Mae Sai Waterfall Chiang Rai is a two-leveled waterfall that is a little bit off the regular two-day Chiang Rai tourist itinerary route. This waterfall is perfect for swimming, cooling off and even getting a sneaky cliff jump in.
Where is Mae Sai Waterfall
Mae Sai waterfall is located in Mae Yao, Chiang Rai. To get here by motorbike, it’s approximately 35 minutes from the city.
The waterfall itself is on a small trail leading from a large carpark that is very hard to miss.
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How to Get Here
As far as I know, there aren’t any regular tour buses or groups that visit this waterfall. This means, that if you want to see it, you’ll have to hire a motorbike and drive yourself.
Motorbike rental price in Chiang Rai: 150 -200 Baht per day.
If you stay at Grace Hostel, the owner can arrange a motorbike for you.
The drive to Mae Sai Waterfall is very scenic, passing several tea plantations, rice fields, and rolling hills on the way. The roads in and around Chiang Rai are also very good, which means you shouldn’t have much trouble finding it.
Once you arrive at the pin above, park your bike and follow the trail past the tourism shed for about 5 minutes until you reach the bottom level.
For the top level, you can divert back a few steps and take the first steep dirt trail leading up. After less than 5 minutes, you’ll reach the second level.
Mae Sai Waterfall Entrance Fee
The Mae Sai Waterfall is completely free! You don’t have to pay to visit this waterfall in Chiang Rai.
What to Expect at Mae Sai Waterfall Chiang Rai
The bottom level of Mae Sai Waterfall is a small little oasis in the jungle with a roughly 10-meter plunging waterfall that flows into a 2.5M+ deep, but narrow pool.
The waterfall pool is quite deep and easily enough to swim in.
The second waterfall level is a little larger. However, this level reveals more of a cascading waterfall, which flows down the jagged rocks into another pool for swimming.
Waterfall Cliff Jump
After testing out the water depth (always necessary), I decided it was deep enough to try a cliff jump on the bottom level waterfall.
The jump is only about 6 meters high, but a little challenging as you’ll need to land exactly in the middle of the pool where the water is deepest.
If you decide to jump at Mae Sai waterfall, make sure that you check out the conditions and depth. Also, you’ll want to avoid the shallow edges and aim to jump exactly in the center of the water hole.
Want to join in on a hill tribe trekking trip in Chiang Rai? Consider this 2 Day, 1 Night trek and jungle stay for under $90 with all meals included.
WHERE TO STAY IN CHIANG RAI
My Chiang Mai Accommodation: Grace Hostel
Grace Hostel was actually one of my favorite hostels in Northern Thailand. The free breakfast is great. Although it’s located a little outside of the town center, the friendly owner can drive you to the markets or bus station for free.
Highly Reviewed Guest House: SuanTung Guest House
This is one of the highest-rated budget guest houses in Chiang Rai. It’s super central, only a few minutes walk to the night market and the clocktower and the bus station.
Cheapest Dorm in Chiang Rai: Bar 184 Party Hostel
Bar 184 has dorm rooms for under $5 a night, which is the cheapest you’ll find in Chiang Rai. If you’re after a party vibe at a low price, this will be the place for you. These guys also arrange motorbikes if you want one to ride to Mae Sai waterfall.
I always compare accommodation across Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda. Between these three, you’ll always get the cheapest price and best deals. I find that for Thailand, Booking.com usually has the best deals.
Waterfall Day Trip From Chiang Rai
If you’re looking for a full-day Chiang Rai waterfall adventure, then you can follow the route we took. We started the day at Mae Sai waterfall, then cut back and drove to the second waterfall; Huay Kaew, followed by a stop at the nearby hot springs.
Mae Sai 
Main Level at Huay Kaew Waterfall
MORE CHIANG RAI TRAVEL GUIDES
Ken Albertsen
Monday 4th of July 2022
Hi Ollie, too bad we didn't meet earlier. I resided in Chiang Rai from 1998 thru to 2019. I put together Boomerang Rock Climbing and Adventure Park - which had a lot of fun activity for about 7 years until 2015. You sound like you're enjoying many of the same outdoor places that I indulged in. I like your site and how you showcase outdoor places for low-budget travelers to enjoy. chok dee, Ken