Mae Chaem, Chiang Mai: A Local’s In-depth Travel Review

Mae Chaem, Chiang Mai is known as a large district within Chiang Mai province. It is globally renowned for the world’s most beautiful tiered rice fields at ‘Pa Bong Piang’. Many people tend to visit this place. Honestly, a lot of people might just visit Pa Bong Piang and then head to other districts. Initially, I too had the same thought. But on revisiting my plan, I decided to stop for some noodle soup and grab a cup of coffee in the town of Mae Chaem. In addition to this, I stayed in a famous homestay in Mae Chaem called ‘Kowit Farmstay’. I must tell you that Mae Chaem is extraordinary, especially when it comes to its rice fields. I really wish more people could visit Mae Chaem.

✨👀 If you’re reading this travel review on my blog for the first time, I just want to say hello! My name is Kot and I’m real 100% Thai. Therefore, you can be confident that this Thai travel review is a genuine local review, not a travel review done by foreigners or Farangs. So, let’s travel like real Thai locals. Yeahh!

Places to Visit in Mae Chaem, Chiang Mai:

Pema Cafe (เพมาคาเฟ่)

Believe it or not, Chiang Mai is full of cafes. However, in Mae Chaem district, there are not as many cafes to visit. There’s one I’d like to recommend, a charming two-story wooden house called Pema Cafe. This place is not just cozy and homely, with the café owner’s mother serving coffee, but Pema Cafe is also a photogenic spot, I’d consider it an Instagramable corner in Mae Chaem.

The coffee menu here is quite diverse, featuring creative combinations of coffee with different flavors. Menus like the Midnight Summer (Americano + Lychee), Twilight (Americano + Orange juice) or Mountain Sea (Latte + Fresh sugar) are well blended and reasonably priced at just 60 baht per glass. In conclusion, I recommend stopping by this cafe. Besides its beauty and delicious coffee, they also have a cat, so cat lovers will undoubtedly fall in love with this place.

Chaem Arom (Tomyum Noodle Soup)

Not far from the cafe, there’s a noodle shop I happened to pass by and wanted to try (because I was really hungry at the time, haha). That place is Chaem Arom (Tomyum Noodle Soup). The flavor of their Tom Yum soup is vibrant and very spicy. I remember I ate several bowls of it. Plus, the price is cheap (35 baht per bowl, 40 baht for a special bowl). The view from the restaurant is also good. It’s so good that I had to write a review for everyone to try.

For those who wish to dine at this noodle shop, you must pin it on Google Map in Thai as “แจ่มอารมณ์ ก๋วยเตี๋ยวต้มยำโบราณ”. The English language isn’t searchable.

Pa Bongpiang / Click to read full review

If one was to talk about the most beautiful terraced rice fields in Thailand, I believe many people would instantly think of Pa Bong Piang located in Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai. This place is the epitome of terraced rice fields where you can enjoy breathtaking views of terraces cascading down the hills as far as the eye can see. Plus, you can enjoy the clean air, listen to the sounds of water running down the terraces, and experience a simple and relaxing lifestyle. It’s genuinely fantastic.

For this visit to Pa Bong Piang, I stayed at the Bamboo House (searchable on Google Map with Thai only as “บ้านไม้ไผ่ ป่าบงเปียง”), a homestay situated right in the middle of the terraced rice fields. There are three houses, each can accommodate two persons, for the price of 500 THB per person per night. Let me tell you, it’s a genuinely serene experience to stay in the middle of actual rice fields. The house where I stayed is pretty secluded from others, which adds to the tranquility.

One thing to note before visiting Pa Bong Piang is that there’s no electricity available here. The accommodation uses solar panels to store energy for use during the night. Therefore, I recommend bringing a fully charged power bank and ensuring all your gadgets are fully charged before arriving here.

As for the activities during your visit and stay at Pa Bong Piang, you don’t have to plan much. Just relax and enjoy the surroundings. Arrive in the afternoon, rest at the homestay for a while, and then around 4-5 PM, you can walk around the terraced fields. You can freely roam around any area of Pa Bong Piang as there are no boundaries or restrictions. My favorite spot for photos is a rocky hill with a wooden chair, which makes for stunning pictures, especially during the golden hour that I mentioned earlier.

For dinner and breakfast, you don’t have to worry as the homestay has everything arranged for you. You don’t need to go out and buy food. But if you’re afraid that you won’t be full, you can bring some snacks with you.

Visiting Pa Bong Piang in Mae Chaem District is all about this simple lifestyle. You don’t have to do much. Just soak in the atmosphere, listen to the sounds of running water, breathe in the ozone and the natural fragrance of rice fields, trees, and various flowers.

Kowit Farmstay Mae Chaem

For those who want to explore beautiful rice fields, apart from Pa Bong Piang, I have another recommendation – Kowit Farmstay. This homestay is nestled amidst terraced rice fields and surrounded by gorgeous mountains, truly standing out for its stunning atmosphere. You’ll get to enjoy the tiered rice fields, mountains, and even have a private stream where you can cool down. I rate this place as one of the top-notch stay options in Mae Chaem that’s simply fantastic.

The price for staying at Kowit Farmstay is around 900 Baht/person, which includes a full-fledged dinner (the food is absolutely delicious) and a big bowl of boiled rice for breakfast. I stayed in a house situated at the far end of the rice field – it was incredibly quiet and peaceful. The bedding was comfortable, the bathroom was well-designed, and with the windows open at night, the fan made for a relaxing sleep.

For those who love photography, I highly recommend bringing a drone. The aerial view of the terraced fields stretching out in distinct steps is simply stunning – an utter feast for the eyes. The view was one of the main reasons I wanted to stay here and shoot with my own drone. If you don’t have a drone, don’t worry. Simply stroll around the terraced fields and snap some photos – you’ll find it’s equally beautiful.

If you’re craving a refreshing dip, Kowit Farmstay has a private stream nearby. The cool and refreshing water, flowing at just the right speed, is perfect for a dip. Kowit, the owner of the homestay, told me it’s fantastic and I should definitely take a dip – and he wasn’t wrong!

As for those worried about driving to the accommodation, the road is nicely paved with concrete, albeit a bit narrow in places. You might have to navigate along the hills and corn fields, which can be quite a trek. However, the stay here makes it all worth it – the price, the journey, everything. It’s an impressive place to stay, with the host Kowit offering warm welcomes and heartfelt goodbyes. It’s truly an amazing experience.

If you’re interested in booking, you can find Kowit Farmstay on Facebook and chat directly for reservations. Or if you prefer more convenient online booking via OTA and card payments, you can make reservations through websites like Agoda or Booking.com.

Room rates start at 1,800 Baht per night. You can view rates and make a booking for Kowit Farmstay with your preferred OTA: Agoda / Booking.com /

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