Buatong Waterfall

Chiang Mai's free, climbable wild waterfall — I didn't want to leave. On the way there I suddenly remembered I'd forgotten my non-slip shoes. This tough girl ended up doing the whole thing in jelly sandals plus barefoot. When I got tired of climbing I'd just flop down somewhere and listen to the water running past, like having a conversation with nature. Location: Bua Tong Waterfall (also called the Sticky Waterfall) Transport: 1hr private car straight from Chiang Mai city Tips: Must bring non-slip shoes, a waterproof phone pouch, spare clothes to change into The green mossy areas are extremely slippery, never step on them Free entry! Go in the morning, fewer people and less sun! Hold onto the rope tight when climbing, safety first After this trip, my friends and I all agreed this is one of the must-visit spots in Chiang Mai. Location: Bua Tong Waterfall, free entry Private car / tour The annoying part about getting to the Sticky Waterfall is the transport — it's pretty far from the old city, about 1 hour by car. We didn't want to randomly carpool with strangers, so we ended up booking a day tour: Blue Temple plus Sticky Waterfall, around 80 RMB. Everyone in our car was Chinese, driver was a local Thai guy, car was nicer than I expected, actually pretty comfortable. Further along the drive turns into Chiang Mai countryside scenery. Picking your day-tour stops There are different combos to choose from, worth searching around for what suits you — Blue Temple, elephant cafe, Sticky Waterfall, elephant poop coffee, Angel Waterfall, that sort of thing. Two stops in half a day is about right, any more and you'll be exhausted. Having fun is the priority. We did the Lanna Artisans Art Gallery (blacksmithing) in the morning, then took it easy in the afternoon with Blue Temple and the Sticky Waterfall. That day was honestly the happiest day of the whole trip. If you're going to the Blue Temple, remember to wear long pants. Tips for the climb Bring a backpack so your hands are free, makes climbing way easier and way more immersive. My waterproof pouch never even got used, I climbed the entire thing barefoot. That's just my experience, I'm used to going barefoot, plenty of people wear water shoes too. Also, test each step before you commit, some spots are slippery, safety matters. You can wear less, pretty much everything gets soaked anyway. By the end we were just sitting in the water playing, dead weight, giving up, laughing the whole time. There's a big lawn next to the waterfall, bring a picnic mat if you're into that. Our first lap we started climbing from the second section. I'm scared of heights but found this one fine, not too scary, a bit thrilling and satisfying. After reaching the top the first time, we got into it and went back to climb from the very first section again. Worth noting: right at the entrance of section one the water depth is about 70cm, going off memory. I didn't see the sign at first and when I stepped in my heart skipped a beat. Even though the surroundings feel pretty wild and natural, the facilities are actually quite complete — toilets, lockers, a restaurant and a car park are all there. Timing: walk down the corridor first, about 10 minutes. First lap we were climbing and taking photos the whole way, still finished in under 40 minutes. Second lap we left our phones behind and just played, felt like it was over in just over 10 minutes, super smooth. Important: they stop letting people in at 4:30pm. Route: Sticky Waterfall has four sections total, with at least three fork points. I genuinely recommend doing it twice, because the slope and water flow are completely different each way. For your first lap at the entrance, go left, it's the closer one, because the right side hits strong water right from the start. If you're holding your phone in your hand for the final climb to the top, go right instead, because the left path has faster, bigger water and a steeper slope, your phone will absolutely get soaked. Watch out for the dark-coloured rocks. The dark ones are really slippery, I fell the first time I stepped on one, luckily it was flat ground. The blue-white coloured ones are the non-slip ones. Toilets: there are two changing spots. The first one you reach, with a big mirror out front, has toilets and changing stalls but no shower. Walk further in and you'll find a spot where you can actually rinse off. What to wear: girls, seriously, wear a swimsuit. There are quite a few small pool-like spots you can get into and play in the water, and you can also just flop down on a rock anywhere, very chill. The water depth at the waterfall entrance can go over your knees, the climb feels like one of those boys-vs-girls running-forward games, you will get wet no matter what. If you're not wearing a swimsuit, shorts and a short-sleeve top are your best bet. I wore long sleeves and once it got wet it stuck to me, so uncomfortable. Having a pocket for your phone is ideal. You don't need to bring sandals or anything, everyone climbs barefoot, but do bring a separate set of clean clothes to change into afterward. Food and bag storage: there are two restaurants at the entrance, both with drinks and food, we went to the one on the right. There was a male staff member who seemed Chinese, takes Alipay. The food prices at attractions here genuinely don't get marked up, so nice. Next to the changing area there's also a spot with bananas and water, and you can store your bags there, though I'm not sure if there's a fee. Phones: really recommend bringing a phone lanyard, ideally the kind that hangs around your neck, and a waterproof pouch if you have one. The final two sections to the top are steep, you have to pull yourself up the rope, and there's water rushing down hard — holding a phone through that is genuinely a pain.