Chiang Mai ATV Tours: Which Adventure Should You Choose?
Updated · Idea Smile Tour, Chiang Mai
Want to ride an ATV in Chiang Mai but not sure which tour to choose? You can spend about an hour on off-road trails, or make a full day of it by combining an ATV ride with rafting, a waterfall or an elephant visit. The best option depends on how much riding you want, how much time you have and whether you'd prefer one activity or a combination.
Short answer
For riding only, the 60-minute ATV Extreme at Tarzan World is ฿1,440 (≈ US$43) per rider. If you want more in your day, ATV, White-Water Rafting & Waterfall adds a waterfall trek and 5 km of rafting to about an hour on a 200 cc ATV, from ฿2,300 (≈ US$69). Every tour below includes hotel pickup in Chiang Mai.
Tours that fit this guide
Idea Smile Tour sells and arranges these tours with local operators (TAT licence 24/01168). Prices are per person from our current tour list; check the tour page for options and the latest details.
Our pick for this guide
ATV, White-Water Rafting & Waterfall
Best for: a full adventure day: about an hour on a 200 cc ATV, 5 km of white water and a waterfall trek
- Price
- from ฿2,300 per person ≈ US$69
- Duration
- Full day
- Pickup
- Pickup 08:00–08:30 · back After the ATV ride
Includes: Hotel pickup & drop-off, English-speaking guide, Thai lunch (pad thai), Travel insurance
See details and book ATV, White-Water Rafting & WaterfallAlso worth a look
Mae Taeng White-Water Rafting
Best for: rafting first, with a 1-hour ATV ride on Packages C and D
- Price
- from ฿1,550 per person ≈ US$46
- Duration
- Half day ~7 hrs or full day ~8 hrs
- Pickup
- Pickup 07:30–08:00 or 08:00–08:30 · back 14:30–15:00 or 16:00–16:30
Includes: Transportation, Lunch (vegetarian pad thai with egg & fresh fruit), Travel insurance, All safety equipment and more
See details and book Mae Taeng White-Water RaftingAlso worth a look
Elephants, Jungle Trek & Waterfall
Best for: elephants (no riding) and a waterfall trek, with an ATV package
- Price
- from ฿1,800 per person ≈ US$54
- Duration
- Full day · ~9 hrs
- Pickup
- Pickup 08:00–08:30 · back 17:00–17:30
Includes: Round-trip minivan transfer, English-speaking guide & professional staff, Thai lunch (pad thai), Travel insurance and more
See details and book Elephants, Jungle Trek & Waterfall
Tell us your date and group size — we'll help you choose. Message us on WhatsAppor browse all tours
Which ATV tour should you choose?
Start with what you want most from the day. Each card links to a tour we sell, with the current price on the tour page.
Want to focus on ATV riding?
Choose the ride-only ATV Extreme Adventure at Tarzan World: 60 minutes off-road, once a day, ฿1,440 (≈ US$43) per rider.
See ATV ExtremeWant ziplining too?
The same Tarzan World tour has zipline packages with a 30-minute ATV ride: the full 39-platform course (Package A) or a shorter 9-zipline course (Package C), from ฿2,100 (≈ US$63).
Compare the zipline + ATV packagesWant a full adventure day?
ATV, White-Water Rafting & Waterfall: a 2-hour trek to a waterfall, 5 km of white water and about an hour on a 200 cc ATV, from ฿2,300 (≈ US$69).
See the ATV + rafting dayWant several different experiences?
Elephants, Rafting & ATV: a morning feeding and bathing elephants (no riding), then white-water rafting and about an hour on an ATV. Ask us for the current price.
See elephants + rafting + ATVCompare ATV tours
Ride time is the time on the ATV itself. The whole trip is longer because of the drive, lunch and any other activities. Prices are per person and come from our current tour list; the tour page always has the latest.
| Tour | ATV ride time | Also included | Pickup & length | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATV Extreme (Tarzan World) | 60 min off-road | ATV only; Thai buffet lunch | Once a day, morning pickup · Half day | ฿1,440 (≈ US$43) per rider | View tour |
| Zipline + ATV (Tarzan World) | 30 min | 39-platform zipline course (Package A) or 9 ziplines (Package C); lunch | Half day | ฿2,100 (≈ US$63) | View tour |
| ATV, White-Water Rafting & Waterfall | About 1 hr, 200 cc | 2-hour waterfall trek, 5 km white-water rafting, lunch | Pickup 08:00–08:30 · Full day | ฿2,300 (≈ US$69) | View tour |
| Elephants, Rafting & ATV | About 1 hr, 200 cc | Elephant feeding and river bath (no riding), white-water rafting, lunch | Pickup 08:00–08:30, back around 17:00–17:30 | Ask us for the current price | View tour |
| Elephants, Jungle Trek & Waterfall (ATV package) | About 1 hr, 200 cc | Elephant feeding and river bath (no riding), 2-hour waterfall trek, lunch | Pickup 08:00–08:30 · Full day · ~9 hrs | ฿2,300 (≈ US$69) | View tour |
| Mae Taeng Rafting + ATV | 1 hr, about 70% off-road | 6 km rafting (Package C, half day) or 10 km (Package D, full day); lunch | Pickup 07:30–08:00 or 08:00–08:30 | ฿2,800 (≈ US$84) | View tour |
| Kaeng Kued ATV & White-Water Rafting | 1 or 2 hrs | 4 or 8 km white-water rafting, plus a waterfall or elephant care on some programmes; lunch | Pickup 08:30–09:00, back around 16:00–16:30 | ฿2,100 (≈ US$63) | View tour |
| ATV Safari & Combos (8Adventures) | 3 hrs | ATV only, or combined with 10 km rafting or a 3-hour jungle trek; lunch | Pickup 08:00–08:30 (single activities also 11:30–12:00) | ฿3,500 (≈ US$104) (ATV only) | View tour |
| Doi Inthanon & ATV (Inthanon Paradise) | 1 or 2 hrs | Doi Inthanon National Park sightseeing (or ATV only); lunch & soft drink | Pickup 07:30 | ฿2,450 (≈ US$73) per rider (ATV only) | View tour |
| Elephant Bath & ATV near Doi Inthanon | 1 or 2 hrs | Elephant bath of about 1 or 2 hours; lunch & soft drink | Pickup 07:30 | ฿3,150 (≈ US$94) per rider | View tour |
What is an ATV tour like?
Every tour starts with a pickup from your hotel in Chiang Mai and a drive out to the hills. Tarzan World is about 13 km past Mae Malai market on the road to Pai; the elephant and rafting combinations run in the Mae Taeng area north of the city.
At the activity site you get your safety gear before you ride. For the ATV, the Mae Taeng rafting tour lists body armour, a full-face helmet and gloves, and the Elephants, Rafting & ATV day includes rafting and ATV equipment.
The ride itself is short compared with the day. Expect 30 minutes on the Tarzan World zipline packages, 60 minutes on ATV Extreme, and about an hour on the full-day combinations. Routes differ by operator: the Mae Taeng ride is about 70% off-road and passes the Kuedchang elephant valley, while the Elephant In Wild combinations ride through the countryside with mountain views.
After the activities and lunch, you're driven back to your hotel. Half-day trips are usually back in the afternoon and full days in the late afternoon; each tour page lists its own return time.
Is ATV riding suitable for beginners?
Many people who book an ATV tour in Chiang Mai have never ridden one before, and none of the tours we sell list previous riding experience as a requirement. Before you book, check whether the package you're looking at includes an introductory briefing, supervised practice and trails that suit first-timers. We don't have written confirmation of the practice session for every operator, so tell us if it matters and we'll check before you pay.
Age rules depend on the operator. At Tarzan World, ATV Extreme riders must be at least 15, and there is a passenger price for anyone riding along. On the Mae Taeng rafting tour's ATV packages, children under 15 ride as passengers. For the other tours, send us the ages in your group and we'll confirm with the operator.
No adventure activity is risk-free. Follow the staff's instructions, ride at a speed you're comfortable with, and tell the operator about any health conditions before you start.
What to wear for an ATV tour
Keep it simple and practical. The helmet and riding gear come from the operator; this is what to bring yourself:
- Closed-toe shoes with grip (no sandals or flip-flops)
- Comfortable clothes that can get dusty or muddy
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- Drinking water if your tour doesn't list it as included
- A towel and a change of clothes for rafting combinations
- Long hair tied back, and nothing loose in your pockets
ATV only or ATV + rafting?
Both are good days out. The choice is mostly about how much riding you want and whether you'd like to get wet.
ATV only
- Best if riding is the main thing you want to do
- 60 minutes off-road at Tarzan World, ฿1,440 (≈ US$43) per rider
- Runs once a day, so check the pickup time before you book
ATV + rafting
- Best if you want several activities in one day
- About an hour on the ATV plus white-water rafting, and a waterfall trek or elephants
- Bring a change of clothes and check the water-activity conditions for your date
Frequently asked questions
How much does an ATV tour cost in Chiang Mai?
It depends on how long you ride and what else is included. The 60-minute ATV Extreme at Tarzan World is ฿1,440 (≈ US$43) per rider, with a lower passenger price. Zipline packages with a 30-minute ATV ride start from ฿2,100 (≈ US$63), and full days with about an hour on an ATV plus rafting and a waterfall start from ฿2,300 (≈ US$69). Hotel pickup is included.
Can beginners join an ATV tour?
None of the ATV tours we sell list previous riding experience as a requirement. Practice and briefing arrangements vary by operator, so if you've never ridden one, tell us when you book and we'll check what's included.
What is the minimum age to ride?
It depends on the operator. At Tarzan World, ATV Extreme riders must be at least 15. On the Mae Taeng rafting tour's ATV packages, children under 15 ride as passengers. For other tours, send us the ages in your group before you book.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. All the ATV tours we sell include round-trip transfer from hotels in Chiang Mai city. If you're staying outside the city, tell us where when you book and we'll check with the driver.
How long is the actual ATV ride?
30 minutes on the Tarzan World zipline + ATV packages, 60 minutes on ATV Extreme, and about an hour on the full-day combinations with rafting, a waterfall trek or elephants. The whole trip is a half or full day.
What should I wear?
Closed-toe shoes with grip, comfortable clothes that can get dusty or muddy, sunscreen and insect repellent. Bring a towel and a change of clothes if your tour includes rafting.
Can I combine ATV and ziplining?
Yes. At Tarzan World, Package A combines the 39-platform zipline course with a 30-minute ATV ride, and Package C combines 9 ziplines with a 30-minute ride.
Can I combine ATV and rafting?
Yes. ATV, White-Water Rafting & Waterfall and Elephants, Rafting & ATV both include about an hour on an ATV with white-water rafting, and the Mae Taeng rafting tour's Packages C and D add a 1-hour ATV ride.
What happens if it rains?
Trails get muddier in the rainy season, roughly June to October. Operators may pause or reschedule for storms or unsafe river levels. If a tour is cancelled for weather or safety, we offer another date, another tour or a full refund.
How do I choose the best ATV package for my group?
Decide how much riding you want, then how much else you want in the day. Riding only: ATV Extreme. Ziplining too: a zipline + ATV package. A full day out: ATV with rafting and a waterfall or elephants. Check the ages in your group against each operator's limits, or send us your date, group size and hotel area and we'll suggest the best fit.