4 Days 3 nights Chiang Mai in June 2025

My friend Mr.Chao who living in Chiang Mai with wife and daughter informed me that after raining seasons start. The Mae Kam Pong waterfall look beautiful. And suggest me to stay at homestay in Mae Kam Pong village for one night to see some local culture and visit Mae Kam Pong waterfall. With all the above reasons then I decided to travel to Chiang Mai again this year.

I booked flight on 13th Jun and spent 4 days in Chiang Mai. And have breakfast at airport. This time I chose Burger King, and I just notice the way staff put each item on the plate.

He put drink closer to me and french-fried most far. Firstly, when I touch the plate. I feel comfortable as the drink located on the most stable of the plate when I hold the plate with two hands. Then I said to the staff that are there any reason you put each item like this. He said it is standard rule of the restaurant. However, he asked me is it make you feel easier to carry the plate and I said absolutely yes. So, I said thank you to him for this care.

Sometimes when we order Fastfood and eat inside. They may put wherever they want, and some drink put on the far corner and risk to fall down so we have to move it the center or closer to our body. 

Morning flight gave me more time on arrival day to relax and spend longer time at Baan Khang Wat (craft and artisan village near Wat Umong) This market opening daily except Monday, so I decided to visit this village on first day.

Chao picked me up from airport with his driver P Wad (P or Pee = older brother or older sister in Thai). On the way from airport when I asked for light lunch, P Wad suggest a real local Khanom Jeen Nam Ngeaw (Thai northern noodle). 

The name of this small restaurant is Loong Pong (Loong = Uncle in Thai). The shop who still selling this menu with THB 30/40

I like Khanom Jeen Nam Ngeaw more than Khao Soi because this one no coconut milk and not sweet

And this is the best side dish with this noodle (for me)

And this is Khanom Jeen Nam Ngeaw THB 30 :)

After finish Khanom Jeen, we order dessert

This is Thai local dessert which many Thai growing with them

Now a day very difficult to find this kind of traditional dessert with old style process

After first meal in Chiang Mai we continue to Baan Kang Wat. 

We were lucky, today the weather is so good

There is live music show

And a nice local restaurant looks so delicious, but we were too full to try

Then we just walked around

There are many arts shops

And DIY shops

Small restaurant under the traditional houses

And cafe

We ordered drinks

And after finished our drink, we continue walking around

And I got a nice t-shirt which decided by local teenager in Chiang Mai. It was very funny when I asked staff, I want the model with ice-cream+sun+blue bread. She came to me and corrected me with smiley face. Sorry sis, this is mountain+sun+clound. And then all of us laughing. Anyway, I like this t-shirt ^_^

We left the village

 And Chao sent me to hotel for check in. This time I stay at Duangtawan Chiang Mai Hotel which located in the middle of Nigh Bazaar with the reason is hotel located on good location because we plan to take tri-wheels this evening to see around area.

 Room is clean and good space with reasonable prices. After checked in, I turn on my laptop to check some email. And meet with Chao again around 5pm. But it was petty that it was raining a little bit around 4pm. So, the tri-wheels riders go back home because they are though the rain may take long hour.

We changed plan, Chao took me to visit the Warorot Market. I normally come to this market only for buying souvenir such as chili-paste "Nam Prik Noom" or Crispy pork "Cab Moo" which is the most famous souvenir from Chiang Mai for Thai people

But it quite late so those souvenir shops already closed. Then Chao took me to visit flower market. I visit flower market in Bangkok many times. But for this market I just passed by but never stop. 

This time when I walked along the market and saw that there are lots of flower. Even cannot compare with flower market in Bangkok but there are lots of winter flower and colorful 

Since the road is quite narrow so we let P Wad wait for us at another street. And we walked to him. On the way we passed the Chinese Temple, but they closed already

So,we cannot get inside but I got another thing

One of my most Thai snacks. We call Kha Nom Buang, a crispy pan cake tops with soft cream and young coconut and some sweet noodle.

We met P Wad and continue to Chiang Puek Gate. Because I want to try the famous Sukiyaki at Suki Chang Puek. I heard a lot about this name but never try because every time I passed this area. They always have long que.

This time we arrived there quite early, so we were waiting around 15 minutes only. While waiting for the que, I walked around, and I got another one of my favorites finger food "Sai Krok Isan" (Thai sour sausage) 

We got our Suki

Me and Chao are beef lover, so we order beef Suki

Put sauce in and mixed it

The big piece and tender beef with sauce. The taste is amazing, I love this. Sukiyaki is not my favorite menu normally, but this one is very delicious

Besides of Suki Chang Puek, there are lots of street food to try

This is my order, ROTI with egg

Cheap and delicious

P Wad picked us up and continue to the restaurant name CHEF's TOGETHER by AOD & DAN where Chao's wife and daughter waiting 

The restaurant located by the river. It was raining but that made the weather cool down and look romantic

They already ordered some menu

And I ordered one menu. One of my favorite menus " SOM TUM POO PLARA" Actually, this menu is ISAN's food. But you can find it everywhere in Thailand and I love to try this menu from difference restaurant as each of them have their own recipe :)

We talked and eat and have some drink and left restaurant around 9pm and after refresh I slept quite early because our program will start early morning

14th June - Chao and P Wad picked up me from hotel and we try coffee at special cafe. This cafe services by women/girls from the prison. Those prisoners who had good behavior and want to start their new life got support from this cafe. Some of them work in the cafe, some of them do massage, some of them show how to make coconut pancake 

I think this is very good place to support those people who may made some mistake and go to prison with any reason. But when they want to start new life after they complete the period. They can work and get income for themselves and family. While waiting for our drink, I had tried to do coconut pancake. It is not difficult to make it as she prepared all ingredients and I just put it in the pan

I bought this coconut pancake which I cooked by myself. Please do not ask about the taste, it is good taste but of course it not because of me :)

We got our drink and left the cafe to MAE KAM PONG VILLAGE with around 2 hours drive.

Chao booked home stay in advance as we want the room on good location. Actually, those homestays are not too crowd during rainy season but to make sure that we have room so better book it in advance

All our rooms look nice

We drop all stuff and then start walking around the village

I came here long time ago and saw many new homestays, cafes, restaurants. But there is my favorite restaurant name PA NIM (PA = Aunty in Thai). The restaurant located near the stream and forest

We ordered some menu. And this is my most favorite, fried chicken wing

Fried pork ordered by Chao

Sour sausage 

I ordered KHANOM JEEN NAM NGEAW again, this menu I can eat everyday

And SOM TUM POO PLARA, my favorite menu

We finished all food and Jaew (Chao's wife), Pim (Chao's daughter) order some more menu.

I and Chao left them as we booked local guide for trekking to waterfall

I love trekking, when we walk in the forest we concentrate only tree, flower, leaf, insect, butterfly, bird

On the midway to the waterfall, we stop by for a drink 

Our local guide's name Yinn. Show us some local snack call MIANG which is a tea leaf but not the young tea leaf for tea. This one for chewing with salt. It is traditional activity of local people in this area. They serve MIANG when they have guest to their house. We did not try so I'm not sure the taste

We left the cafe and go back to the track again

I found difference tree and long legs spider

Finally, we reached to the waterfall

It is not so big waterfall but beautiful

And I think it worth to visit

We spent around 20 minutes and then left

With another walk to go back to village

My mission was completed, I visit this waterfall finally

We stop by again and get some drink. I like this small coffeeshop

I ordered ice honey,lemon and then we walked back to the homestay

They prepared for welcome ceremonies

It was their culture to welcome guest to the house with BAI SRI

And gave this yellow rope to all of us

After welcome ceremonies, our dinner was ready

And during dinner, there are 3 girls show classical dance in traditional dress

We enjoyed dinner and go back to our room. It was long good day so everyone slept early

15th June - we woke up early. Chao walked around the village. Unfortunately, I had urgent conference call, so I have to stay in my room

Our breakfast is boiled rice with pork and mushroom. We say goodbye to the home's host and left the village. This dog name MA KHAM, very friendly dog at homestay. Seem she want to say good bye as well

On the way down from the village. Chao want to drink coffee then we drop here

None of us came here before, we just want to try

The landscape and decoration look so nice. Everywhere under the tree shade

It was good to sit and listen to the sound of the water

I ordered mango soda, and I got this one. So, delicious

Jeaw said, ice Americano also good but I really cannot go with coffee. We finished our drinks and left the mountain down to the city and will continue to another mountain

The next mountain which we will turn to be gibbon

I like this activity and not afraid of high. I always enjoy playing this zipline. The longest zipline is 1,200meters with stunning forest and green mountain view. There were only me and Pim do this while Chao and Jeaw waiting for us at the cafe

We finished 38 stations in 1.30hrs and return to the cafe

After that, we left to the city and stopped by at the HOT SPRING

The hot spring with 40 degrees is so good to relax my leg after trekking yesterday

The weather was so good, and the sky look like a painting

We arrived back to Chiang Mai city. Chao dropped me at the night market as I want to walk around to find street food for dinner

Today is Sunday so there is night market at THA PAE GATE

Walking along the night market never get boring

There is a boutique hotel where the band playing jazz

There is a boiled rice restaurant full of tourist

After walked around and tried some finger food then I get a cab to my hotel. I slept early again

16th June - woke up early again as I want to get a cab to CHIANG MAI GATE MORNING MARKET. I like the noodle shop there

There is grilled sticky rice with taro wrapped with banana leaf, one of my favorite Thai desserts

Local fruit and dessert also there

And this is also my favorite shop as well

They have variety tastes of fried pork, sour,salty,sweet and you can mix with them with same price at THB 40/100g

I walked to the noodle shop

And this is the reason why I bought the fried pork

And I got some snack for P Wad and Chao and Thai drink called OLIANG

I got a cab and return to hotel for check out

Chao picked me up and took me to WAT PHA LAD

The old and beautiful temple in the middle of the jungle

From this temple can see Chiang Mai city

After that, we left the temple and heading to airport. My flight is 4.20pm and it was time to say goodbye to Chiang Mai. One of my favorite provinces in Thailand

These 4 days trip was finished quickly, and I had plan in mind to visit again but still do not know when. I love Chiang Mai and will come again and again for sure.

However, this time I do not return to Bangkok yet. I'm flying to KRABI, another one of my favorite provinces. And I will tell you later what happen there!