This unique waterfall near Chiang Mai has high-traction rock surfaces that are fun to play on and make for epic photos
Nam Tok Bua Tong (น้ําตกบัวตอง) known as the Sticky Waterfall, is an incredibly cool place to check out when you’re in Chiang Mai. The water here bubbles up from a natural spring, and it has such high levels of dissolved minerals that it coats the rocks and tree roots it flows over in high-traction limestone. They call it the “Sticky Falls” because the stone has so much grip. It’s a waterfall and it looks like it should be slippery, so your eyes can’t quite believe it when you see people easily walking on the steep rocks. You can climb all over the waterfall here and go wherever you want to go. It’s crazy fun here, and a great place to get some really cool photos.
The Chiang Mai Sticky Waterfall is located under an hour and a half from the city making it a popular half-day trip, and it’s really worth the journey. The Chiang Mai sticky falls used to be fairly unknown but can get a bit crowded these days.
Also, check out our video for a little taste of why the Sticky Falls are so worth visiting.
How to get to the Sticky Waterfalls in Chiang Mai
The Sticky Waterfall can be found at this location and Google Maps can guide you there easily. It’s around an hour-and-twenty-minute drive from Chiang Mai old town and the roads are in good condition the whole way. There are 3 ways to get to Bua Thong Falls:
Sticky Waterfalls Tours
By far the simplest way to visit the sticky waterfalls in Chiang Mai is to take a tour. You’ll get all of the fun of the trip without having to think about transport or food, plus there’s the added bonus of being shown around by a knowledgeable local.
You’ll be picked up by your guide at 10 am so you can have a nice little lie-in too!
You can spend the next few hours exploring the area – don’t forget to visit the springs too! Your guide will be able to tell you all about the local area whilst you’re climbing Bua Tong. Ask if they can take some photos of you too – another benefit of having a guide is that they are usually more than happy to get some cool snaps that would be difficult to get on your own!
Once you’ve completed your climb, wandered around the park and relaxed in one of the pools, you’ll be starving so your guide will take you to a small local restaurant for lunch. It will be Thai food – think fried rice, pad Thai and noodles.
After you’ve eaten, you’ll be driven back to your hotel in the city, arriving at around 3 pm.
You can also take a tour that combines other nearby activities, such as visiting elephant sanctuary, Whitewater Rafting or Trekking tour.
Just the waterfall – A simple tour that leaves Chiang Mai in the morning, returns in the afternoon, and gets you great Northern Thai food along the way.
The falls plus an ethical elephant sanctuary – A nice tour that combines the falls with something that’s on a lot of people’s Thailand bucket list. This tour visits the waterfall in the morning, then heads to an elephant sanctuary with a no bullhooks and no riding policy.
Sticky Falls plus jungle trek to the secret waterfall – The water obviously keeps flowing beyond the Sticky Falls, and there are more similar waterfalls deeper into the jungle. We wish we could be telling you how to do this on your own, but this guide has special permission from the park to take people in here. This is a very cool tour that gets you to a secret second Sticky Waterfall in the middle of the jungle.
Doi Inthanon National Park Trekking at Pha Dok Siew
1 Day White Temple, Red Temple, Blue Temple
Motorbike/Car to Sticky Waterfalls
The cheapest way to visit the Chiang Mai sticky waterfalls is to hire a motorbike and take a road trip. I would only recommend doing this if you’re experienced in driving a bike in Thailand AND you’re fully insured (always double-check your insurance because the chances are that you will only be covered if you have a full motorbike licence in your home country).
Don’t rent a scooter on your first day in the country – the roads to the falls are quite remote so if you have an accident you could be waiting a while for help.
You can hire bikes for around 250 – 300 baht per day, but you can shop around for the best deals because there are scooter rental companies everywhere in the city.
Also, make sure that you have a proper licence to drive in Thailand – you could be fined if you don’t.
Note: Police sometimes setup a checkpoint on this road. If they’re out and you don’t have a Thai or international license (with motorbike endorsement if you’re riding), you will be fined 500-1000 Baht.
By taxi or Songthaew to Sticky Waterfall
If you don’t have your own transport but you don’t want to take a tour, another great way of getting to the sticky waterfalls in Chiang Mai is just to take a taxi! The red songthaews that you’ll see driving around the city are a great experience in themselves!
The price ranges from 1000 – 1200 baht. I wouldn’t haggle this price too much as that needs to cover the fuel and also the driver’s time for around 5 hours. We paid 1100 baht.
If you’re in a group then it will be the same cost for the vehicle so you can split it between you. These trucks could probably fit 6 adults comfortably – maybe you could ask people at your accommodation if they want to share the costs.
When you arrive, the driver might want to take a photo or video of you at the entrance. This is to prove that he is your driver and that you need to return to the city with him. I think this is fair enough as there will definitely have been tourists who somehow got a free ride home and pretended that they didn’t know who their driver was!
Pay at the end of your whole trip because otherwise there is no incentive for the driver to wait for you and you don’t want to be stuck 60km out of town with no way back.
What To Expect At The Sticky Waterfalls
The Chiang Mai sticky waterfalls have been carefully looked after, and the surrounding area is well preserved. It’s a great place to spend half a day climbing, relaxing and picnicking.
There are clean western toilets and two shower blocks with plenty of cubicles, which means you can easily get changed before or after your swim.
There are lots of bins and benches around, and everywhere is signposted, clean and tidy. It’s such a nice feeling when you visit somewhere that manages tourism well!
You don’t need to pay to enter the waterfall area, so don’t give any extra money to your driver or guide. It’s unlikely they’ll ask for it, but it’s good to be aware!
Don’t forget to bring some small change just in case you fancy an ice cream or a coffee too – there are vendors at the waterfalls! There is a restaurant too, selling Thai food but you could also bring your own lunch/snacks and just enjoy using the space to eat.
One thing that is great about the Chiang Mai sticky waterfalls is that you can pretty much choose how wet you want to get! We had a backpack to carry up the whole way so couldn’t completely dunk ourselves in, but we did only wear our swimming costumes so we didn’t have to worry about being splashed!
Some people were walking up in swimwear like us and had plastic waterproof lanyards for their phones, and others were fully clothed, but just were barefoot. It’s completely up to you.
The picnic area and the small pools were all at the top on flat ground. There are some wheelchair paths so I would say that if you use one then you’ll be able to access these parts. You can swim in the top pool and relax enjoying the gorgeous views. Getting to the bottom of the actual waterfalls without walking down the stairs is impossible.
The Best Time To Visit The Sticky Waterfalls
In terms of seasons, you can visit the Chiang Mai sticky waterfalls at any time of year because they’re not dependent on rainfall to flow. It rained a little when we were there and for some reason, a lot of people waited for it to stop until they started climbing the waterfall. I have no idea why people wanted it to stop raining before they got into WATER but there you go!
Tour groups usually arrive between 11 and 12, so this is when the place will be at its busiest. To avoid crowds, it’s always best to visit in the early morning, but you knew that anyway!
The entrance opens at around 8 am so you could try to get there for then if you really don’t want to be around people. It closes at 5 pm so I wouldn’t recommend arriving any later than 3 if you don’t want to be rushed.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Chiang Mai Sticky Waterfalls
The campsite is very spacious. Camping gear can be rented at the entrance to the campsite. The smaller tents for 3 people costs 225 Baht/day, sleeping bags, matt and pillows costs additional 60 baht in total per person (2018 prices).
There are no restaurants in the campsite area, the nearest option is around the HQ and the Hmong market further west.
It is always cold at night in the park. During some winter days the temperatures may drop to as low as to freezing point. Campers are strongly recommended to have warmer clothes with them.
Accomodations around Doi Inthanon National Park
Can children visit the Chiang Mai sticky waterfalls?
Yes! It’s not difficult to climb the waterfalls, but they might need a bit of a leg up for some parts!
Can I bring my own picnic to the sticky waterfalls in Chiang Mai?
Yes definitely. There are lots of benches but you could buy food from the restaurant if you wanted.
Are there changing rooms at the Chiang Mai sticky waterfalls?
Yes, there are two changing room blocks with showers.
Are there restaurants at the Chiang Mai sticky waterfalls?
Yes, there is a restaurant and a coffee shop.
How far are the sticky waterfalls from Chiang Mai Old City?
It’s around 60km from the centre of the city.
Can you visit the Chiang Mai sticky waterfalls in the dry season?
Yes, you can visit all year round because the water is coming from a spring underground.
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