Top Things to do in San Kamphaeng
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Top 7 Things to do in San Kamphaeng, Thailand
Discover the best top things to do in San Kamphaeng, Thailand including MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, Baan Jang Nak - A Museum of Elephant Wood Carvings, Muang On Caves, San kamphang Saturday walking street market, Wat Pa Tueng, Roong Aroon Hot Springs, Wat Bo Sang.
Restaurants in San Kamphaeng
1. MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
MAIIAM is a newly opened private museum of Contemporary Art in Northern Thailand, initiated by Jean Michel Beurdeley and his late wife Patrsi Bunnag, together with their son Eric Bunnag Booth. Built in memory of Eric Bunnag Booth’s Great Great Aunt Chao Chom Iam, a royal consort to King Rama V, the museum houses the family's private collection, gathered together over the last 30 years. Bolstering Chiang Mai’s already vibrant art and cultural scene, MAIIAM enables the cofounders' important collections of Thai and regional contemporary art to be permanently available to the public. The museum offers long-term and temporary Exhibitions of visual art, design, and fashion; alongside Performances, film screenings, special education programs, lectures and workshops, to engage a wide spectrum of audiences. While MAIIAM is dedicated to bringing together celebrated works of contemporary Asian art, Kampaeng Kaew Restaurant takes a more traditional approach. Chef Tutu, the museums in house culinary expert, prefers to keep it traditional, using fresh, local ingredients to create delicious, authentic Thai food. MAIIAM and KAMPAENG KAEW RESTAURANT are located in the district of San Kamphaeng, twenty minutes from the center of Chiang Mai.
Reviewed By Bambinoamericano - New york
My friends and I went there few days ago and it wasn’t too hard to find the place as it was right in the main road with the glassy large wall in front.
Paid the fee 150 and got in. There were lots of nice pictures on the wall that were amazing to watch and story behind “the actual Oreginal pictures “ . First floor weather was pretty comfortable and cool and when we got to the second floor was hot and it seems like the roof didn’t have heating installation so it was a bit uncomfortable. Also the doors were very hard to open to get in and it was making you feel “ what if you brake them by tying to opening them ?? “ So that wasn’t good and also the other down part was that there was a family that they brought their “ DOG ?!? “ in to the museum and even they kept the Dog inside the Baby Stroller but the poor dog was still Barking and making almost everyone uncomfortable as the indoor environment was super quiet and almost everyone were paying attention on either Reading the details of the pictures or watching something. At the end also on the parking lot the security guard we thought was there to direct you to get in and out and help you with parking your car but instead he was Seating and talking with someone in some corner and it wasn’t really easy to get out of the parking to the main road as the Main Street road too wide . Over all speaking it is a nice place and inviting the entrance fee is not too pricy but I hope the owners make some little improvements there .
2. Baan Jang Nak - A Museum of Elephant Wood Carvings
Overall Ratings
5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By ChiangMaiBacon - Chiang Mai, Thailand
Our last terrifying adventure, aboard the piece of crap rental scooter that is now history, fortunately led us to a very cool Wood Carving Museum. (We recently purchased a 2016 Honda PCX150...so we happy now!)
This place "Baan Jang Nak" is a bit out of the way, meaning you need to be a little adventurous to find it in the first place. We managed to locate this wonderful spot after a couple of u-turns and meanderings and it was well worth it! It is a working art studio, carving village, homestead to the founder and all around general wonderment.
We first walked in under a giant elephant arch-way which then opened into a large patio type setting with some small buildings, sheds and various covered-shaded areas. Our first thoughts were that we have intruded into a private yard, home or business...so we stopped and looked around. We then see a couple of gentlemen sitting under one of the covered areas carving an elephant from a block of wood that he holds with his feet. OK...we must be in the right place! With a nodding of the head, a smile and some fancy hand motions we understand that we are allowed to walk around and explore.
We walked cautiously around, into a couple buildings, up some funky stairs, over rickety floors and finally down to where the artists were sitting around carving and making the finished products. Really pretty amazing.
Check out their Facebook page... Baan Jang Nak:บ้านจ๊างนัก
3. Muang On Caves
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By patty1sue - Indianola, Washington
I was surprised and pleased that this cave, despite having its challenges, is not that difficult to navigate because the stairs and railings are very well placed and constructed. The beginning is like going down a ladder and looks formidable but once I got my bearings it was fine. I am in my 70’s and took my time figuring out the best approach to navigating. Once inside it is an awesome sight and well worth overcoming my initial concerns. The 30฿ admission cost is a bargain. The cave is well lit but flashlights are available and useful once at the bottom and walking on uneven surfaces.
I’m a part time resident here and hired a driver/van for my group of eight to go and included a visit to the MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum. This is a very affordable way to visit areas outside of the city.
4. San kamphang Saturday walking street market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By John_G525 - Glenrothes, United Kingdom
We agree totally with the previous review, this is a walking street market with a local flavour. It's not as extensive as the night bazaar or the Sunday market in the old town, but local handicrafts, some consumer goods and local foods are on offer, and you can stroll (clockwise) around the stalls set up in the high street. There are local restaurants along the high street selling good, cheap food. People of all ages attend the event, and the atmosphere is very calm and peaceful - OK for infants/young children. We stay locally on our annual visit to Chaing Mai, and would not consider going elsewhere on a Saturday evening. We have never felt the need to visit the Saturday walking street in town, as the reviews say it's extremely crowded with tourists, and we just love the atmosphere at this event. It would be worth making the trip out from town to soak up the atmosphere.
5. Wat Pa Tueng
Overall Ratings
4 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Sabrina-Higgins - Bangkok
This rural northern Thai style temple is most famous for its founding monk being credited with saving many younger monks and novices by fore warning them that he had a premonition that that the sleeping building was going to collapse that night during a windy rain storm and he insisted they they leave the building and it for what seemed no reason it did blow over that night thus saving many lives.
Aside from that history it is a very pretty wooden temple which is also the villages community center so you will see on any given day a slice of rural northern Thai culture going on at the temple also being located in a farming community where still to this day many of the fields are still planted and cultivated by hand offering a great photo opportunity so see the hand harvesting of rice fields by local families.
This is just a bonus to the beautiful teak wood temple with its ornately carved doors, windows and well tons of accents and historical items. As well be sure to check out the grand hall Buddhist temple murals. You will surely see the mummified remains of the former head monk who has yet to be cremated. His body is covered in gold leaf and on proudly on display, which to many westerners may be a bit strange but is a sign of great respect in Thai culture.
So if your heading out to the San Kamphaeng hot Springs be sure to stop in on the way, turn right at the Alpine course course sign and follow the signs to the temple.
6. Roong Aroon Hot Springs
Overall Ratings
3 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By tallgaloot - Maple Shade, New Jersey
We asked our driver to bring us to some hot Springs and this is where he brought us. He mentioned there was another place nearby that was much more crowded, with long lines of people and cars. Perhaps we should have gone there. This place is kind of run-down and a little sketchy. We decided to try out the onsen and a massage, only to be told the bath wasn't filled yet and to wait. So, we walked around a bit. Nice looking property. But backs up to some not nice looking property. A weird combination of nice and run-down kind of sitting together. In the center of the area you can cook an egg in the hot spring in only a few minutes, which is a cool idea, but we didn't try it. The onsen itself seemed a little dirty. The showers beforehand didn't function right. But the onsen was a different experience. If you haven't ever done an onsen, or you're a fan, maybe give this one a try. I'm not a huge fan. It was so hot, we could barely stand it. The massage afterwards was ok, but something seemed sketchy about the whole place. I probably wouldn't recommend this place to others, maybe you'd be better at the place up the road (if you beat the crowds).
7. Wat Bo Sang
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 3 reviews
