The village lane and wooden houses
Along the stream through the village
Old wooden houses step up the hillside along a mountain stream, many now homestays and small cafés.
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Chiang Mai, Thailand
Mae Kampong Village
A small mountain village of wooden houses, coffee and tea gardens and a waterfall, known for its community homestays.
Favourite places
Mae Kampong Waterfall
Above the village
A multi-tiered waterfall reached by a forest path from the upper end of the village.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Village temple
Upper part of the village
A small wooden Lanna-style temple perched over the stream, the centre of village life.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Tea and coffee gardens
Forest around the village
Tea for miang and coffee grow under the forest trees on the slopes — villagers can show how the leaves are picked and fermented.
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Local food
Miang
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Fermented wild tea leaves, a traditional northern snack chewed after meals. Hill villages have grown the tea for it for generations.
Nam phrik ong
Chiang Mai, Thailand
A mild northern dip of minced pork and tomato with chilli, eaten with fresh vegetables and sticky rice.
Hill coffee
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Locally grown arabica served in the village cafés overlooking the valley.
Where to eat
Homestay meals
In the village
Most homestays serve home-cooked northern dinners and breakfasts to their guests.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Village cafés
Along the main lane
Small wooden cafés by the stream serving coffee, tea and simple dishes.
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Where to stay
Mae Kampong homestays
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Rooms in village houses arranged through the community tourism project — the way to experience the mist and the quiet.
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Chiang Mai, Thailand
Quiet lanes of guesthouses and boutique hotels between the temples, within walking distance of Tha Phae Gate and the Sunday Walking Street. The easiest base for first-time visitors.
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Culture
Mae Kampong is a working community, not a theme park: tourism income is shared through the village. Keep noise down, especially at night, dress modestly, ask before photographing people and homes, and follow your homestay host’s house rules.
History
Mae Kampong has grown tea leaves (miang) for over a century. The villagers run homestays, cafés and a community-based tourism project, and the forest around it has trails and the Mae Kampong waterfall.
Tour plans
Mountain village and hot springs
1 dayStep 1: Drive east from Chiang Mai
Leave in the morning by car or with a driver.
Step 2: San Kamphaeng hot springs
Stop to see the springs and soak your feet on the way.
Step 3: Mae Kampong village
Walk the lane, have lunch and coffee by the stream.
Step 4: Mae Kampong Waterfall
Hike up to the falls before returning to the city.
Travel information
Best time to visit
November to February for cool, misty mornings; stay overnight and walk the village at dawn, or visit in the rainy season when the waterfall is full.
How to get there
About 1 to 1.5 hours east of Chiang Mai by car; often combined with the San Kamphaeng hot springs.
Getting around
No regular public transport reaches the village. Hire a car with driver, join a tour, or rent a car — the last stretch is narrow and steep. Inside the village everything is on foot.
Travel tips
Stay a night to see the morning mist, and respect the quiet of the village.