San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

San Kamphaeng Hot Springs sits about 36 km east of Chiang Mai in Mae On district, where a natural geyser throws water up to 20 metres into the air. The water emerges from underground at over 100°C — by the time it settles into the soaking pools it’s cooled to a comfortable bathing temperature, but stand too close to the geyser jet itself and the steam is a genuine warning to keep back.

Beyond the geyser, the complex has a mineral bathing pool, private soaking tubs, and shallow foot-bath channels lined with benches, all fed by the same sulphur-rich source. Insider Tip: Buy a net bag of eggs from the vendors near the hottest pools — the classic move is boiling your own for about 15 minutes, then eating them streamside with a pinch of salt from the same stalls.

Watch out: The main entry ticket covers grounds access and the foot baths only. The mineral swimming pool and private baths are extra — factor in another 50-300 THB depending on which you use, so budget beyond the headline entry fee.

The grounds are landscaped with flower beds and forest-covered hills behind, giving the springs an established, well-tended feel rather than a rough-and-ready roadside spring. At the entrance gate, a row of shops sells Bo Sang-style painted umbrellas, hand-woven textiles, and other Chiang Mai handicrafts — a reminder that San Kamphaeng district, and its offshoot Mae On, has built its economy on crafts as much as tourism.

It works well as a half-day stop on the same route as Bo Sang Umbrella Village, which sits closer to Chiang Mai on the road out. Most visitors combine the two with a stop for lunch rather than treating either as a full day out on its own.

Entry is 100 THB for foreign adults (50 THB for children) and 40 THB for Thai nationals (20 THB for children), with parking an extra 40 THB. The springs are open daily from 07:00 to 18:00. Weekday mornings are quietest; by midday on weekends, tour buses from Chiang Mai fill the car park and the egg-boiling pools get crowded.