Mae Taeng Travel Guide
The small town of Mae Taeng sits at the junction of two major roads leading west towards Pai and north towards the Burmese border. This has encouraged a booming tourism industry based around outdoor activities.
- Worth It?
- Mae Taeng makes a good base for outdoor adventure and hill tribe exploration.
- What to Do
- raft down the Mae Taeng River, visit the elephant training center, or check out how Buddhists meditate deep in the quiet of the forest.
- Best Time to Go
- the winter dry season from November to March provides the best weather.
- How Long?
- There's no need to stay in Mae Taeng, but the activities around the area are well worth a day or two of exploration.
There's little to the town of Mae Taeng itself, so most visitors stay in neighboring Chiang Dao or Fang. The mountains surrounding Mae Taeng are covered in small ethnic hill tribe villages that make excellent trekking destinations.
The town has also emerged as a hub for river rafting in recent years. The Mae Taeng River is ideally suited for fun casual rafting trips down the scenic river. Or if you want to contemplate you life, tuck into the Fang Dao Forest Monastery, a traditional forest retreat for Buddhist meditation, for a couple of days.
Another hot attraction is the Elephant Training Center Taeng-Dao. This particular center is one of the best in northern Thailand, offering a look at traditional mahout training as well as the usual elephant shows.
Travel to Mae Taeng - Getting There
Buses provide regular service from Chiang Mai as they head farther north toward Fang. Most tour companies in Chiang Mai arrange trips to the Mae Taeng valley for whatever excursion you want and provide the transportation. But if you want to go it alone, it's best to rent a car and drive yourself. Chiang Mai, a 1 hour drive away, is where you will find the nearest airport.
Mae Taeng Things to Do
Mae Taeng Attractions
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