Camping places ?

[baywatch82]

I would like to go to some very nice places and sleep under the tent.

Would be great if this is some place with beautiful mountain views, or maybe at the lake, within max. 2-3 hours drive from Chiang Mai.

It should be an organized camping place, with access to bathrooms, food etc. I know only the place at Doi Pui and really like it there, but would like to know more.

[cnjoew]

A google search "camping chiang mai" returns the following site:

 

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotels-g293917-c3-zff29-Chiang_Mai-Hotels.html

 

which suggests:

 

Chai-Niz village,

Teak and Pines,

Is Camp

[jonw8uk]

Every national park has camping, and facilities, toilets, (cold) showers. Some have food too, quite limited though. Best to cook your own

 

you can also hire tents (decent quality) and sleeping bags (yeah, not for me)

 

ive recently did a 3000km loop of the north camping for almost 3 weeks. Great trip

 

huai nam dang has great views, the campsite is at 1700metres -
https://goo.gl/maps/QEdjBgZxta22

 

pang ung - the switzerland of thailand(!) as  the thais like to call it. Probably way more than ur 3 hours, its north of mae hong son. Camping amongst pine trees next to a resevoir. Near by is baan rak thai a small photographic town

ปางอุ๋ง
https://goo.gl/maps/aedCFpSBUcG2

 

open google maps and explore the surrounding national parks. 

 

Whilst there may be a few commercial campsites in thailand - there is one on doi inthanon for example, google searches in english dont return much info. 

 

theres a 70000 member facebook group called จุดกางเต็นท์ (jud kang tent - campsites) all in thai, but lots of pictures and trip reports etc 

Edited January 1, 2017 by jonw8uk
Corrections

[Mousehound]

Doi Inthanon has a camp at the Karen Village inside the actual park.  Excellent food and fruit and veg available right there.  Pretty good facilities and camping under trees on grass.

https://www.adventureinyou.com/thailand/camping-at-doi-inthanon-national-park/

[jazcm]

I don't recommend this place 

[jonw8uk]

1 hour ago, jazcm said:

I don't recommend this place 

 

You know what glamping is right?!

[balo]

I passed a campsite on my way to Doi Inthanon a few days ago .

Lots of tents and this was at high altitude around 1500 meter up , halfway to the top . 

 

With the cold temperatures right now camping sounds like a good idea. 

 

 

[Mousehound]

8 hours ago, Mousehound said:

Doi Inthanon has a camp at the Karen Village inside the actual park.  Excellent food and fruit and veg available right there.  Pretty good facilities and camping under trees on grass.

https://www.adventureinyou.com/thailand/camping-at-doi-inthanon-national-park/

I should add that opposite the main entrance to the Karen village and a hundred meters further up the hill snd on the left is Deng's.  You can camp there very cheaply.  This is the bird watching centre for Inthanon.  Khun Deng organises trips and guides and also does good food.  It gets cold up the mountain at this time of year - can have frost.  The road up the mountain is well maintained but you gave to pay to get into the park.

[pgrahmm]

I like Coleman US style camping.....

Tent - mats - Coleman stove, lamps,  & big cooler - cooking on the grill or bbq - enameled metal dishes & cookware - percolator......Getting the whole experience.....

 

Can't find decent camp chairs at a decent cost anywhere though...

 

My wife likes putting up the tent & going to find the food vendors ......

 

 

But likes the creature comforts of having the camping equipment....

 

Anybody Else in this predicament?

 

Edited January 3, 2017 by pgrahmm

[jazcm]

3 hours ago, jonw8uk said:

 

You know what glamping is right?!

Well I put my foot in that one right and proper. Guess you supposed to learn something everyday!

[LivinLOS]

My missus has become real keen on camping in the last year and wants to try 'every national park'.. Recent stayed on Doi Pra Hom Pok, Thailands second highest peak and highest campsite.. Real gem but 17kms of dirt rd to the top.. The pre dawn hike to the summit was a bit more than I wanted.

 

Theres loads of sites.. Xmas and new year has seen them packed though. 

[pgrahmm]

http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citylife-articles/happy-glamper/

 

A Citylife article about Glamping with some sources at the end.....

[jonw8uk]

On 03/01/2017 at 9:27 PM, pgrahmm said:

I like Coleman US style camping.....

Tent - mats - Coleman stove, lamps,  & big cooler - cooking on the grill or bbq - enameled metal dishes & cookware - percolator......Getting the whole experience.....

 

Can't find decent camp chairs at a decent cost anywhere though...

 

My wife likes putting up the tent & going to find the food vendors ......

 

 

But likes the creature comforts of having the camping equipment....

 

Anybody Else in this predicament?

 

 

Ive got most of the gear you you mentioned (no percolator!) which i brought over gradually from home. Back home i bought good brands and being that its all over 12 years old now and well used i figure its paid for itself

 

As with anything here foreign brands are expensive, but ive seen some decent looking camp chairs in the sports section of robinsons/central. Theres a camping shop in bkk that sells all the good stuff. I got a coleman coolbox,  thermorest mat/pillows and a decent headtorch, but yeah, prices are steep. 

 

the missus enjoys cooking too, even took her pestle and mortar to make her somtam :) failing that she'll have some mama noodles

 

ready for another trip now that people are back to work, the campsites will have space again

[pgrahmm]

9 hours ago, jonw8uk said:

 

Ive got most of the gear you you mentioned (no percolator!) which i brought over gradually from home. Back home i bought good brands and being that its all over 12 years old now and well used i figure its paid for itself

 

As with anything here foreign brands are expensive, but ive seen some decent looking camp chairs in the sports section of robinsons/central. Theres a camping shop in bkk that sells all the good stuff. I got a coleman coolbox,  thermorest mat/pillows and a decent headtorch, but yeah, prices are steep. 

 

the missus enjoys cooking too, even took her pestle and mortar to make her somtam :) failing that she'll have some mama noodles

 

ready for another trip now that people are back to work, the campsites will have space again

When travelling if anyone can get one of these they're a great add....Have had mine for years & use with a bigger 60b grate or a griddle....Really handy if you like to bbq as well as use a camp stove....

[pgrahmm]

9 hours ago, jonw8uk said:

 

Ive got most of the gear you you mentioned (no percolator!) which i brought over gradually from home. Back home i bought good brands and being that its all over 12 years old now and well used i figure its paid for itself

 

As with anything here foreign brands are expensive, but ive seen some decent looking camp chairs in the sports section of robinsons/central. Theres a camping shop in bkk that sells all the good stuff. I got a coleman coolbox,  thermorest mat/pillows and a decent headtorch, but yeah, prices are steep. 

 

the missus enjoys cooking too, even took her pestle and mortar to make her somtam :) failing that she'll have some mama noodles

 

ready for another trip now that people are back to work, the campsites will have space again

Once going for a few days my wife & daughters enjoy Coleman cooking & also pack the mortar & pestle - usually with a family gathering on a beach somewhere.....Vast amounts of seafood get eaten......

 

First time I showed the family the Coleman stove - filled it with gas & went to light it & noticed it got really quiet.....We looked around & they were hiding behind cars & trees peeking out - waiting for a explosion ........LOL.....Now they all use it.....

[jonw8uk]

4 hours ago, pgrahmm said:

Once going for a few days my wife & daughters enjoy Coleman cooking & also pack the mortar & pestle - usually with a family gathering on a beach somewhere.....Vast amounts of seafood get eaten......

 

First time I showed the family the Coleman stove - filled it with gas & went to light it & noticed it got really quiet.....We looked around & they were hiding behind cars & trees peeking out - waiting for a explosion ........LOL.....Now they all use it.....

 

haha yep, this fear of gas must be an in built thing with thais, the gf makes me light the stoves :)

 

PS the folding bbq looks superb

Edited January 5, 2017 by jonw8uk

[opalred]

under the bridge in cm 

water views washing close by

swimming 

no tent required

[Johpa]

Recent stayed on Doi Pra Hom Pok, Thailands second highest peak and highest campsite.. Real gem but 17kms of dirt rd to the top.. The pre dawn hike to the summit was a bit more than I wanted.

The road from north of Fang on the 107 up to Pha Hom Pok, towards Mae Ai with the camp sign for "baan lek nai paa yai (small house in the big forest), is largely paved to the Royal Project camp site with only a short dirt section down low. There are some bungalows for rent at the Royal Project and tent camping in front of the Royal Residence that was used only once decades ago. You will need to bring all supplies, but far more interesting and far more peaceful than Doi Inthanon or Doi Angkhan.

The road that connects to the Fang bypass road is the rougher dirt road access.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[LivinLOS]

Having just done it.. We may be talking about different places.. 

 

There were no bunglows near the peak.. and there was a significant dirt section. 

[Johpa]

Having just done it.. We may be talking about different places.. 
 
There were no bunglows near the peak.. and there was a significant dirt section. 

There are actually two peaks. The bungalows, and the Royal Project are on the lesser peak, can't remember the name, at what is called "baan lek nai paa yai". It is where they raise the sturgeon and trout. They also grow reportedly some of the most desirable coffee in the Kingdom. The Royal Residence is also nearby. If you go past either of those two sites there is a very narrow but paved road that traverses over to the main peak of Pha Hom Pok. If you take a right you get to the highest viewpoint. If you take a left you go down the long dirt road that intersects the Fang bypass road.

[LivinLOS]

Google is giving me a place in Leoi for that name ?? 

That sounds different to the route in I took.. I came up from the fang bypass, the park guards (friendly, gave me Thai price, and had a great system of 100b deposit to ensure you pack your own garbage out 100% support on that from me) and then some patchy section of concrete before 17 km of dirt, some of which was sketchy enough I doubt a car would get up.

 

There were branches off the dirt, but I dont remember any being sealed and they appeared worse / smaller than the one I was on.. The usually pretty reliable open street map only shows the one route up also.. I will assume one of those branches wasnt the dead end I assumed it was but is another way in / up. 

 

Its a nice park, my favorite nat park campground so far by virtue of the lack of loads of people and still with nice clean facilities. Wont be doing the pre dawn walk to the peak again though !! 

 

 

[Johpa]

Again, the road up from the Fang bypass road is fun on a CRF going up, less fun going down. I encountered a Thai guy going down on a "big bike" with the big metal side cases (Touratech?) riding two up with his girlfriend who was not having fun trying to ride downhill between the ruts. And yea, that dirt road is not advisable with a city sedan. The road from the other side is largely paved, but steep. Check your brakes before departure.

Amazing that even up in Lanna Land most people are unfamiliar with the second highest peak. By the way, the only other Royal Project raising sturgeon is the one near the border northwest of Wiang Hang. I hope to be visiting there soon with my nephew who has been working within the Royal Project system.

[Spaniel]

If you're still looking for camping suggestions then you might want to try Chae Son National Park in Lampang.   They have both a camping area with toilet/shower facilities or you can rent one of their cabins, which my wife and I  did last week for B640 per night.    In addition  they have fantastic hot springs  in the park.    Google Chae Son for more park details and go to the national park website to make cabin reservations.     Their are also a number of food stalls in the park so eating is no problem.      Also as already mentioned Doi Inthanon offers NP campsites as well as many privately run sites.      Last week when we were there we rented a cabin rather then camp as it was raining.    The cabin pics are in Doi Inthanon NP.       If possible try to avoid going to any national park over the weekend as they can get very crowded at that time.

[grin]

We just spent some time at Doi Ang Khang and we saw a number of campsites there and on the way up there. It might have taken us a bit longer than 3 hours to get there but we made a lot of stops along the way. The mountain views were great.

[jonw8uk]

so @baywatch82......

 

Did you go camping?!