Mae Kampong Village, Hot Springs, Bor Sang Umbrellas Making Tour

Mae Kampong’s creekside village, mountain views and local craft workshops make this a satisfying way to see several sides of the Chiang Mai countryside in one day. The route also includes a waterfall and time at Sankamphaeng hot springs, so you get a mix of village life, nature and a proper soak rather than a day spent on just one kind of stop.

I like two things in particular: your own group travels by private, air-conditioned car, and an English-speaking guide accompanies you through a varied day. I also like that the included lunch and hot spring pool ticket are part of the price, not add-ons you need to arrange along the way.

The main consideration is pace. The tour lasts about nine hours, with several stops and some walking, so it suits you best if you enjoy a full day out. The viewpoint may be closed for renovations at certain times, in which case the plan switches to a nature trail.

At a glance

• Mae Kampong is the main village stop: Allow about two hours to see this small settlement beside a creek.
• Kew Fin offers a mountain panorama: The viewpoint stop is scheduled for about 45 minutes; a nature trail is the alternative if it is closed.
• The day includes both a waterfall and hot springs: You have about 45 minutes at Mae Kampong Waterfall and two hours at Sankamphaeng.
• Bor Sang gives you a look at umbrella making: Watch artisans at work and use the displays and guides to follow the process.
• Your group gets private transport: Pickup and drop-off are by air-conditioned car, with a downtown meeting point required if your hotel is more than five kilometers from the city center.
• Lunch, water and entry costs are covered: Personal expenses are not included.

A countryside day with several different stops

This tour leaves Chiang Mai for Mae Kampong, a small village associated with the Kampong flowers that grow near its creek. It then links a mountain viewpoint, waterfall, hot spring pools and Bor Sang’s umbrella-making center before returning to the city. That variety is the tour’s central appeal: you get time in a village, a taste of the surrounding countryside and a traditional craft stop, all without arranging separate transport.

The day is described as about nine hours. The scheduled stop times add up to just over seven hours, including time at the village, viewpoint, waterfall, hot springs and umbrella center. Driving time is listed at roughly two hours, though the total can vary with the day’s pace. Lunch is included, but no separate lunch duration is specified.

You’ll be picked up at your accommodation in a private, air-conditioned car. That makes the journey more comfortable than trying to link these out-of-town stops yourself, and it means you are not sharing the day with a large tour group. The experience is private to your party, but the car and guide still need to carry you through a fairly full schedule. A little flexibility in your expectations will help if one stop takes longer than planned.

Mae Kampong, a village beside the creek

The first main stop is Mae Kampong, reached after a drive of about an hour and ten minutes from Chiang Mai. You have around two hours here, the longest village visit of the day. The village sits near a creek and takes its name from the Kampong flowers found in the area.

That setting gives the stop a different feel from the city. Rather than arriving at a single monument, you get time to look around a small community and notice how it sits beside the water and in the countryside. The tour description calls Mae Kampong a hidden village, but it is best to think of this as a visit to a rural settlement, not a secluded wilderness stop.

Two hours is useful breathing room on a day with many transfers. It gives you more time than a quick photo stop, though it does not mean the entire visit is an extended hike or a guided cultural program. The tour information does not specify a walking route or particular village activities, so ask your guide what is practical on the day if you have a specific interest.

Kew Fin’s view, or a nature trail

Next comes Kew Fin Viewpoint, scheduled for about 45 minutes. Its draw is a panoramic view over the mountains, a welcome change from the village lanes and a good reason to bring a camera. The stop is short, so treat it as a scenic pause rather than a long walk or a full hiking outing.

There is an important caveat: the viewpoint is scheduled to close for renovations from August 1 through October 15, 2025. When it is closed, the tour substitutes a nature trail. If you are booking for dates around that period, confirm the current plan with the operator, Chiangmai Siam Travel. The available details do not describe the trail’s length or difficulty, so do not assume it is a like-for-like replacement for the panorama.

The alternative still keeps a nature-focused stop in the day, but your experience will differ. If the mountain view is the detail you most want, check the viewpoint’s status before booking rather than treating its inclusion as guaranteed.

Mae Kampong Waterfall and lunch

The tour then visits Mae Kampong Waterfall for about 45 minutes. That gives you a short chance to see the falls and spend a little time outdoors before lunch and the hot spring stop. The information does not specify a trail, swimming access or how close you can get to the water, so keep expectations to a brief waterfall visit.

Some walking is expected during the day. That matters especially if you are bringing children or anyone who would rather stay in the car between stops. The tour is described as suitable for most travelers, and one family-friendly comment noted that children could enjoy it, but also made clear that walking is part of the experience. Comfortable footwear is sensible, though the exact terrain is not specified.

Lunch is included, which adds practical value to a day with several stops and reduces the need to plan a meal on your own. It was one of the most praised parts of the experience, alongside the guide. No menu or restaurant details are provided, so you should not book expecting a particular dish or dining style. Still, having lunch included makes the middle of a long day easier.

Two hours at Sankamphaeng Hot Springs

Sankamphaeng Hot Springs is allotted about two hours, making it one of the day’s longer stops. The springs are set among trees and hills, and the tour includes entrance fees and a ticket for the swimming pool. You can use that time for the mineral bath experience the stop is known for, with the pool access already covered.

This is a useful contrast to the village and waterfall visits. Instead of spending the whole day moving from one view to another, you have a longer pause to relax. Two hours gives you room to enjoy the hot springs without turning the visit into a rushed dip, although the exact facilities and bathing arrangements are not described.

Bring money for personal expenses, as those are not included. The tour does provide drinking water, but the information does not list other items you should bring or specify what is available for purchase at the springs. If bathing is a priority, confirm any practical details with the operator before departure.

Bor Sang’s umbrella workshops

The final main stop is Bor Sang, known for its umbrella-making center. You have about an hour to watch artisans at work in an outdoor area and to use informative displays and guides to understand the stages of umbrella making. It is a more hands-on visual stop than simply looking at finished crafts: you can see people working and follow how the object comes together.

That makes Bor Sang a worthwhile finish to a day otherwise focused on countryside and nature. It offers a glimpse of local craft production, and the explanations help put the work into context. The tour description does not promise a workshop where you make an umbrella yourself, so think of this as a demonstration and learning stop.

An hour is enough to watch the process and look through the displays, but not a deep visit to every craft business in the area. If you enjoy seeing traditional work being done, this stop adds a different kind of interest. If you are mainly seeking mountain scenery, it may be less compelling than Mae Kampong or Kew Fin.

What the $107 price covers

At $107 per person, the value comes from combining private transport, an English-speaking guide, lunch, drinking water, accident insurance and admission fees, including pool access at the hot springs. Since the route includes several places outside Chiang Mai, having transportation arranged is a meaningful part of the cost. You are also not paying separately for the listed entrances.

The private format is especially useful for couples, families or a small group that prefers to travel together. Group discounts are offered, though the amount depends on the booking. The price does not include personal expenses, and hotel pickup has a boundary: if your accommodation is more than five kilometers from downtown, you may need to meet the car at a central point.

This is not the cheapest way to visit a single Chiang Mai attraction. It is better judged as a full-day package that links several stops and takes care of the transportation between them. If you would rather spend a whole day at one village, hike at your own pace or choose every meal and stop independently, a private itinerary may suit you better. If you value convenience and variety, the inclusions make the price easier to justify.

Who will get the most from this day

I’d consider this tour if you have a free day in Chiang Mai and want to see both countryside and a local craft center without organizing multiple journeys. It also suits couples and families who like a varied schedule and are comfortable with some walking. The private car helps keep the day personal, while the guide can help explain the places you visit.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a slow, unstructured day. The tour covers several stops, and the drive between Chiang Mai and Mae Kampong takes about an hour and ten minutes at the start, with another drive back at the end. The viewpoint and waterfall visits are relatively brief compared with the two-hour village and hot springs stops.

The strongest reasons to book are the range of experiences, the private transport and the included lunch and entry fees. The key compromise is that you trade long, leisurely time at any one stop for a broad sampler of the area. If that sounds like your kind of day, this is a practical way to get beyond central Chiang Mai.

Should you book the Mae Kampong tour?

Book it if you want one organized day that pairs a creekside village and countryside views with a waterfall, mineral hot springs and umbrella making. I would give extra weight to the private car and the included lunch: together, they make a long route simpler and more comfortable to manage.

Think twice if you dislike a full schedule, need a low-walking outing or are booking mainly for Kew Fin Viewpoint during its stated renovation closure. Confirm whether the viewpoint or nature trail will be part of your date, and keep in mind that the final plan includes several distinct stops rather than an in-depth visit to any one of them.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about nine hours. The day begins with a drive of roughly one hour and ten minutes from Chiang Mai to Mae Kampong and ends with a drive back to the city.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your hotel are included by private, air-conditioned car. If your hotel is more than five kilometers from downtown, you may need to go to a meeting point in the city center.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Are lunch and drinking water included?

Yes. Lunch and drinking water are included.

Are the hot springs entrance and pool ticket included?

Yes. The package includes entrance fees and a ticket for the swimming pool at the hot springs.

What happens if Kew Fin Viewpoint is closed?

The tour uses a nature trail instead. The viewpoint is scheduled to be closed for renovations from August 1 through October 15, 2025.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.