Take a hike through the incredible grand canyon in Chiang Mai

Affectionately known as Chiang Mai’s ‘grand canyon’ (although quite a bit smaller), is Pha Chor Canyon. It’s located in Mae Wang National Park which is not too far out of town and it makes for a great day trip out of Chiang Mai! It’s a unique natural feature in the north and is one that is becoming more and more popular among visitors.

Check it out anytime as it’s open all year round!

Why you should visit Pha Chor Canyon in Chiang Mai

For years Pha Chor seemed to be a legend. You would hear about it, read about it, and yet finding it was impossible. It didn’t exist on any map! Finally, it made an appearance on Google Maps, in the wrong spot! Many people went in search never to find it.

In recent years the canyon underwent a makeover through the National Parks Department to become the wonderful natural attraction it is today. It is now clearly marked on maps and it’s finally pinned in the correct place.

After waiting for years to visit, I was not disappointed! Pha Chor Canyon truly is a wonder and it’s full of surprises. You’ll feel quite small as you stand beneath the canyon’s pillars that stand over 30 metres tall.

You can quite easily get here on your own with your own vehicle or you could hire a driver. Alternatively, you could take a tour. We recommend the Pha Chor National Park tour from TakeMeTour which offers the added bonus of bamboo rafting in a nearby river!

Here are some other tours you may like:

How was the Pha Chor Canyon in Chiang Mai formed?

Another great thing about Pha Chor Canyon is the informational signage. It is written in Thai and fairly decent English. According to the information provided at the canyon, the canyon itself was once the path of the Ping River which now sits 10 km further to the south east and runs through Chiang Mai. About 5 million years ago, a tectonic plate shift caused the land to rise pushing the river sediment up to form the canyon walls. This special soil has since been eroding and weathering away to form the beautiful formations that we see today.

What to expect on a day trip to Pha Chor Canyonn

Our trip to the ‘grand canyon’ was far more than I expected it to be. I thought you just parked your vehicle, walked straight into the canyon, and voila! Boy, I was not prepared. We didn’t have enough water (thankfully there was a shop to buy some), I was not wearing the right kind of shoes for this trek, and we didn’t have hats. It got hot fast! The smart thing we did so was arrive early in the morning before it gets exceptionally hot and crowded with people. This also meant we had perfect sunlight to take some pretty good photos!

How much does it cost?

The first surprise was pulling up to the Mae Wang National Park entrance and paying the fee. Dual pricing is in place here so no matter that you have a Thai driver’s licence, you are still going to be charged ‘farang price.’ I thought ‘farang price’ was going to break the bank and was pleasantly surprised it was only 100 baht for me and 50 baht for each child. My Thai friend paid only 20 baht and if she had had a child with her, they would have been only 10 baht. The car cost 30 baht to enter, while a motorbike would cost 20 baht.

Are there washrooms?

From there it was a short drive to the canyon. Simply follow the signs to ensure you make the right turns. There is a parking area that is directly in front of the washrooms. Make sure you and the kids visit the toilets here before you head into the canyon! There are no other toilets.

The viewpoint

Next, you should head up to the viewpoint or ‘Pha Chor Wonderland’ as they’ve called it. The view from here on a clear day is gorgeous and you can see treed hill tops for miles.

Heading down to the canyon

After you’ve enjoyed the view and stocked up on cold drinks, it’s time to head down the stairs and begin the descent into the canyon. It is quite a climb down, but this is just the warm up! Our toddler managed the stairs fine on his own but needed to be carried on the way back up and that was rough!

Walk along an old river bed

Once you reach the bottom of the stairs there is a nice surprise. You get to walk along the ancient river bed! It’s so cool! The path twists and turns and you walk over (or under if you want to) all these cute bridges.

Eventually the path narrows in places where only one person can fit through at a time. This happens a few times and helps you to appreciate the power of water and how it can carve such paths through rocks and soil.

Choosing a path

Soon the veers and you have a choice to head right or left. If you choose left, you will climb up to see the canyon from the top down and if you choose right, you enter the canyon. We chose to go right and then exited the canyon by climbing up to take the other way back.

The canyon

The canyon and its pillars do not disappoint. Even my 6 year old was saying ‘Wow’ and ‘Look at this!’ It is well worth the walk to get there. Within the canyon there are places to climb up and take photos or just to sit and enjoy it and take it all in.

Once you’ve had your moment, family photos and selfies, it’s time to head back and climb those stairs back up to the viewpoint and your vehicle!

How to get to Pha Chor Canyon?

Whether you are diving yourself or have hired a driver for the day, there are two possible routes to choose from. The first is to head south along the 121/3035 and turn right onto the 1013. From here it’s best to follow your GPS as you’ll be taking village roads and there are hardly any signs for the canyon along the way.

The second way is to head south along the 108 and then turn right onto Highway 2069 and follow it all the way to Mae Wang National Park entrance. There will be signs along the way on this route and they will either say Pha Chor Canyon or Mae Wang National Park.

Total driving time is realistically between 1.5 to 2 hours each way.

Things to bring with you to Pha Chor Canyon

While there is a small shop that sells drinks and snacks, you are going to want to make sure you have brought the following items with you:

Hats
Sunscreen
Extra water
Wear proper footwear
Cash (no ATM’s nearby)
Rain jackets (in rainy season)
A waterproof bag (in rainy season)

What else is there to do in Mae Wang?

Just down the road is a great place to go bamboo rafting! After you are all hot and sweaty from the hike through the canyon, all you’ll wish for is a chance to cool off and get wet.

The Wang River is waiting for you! Here you can try bamboo rafting and even have a chance to see and feed elephants all on a family budget. Check out bamboo rafting in Mae Wang.