Hello friends, welcome back. This time we will take you on another trip as usual. What can I do? I love to travel, so I have nothing but travel stories to tell you. The place we will recommend this time is still a tourist attraction and accommodation in Chiang Mai. Because as I said, this time we went up north for quite a long time.

We spent nearly a month traveling around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Before returning to Bangkok, we decided to stay at Huen Mae Tanya Homestay as our final stop. This accommodation wasn't initially on our list, but we happened to drive past it on our way to Mae Kampong. We noticed a sign for the homestay, which is located by a rice paddy, a style we particularly enjoy. We called Mae Tanya, the owner, to inquire about availability, and luckily, she had a room free on the day we were leaving Mae Kampong. So, we extended our stay by one more night.

Where will we be going on this trip?

• Doi Saket Hot Spring

• Homestay Huen Mae Tanya

- The best work of Doi Saket

Before checking into our accommodation, we made a stop at Doi Saket Hot Springs. There are numerous hot spring pools here, including foot baths, soaking pools, and even an egg-boiling pool. We noticed that the foot baths were more crowded than the other pools due to their convenience. However, if you want to experience an onsen-like atmosphere, you can soak in the large pool. Soaking in hot springs is a great way to relieve fatigue. Additionally, there are Thai massage services, a coffee shop, and shops selling local products.

This pool is specifically designed for boiling eggs. A metal fence surrounds it to prevent people from falling in due to the extremely hot water. A strong sulfur smell is noticeable in the vicinity. We purchased a basket of eggs from a nearby vendor for 20 baht and tried boiling them in the pool.

The cooking time for the egg depends on your preference. We like our eggs soft-boiled, so we soak them for about 8 minutes.

Before heading to our accommodation, we took a moment to capture some aerial shots of the hot spring. Compared to the Sankampaeng hot spring, this one is less crowded and more peaceful. If you prefer privacy, this place is a perfect choice.

After driving approximately 500 meters from the hot spring, you will find a sign for the entrance to the Homestay Heuan Mae Tanya. Turn into the alley and drive another 300 meters to reach the accommodation.

Nestled amidst the serene landscapes of Pa Mieng Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, lies the enchanting homestay of Huen Mae Thamma. This rustic retreat boasts four charming wooden houses, two spacious ones and two smaller ones. The smaller houses comfortably accommodate 2-3 guests, while the larger ones can host 5-6 individuals. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature, surrounded by verdant rice fields, meandering streams, and majestic mountains.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a large house, which serves as the home of Ms. Thanya, the owner of the homestay. This house also doubles as the dining area for breakfast and dinner. After receiving the key to your accommodation from Ms. Thanya, we will take you to your room.

The accommodation will be in small wooden houses called "Sai Kham". There are two houses in total: Sai Kham 1 and Sai Kham 2.

Let's take a look inside the bedroom. The small house can accommodate a total of 3 people. Inside the room, there are 2 beds: a 5-foot double bed with a mosquito net and a 3-foot single bed with a mosquito net. Amenities in the room include air conditioning and a TV, but there is no refrigerator. If you want cold water, you can ask for it from Mother Tanya at the main house.

The bathroom here has a water heater.

After settling into our accommodation, we took a leisurely stroll, capturing the ambiance of the surroundings. The tranquility and natural beauty of the location were captivating. This haven is ideal for those seeking a peaceful and unpretentious retreat, a place to unwind and embrace the slow pace of life, offering a respite from the demands of daily routines. A perfect escape to recharge and rejuvenate the weary body and mind. Let the images speak for themselves, painting a vivid picture of this idyllic sanctuary.

One side of the accommodation borders a stream that originates from the Mae Lai Waterfall. During our visit, the water level in the stream was relatively low as it was not the rainy season. However, during the rainy season, the water level rises significantly, becoming crystal clear and cool, with small fish visible swimming in the stream.

From this aerial perspective, the accommodation is beautifully enveloped by rice fields, streams, and mountains.

Coincidentally, our stay coincided with the "Sa Pa Khon Dee Doi Saket" festival, which is held annually by the district office in February. We were fortunate to arrive on the first day of the festival, and our host, Mae Tanya, invited us to join her for a stroll through the event and dinner.

The event will be held around the Doi Saket District Office. There will be a procession from various sub-districts. The event will feature a Miss Doi Saket contest, an OTOP product exhibition, a retro circle dance performance, and food and products from Doi Saket villagers.

The event we attended on its opening day was bustling with attendees. The local vendors offered a wide variety of enticing food and goods, making it difficult to resist purchasing something at every turn. The abundance of delicious options fueled our hunger as we explored the event.

After a fruitful shopping trip, we returned to our accommodation laden with goodies. We then gathered at Mother Thanya's spacious house to enjoy the food we had purchased. After a satisfying meal, we retired for the night. Initially, we had planned to visit the Doi Saket hot springs for a moonlit soak. Mother Thanya provides sarongs for guests who wish to experience this unique bathing ritual. However, due to our late return from the district event and the subsequent fatigue induced by the hearty meal and chilly weather, we opted to postpone our hot spring adventure until the following morning.

The scene cuts to the morning. We woke up around 6:00 AM. The weather was quite cold, making it difficult to get out of bed. However, we had an appointment to go to the hot springs with Mother Tanya at 6:30 AM, so we had to get up. Before going to the hot springs, we captured the morning atmosphere of the accommodation. The morning air was fresh, with a thin mist floating over the mountains. The rice fields were full of dew, and the view was very pleasing to the eye.

This morning, we will bathe in a public hot spring located at the entrance of Doi Saket Hot Spring. Locals use this pool for bathing, and they typically wear sarongs while doing so. Bathing in this pool is free of charge, but you will need to bring your own sarong and toiletries. If you are staying at the Heuan Mae Tanya Homestay, they will provide you with everything you need, including a water dipper, two sarongs (one for bathing and one for changing), and toiletries.

This area features three bathing pools with varying temperatures. Two pools offer a moderate warmth, while the third boasts a significantly higher temperature. Although our guide, Mae Tanya, recommended the largest pool with its comfortable warmth, we observed two local men bathing in the hottest pool. We hesitated to try it ourselves, as even the moderate pool felt quite hot to us, with steam rising visibly from its surface.

The weather was quite chilly, so we wasted no time in scooping up some water to bathe with. The first ladleful made us jump – the water was incredibly hot! But after a while, we started to adjust, and soon we were enjoying ourselves so much that we didn't want to get out. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that it's forbidden to put your body, hands, or feet into the pool.

After showering, we went inside to take pictures of the atmosphere of the inner pool, the foot bath area, and the soaking area for you to see more. In the morning, the air was cold, and steam rose from both pools. If you want to soak in the inner pool, there is a fee. It is not free like the public pool outside.

After showering, we returned to our accommodation, where Ms. Tanya had prepared a set of Tai Lue clothes for us to wear. If you are staying here and would like to try on the clothes, you can inform Ms. Tanya. This was my first time trying them on, and I must admit, I felt a little shy.

This morning, we had the opportunity to sample the culinary skills of Chef Thanya. The breakfast spread featured a selection of northern Thai dishes presented in a traditional "khantoke" set. Typically, the accommodation offers a breakfast of pork and shiitake mushroom congee with freshly brewed coffee. Dinner usually consists of local cuisine. However, as we had already indulged in local delicacies purchased at the "Sapa of Doi Saket" market the previous evening, we requested to have the northern Thai dishes served for breakfast instead.

Enjoying a traditional breakfast on a "khantoke" tray amidst the serene rice fields, while adorned in the elegant attire of the Tai Lue people, creates a harmonious and unforgettable experience.

This set meal includes lemongrass fried chicken, mustard green curry, northern Thai chili dip, northern Thai curry, crispy pork rind, and our favorite, deep-fried stream shrimp with a delicious salty flavor. At first, when Mother Thanya told us that she would fry stream shrimp for us to eat, we didn't know what they were. But Mother explained that stream shrimp are small shrimp that live in the streams that flow through the accommodation. They are difficult to find because they are only available during certain periods, from around January to early March. We were lucky to be there at the right time to try them.

This region is also known for its unique dish, "No Tom Pong (Mineral Water) Stuffed with Filling." The filling typically consists of seasoned pork, and traditionally, the Tai Lue people use crispy pork skin. However, our visit did not coincide with the season for bamboo shoots, so we were unable to try this dish. Instead, we have included a picture from Ma Thanya for your reference.

After a hearty breakfast, we rarely have the opportunity to wear the traditional Tai Lue costume. So, we decided to take some photos to capture the atmosphere of the accommodation. We imagined ourselves as Tai Lue women.

This concludes the review. Thank you for following along.

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Accommodation details Homestay Heuan Mae Tanya

There are a total of 4 houses here.

- Large house with 2 bedrooms, sleeps 5-6 people.

- Small house with 2 bedrooms, sleeps 2-3 people.

Amenities: TV, air conditioning, water heater.

The cost is per person, 600 baht each. This includes breakfast, dinner, morning coffee, and a visit to the Doi Saket hot springs.

In addition to this, there are also activities such as retro Thai Lue circle dancing and Bai Sri wrist tying ceremony, which guests can participate in. However, there is an additional charge for the circle dancing.

Contact for booking / https://www.facebook.com/ครัวแม่ธัญญา-495052827275036/

093-6239329

095-6914141