Huay Tung Tao Lake: Chiang Mai’s Local Getaway
Huay Tung Tao Lake is a tranquil reservoir nestled at the foot of mountains where locals come to relax. Offering shade from the heat with cold beverages and refreshments in one of its small bamboo huts dotted along its shores, Huay Tung Tao Lake makes the ideal destination for locals seeking peace.
Along the shore there are various restaurants where you can sit down and get delicious and reasonably-priced Thai cuisine. While most staff don’t speak English, just point at what you want from their Thai-only menus!
Getting There
Huay Tung Tao Lake provides an ideal respite from Thailand’s popular beaches. Just 30 minutes from city center, this gorgeous lake attracts locals looking for relaxation or recreation; many enjoy swimming, sunbathing, sunbatheing and eating delicious Thai cuisine at one of 20 restaurants surrounding its perimeter – as well as spending their money at one of 20 nearby eateries dotted throughout. Since Huay Tung Tao Lake is also classified as a national park there is an entrance fee for foreign visitors of 50 THB while 20 THB applies when entering through its gates!
Huay Tung Tao can be reached easily with taxi or Grab (simply download the app before leaving home), though driving there yourself can also be straightforward: Simply exit from the Old City Square Moat via 107 Road north towards Mae Rim District; within several kilometers you should pass 700 Year Stadium before seeing blue signage for Huay Tung Tao Lake on your left and follow its indication to a security gate where entrance fees must be paid for entry.
Once inside, you’ll find plenty of parking and clean toilets to use, as well as access to a large section of lake where swimming is safe, beach volleyball courts are located, bamboo huts can be rented out for a nominal fee should you wish to enjoy some peace and relaxation for an afternoon; we have found these spots provide a wonderful place for taking in scenery while protecting you from sunrays!
Rent a paddleboat and explore the lake by yourself, play soccer or run along one of the paved pathways that encircle it – perfect for morning or afternoon workouts, picnicking with family and friends, and watching sunset!
Food
Huay Tung Tao Reservoir is an idyllic reservoir tucked among majestic mountains, ideal for swimming and relaxing on hot days. There are numerous restaurants lining its shores offering quick bites or offering all-day swimming, drinking beer and lounging in its cool waters.
Apart from restaurants, there are wooden huts dotted all along the lake where you can relax and pass away the time. Food here typically consists of inexpensive Thai fare like sticky rice, papaya salad, grilled pork or chicken and others; some huts sit atop stilts while others float on rafts in the water; menus are written both in English and Thai while staff doesn’t speak much English either – simply point and hold up fingers to order!
Vendors roam the lake selling snacks such as fresh cut fruit, boiled peanuts and spicy nuts, fried insects and ice cream for sale at low prices. Massage services may also be offered for an additional fee.
At the sand beach you can swim or rent a swan boat (own expense). Additionally there are vendors selling water toys like hippo and monkey water playthings to rent out to children; additionally it’s possible to rent kayaks or bicycles and explore the lake!
Car trips from the city center typically take 20 minutes to the lake, along a straight and easily navigable road. If you don’t own one yourself, sangthaews also pass nearby and are easily available for rental. Cyclists enjoy cycling all around this popular spot!
Are you looking for an adventure out in nature and away from the urban bustle? Consider joining our Mountain Bike & Cycling Tour, with hotel pickup and drop-off, plus lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Drinks
Huay Tung Tao is one of the go-to spots for locals to unwind and find refuge from city life, offering tranquil lake waters, stunning mountain vistas, delicious cuisine and excellent value. Furthermore, its affordable cost makes this destination great if you’re on a tight budget!
At this park located 12 kilometers outside Chiang Mai center are numerous stalls providing food and drinks at affordable prices, along with plenty of cheap beer Changs. In addition, you can rent an adorable swan pedal boat to cruise around its lake.
Though swimming is prohibited, you can still dip your feet in the warm water to relax and unwind. Some parts of the lake offer shallow areas perfect for children to splash around and the scenery is truly magnificent. Plus, foreign tourists rarely visit this gem of an oasis; no tour buses can be seen roaming its shores en masse here! A true escape from city life!
Huay Tung Tao Lake should be on any traveller’s itinerary while visiting Chiang Mai. Just a 20-minute drive from the city center, it has long been a favorite destination for local families dining out on weekends, with incredible food at unbeatable prices – plus, it makes an incredible backdrop for photos that will sure to amaze friends back home!
Accommodation
The reservoir offers visitors an idyllic setting to spend their day and is surrounded by mountains and greenery, offering visitors sandy beaches along its length as well as relaxing huts for guests to rest their weary bodies in. There is also plenty to do here including swimming, boating, fishing and more!
Huay Tung Tao Lake’s charm lies in its relative lack of international tourists; you’ll experience more local life here! Rent a pedal boat to explore its waters while admiring views of mountains beyond, purchase food and drinks, as well as taking great Instagram-worthy photos at cute straw hut stalls!
Visit the iconic family of King Kong statues here: Choke Larp stands 8M tall while Ram Page and Kwan each stand 4M and 6M respectively. Each figure boasts their own ladder for you to climb onto and capture some great photos.
Huay Tung Tao Lake provides many activities to do that make it an excellent way to relax and escape city life. Amidst lush mountain views, cheap Thai food and virtually no foreign tourist activity – making this lake an oasis for locals as well as visitors! Unfortunately there is an entrance fee required; once inside there are numerous breathtaking restaurants offering amazing scenic dining!