Wat Tha Kham... continued from Click here!
The town has a small market and one main street with some wooden buildings and a prominent concrete bank. To the north and south narrow lanes pass through picturesque villages along the narrow valley.
(43 km. to Chiang Mai)
The return journey along R1269 offers good views of the western side of Doi Suthep - Doi Pui. In the broader part of the Tha Chang River Valley, luxury developments make this part of the valley look like a little Switzerland.
(Overnight. Starts on H107 at KM.35 Chiang Mai - Pai 131 km.)
The route to Pai begins at Mae Malai, a small market town, and twists and climbs through increasingly beautiful upland scenery onto a high ridge line (KM. 60 - 75). hilltribe villages may be found along dirt roads that lead off the main road. Pai is a small town in a narrow valley surrounded by high hills.
(KM.3 north turn - 17 km.)
A road through rustic scenery leads to this small wooden village on the south bank of the Mae Taeng River. A dirt track continues a short distance into the uplands.
Wat Tha Kham(KM.9 south turn - 1 km.)
A lane through a simple decorated arch goes to Wat Tha Kham. The viharn has some fading murals done in a primitive style. The lane going south from Wat Tha Kham is a quiet rural route that joins H 107 at KM. 18.
(KM.23 south turn - 1.5 km. 4WD)
The falls tumble into a deep pool at the end of a ravine - nice for swimming and a picnic.
(KM. 42 north-east turn on dirt road - 6 km. 4WD)
These are some of the nicest hot springs in Chiang Mai province. The well-maintained park is in a pretty wooded valley and is not over-commercialized.
Rock dams form shallow pools for a hot soak 250 meters downstream of bubbling geysers.
The park offers walks to nearby hilltribe villages and camping.
Huay Nam Dang National Park(KM. 65 north turn - 6 km. Accommodation available by advanced booking)
At one of the highest sections of the road a scaled road north leads to the park headquarters and a viewpoint. The park site is famous for its dawn view over the Mae Taeng Valley towards Doi Luang Chiang Dao. The dirt road (4WD) beyond the view point continues far through high country, passing Lisu and Haw Chinese villages.
See also: [Wat Phra Non Rocket Festival] [Orchids] [Mae Thorani]