Chae Son National Park

The hot springs are the reason to come. You sit with your feet in a mineral bath under the trees, and a few meters away people are lowering baskets of raw eggs into the boiling spring water, which is the tradition here and worth doing once. If you want privacy there are onsen-style cabins to soak in, plus massage and picnic spots. Reviewers keep using words like manicured and elegant, and a few say the springs area reminded them of Japan, which tells you this isn't rough wilderness.

There's a waterfall a short walk from the springs. It's good to look at, but don't plan on swimming there. The water's cold and the springs are better. Overnight, you can rent a bungalow or camp. Bring your own tent or rent one for 280 baht with a sleeping bag included, and mornings in the spa pool before the day-trippers arrive are the payoff for staying.