Easily the coolest day trip you could take.
We love love Chiang Mai, Thailand. It's our favorite place for souvenir shopping, the number one place for all things elephants, and handful of temples that are too pretty not to post on Instagram. But get outside of the city? You'll find adventures like the Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall.
Thailand's the adventure you're looking for
All about volunteering in Thailand for a semester.
If you've ever visited a waterfall before, you know they are notorious for being slippery. There is no way you could ever climb up them, right? Well, the Bua Tong Sticky Waterfalls in Thailand are changing the game. The rock enables you to climb directly up the waterfall without slipping. We're in.
Some Info About The Falls
The secret to being able to climb up the falls is the rock. The limestone rock is made up of a mineral deposit that is really grippy and never forms slime or algae. The rocks feels like a hardened sponge. It's a little prickly and hard to the touch, but does give in under pressure.
Do I Need Any Equipment To Climb?
This is the best part! You can climb the waterfalls without a single piece of equipment. You really don't even need shoes (although they are recommended just for the comfort of your feet). No ropes, carabiners or anything required. The rocks are "sticky" enough to scale with just your hands and feet.
This will be a full day trip, so you will need to be prepared to be outside all day. Here are somethings I recommend bringing:
- Food for the day*
- Plenty of water
- Waterproof camera (or a dry bag for your camera)
- Swimsuit
- Towel
- Dry clothes to change into
- Water shoes
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Toilet paper (there are restrooms there, but no toilet paper)
*If you want a hot lunch, there is a market about 5 minutes before you enter the park you can stop at. They make traditional Thai lunches you can grab along with some snacks and drinks if you didn't pack any beforehand.
Getting To The Waterfall
It's easiest if you're doing a day trip from Chiang Mai, a city in the northern part of Thailand. We recommend coming here anyways because there's so much to do in and around Chiang Mai (like zip lining, hanging out with elephants, too many temples, and more).
Fom Chiang Mai
From Chiang Mai there are a couple options. You can haul a songthaew (songthaews - essentially a thai taxi truck - hold up to 8 people and are cheap...great option for an ILP group) or book a tour.
Booking a tour is the easiest way to get out there, but also the most expensive. Some tours will run up towards $130, but you will also get to do more! It all depends on the tour you book, but some will take you to the market (mentioned above) before going into the park. They will also take you to the waterfalls and then to a zip line. Do your research and find the tour that offers exactly what you want. There are a lot out there.
The Sticky Waterfalls are surprising not popular with tourists, so you'll probably be surrounded by a few locals instead of swarms of foreigners. It's a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city!
Have Thailand on your mind?
I don't blame you — luckily there are some major perks depending on your situation. You can getting paid to teach in Thailand if you have a Bachelor's degree and a couple of other requirements.Or you can volunteer here with no experience, just click the button below:
