Mae Ai: Temples, Tai Lue Traditions and the Kok River

Mae Ai in Chiang Mai Province combines temples and cultural traditions with activities on the Kok River and mountainous scenery. When choosing a hotel, you can first consider whether you would most like to experience religious sites, a festival, community cultural activities or nature. Annual celebrations take place in different months, and some follow the lunar calendar; this can help you plan when to travel.

Temples and religious sites

Wat Mae Sao is on the Mae Ai–Mae Chan road, in Mae Sao Subdistrict, Mae Ai District. Two large yak figures guard its striking entrance gate. The complex includes the Sirichai Mongkol Ditsayawarachoti Chedi, built on October 28, 2011. Beneath the chedi is a hall containing Phra Sing, Phra Chao Fang and several old Buddha statues.

Wat Thaton also offers a distinctive architectural landmark: the Kaew Pagoda is on the temple’s eighth level. The Poi Buad Luk Kaew novice ordination is held every year in April or May at Wat Thaton Phra Aram Luang. Those who want to explore religious sites alongside festival traditions can experience different aspects of local cultural life.

Festivals throughout the year

In January, the Lahu villages of Thaton Subdistrict celebrate Kin Wo New Year. The celebration lasts seven days and includes the distinctive Ja Kue dance. February features two more traditions: the wrist-tying ceremony is held every year in Ban Muang Ngam, while Yok Yong Kru Mor Tai is observed annually at Wat Mai Mok Jam.

The novice ordination at Wat Thaton Phra Aram Luang takes place in April or May. By contrast, the Songkran festival in Thaton is held every year from April 13 to 15 on the sandy banks of the Kok River near Ban Thaton. The program includes parades, folk arts, competitions and water games. Loi Krathong is celebrated every year on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, around November, at the Ban Thaton pier on the Kok River. It features folk art performances, lantern activities, competitions and fireworks.

Another Tai Yai tradition is Loi Phra Upakut, held every year on the full moon day of the tenth lunar month in Mae Ai District. Phra Upakut figures are carried from Wat Mae Ai Luang to the Kok River and immersed in the water at Ban Thaton. The dates therefore vary: some celebrations are tied to fixed months, while others follow lunar days. If you want to plan your trip around a particular festival, check its date before booking.

Community activities and experiences on the Kok

The Wang Phai Tai Lue Cultural Tourism Group shares the community’s culture through tourism activities and Tai Lue homestay accommodation in Ban Wang Phai, Thaton Subdistrict. The two-day Wang Phai Tai Lue program includes a bamboo raft ride on the Kok River, a forest activity to collect Bukk, and learning to prepare Tai Lue cuisine. It also includes a visit to Phra That Sop Ngam and views of two provinces.

A boat route from Ban Thaton passes Wat Phra That Sop Fang and mountain villages. Visitors can learn about the way of life of various hill tribes, including the Tai Lue and Lahu. At Doi Lang, visitor activities include learning how to make Miang, process Assam tea, grow grapes and oranges, and make brooms.

At the Roi Jai Rak project near the Ban Muang Ngam junction in Thaton Subdistrict, visitors will find demonstration rice fields, seasonal flower fields and photo spots. There is also a hill tribe community market selling food, drinks, agricultural produce and community products from different ethnic groups.

Mountain scenery and waterside relaxation

Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park extends partly into Mae Ai District. Its landscape includes rugged mountain terrain in the Daen Lao Range and rich forests with diverse plant life, wildlife and forest products. Doi Lang is part of Mae Ai District and lies within the national park. The mountain range reaches about 1,200 meters above sea level, borders Myanmar in places, and is crossed by the Lang River, which flows from Myanmar and contributes to the ecosystem’s moisture.

Huai Pu Reservoir in Moo 1, Ban Huai Pu, Thaton Subdistrict, Mae Ai District, is a shady place to relax amid beautiful natural surroundings; restaurants are located by the water. Mae Ai offers a range of options: temples and festivals, community cultural activities, a river route or a stay in a mountain setting. Discover more destinations: San Pa Tong District, San Kamphaeng, Hot District, Mae Taeng District.

See the broader travel guide: Chiang Mai.