Giant Tree Cafe & Mae Kampong Village Day Trip from Chiang Mai

Mae Kampong Village

Mae Kampong is a small mountain village about 50 kilometres east of Chiang Mai, sitting at around 1,300 metres in a narrow, forested valley. Founded more than a century ago by families who grew tea, it is known for its dark wooden houses stacked along a rushing stream, its cool climate and a slow pace of life. Villagers still harvest miang, the fermented tea leaves of northern Thailand, and grow coffee on the surrounding slopes.

The village runs its own community tourism, and a Mae Kampong village tour is mainly about wandering: along the stream, past small cafés and shops, up to the wooden temple raised above the water. You have about two hours here, with time to chat with friendly villagers and try local snacks. Wear comfortable shoes, as the lanes are steep in places.

Mae Kampong Waterfall

Just below the village, Mae Kampong Waterfall drops down a series of rocky tiers through the forest. A short walk on a path with steps leads to the lower levels, where the water spreads over mossy boulders and the air is fresh even on hot days.

It is a lovely place to cool down and take photos, and the flow is strongest in and just after the rainy season. The path can be damp, so shoes with good grip are better than flip-flops. The waterfall is the first stop of the day, and the forest around it is a good place to stretch your legs after the mountain drive. Early in the day the light through the trees is soft and the pools are quiet.

Valley viewpoint and local lunch

Above the village, a viewpoint terrace looks out over the folded green valley and the rooftops of Mae Kampong, one of the most photographed views in the area, especially when morning mist hangs in the trees.

Lunch is at your own expense: your driver recommends a local restaurant serving northern Thai dishes, so you can choose what and how much you eat. Many visitors try khao soi or a simple rice dish with mountain vegetables. On a clear day you can see ridge after ridge of forested hills fading into the distance, and your driver can suggest spots in the village to try coffee or tea grown on the surrounding slopes.

The treetop café around a giant tree

The highlight of the day is a café built high in and around an enormous old forest tree in the jungle hills. Wooden platforms wrap around the trunk and branches, and a wooden skywalk bridge leads through the canopy, so you sit among the leaves with views over the forest. Reaching it is part of the adventure, on a mountain road through the trees.

Drinks and snacks here are at your own expense; a coffee among the treetops is the classic way to enjoy it. You have about an hour to explore the platforms and take photos before the drive back to Chiang Mai, arriving in the late afternoon. Walk slowly on the wooden walkways and hold the handrails, especially after rain.