Sankampaeng Hot Springs

The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Sankampaeng Cooperative Village collaborated in making improvements to the surroundings of Sankampaeng Hot Spring so that it could become a popular recreation area very near to Chiang Mai city. The spring is 34 kilometers from downtown Chiang Mai by either the old Sankampaeng road or the newer bypass.

The older road passes close by Muang On Cave. To get there by "Song Taew" from Sankampaeng town costs about 200 Baht. Near the spring are rest houses, tents, camping grounds and hot spring water tubs for soaking. For reservations or further information contact the Business Department, Sankampaeng Hot Spring, Cooperative Village, Sankampaeng, Chiang Mai or call Tel. 053-929077.

Close to Sankampaeng Hot Spring is Rung Arun (Roong Aroon) Resort. It has its own hot spring and geyser in beautifully landscaped surroundings, including trees, flowers and a natural stone garden.

There are restaurants, an exercise area, public and private hot-spring-water baths and jacuzzi. For details and bookings contact Tel. 053-248475, 053-248491,01-8830337, or 017642350. We were headed for the Pong Dued hotspring, which used to be in a wild and uninhabited area, but since 1984 has been combed and tailored into townee suitability, entry fee 10 baht for adults and half for children.

These springs are quite seriously hot, not like some of the gentler ones out at Pai and other northern locations: 100 to 110 C in some places. Good for boiling eggs in, just for fun. But beware! Friends of mine came out here with children, one a particularly naughty boy. "Don't touch the water now, children," they trilled. So what did naughty boy do? Jumped right into the shallow and seemingly innocuous pool. Result? Boiled feet. "Just what have you been doing," they said at the hospital…

Quite a nice place for relaxing. Sea mists early in the morning, they say. One of the springs spouts 20 metres in the air, though I've heard stories of mechanical assistance in that line. We bought eggs and boiled them at the specially designated spot. We didn't have the time, otherwise we could have taken a spa-style mineral bath, said to do wonders for your health, and even stayed overnight in one of the cabins set aside for that purpose, and at reasonable prices.

Map of route to San Kampaheng Hot Springs

Email: info@bansabaihotspring.com