this is the ultimate Northern Thailand adventure!

Explore the rural outskirts of Chiang Mai, bathe with local elephants, savour a traditional Thai lunch, float down the river on a bamboo raft, and ride around some more as you discover northern Thailand the way few foreigners ever had.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

• Tuk Tuk driving training
• A real rural drive your Tuk Tuk through farming villages and hamlets
• A visit to a local elephant home where no giants riding is allowed
• Lunch with elephants
• Bamboo rafting along the local river

DETAILED ITINERARY:

CHIANG MAI (-/L/- )
07:45 AM You can either meet the group at the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel at 07:45, or we will pick you up from your hotel between 08:00 and 08:30, (note – pick
up’s can only be provided for hotels inside the Chiang Mai ‘middle ring road’) and then transfer by minivan to our base for the day nestled in the Mae Wang valley.

09:00 – 9:30AM (Approx.)
On arrival in Mae Wang, our team will introduce you to your Tuk Tuks and begin your driving training. No problem if you don’t want to drive a Tuk
Tuk; you can enjoy the joys of nature’s air-conditioning in in the back.
NOTE: all drivers must be aged 18 or over and hold a valid manual driving license.

10:30AM (Approx.)
The Tuk Tuks are pretty easy to master and once everyone is feeling comfortable behind the wheel we’ll head through tiny rural roads, snaking through farming villages and past rural Temples. One of our guides 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.

12:30AM (Approx.)
At the elephant home you’ll learn about the history of the Thai elephant and also about the moves people are making to create better and better futures for them.
Once you’ve been introduced to the elephants – who have been taken out of a life of trekking and can no relax and enjoy their time more naturally – you’ll be able to help the mahouts feed them.  and then walk with the mahouts and their elephants (NOTE: No elephant riding is allowed) through the local countryside to the river where you’ll watch the mahouts wash the elephants.

1:00PM (Approx.)
After lunch walk with the mahouts and their elephants (NOTE: No elephant riding is allowed) through the local countryside to the river where you can help the mahouts wash the elephants – a fantastic experience for you and the elephants!

3:00PM (Approx.)
Now it’s time to enjoy floating along the local river on a traditional bamboo raft.

4:OOPM (Approx.)
Jump back into your Tuk Tuk and head back down the valley enjoying your last moments behind the wheel of a real Thailand ‘icon’. Be sure to have
your camera out to catch the surprise of the local community when they see you driving your very own Tuk Tuk!

4:45PM (Approx.)
On reaching The Tuk Tuk Club HQ, transfer into a minivan for the 75 minute drive back to Chiang Mai

6:00pm (Approx.)
Arrive back in Chiang Mai city.

The tuk tuk driving is on quiet roads in the hills surrounding Chiang Mai and the excursion includes transport to/from Chiang Mai. There is no tuk tuk driving in Chiang Mai.

All trips are limited never to exceed 50kmh. Driving is done in convoy. This is managed by the lead Tuk Tuk always being driven by a staff member The convoy is followed by a support vehicle.

The maximum group size for each trip is 18 people total

What to bring on tour?:

The most important thing to bring with you is a sense of adventure!
We recommend lightweight cool clothes (shorts and t-shirts are perfect) for the trip. You may like to bring an extra pair of shorts / t-shirt to change into after bathing the elephants and rafting.
Please wear trainers / sneakers shoes for the driving / elephant experience. We will provide towels to help you dry off after your rafting

Services included:

• Transfers to and from Chiang Mai city.
• A tuk tuk (up to 3 travelers per vehicle).
• Tuk tuk driving training.
• A visit to a local elephant home.
• Lunch at the elephant home.
• Bamboo rafting along the local river.
• Water throughout the day.
• Passionate English speaking professional tour guides looking after you every step of the way.

Services excluded:

• Drink besides water .
• Personal travel insurance.
• Personal expenditures, such as meals, drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications,
  postage, gratuities, etc.
• Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme.

Daily Departure: