Visit Ban Pa Pong Piang rice terraces (Chiang Mai)

Small hamlet lost in the mountains of Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain, 90 kilometers from Chiang Mai, Ban Pa Pong Piang has acquired the reputation of having the most beautiful rice terraces paddies in Thailand. During the rice season (from early or mid-July to late October, early November in general), the landscapes are superb! The most photogenic moment is just after the rice planting, in early or mid-July when the plants are still small and the rice fields are full of water. The sky and the sun reflection offers a magnificent spectacle, especially at sunset. This is why to really enjoy here, you have to spend the night in one of the few guesthouses in Ban Pa Pong Piang.

No need to spend a lot of time choosing your guesthouse, all are equal and have the same price (500 THB per night and person)? The comfort is basic: a room in a wooden or bamboo bungalow with mattresses on the floor and a mosquito net and a shack outside housing a very basic bathroom with Turkish toilet and large water brown with a small basin to shower. You will not have electricity just candles at night. But when contemplating the view from the balcony in front of your room you will quickly forget all these material considerations. The price of the room includes dinner and breakfast. I recommend you to book in advance (by calling them or write them on thei Facebook page by clicking on the 'Contact' button on my guesthouses' list) especially if you plan to go there on a weekend. The rooms are full weeks in advance.

I explain below how to get there on your own, but an easier and more complete way to discover these superb rice terrace fields is to contact Tee Watertown, a Karen guide that I tested and recommend. See his offer for a trek in Doi Inthanon which visit Ban Pa Pong Piang here.

Please note that out of rice season, the rice fields are no less beautiful but contrary to what many say it is far from being ugly! And the sunsets are often superb (in rice season, it must be said, they are often blocked by clouds)! On the other hand, out of rice season, it will be essential to go through Tee because the guesthouses are normally closed.