Bamboo huts
Seats over the water.
Takeaway — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Stefan Fussan — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Stefan Fussan — CC BY-SA 3.0 · FredTC — CC BY-SA 4.0 · FredTC — CC BY-SA 4.0
A wide reservoir lake at the foot of Doi Suthep north-west of Chiang Mai, where city people come on holidays to escape the crowds. Forested mountains ring it, and its shore is lined with small bamboo huts thatched with straw, some over the water, which visitors rent to sit in while ordering food from the little restaurants on the bank. Its quirkiest sight is a set of giant straw animal sculptures in the fields around the lake: a huge gorilla, elephants and more, posed with by children and families. A loop road around the lake suits walking or cycling, with small rice fields and traditional huts, a little sheep farm, and activities such as a zipline. The entry fee is about fifty baht for foreigners and twenty for Thais in the latest listings, it opens from morning until about six in the evening, and hut rental is a token sum. The restaurants serve grilled fish and Thai dishes, so ask about halal, or bring your own food. The best months are November to February; March and April bring the smoke of agricultural burning over the city. Come in the morning or before sunset, when it is cooler and the mountains reflect in the water. It makes a relaxed half day for families, twenty minutes by car from the centre.
Seats over the water.
A giant gorilla and elephants.
Doi Suthep over the lake.
Mae Rim area, about 12 km north-west of central Chiang Mai
Some people swim near the huts, but there are no lifeguards, so it is better just to relax and stroll, especially with children.