Pa Pong Piang Rice Terraces – Chiang Mai’s Best Kept Secret

Pa Pong Piang Rice Terraces – Chiang Mai’s Best Kept Secret

One of Chiang Mai’s Best Kept secrets – Ban Pa Pong Piang Rice terraces are one of the most photogenic spots in Thailand. Ban Pa Pong Piang (sometimes spelt as Pa Pong Pieng) is a little hamlet of rolling rice terraces nestled in the mountains of Doi Inthanon national park. Surrounded by fertile forested mountains, the verdant views and nature here are spectacular. The pictures speak for themselves.

Layers of emerald green rice terraces, spanning as far as the eye can see.

Pa Pong PIang Rice Terraces Chiang Mai

How to Get There

From Chiang Mai city, there’s no form of direct public transport to Pa Pong Piang, so the best way of getting there is by private car. Its approximately 70km (2 hours drive) from Chiang Mai city, the last few kilometers of which are on a muddy trail only accessible by off-road vehicle.

How many days do you need?

Pa Pong Piang is an excellent 2 days/ 1 night trip from Chiang Mai. Any shorter than this, won’t feel like enough time. It’s a great way to experience off-the-beaten path Chiang Mai, and its full natural beauty away from the tourist crowds.

When to Visit

The rice farming season begins in May when the first rains of the year fall. This is when you’ll see the reflections of the small rice seedlings in the water filled rice paddies.

Pa Pong Pieng rice terrace

The rice plants reach their full length and greeness, during July- September (the peak of rainy season). After this they turn into a glorious yellow-golden colour, when they’re ready to be harvested in October.

So the best time to visit Pa Pong Piang, really depends on what type of scenery you prefer. Outside of the rice farming season (November-April), the rice paddies will be left fallow. Pa Pong Piang is open to visitors year round.

Accommodation in Ban Pa Pong Piang

Due to its remote locale and underdeveloped infrastructure,  Pa Pong Piang has limited accommodation options. There’s only a few guesthouses to choose from, all offering the same standard of accommodation. Expect a basic room in a bamboo house, with simple bedding on the floor and a mosquito net. Bathrooms are in a separate shack, with no running hot showers, but a large vat of water and sink. Prices are around 500bt/person/night which includes two meals.

Pa Pong Piang is fast becoming popular with Thai tourists, but still unknown to foreign tourists.  During its busy months of May-October, and especially at weekends, accommodation here gets booked up, so….Can you book beforehand??

There’s no running electricity here (just a limited amount through solar powered panels). So nights are spent by candlelight, adding to the overall ambiance and experience of Ban Pa Pong Piang.

Pa Pong Piang Accommodation

Pa Pong Piang Guesthouse room

Tips

• As it takes around 2 hours to reach Pa Pong Piang from Chiang Mai, to appreciate it’s full beauty it’s best to spend an overnight here. This will allow you experience the glow of sunset over the rice terraces and it’s early morning charm
• There’s no running electricity here, don’t expect hot showers or modern comforts here.  Be prepared for camping-type conditions
• Fully charge your cameras and phones beforehand, and bring spare batteries and powerbanks
• There’s no phone signal either, so be prepared to go off-the-grid for a while
• Due to the altitude and locale, it can get cold at night so bring warm clothing

Check out this Video of Pa Pong Piang >>>

If you want to visit Pa Pong Piang, then contact us for a private tour of the area.

Useful Links

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g790338-d8850593-Reviews-Pa_Pong_Pieng-Mae_Chaem.html