Huay Tung Tao (also spelled Huai Tueng Thao or Huay Teung Tao) is a reservoir about 12 km north of Chiang Mai’s Old City, in Mae Rim district, with the forested hills of the Doi Suthep range behind it. It sits inside a military area and is run as a public recreation area, with a visitor office under the army’s 33rd Military Circle.
People come here for an unhurried afternoon: lunch in a bamboo hut built out over the water, a swim, a pedal boat, and a slow lap of the lakeside road. It’s simple and a bit rough around the edges, and that’s the appeal. On weekends it’s where a lot of Chiang Mai families go to cool off.
Opening hours, the entry fee and what’s running on the day change, and the sources don’t agree on the details. The waterfall trail behind the lake also closes after heavy rain. Check before you go.
What to do at Huay Tung Tao
Lunch in a bamboo hut over the water
Rows of bamboo huts (salas) stand half over the water along the shore. You rent one for the day, and family kitchens on the bank bring the food out to you. The same dishes come up again and again: grilled fish (often the salt-crusted pla pao), som tam, sticky rice and grilled chicken. The food huts take cash only.
On weekends, arrive before noon if you want a choice of huts and the full menu.
Swimming and pedal boats
Swimming is allowed in the marked zones. The water comes down from the hills and stays cool. There are no lifeguards, and the lake gets deep quickly once you’re past the shallows, so keep children within arm’s reach and don’t swim straight after a big lunch or a beer.
You can rent inner tubes, swan pedal boats, water bikes and kayaks along the shore. Some people also fish from the floating huts near the dam.
Walking and cycling the lakeside road
A paved road runs around the lake, about a 4 km loop by one local’s count, and it’s well surfaced for most of the way. It’s popular for an evening walk, a run or a slow bike ride. A local post from 2025 mentions bicycles for rent, so ask at the entrance.
Straw sculptures and the waterfall trail
The reservoir became known for giant straw sculptures, including a pair of King Kong figures about 4 and 6 metres tall. A local post from February 2025 still showed them, but straw doesn’t last forever, so don’t make them the only reason for the trip.
A forest trail from the western side of the lake climbs into Doi Suthep–Pui National Park towards a waterfall. One source puts it at about 6 km and 2 hours return. The park temporarily closed Huay Tung Tao Waterfall twice in 2026, on 21 August and again on 29 September, after heavy rain brought flash flood and landslide risk. Check that it has reopened before you set off.
Local listings also mention extras such as a zipline, ATVs, paintball and campsites. They’re run separately and come and go, so check what’s operating on the day.
How to get to Huay Tung Tao
There’s no direct public bus. By road, the usual route is up the canal road past the 700th Anniversary Stadium, then left at the signed junction about 2 km further on, across the canal bridge to the gate. In a navigation app, search for “Huay Tueng Tao Reservoir”. Allow extra time on weekends.
There’s an entry fee at the gate. Amounts change, so check on arrival.
Grab or Bolt. Easy for the way there. Because the reservoir is outside the city, check the app for nearby cars before you settle in for the afternoon.
Red truck (songthaew). Flag one down in the city and agree the fare before you get in. Agree a pickup time for the return too, or you may be looking for a ride from the lake.
Your own scooter or car. Straightforward: the canal road is flat and easy to follow, and you can leave whenever you like.
Car with driver. Hire a car with driver for a half day. The driver waits while you eat and swim, so wet towels and sleepy kids go straight back to the hotel. Arrange it in advance, and ask for child seats when you book if you need them.
When to go
Time of day. Weekday mornings, roughly 8 to 10 am, are the quietest and coolest. On weekends and Thai public holidays the shore fills up by mid-morning. Late afternoon brings the softest light over the water, but one source says the entry booth closes around 17:00, so don’t leave it too late.
Season.
- November to February: cool season. Some mornings have a thin mist over the water. Lovely for lunch, chilly for a swim early in the day.
- March and April: hot season, when a swim makes the most sense. It’s also burning season: smoke haze often hides the hills behind the lake, and the air can be poor. Check the air quality on the day.
- May to October: green season. The hills are at their greenest, but afternoon storms are common, and the park closes the waterfall after heavy rain.
Huay Tung Tao tips
- Bring swimwear, a towel, a change of clothes, a bag for wet things, sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent.
- Carry cash for the gate, the hut, food and rentals.
- With kids. There are shallow areas, but no lifeguards. Bring your own swim vests or armbands for small children and stay in the water with them.
- With older parents. The huts are the comfortable part: shade, a breeze and somewhere to sit for a few hours. Claim one early so nobody walks far in the midday heat.
- Take your rubbish with you if there’s no bin near your hut.
Combine it with nearby places
Huay Tung Tao sits below the same hills as Doi Suthep, so the two pair well: the temple in the cool of the morning, then a long lunch by the water.
Further north in Mae Rim, the Mae Sa valley has Mae Sa Waterfall (about 22 km from the reservoir, according to one local listing) and several elephant camps, including Mae Sa Elephant Camp. Mae Sa Waterfall was also closed for a time after a flash flood in August 2026, so check before you go.
FAQ
Can you swim at Huay Tung Tao? Yes, in the marked zones. There are no lifeguards and the water gets deep quickly, so keep children close.
Is there an entry fee? Yes, paid at the gate. Amounts change, so check on arrival.
How far is Huay Tung Tao from the Old City? About 12 to 15 km, or 20 to 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic and where you start.
When should we go? Weekday mornings are the quietest. On weekends, arrive before noon for a choice of huts.
Is the waterfall trail open? Not always. Doi Suthep–Pui National Park closed Huay Tung Tao Waterfall twice in 2026 after heavy rain. Check the park’s announcements before you go.
Questions before you go?
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Photos and video are for illustration and may not show Huay Tung Tao itself.
