Chae Son National Park - Lampang

Our superb hosts introduced us to the Chae Son National Park, about 80 kms north of Lampang on road 1157.  The journey takes you through spectacular forests and occasional rice fields, but in the full sunshine the views around every corner are memorable.  The scenery is more hilly than Ubon and makes it far more interesting with greater colour and variety.  With the excess of wood in this area it comes as no surprise that many of the houses are constructed by craftsmen skilled in the using beautiful timber to stunning effect.  There are several new houses, of unique design being built that would be the envy of Alpine villages in Switzerland and France.

There are many fine natural features in Chae Son, but the river has to be the jewel of its crown.  Waterfalls tumble down into a series of pools and lagoons, splattered by sunshine filtering through the trees.  The cool waters originate from the far far north, gathering pace on the journey through northern Thailand and eventually, somehow into the sea at the Gulf of Thailand near Bangkok.  We relished the cool shade and marvelled at the nature.

Idyllic lagoons

Cool as a mountain stream

Sun dappled water

Refreshing waterfalls

Chae Son also boasts hot springs.  As if we needed more heat!  Water bubbles out of the ground at 82 Centigrade, with the unmistakeable smell of bad eggs - sulphur.  We put some eggs into a bamboo basket and carefully placed them into a pool to boil.  Meanwhile we bathed in the natural jacuzzi soaking up the soothing powers and wondering what the poor people were up to!

Chae Son is a wonderful place to visit, the calming waters are a million miles away from Willwriting.

Hot springs - just like Iceland (not)

Chief Egg Boiler