Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________ There are many locations around the north Thailand and perhaps over 100 sites1,2,3 in Thailand and it’s islands where you can see hot springs. The geysers and warm pools are a popular attraction. There are many hot springs scattered about Northern Thailand along with waterfalls close to these hot springs. Natural hot springs can be loaded with health-giving minerals that may offer benefits to the body, not to mention the relaxing experience. The heat itself is said to release mental stress, relieve muscle aches and backache, help skin problems, and promote well being in general. There are also some areas in South of Thailand where hot springs emerge from the earth. It is especially the case around the Chiang Rai/Mai region. Some have been developed as attractions and are thus a bit touristy, like Sankampaeng hot springs. Still others are beautifully set amid stunning scenery with hardly anyone around, Fang & Lana-Olsen. Most of my maps & pic’s are linked off page for better viewing. Click the links to see the picture collection. Lana Olsen hot spring is a well run facility close to Mae Suei on Hwy 109 to Fang. The facilities at Lana Olsen are superb. I rate L-O at 5 stars due to close proximity and the well attended details. A view of these pic’s is recommended. Huay Mark Liam HOT SPRING (Muang district) It is a part of Lam Naam Khok National Park and located on the Khok riverside. The area is a nice and peaceful place for recreation. Its diameter is 5 meters and there is an outdoor hot spa. The average temperature of hot spa is 67 C. The hot spa consists of Fluoride, Nitrate, Sulphate, and Iodine which is not harmful for people who take mineral bath. It is located about 1 km. away from Pha Sert Hot Spa. There are individual rooms avalible. SiamSoaker’s link is broke. Pha Sert Hot Spa is located nearby Pong Nam Rorn Backwater, Baan Pha Sert Pattana, M.6< Doi Hang< Chiang Rai.There is a big outdoor pool for general public. Also nearby are private spa rooms, Thai massage and Camping service. It is across river from Elephant Camp. There are 2 ways to get there. By boat, (read: expensive) from long tail boat pier (CR pier) at Mae Fah Luang Bridge, takes 50 mins. Bus and car use the Nha Kai road, about 20 kms from Den Ha Junction. The roads are curvy but well marked. Pong Phra Baht (aka Baan Doo) HOT SPRING (Muang district) Located about 8 km north from the city of Chiangrai. It is 2 km west from Baan Doo Market on the left hand side. It is a natural hot spring and it was discovered in 1957. The water temperature is around 60C. The hot spring could probably last for another 50 years. There are gardens, resting areas and private hot spring water bathing rooms. There are 10 rooms each with individual bath tub. Call 053-703-262 for more details. Pah Tung & Huay Hin Fon Hot Springs (Mae Chan district) A small hot spring that tourists usually go for recreation before or after go to Doi Mae Salong. It is located in Pa Tung village, Pa Tung Sub-District of Mae Chan. There are 15 private mineral bathrooms. The Huay Hin Fon is suppost to be located within 2 km on the same road, about 7kms. on the Mae Chan-Ta Thone road. The temperature of these springs range between 70-109C. I concurr the Siamsoaker’s review and was only able to find a single location. 1 Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Fang Also between Chiang Rai/Mai, Fang has dozens of hot springs in a close-knit forested area. You can find them at Ban Pin to the northwest of Fang town. Temperatures go upwards of 90°C and the largest hot spring emits a constant jet of steam. This is perhaps the most impressive hot spring of them all, like a moon surface scattered with geysers, as well as a regular spout. Plus excellent facilities. It can be accessed from either the Chaing Mai to Mai Ai road or the Mae Suei Fang road from Chaing Rai. Maliga Hot Spring is located in the north of Chiang Mai province. Malinga Hot Spring is not well known, neither by tourists nor by locals. It may have been different 10-20 years before. The site itself is just off to the north of the main road between Fang and Mai Ai, close to Lao Tu coffee shop. The site is improved since SiamSoaker’s visit but remains only suitable for egg cooking & a foot soak. Mae Kha Jaan & Wiang Pa Pao Hot Spring(s?): (Wiang Pah Pao district) located in Mae Chedi Mai Sub-District of Wiang Pa Pao. Wiang Pa Pao Hot Spring is a popular road stop point for travelers along Hwy 118 (1019 & 1150). This location is on the road half way between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Thaweesin Geyser is also located nearby, where the water temperature is approximately 95C. It can shoot up to 37 metres high and it occurs every 30 minutes. A popular activity is the boiling of eggs in the hot spring water. You can visit the town, viewing precious stones at Ploymaneewat Lapidary or check out the temple ruins at Wat Pratart Mae Chedi. It is a place that buses stop between Chiangmai & Chiangrai. Souvenir shop and local products are available there. Mae Kha Jan Hot Spring is divided into three hot springs. The average temperature is 80oC. This will boil eggs within 3 minutes. Opposite Mae Kha Jaan Hot spring were mineral bathrooms. Driving to Mae Kha Jan Hot Spring via High Way No.118 to Chiang Mai the same way as Wat Phrajao Thong Thip, pass Wiang Pa Pao and hot spring will be on the left of Mae Khajan Market Mae Khajan. The hot springs can be viewed on either side of the main road here. Boiling eggs in the hot spring pools is popular. Visiting Mae Khajan Hot Springs: Located on highway No.118 approximate 80km from Chiang Mai and 90km from Chiang Rai. This is the tallest geyser in Thailand. The Pong Te Wee hot spring (Wiang Pah Pao district) is suppossidly about 2 km. on the Wiang Pa-Pao road. There are reported to be rooms with bath tubs. N19’06.91,E99’27.78 Huay Sai Khao hot spring (Phan district of CR) It is located 10km north of Phan on the east side of Paholyotin road, Hwy#1 towards Payao. There are 3 springs, hot, warm, & cold. The facility is tidy, a bit long in the tooth. It is suitable only for an isolated foot soak. This site is AKA Ban Huay Zai Kao Hot Spring of Mae Lao District, Chiangrai. The Huay Zai hot spring is free & in natural or raw state. The off-ramp serves as an austere car park. See footnote on thai diction & translation. Phu Sang hot Spring and waterfall is located in the national park, Phu Sang National Park, located in Chaing Kam District, Phayao province and Tueng (Thoeng) District, Chiang Rai province. The water of Namtok Phu Sang comes from a hot spring with water temperatures around 33-35°C. It is mostly frequented by families with small children due to the shallow stream making a super playground. 2 Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Hot springs near Chiang Mai Sankampaeng Located about 25 miles to the east of Chiang Mai city, Sankampaeng hot springs are on the tourist trail and one of the most visited attractions in the province. The boiling springs are set in a lovely area and are free to enter. You can see where they come out of the ground and there are also public and private pools onsite that utilise the hot water. Accommodation is available near the springs at the Sankamphaeng Hot Spring Co-operative Village (phone: +66 1 510 0418). Pai – Thapae The hot springs in the mountain village of Pai, Mae Hong Son province, are also popular. The hot springs are a little south of town, reached by an ardous drive. Some of the nearby resorts have built public pools using the same spring water and offer better value at 100 baht. Pong Duead On the way to Pai from Chiang Mai in Huay Nam Dang National Park, these hot springs are a lot more impressive than those in Pai. There are three or four of them and they shoot water from geysers up to six or seven feet in height, with clouds of steam bellowing tens of feet into the air. There is also a nature trail here - Pong Duead Nature Trail – which stretches for about a mile, along with many waterfalls and viewpoints. Huay Nam Dang National Park is between kilometre markers KM65 and KM66 on the main Chiang Mai to Pai highway, 1095. Tha Pai Hot Spring Location : Amphoe Pai This is another attraction in the area of Huai Nam Dang National Park. The hot spring is two km off Route 1095 at Km. 87. It has an average temperature of 80C. Steam from the spring permeates the site in the morning creating fascinating sights.