This trip was prompted by another allergy flare-up in Bangkok. Our destination was Chiang Mai, with a duration of 4 days and 3 nights (August 19-22, 2017). Traveling in the morning, we deliberately chose seats on the sunny side, hoping to capture pictures of clouds and the sun. However, we only managed to get this much.

An hour's flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, we enjoy exploring the city on foot. Our destination is the Lamphun minivan queue at Kad Luang, but we are heading to Mae Kampong, which is on the same route. Our usual route takes us through Wualai Road, and whenever we have the chance, we visit Wat Sri Suphan to admire the world's first silver ordination hall.

Arriving early allowed me to capture the desired photos with minimal crowds.

After getting soaked from carrying my backpack while exploring, I realized I didn't have much time to reach Kad Luang before 11:40. I continued walking and arrived at the Lamphun van queue at Kad Luang. For traveling to Mae Kampong by van, the queue recommends making a reservation in advance to coordinate with the community's van to pick you up. You can check the van schedule on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Van.Hotsprings/

Your reservation and payment are complete. Your bus ticket will look like this. You do not need to print it; you can show it on your mobile phone. The fare is 150 baht per person per trip (round trip 300 baht).

Upon arrival, the driver will first call out the names of passengers who have made reservations. Non-reserved passengers and those who are disembarking at the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs will board the vehicle afterwards. Due to the high volume of passengers on Saturday, the vehicle was full. At 12:30 PM, we arrived at the transfer point. The vehicle that will transport us to Mae Kampong is depicted below. It provides a comfortable ride. (Image courtesy of the van's Facebook page, as our battery died and we were unable to take a photo.)

It took another 15 minutes to reach Mae Kampong School. We were about to walk to our accommodation when the locals told us not to bother taking a shared taxi as the driver would pass by our place anyway. This time, we chose to stay at Huan Oui Homestay because it was the only one out of the five places we visited that didn't charge extra for solo travelers. The accommodation, including breakfast, cost 550 baht per person. https://www.facebook.com/HuanouiHome/

We stayed in a newly renovated room with a comfortable bed and soft pillows. Amenities included a TV, refrigerator, electric kettle, coffee, Ovaltine, bottled water, a Western-style toilet, and a gas-powered water heater. The room also featured a 7-pin power outlet and strong Wi-Fi connectivity.

After communicating with the owner of Heuan Uai via inbox to request the wifi password, we were met with exceptional hospitality. The owner continuously inquired about our needs and ensured our comfort, even offering additional blankets. Feeling slightly embarrassed by their attentiveness, we quickly packed our belongings and washed our faces before heading out to explore. With only 20 hours at our disposal (including sleep), we set off to our first destination: Wat Kantha Phrueksa, also known as Wat Mae Kampong. This temple boasts a unique pavilion situated in the middle of a pond, alongside an ancient teakwood vihara adorned with a moss-covered roof and flourishing ferns.

The provided text is empty. Please provide the text you would like me to translate.

Pay respects at the teakwood viharn and the ubosot in the middle of the water before exploring.

Braving the cool water to take photos of the fragrant Kanthaphrueksa waterfall, soaking in the refreshing bliss.

Walk to the other side of the teakwood temple to find the stupa.

Leaving the temple, we visited Mae Kampong village. During the rainy season, it is much quieter than in the winter. Many things here have changed due to tourism, but I am glad to hear that the people of Mae Kampong village are still strong and refuse to let investors change their way of life. Community-based tourism must be managed by the community, and the community must benefit from tourism.

The original text is empty. Please provide the text you want me to translate.

The house we slept in last time has now become a coffee roastery and cafe.

Walking back to the accommodation to visit a cafe to enjoy the birds and trees. It's only a 150-meter walk from the accommodation, but the steep path made me sweat. When I arrived at the cafe, I had to try it. I must say that the coffee is good, and the pie is excellent. The coffee and pie cost 115 baht, and the view is free.

The original text is empty. Please provide the text you want me to translate.

This photo was taken by a beautiful girl. She was worried that it wouldn't turn out well, but I think it's great. Thanks again.

We were on our way to Mae Kampong Waterfall via a shortcut marked by a small sign. However, when we reached the fork in the road, it started to rain heavily. As our accommodation was closer, we decided to take shelter and enjoy some tea (which we had brought with us) while listening to the sound of the rain.

The rain stopped around 6 pm. People were bustling back to the city, leaving Mae Kampong quiet and peaceful. The usual sight of villagers buying groceries and drinks to gather and chat was replaced by empty streets.

We returned to our favorite restaurant for dinner. The restaurant has been renovated and looks much nicer. The price of the food has increased by 5 baht, but the portion size remains the same. The stir-fried minced pork with basil and onions was delicious. The flavors were well-balanced, spicy but not too hot. The dish cost 45 baht.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

Continuing on, you'll find oyster mushroom omelets for 20 baht. There are several shops, so choose the one you like.

We were full after the meal and walked back to our accommodation. I really liked this curve, but I didn't dare to set up my phone to take pictures. The downhill curve was too dangerous to be trendy.

The moment I entered the room, the rain started pouring. Tonight, I will sleep soundly listening to the soothing sound of the rain.

The next morning, we woke up early to enjoy the tranquility of Mae Kampong. We love the mornings here, and every time we visit, we have to frolic in the middle of the street without fear of being hit by cars, as the tourist vehicles haven't arrived yet.

Take a walk to the central waterside ordination hall to capture the beauty of nature.

Sitting still, letting nature heal me until I felt content, I saw a path leading upwards and decided to climb it for a bit of fun. The path was a bit slippery and green.

Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

Upon reaching the first point, construction of a walkway is underway. According to information obtained from Mother Uai, who was returning from offering alms, the Mae Kampong temple plans to build a Buddha statue, a labyrinth (with a ceremony to be held during the Yi Peng festival), and a stupa.

A short walk uphill, though increasingly overgrown, leads to a view of Baan Mae Kampong from the opposite side of the Chom Nok Chom Mai coffee shop.

Our time for exploring was over. We had a car booked for 9:20 AM, so we needed to hurry back to pack our bags, shower, and eat breakfast. The Huen Uai guesthouse had prepared a delicious mushroom and pork congee with soft-boiled eggs for us. We enjoyed our meal amidst the sound of flowing water and birdsong.

After eating, Tu took Wans to the pick-up point. From the original group of 6, only 2 remained for the return trip. As a result, the fare increased to 200 baht per person, as stated on the van's page.

My trip to Mae Kampong ended with a happy heart, seeing that the community hasn't changed much despite the influx of visitors. The accommodation was excellent, and the people of Mae Kampong remain as friendly as ever.

This trip has 2 more places. Stay tuned for more information.

Follow other travel trips at

Page: Solo backpacking travel

IG: prapat / Solo backpacking travel