Top Things to do in Mae Chaem
- 1. BEES - Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary
- 2. Doi Inthanon
- 3. Kew Mae Pan
- 4. Phra Maha Dhatu Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri Pagoda
- 5. Mae Ya Waterfall
- 6. Gachorgwa Elephant Camp
- 7. Wachirathan Falls
- 8. The Royal Agricultural Station Inthanon
- 9. Pa Pong Pieng
- 10. Twin Royal Stupas (Phra Maha Dhatu Nabha Metaneedol and Nabhapol Bhumisiri
10 Things to Do in Mae Chaem That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Mae Chaem, Thailand including BEES - Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary, Doi Inthanon, Kew Mae Pan, Phra Maha Dhatu Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri Pagoda, Mae Ya Waterfall, Gachorgwa Elephant Camp, Wachirathan Falls, The Royal Agricultural Station Inthanon, Pa Pong Pieng, Twin Royal Stupas (Phra Maha Dhatu Nabha Metaneedol and Nabhapol Bhumisiri.
Restaurants in Mae Chaem
1. BEES - Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5 based on 81 reviews
You MUST make a booking. Please do NOT just show up. We do NOT run a general day program or overnight stay (You may be able to visit in low season, but must come direct to our office in Maechaem). Our normal program is Mon-Thurs/Thurs-Sun OR 1 week Mon-Sun. We are an Elephant Sanctuary and Animal Rescue Center. We are located in the valley of Mae Tan, Maechaem and are near lush forest land and rivers and have a beautiful view of Doi Inthanon the Highest mountain in Thailand. We run rescue, rehabilitation and release programs for local wildlife where we can, rescue and provide out reach clinic services to domestic animals in need and run community projects to sustainably develop our local community. Book a stay with us and help us to create a better future for the animals, elephants and community. By working together we can make a difference. Thank you!
Reviewed By James L - Hong Kong, China
We spent a week volunteering at BEES and highly recommend a stay here. Burm and Emily have created something very special. There was a perfect mix of volunteering activities, chill out time and spending time with the elephants (and all the dogs and cats that have made the sanctuary home). As they said to us on the first day, everything will happen on "Thai time".
Definitely be prepared to get your hands dirty and have fun. Rubber boots were a must for most of the activities, as we would walk through streams to accompany the elephants on their walks or stand in the stream to give them their daily bath. Otherwise flip flops were good to walk around the grounds. Since you have to take off your shoes whenever entering any building (even the common bathrooms) a spare pair of shower shoes might be useful.
All in all a great time. The staff were friendly and did everything to ensure we had an amazing time. Can't wait to plan another visit!
2. Doi Inthanon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Mike M
Doi Inthanon National Park is very known in Thailand as it is the location of the Phra Maha Dhatu Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri Pagodas ... there is a ฿300 admission fee for foreigners and an additional ฿40 to visit the Pogadas ... it's not the best place to visit during the rainy season and when there are very high smoke haze levels ... probably best to take a day tour as the driving is fatiguing and a bit dangerous to drivers unfamiliar with the roads ... lots of Waterfalls to see however the tourist spots can get crowded in the high season
3. Kew Mae Pan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 84 reviews
Reviewed By Mischa K - Canberra, Australia
You can only do this walk with a local guide. Aside from the guides being unnecessary as the track is self explanatory, our guide spoke no English and had a revolting and constant cough and was the only annoyance on what was otherwise a very special and memorable shortish walk (lots of up and down steps with 2-4 hours recommended)
You start out in old growth cloud forest, walking among the clouds, with several landscape changes along the way, each as magical as the last.
This walk is really the only place you can get that postcard photo of the twin monuments as a bonus.
If you're lucky and quiet you may see a rare Chinese goral climbing the rock formations.
The walk closes at 4pm to allow time for the last group to finish, and is closed permanently between 1 June and 31 October each year.
I would suggest starting your walk shortly before 4pm to minimise other groups. We were lucky in that regard and largely felt we had the place to ourselves.
If you have only one day on the mountain you will remember this walk for a long time and should try to fit it in.
Take a plastic poncho just in case. The guide had a jacket, as did we, however not needed in May. Due to the elevation the Weather and temp was perfect for a walk, despite being close to 40degrees in Chiang Mai.
There are 20 bi-lingual signs on the circular route which provide details of the main features of the walk.
4. Phra Maha Dhatu Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri Pagoda
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By Wingecarribee - Canberra, Australia
Pagodas honouring the King and Queen. Peaceful atmosphere in the Mountains. Great views of Mountains and Valleys when a clear day. Previous visits on misty days were still rewarded by seeing the pagodas and Gardens. Set in lovely landscaped Gardens, including much colour. Escalators available if you rather not take the stairs.
5. Mae Ya Waterfall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By Philipp H - Bangkok, Thailand
One of the nicest Waterfalls I have seen so far also considered that it was absolutely not crowded with tourists. Except my girlfriend and me there was only one other couple. We have seen 5 Waterfalls in Chiang Mai Area and this is by far the best one. If you go to visit Doi Inthanon make sure you stop by here.
6. Gachorgwa Elephant Camp
Overall Ratings
5 based on 30 reviews
The truly fair Business to all. The Gachorgwa Elephant Camp is proud to be able to offer activities enabling our visitor to acquire the knowledge of the Karen on the care of elephants. The knowledge provided by this camp is accurate and conforms to theories regarding the health of elephants and mahouts and the environment they require.
Reviewed By GL2016 - Liverpool, United Kingdom
Went to stay here as part of a trekking experience and was horrified to see two elephants chained to trees on the families land.
The elephants had approximately 1-2 metres of chain and could hardly walk. The elephants were very clearly unhappy, making distress calls and swaying from side to side. What broke my heart the most is the fact that one of the elephants was tugging at the chain on its foot with its trunk trying to get it off. When they were asked if the elephants were let off when there were no tourists there, the answer was no. The climate in this part of Thailand is quite cold at this time of year and the elephants couldn't move to warm themselves up and were making distress calls through the night.
The accommodation was sub standard too. The floor was broken, the building shook and there wasn't even a floor covering to sleep on.
Would not recommend staying here at all. It ruined my whole trekking experience.
We booked it through Doi Inthanon trek. And we had no idea we'd be staying in a place like that.
7. Wachirathan Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 141 reviews
Reviewed By HelloWorld - Singapore, Singapore
On our way down from Doi Inthanon, we drove to the Wachirathan falls. It's a refreshing place, there's a boardwalk takes to close to the Waterfalls for some nice pictures. I liked even better was to go down from he car park, just a few steps to where the waters rush past some flat rocks and which didn't at the time seem to attract the majority and was more secluded. The coffee shop at the fall provided for a nice spot for a coffee / drink with the sounds of a waterfall in the background, and a lovely view at the back of the rushing stream below.
8. The Royal Agricultural Station Inthanon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
Reviewed By Cockerdog - Bangkok
The Agriculture station has not only a great restaurant but excellent rooms to rent too. The food is excellent, generous portions and reasonably priced. We rented a room for two nights. They are located a short walk from the restaurant and a buffet breakfast is included. The rooms are very nice and they also offer several large houses too. If you should decide to visit there from Nov thru Feb then room Reservations are a must. And of course the Gardens are fantastic.
9. Pa Pong Pieng
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Dao1949 - Chiang Mai, Thailand
We have previously visited the temples on top of Doi Inthanon and saw Mae Chaem in the valley far below. During a recent visit to Mae Hong Son, we decided to go south and drive to Mae Chaem through the Pa Pong Pieng area that leads to the western side of Doi Inthanon park. The mountain views were magnificent and the terrain much different than anything we have experienced in Thailand. Many farms covered the mountain region with fields palnted in rich bright orange soil heavily covered with boulders in some areas. The drive from Mae Chaem up to Doi Inthanon wil be memorable as it was the most dramatic road area we have seen in northern Thailand.
10. Twin Royal Stupas (Phra Maha Dhatu Nabha Metaneedol and Nabhapol Bhumisiri
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
Phra Maha Dhatu Nabha Metaneedol and Nabhapol Bhumisiri, more commonly known as the Two Royal Stupas, are prominent landmarks as you climb up Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand.
They were financed and built by the Royal Thai Air Force (which seems to be a gross misappropriation of deference budgets) in commemoration of the late King Bhumipol and Queen Sirikit.
If you are going to Doi Inthanon you cannot miss them, either going up the mountain or coming down.
While the stupas are totally modern, they have been built with architectural grace and if you stand in the middle of the stupas you can hear the echos of your whisperers.
The views from the patios of the stupas are outstanding.
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