Ten tiers
Small cascades and pools.
Iscreams — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Golfz82 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Golfz82 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hannes wilms — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Golfz82 — CC BY-SA 3.0
A ten-tier waterfall in the forest of the Mae Sa valley north-west of Chiang Mai, within Doi Suthep–Pui National Park, one of the closest falls to the city and a weekend favourite with its people. The water runs between rocks and trees in a chain of small cascades and shaded pools. A shaded path climbs beside the stream from the first tier near the car park to the tenth, about a kilometre and a half, and each tier has a name and a pool to sit by or wade in. The lower tiers are easier and busier, the upper ones calmer. The same valley road has the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, farms and resorts, making a lovely country day outside the city. The park fee for foreigners is about a hundred baht in known listings, and it opens from morning until about half past four. The rocks are slippery, so wear shoes with grip and take care with children. Food stalls stand at the entrance, so ask about halal. The falls are finest from August to January after the rains and weaken a lot in March and April. Pair it with the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in one morning.
Small cascades and pools.
A country day near town.
Calmer and lovelier.
Mae Sa valley, Mae Rim district, about 25 km north-west of Chiang Mai
Visitors wade in the pools at the tiers, but the rocks are slippery and depth varies, so take care with children.