Neil Aronson (Updated October 2024) Having a picnic on a peaceful afternoon. What a great way to spend the day with family, friends, or by yourself. With so much nature and parks in Chiang Mai province, there are plenty of beautiful places to eat your favorite meal.
Because of the geography and climate of the area, a lot of these picnic spots involve waterfalls or rivers to cool off in as well.
Here is our picks for great places in the area from our own experiences. A few of them we frequent often. Starting South of Chiang Mai, and going North of the city.
10 Amazing Spots For A Picnic
1. Mae Klang Waterfall- Doi Inthanon
We start an hour southwest of Chiang Mai, at the entrance of Doi Inthanon National Park. Mae Klang Waterfall is a perfect place to spend a few hours and relax. This location is down the road from our house, and one of my favorite spots for a picnic. It will take an hour to get here from Chiang Mai, via route 108, and turn right at the Doi Inthanon sign just as you reach Chom Thong.
The best time to go for a picnic is November-April when it is cooler, with less bugs. If you are going to the park, this is a great option for lunch. As you can see on the map, it is right at the beginning of the park with easy access.
Here, if your going for a picnic, you can find an amazing area along the river. You can order grilled food at one of the several stands. Eat along the river on a picnic area that is set up with matts and maintained by someone working there. Or you can sit at the covered tables overlooking the river. Order some chicken, sticky rice and a cold beer and you are set. Cost only around 150 baht.
Lunch will be served to you, and after a picnic lunch, feel free to go on a hike or swim in the river. Or stroll up the short and shady road to the amazing waterfall.
2. Op Luang Gorge
Even further off route 108 past Chom Thong, you can find Op Luang National Park for a great picnic spot. On the Hot – Mae Salong Road, 20 kilometres before Suan Son Bor Kaew, you’ll find Op Luang Gorge, one of TAT Unseen Thailand’s ten most beautiful places in the country.
The park’s main attraction is Ob Luang Canyon, carved out by the Mae Chaem River. The canyon is steep-sided and about 300 metres (1,000 ft) long.
With massive rock faces framing the mighty Mae Chaem River, it’s a stunning location for a picnic and a small adventure. Picnic tables and green space are plenty, and there’s even a bridge above the gorge so you can admire from above.
Overnight Tips:
If you are heading down to the Chom Thong area for any of these locations, I would suggest staying overnight and take in more of the sights. Here are great inexpensive choices to stay overnight.
Touch Star Resort. Highly Recommended by us. Located just 5 minutes from the first checkpoint. Very spacious grounds with lush landscape and various types of rooms. Wi-Fi, TV and all the modern amenities.
Doi Inthanon View Resort. Also located right outside the park entrance on route 1009. They have really neat looking individual chalets. This is a higher end resort offering small villa type rooms.
If you are looking for a more personal local experience for a place to stay just outside the park, you can stay in our village outside the park entrance. Just down the road from our house is a private homestay house on a beautiful piece of land. If you are photography, the owner Kevin is an avid photography and teaches courses. The property is called Suan Sook Homestay.
3. Mae Wang National Park
Mae Wang National Park is a another national park that is a great place for a picnic in the region. To get there you will follow the Mae Wang signs off route 108. It is about a 20 minutes drive through the countryside off the 108. The park is most famous for Pha Chor, which is Thailand’s ‘Little Grand Canyon’.
However, inside the park, there are great areas to have a picnic. You can choose a spot along the trail to Pha Chor, shown above. Or you can go by the massive lake by the camping area. This area also has a nice nature trail.
4. Ob Khan National Park
Getting closer to Chiang Mai city is Ob Khan National Park. The river gorge is very similar to Op Luang, and perfect for a picnic.
In case your wondering, “Ob” is a word in the local language used to describe steep and narrow rock canyons with a stream of water flowing through (steep cliffs with rock surfaces on both sides) or in Thai, ‘Kroaktarn’. Luang mean large, thus the name Ob Luang in our previous spot. Khan is the name of the river in this park.
Entering in to the main parking area is where you will find a large visitors center straight ahead. There is not a whole lot of parking, so you may have to park somewhere back towards the entrance. To the left of the Mae Khan river, and next to the visitors center is a small restaurant/ coffee shop, with a nice patio overlooking the river.
Along the river there are many spots you can set up a picnic on the flat rocks, or in a grassy spot near the visitors center area. Also enjoy hiking trails, lots of butterflies, and swimming.
5. Ang Kaew Reservoir
Back in Chiang Mai City, there are plenty of options nearby without driving too far, such as Ang Kaew Reservoir. It is popular with locals and college students for walking and relaxing in the shade.
Situated deep in Chiang Mai University grounds, the reservoir is open to anyone looking for a quiet place to sit and do some dog watching as the sun sets behind Doi Suthep. With a small coffee shop next door, you don’t even need to come prepared. But if picnic baskets are your thing, snake around the path towards the trees to discover beautiful shaded areas with tables and grassy space.
6. Huay Kaew Waterfall
Also near Chiang Mai University. It is on the left hand side as you start to go up the mountain to Doi Suthep, just past Chiang Mai Zoo. Huay Kaew Waterfall is a small but nice waterfall with lots of large rock areas and grass to have a picnic.
Just past the parking lot is a small road you take to get the the river area and then waterfall. Along the road are food stands and drinks, so if you don’t bring any food, there are plenty of local options. This is a popular area with the university students, since it is close by. Also of course there is a great hiking trail.
7. Wang Bua Ban Waterfall
A true hidden gem, Wang Bua Ban waterfall is perfect for those days you just want to sit, listen to nature and put your feet in a cooling stream. Located just a few kilometers up Doi Suthep on the left hand side, the waterfall is close enough to the city with adequate parking and sometimes a few vendors if you’re lucky.
8. Montha Than Waterfall In Doi Suthep
Mantha Than Waterfall would probably be my first recommendation if asked about one spot to go near the city for a picnic. Located in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, it is really easy to get to. In fact, just keep going 10 minutes up route 1004 past our last spot, Huay Kaew waterfall.
On your way up to Wat Doi Suthep, you will take a right turn into the entrance, that has a large sign from the road. But it does sneak up on you. The waterfall is part of the National Park, so you will have to pay the park fee. Besides the waterfall there, is camping, and an amazing and steep nature trail. Lots of grassy areas for a picnic, and best of all there is a big tree canopy, so it is almost all shady.
9. Ping River Cruise
For a bit of private decadence, hire a boat, load it up with your favorite foods and friends and take a leisurely afternoon or evening cruise up and down the Ping River. It is a wonderful perspective from which to see the city – plush mansions, lush gardens, intriguing temples and a surprising abundance of daily life of fishermen, washerwomen and children playing along the banks.
A great place to book this is on Viator. The Riverside Bar and Restaurant is also an option for dinner cruises.
10. Mae Sa Waterfall in Mae Rim
Mae Sa Waterfall is a popular 10-tiered cascading waterfall along a nearly 2.5 km trail into the forest. It is located in the Mae Rim Valley off route 1096, about 40 minutes north of Chiang Mai City. Because it is a long mostly flat waterfall and river, there are lots of options for places to put down for a picnic. Most of it is shady, with plenty of restrooms.
There is a very nice trail going all the way to the 10th tier. Some of it is boardwalk and bridges, giving you great views for photography. Each tier is marked by a sign. Since the individual falls are not that high or fast-moving, they are ideal—and popular—for swimming.
