Skip to main content
Visit Thailand Today

Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park

A waterfall you climb up rather than look at, and the limestone grips your feet the whole way.

4.7(7,457)
Directions

Plan your visit

Hours
Daily 08:30–16:30

Book Popular Activities Online

Booking platforms like GetYourGuide give you instant confirmation and, on many activities, free cancellation — and you can read recent reviews before committing. Compare with local agencies for multi-day trips where negotiation might save more.

Why go, and how to do it well

You don't stand and admire this one. Mineral springs loaded with calcium carbonate rise from underground and run over travertine terraces, coating the streambed in a hard, chalky white surface that grips like sandpaper. So people walk straight up the falls, tier by tier, using the fixed rope where they want it. Reviewers mention children and older visitors managing it without trouble. The black patches are the slippery ones, so avoid those and you'll be fine.

Getting there means a staircase down, about ten minutes to the base, then the climb back up at whatever pace suits you. Allow two hours minimum. It's free, it's genuinely well kept, and the Chet Si springs nearby add more of the same odd mineral coloring. The catch is popularity. One reviewer found the crowds spoiled the remote feel, and progress up the terraces slows to a shuffle when it's busy. A weekday morning is your best bet.

Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Sep 2026

Stay within reach of Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park

Sponsored

Search Chiang Mai hotels with your dates. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.

See hotels near Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park

Opens Booking.com with your dates

Also compare on Expedia · Trip.com

Around here, on foot

Well-rated places within a short walk of Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.

Experience hints

Visitor favorite

Reviews from Google

Located near the 42-kilometer marker on the Chiang Mai–Phrao Road, in Ho Phra Subdistrict, Mae Taeng District, this site features mineral springs rich in calcium carbonate that surge up from underground, flowing into streams and small waterfalls. The streambed beneath the water is hard and sparkling white, coated with calcium carbonate, creating a truly unusual and eye-catching sight. The charm that makes Bua Tong Waterfall and the Seven-Colored Spring Forest Park so enchanting lies in its landscape of high mountain ranges alternating with valleys and streams, at elevations of approximately 400–900 meters above sea level. The area around Bua Tong Waterfall and the Seven-Colored Spring itself is relatively flat, forming a basin-like valley. The forest remains lush and fertile, shaded by dense, large trees, beautifully preserving the characteristics of tropical evergreen forest and mixed deciduous forest. The park also offers scenic viewpoints, and its most important stream is Huai Mae Pon. Highlights • Bua Tong Waterfall: A beautiful waterfall with the unique characteristic of limestone rock formations. The waterfall is about 100 meters high, with an average slope of approximately 50 degrees, and consists of two tiers. Along the stream flowing down to Huai Mae Pon, the surroundings are cool and verdant. There are also several small mineral waterfalls where calcium carbonate-rich water emerges from the ground, making the area especially fascinating to explore. • Seven-Colored Spring: A cool natural spring measuring approximately 6 × 8 meters, with water continuously bubbling up from underground throughout the year. Its most striking feature is the crystal-clear water that sparkles in rainbow hues when it catches the sunlight. The Seven-Colored Spring is considered the source of Bua Tong Waterfall, with the water flowing along a stream for about 100 meters before reaching the waterfall. Location: Within the Mae Taeng National Reserved Forest, Moo 8, Mae Ho Phra Subdistrict, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

A must do experience if you are in the area. The fact that it's free and well maintained surprised us. It's not just a regular waterfall hike, it's an outdoor adventure where you actually get to walk in the river and climb the waterfall without feeling you're gonna slip. A quick tip bring flipflops and swim wear amd bring a towel and don't take with you valuable belongings so you fully enjoy without worrying about your things getting wet. I would also recommend to go bearfeet down the trail as on your way up you will be walking in the water. The views were stunning!

The waterfall itself would be very beautiful and is in a remote place, but the amount of tourists it attracts ruins it. Going up the waterfall is fun, not slippery and if you stay near the rope it‘s completely safe. Make sure to pack a second pair of clothes though and if you want to film you should bring waterproof equipment. But again, going up will take alot of time because of the huge amount of people. If you‘re an active person you can challange yourself and try to climb it as fast as possible (but be mindful of the other people!!)

A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 7,457 reviews on Google.

หมู่ที่ 8 ตำบล แม่หอพระ อำเภอแม่แตง เชียงใหม่ 50150, Thailand

Open in Google Maps

More activities & tours nearby

All within a 4-minute walk of Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park.

Buatong Waterfall

Buatong Waterfall

210 m walk4.7(730)
339H+3V, Mae Ho Phra, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai 50150, Thailand
A unique limestone "sticky waterfall" in Mae Taeng District that visitors can actually climb barefoot.
Nam Phu Chet Si
Hidden Gem

Nam Phu Chet Si

290 m walk4.6(62)
339J+MPV, Unnamed Road, Tambon Mae Ho Phra, Amphoe Mae Taeng, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50150, Thailand
A sacred seven-colored spring near Sticky Waterfalls, steeped in Buddhist legend and natural wonder.

Tips for Visiting Activities & Tours

Do Outdoor Activities in the Morning

Heat and humidity peak from noon to 3 PM. Schedule jungle treks, cycling tours, and outdoor cooking classes for early morning. Water activities are more flexible since you're in and out of the sea.

Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park worth visiting?

Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park holds a 4.7★ rating from 7,457 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated activities & tours in Chiang Mai.

What are the opening hours of Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park?

Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park is typically open 08:30–16:30 — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.

When is the best time to visit Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park?

The best months to visit Chiang Mai are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – January & Songkran (April) — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: Mid-February – April (smoke & heat).

Where is Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park located?

Buatong Waterfall-Chet Si Fountain National Park is at หมู่ที่ 8 ตำบล แม่หอพระ อำเภอแม่แตง เชียงใหม่ 50150, Thailand, in Chiang Mai. Getting around Chiang Mai: Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks); Grab (available in city center).

Also popular in Chiang Mai

Tong Tem Toh

Tong Tem Toh

4.2(6,686)
11 Nimmana Haeminda Rd Lane 13 Nimmanhaemin Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai
Northern Thai done properly on Nimman, with a line at dinner that moves faster than it looks.
Doi Suthep Temple
Featured

Doi Suthep Temple

4.7(12,029)
Doi Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the golden-chedi temple 15 km above Chiang Mai, up 306 naga steps. ฿30 for foreigners, best at first light.
MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center

MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center

4.4(17,707)
55/5 Huay Kaew Rd, Tambon Chang Phueak, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Air-con, cheap food courts and a rooftop with mountain views at the top of Nimman.
Cozy Massage and Spa Nimman 15 Chiangmai

Cozy Massage and Spa Nimman 15 Chiangmai

4.8(3,058)
2, 3 Nimmanahaeminda Road, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Thai massage on Nimman that stays open till 1am, so late arrivals and post-dinner aches are covered.

Similar Activities & Tours across Thailand

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket
Sponsored

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket

4.7(6,925)$$$$
2, 12, Tambon Kathu, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83120, Thailand
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary's Kathu camp and Phuket office, with programs from a one-hour feed to half days of feeding, a mud spa and bathing.
Huai Kaeo Waterfall

Huai Kaeo Waterfall

4.5(323)
97, 9, Tambon Doi Hang, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Rai, Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand
A peaceful twin waterfall inside Lam Nam Kok National Park, reached by a short but steep forest hike.
Morpaeng Waterfall

Morpaeng Waterfall

4.1(2,006)
99HG+G8M, Mae Na Toeng, Pai District, Mae Hong Son 58130, Thailand
A tiered cascade with natural pools twenty minutes from town, best hit early before the scooters arrive.
Sarika Waterfall

Sarika Waterfall

4.3(4,832)
8754+G49, Sarika, Mueang Nakhon Nayok District, Nakhon Nayok 26000, Thailand
Nine tiers of falls and big natural pools, but foreigners pay 200 baht and the paths are concrete.