Not Shanghai – but Panghai. This area draws more and more attention with its lush and tranquil location by the Wang river, Doi Saket, one hour and thirty minutes North-East of Chiang Mai. The Wang River is 335 kilometres long and has its source in the Wiang Pa Sao district in Chiang Rai Province.
Development in Panghai
There is a clear development of tourism in the area, and it is worth exploring for a day or two. Recently I went with my kids for a night of glamping at Himdoi Panghai, ฮิมดอยโฮม ณ ปางไฮ. We had a lovely experience with Himdoi home in Mae Kampong. There is a kind of feeling of similarity between Mae Kampong and Panghai. You are close to scenic waterfalls, national parks and the Doi Saket hot springs.
Himdoi Glamping
The Himdoi Glamping experience is excellent because they have only four rooms, well there are three tents with other corrugated tin metal roofs and one more “normal” room called Cherry. It goes very much in “cherry red” and has a bathtub as well. The Cherry Room is located by the parking and a few steps only to walk down to the restaurant but still with Wang River views, while the three tents are located just by the river.
In my opinion, the cherry room is the only option if you travel with someone that struggles to walk, with stairs and so on.
This is, to be honest, not a suitable place for people with physical disabilities. There is a slippery staircase, and everyone has to be careful of the sharp edges of the tin roof.
However, it is a soothing spot. We stayed in a tent called Camelia. I had a small table to sit outside while watching the kids playing in the river. The water felt super clean; there was a good water flow since it was just by a small waterfall.
We had our private bathroom with a hot shower just outside the tent. A fantastic place to do nothing while admiring the Northern Thai forested landscape and listening to the sound of the river passing by. Bring some good mosquito repellent, though! Our mobile data did not work, we used Dtac, but the Himdoi Panghai had a decent wireless connection. The signal was a bit on and off but good enough for sure.
For dinner, we were suggested to eat at the Somsee Mae Somtum, just a five-minute walk up the road, a cosy family-owned restaurant, and we did go for the obligatory Muu Kata option. Hot Pot and BBQ. The same owner also has a small coffee shop next to the restaurant.
Breakfast was just like in Himdoi home Mae Kampong a classical Thai congee rice soup, you could also have some toasted bread, and they had a free flow 24h service with hot water and as much Ovaltine or Nescafe 3 in one as you would like.
Like in Himdoi Mae Kampong, you could get decent black coffee, drip coffee or Espresso. It is fantastic nowadays, wherever you go in Thailand, great coffee.
On our way back to Chiang Mai, we took a break after just 15 minutes drive from the Himdoi Glamping site. It was a coincidence that we found the great Take A Walk House and Coffee. Read more about that experience here.
Enjoy the slideshow below for some more pictures of Himdoi@Panghai.
Contact Himdoi Glamping:
Line: Himdoihome@Panghi
Adress on Google Maps here