Is it #Maekampong again? Everyone keeps asking, haha. Well, they're right. This is our third visit here. We must be crazy.

The first time I fell head over heels in love with Mae Kampong, a small village nestled in the vast forest. The following year, I brought my friends along, and the charm remained. However, it couldn't compete with the initial encounter. Mae Kampong had grown, matured, and gained recognition. Like a beautiful maiden, her fame spread, attracting a multitude of admirers eager to witness her splendor.

Our first two visits involved renting motorbikes, which offered the freedom to explore at our own pace. While some sections of the road were steep and winding (and a bit dangerous for inexperienced riders – one of our group even took a tumble!), it was still preferable to renting a car. The narrow village roads and limited parking made driving a car challenging, especially when navigating oncoming traffic.

This time, there are four of us. Only one person can ride a motorcycle, so we decided to skip renting a motorcycle. Renting a car wouldn't be a good idea either, as my friend isn't comfortable driving and we know the route well. We wouldn't make it. Therefore, we researched how to get to Mae Kampong. Mae Kampong is located in Mae On district, just over 50 kilometers from Chiang Mai city.

1. You can drive yourself, either by car or motorbike, as long as you are a confident driver. The roads in the village are narrow and there are a lot of cars. The road to the viewpoint is steep and winding, and there are frequent accidents.

2. Contact the accommodation for a round-trip airport/city transfer, 1600-1700 baht.

3. Use a van service for 150 baht/person/trip (book in advance). The page often has promotions, so of course, a cheapskate like me booked it for 90 baht/person/trip, a round trip for only 180 baht. Here's the link in case anyone is interested: https://www.facebook.com/Van.Hotsprings

Van Hot Springs

This is the last time in my life that I will be able to visit Chiang Mai for a round-trip ticket price of 380 baht. There will never be another opportunity like this. T_T

A cheap ticket means an early departure, but at this price, we'll take it!

Upon arrival at Chiang Mai Airport at 8:00 AM, hailing a red taxi to Kad Luang (Warorot Market) is recommended. Fortunately, the need to negotiate fares or risk being overcharged has been eliminated, as prices are now clearly displayed on the side of each vehicle, typically not exceeding 30 baht per person.

To ensure accuracy, I will translate the provided text from Thai to English:

"To reach Kad Luang, walk to the designated pick-up point for confirmation. The van stop is located opposite the flower market, next to the Ping River. It's easy to find. You can ask red car drivers or anyone in the market for directions."

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

We booked the 11:30 am session because we couldn't make the 7:30 am session. We had plenty of time to kill, so we grabbed a bite to eat nearby and then returned to the parking area (a little past the pedestrian bridge) to catch the yellow bus to the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs.

The bus runs from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, departing every 30 minutes (times may be subject to change). The fare is 40 baht per person. Please note that before boarding the bus, inform the driver that the fare is 40 baht. During my visit, two tourists were unaware of the fare and were charged 50 baht.

Look carefully. The car must be labeled "Hot Springs Only." If it is not labeled, you will not reach your destination.

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The journey takes approximately 1 hour and covers a distance of over 30 kilometers. The return trip schedule is shown in the image. It's a straightforward journey.

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They then paid to enter the hot springs.

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No entry without a card.

It's been a long time since I've been here. Let's see how things have changed.

The foot soaking area is divided into two sections: one with low temperatures and one with high temperatures. In the low-temperature section, the water is crowded and murky, discouraging people from soaking their feet. In the high-temperature section, the water is clear (as no one can stand the heat to soak their feet, haha).

If you are coming as a family, it is more economical to bring your own eggs from home, as a whole tray. However, if you are coming as a tourist, you can buy them inside. This helps to distribute income.

"Sure, I'll be there soon. Don't worry, I wouldn't miss it."

Let's take a look at the boiling time for eggs. If you like a certain type, you can boil it according to the time. (I must say it's very delicious, I want to eat it again.)

After finding a place to sit and soak their feet, they waited for the van to take them to Kam Pong at 12:30 PM. (They had called ahead to change their pick-up location from Waroros Market to San Kamphaeng Hot Springs.)

After a 30-40 minute drive, the car will stop across from the Flight of the Gibbon. From there, we will carry our backpacks and walk to our accommodation.

The accommodation and parking may not be suitable for the elderly or those with mobility issues. There are steep slopes and you will need to carry your luggage. However, for us, it was a breeze. We have already climbed Phu Kradueng twice, so this is nothing. (I'm just bragging, haha)

The area was bustling with activity. Popular restaurants were packed with customers, making it difficult to navigate the crowded streets. The heavy traffic posed a safety hazard, as pedestrians risked being hit by vehicles.

Although the accommodation was a bit far, the tranquility made it worth the booking.

We have a room with an attic. There are a total of 4 rooms that can accommodate 5 people per room (but we sleep 2 per room). In front of the room there is a balcony for sitting and talking. It is beautiful, clean, and peaceful. It is considered good value for money compared to the hustle and bustle. The price is 750 baht/person including 2 meals (dinner + breakfast).

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"Blankets, pillows, and towels shouldn't smell. It's weird, right? I have to sniff them before I sleep. If they smell bad, I won't sleep there again. Haha."

The room has a bunk bed, allowing three additional people to sleep on the upper level.

The bathroom is equipped with soap and has separate wet and dry areas. It also features a water heater. Overall, I liked it. It was clean and well-maintained.

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After checking into the accommodation, we sat and chatted on the balcony, waiting for the crowds to thin out. This was because many tourists only came for day trips and didn't stay overnight, so the area around the restaurants and cafes tended to be crowded.

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During this period (January), the Dok Nang Phaya Sua Krong flowers are in full bloom, and they are truly beautiful.

I thought there wouldn't be many people, so I walked down to the restaurant starving. Guess what? The food was sold out. Haha, I'm going to have to go hungry.

My northern Thai sausage (sai ua) was T_T, so I had to find another restaurant to eat instead.

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The shop needs no introduction, as it has been widely reviewed on social media.

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Do not forget to pay respect to the Buddha.

I'm hungry.

Numerous shops and accommodations have emerged.

Let's head home and grab some coffee. We missed out last time, and I've heard their coffee is excellent.

The coffee here is truly delicious. I recommend ordering a cappuccino, which is tasty both hot and cold. As for other options, it depends on your personal preferences.

The view from the balcony is breathtaking. There's no need to go anywhere else.

The weather was pleasantly cool when we arrived, even during the day. I wonder how cold it will be at night.

It was time for dinner, which was a bit bland for our taste. Some chili paste with crispy pork or a spicy dip would have been fantastic. If they had offered that, I would have given both the accommodation and the food a 10/10. As it is, I'll give it a 9/10. (This is just my personal opinion, please don't be offended.)

Translation:

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You'll get scolded for criticizing my cooking, but you ate it all anyway, haha.

And go to bed. It's cold because tomorrow we have a car pick us up to watch the sunrise. Sea of fog at Kiew Fin at 5.45 am (you can contact the hotel for a car, but we booked it with Som O https://www.facebook.com/osomcarrental/

The temperature at Giu Fin is extremely cold, definitely not exceeding 12 degrees Celsius. Even before arriving, the temperature below was only 14 degrees Celsius. It's both cold and windy. 🥶

Translation:

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Today, the sun is nowhere to be seen, and the sea of mist is also absent. T_T

Let's go down and see the tigers.

If we descend quickly, the kind driver will take us to take photos with the Queen's Flower (Pink Trumpet Tree) up close, especially the shorter trees.

and visit Mae Kampong Waterfall.

Upon arriving at the accommodation, it was breakfast time. I didn't expect it to be delicious, but it was surprisingly very good. I easily had two cups. We walked around with sore legs. I give this meal 5 stars. Haha.

After breakfast, let's try the coffee at the new shop next door.

The shop opens at 8:00 AM. Come with an empty stomach.

Translation:

A very cozy restaurant.

However, I couldn't because the owner hadn't opened the shop yet. Hahahaha.

So, she went back to her nest to die again.

We checked out at 11:00 am and arranged for a car to pick us up for our next destination (500 baht). In hindsight, it would have been better to have lunch first and then checked out at 12:00 pm. We had planned to go to Giant Restaurant, but we had already been there and didn't want to go again. So, we decided to explore the area around Tharthong instead.

The car will take you to the strawberry farm.

Translation:

The kind grandmother gave me a very large strawberry.

The bread is still white, but when you bite into it, it's very crispy and sweet.

We rushed to buy it and take it home. When we got home, why wasn't it crispy and sweet like when we ate it at the shop? 555

The driver then asked where we would leave our luggage during the trip. We were surprised and said we would leave it in the car. The driver explained that the car would need to continue working and suggested we store our luggage at the Thar Thong bus terminal. He then drove us to the Sawang Katat restaurant (nearby) and charged us 500 baht (45 minutes). He said we could consider it a luggage storage fee so we wouldn't have to carry heavy bags.

The shop is closed! And it is strictly forbidden to bring chairs to the waterfall for photo shoots, which violates the law. The legend of the "Sawan Ka Ta" restaurant has come to an end due to the negative impact of social media.

Cross the road to visit Pha Nam Lod.

Years ago, Pha Nam Lod was only a place to see the water flowing through the cave. Later, the Royal Project at Tin Tok developed the landscape and opened a restaurant with tables and chairs, making it a tourist destination suitable for relaxation. (Note: The restaurant is closed during the rainy season.)

From the waterfall, we can walk through the coffee plantation to reach the Royal Project at Ton Tok.

We had lunch again and spent the rest of the time waiting for the van back home at 4:10 PM. (We informed the page that we would be boarding the van at the Royal Project at Ton Tok instead.)

Oh, I forgot to mention that there are a lot of deer flies in Mae Kampong. They bite you without you realizing it. We all got bitten, some with dozens of bites. I got off lightly with only 5 bites.

If you are forced to draw blood, clean the wound thoroughly (but we did not clean it) and then apply balm or Betadine. At this point, it has not healed yet. It is still a red bump and itchy. Do not scratch it, or it will scar.

Take a picture before the car arrives.

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The bus will drop us off at the parking lot (Waroros Market), where we can walk around and find souvenirs such as sai oua (northern Thai sausage) and crispy pork rinds. There are many famous food stalls, but there is no seating available, so you will need to eat standing up.

And call a red taxi to the airport for 30 baht per person, the same price as the way here. Return to Bangkok safely.

Translation:

The original text describes the author's experience visiting Mae Kampong, a popular tourist destination in Thailand.

Here's the translated text:

Mae Kampong remains beautiful and worth visiting for those who haven't been there before. It offers more convenience and comfort than in the past. However, I admit to having a bad habit of comparing it to my previous experiences, which has diminished my overall impression. People change over time, so why shouldn't places change too? Everything evolves with the passage of time.

Excluding souvenirs, the cost is only 2228.75 baht per person. See you again when you're free!