🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you ask which of Lampang's nature spots keeps people coming back, Chae Son is the first answer locals give. The draw is the hot mineral water that rises from underground year-round, hot enough to actually cook an egg, and just a few steps away there's a cool waterfall to splash in. That hot-and-cold contrast in one place is rare. We've broken it down piece by piece: the egg-boiling spring, the mineral baths, the waterfall, entry fees, getting there, and where to stay.
The Hot Spring Field — Boiling Onsen Eggs, Lampang Style
The heart of Chae Son is the open-air hot spring field. The mineral water bubbling up from underground averages around 73°C (some spots top 80°C), hot enough to send streams of steam drifting up in the morning. That image is exactly what makes Chae Son one of Lampang's signature photo stops.
The thing everyone has to try is boiling eggs in the hot spring. Shops inside the park sell chicken eggs and quail eggs in little bamboo baskets. You lower the basket into the pool and wait. Chicken eggs take about 17 minutes for a creamy, onsen-style yolk, while quail eggs are quicker and done in just a few minutes. Eat them hot at the edge of the pool, dipped in soy sauce or chili-salt.
Egg-boiling tip
For a runny, Japanese onsen-style yolk, try pulling the basket out at the 13–14 minute mark while the white is still soft. If you like them fully set, leave them the full 17 minutes. Just remember to note the time when you lower them in, because it's easy to get caught up chatting and lose track.
Want more out of Lampang? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Mineral Baths — Private Rooms, Shared Pools and an Open-Air Pool
The park pipes in the hot mineral water and blends it to a comfortable soaking temperature of around 39–42°C, then offers three styles of bath to suit how you like it.
- Private bath rooms — there are dozens of them (around 41 rooms), each a tub in an enclosed room, good for couples or families. Roughly 50 THB per adult, 20 THB per child.
- Shared soaking pools — open-air pools for soaking your feet or your whole body, cheaper at around 20 THB per adult, 10 THB per child.
- Open-air mineral pool — a wide pool set in the forest-and-hills surroundings, good for a relaxed soak with a view.
- Free foot-soak spot — channels along the mineral stream where you can sit and dip your feet for free. Kids love it.
The mineral water here is known for minerals that help relax tired muscles, and plenty of people say they sleep soundly all night after a soak. Bring a change of clothes and your own towel, and don't soak too long in one go. Stepping out to rest and drink water between soaks is better for you.
The best time to soak
The cool season (November–February) is Chae Son's golden window. With the air at 15–20°C, sinking into the warm mineral water amid the morning mist is the moment that makes the drive worth it.
Chae Son Waterfall — 6 Tiers, Clear and Cool Year-Round
A short walk through the forest from the hot spring field brings you to Chae Son Waterfall, a limestone fall with 6 tiers of clear, cool water flowing all year. Each tier has pools you can swim in. The lower tiers are easy to reach and busier, while the upper tiers take a bit more uphill walking but are quieter and prettier.
What makes this spot special is that a hot stream and a cold stream meet near the waterfall, so some pools are pleasantly warm and comfortable to sit in even in the cool season. It's a favorite spot for kids and families to wade in and play.
- Non-slip shoes — the rocks by the waterfall are slippery, so heel-strap sandals or water shoes are safer.
- Strong flow in the rainy season — June–September brings high, fast-flowing water. It's beautiful but needs caution, so don't go in where staff have marked it off-limits.
- Nature trail — a short forest path links the hot spring and the waterfall, shaded and easy to walk.
Entry Fees, Opening Hours and Getting There
The park is open daily, roughly 08:00–17:00, with mineral baths and egg boiling available during those hours. Arrive before early afternoon so you have time for both the hot spring and the waterfall.
- Park entry (Thai nationals) — around 50 THB per adult, 20 THB per child.
- Park entry (foreigners) — around 200 THB per adult, 100 THB per child.
- Vehicle fee — around 30 THB per car, 20 THB per motorbike.
- Mineral bath fee — charged separately by the type you choose (private/shared), as noted above.
- Boiling eggs — bought by the basket from shops in the park, at modest prices.
Getting from Lampang town to Chae Son is about 75 kilometers and takes roughly 1.5 hours by car. You take Highway 1035 (Lampang–Wang Nuea) through Chae Hom district, then turn onto Highway 1287 and continue on 1252. Signs are clear the whole way. The road winds uphill toward the end, so drive carefully, especially in the rainy season.
No car of your own
There's no public transport straight to Chae Son. The easiest option is to rent a car from Lampang town, or charter a van or songthaew for a round trip as a group, which is more cost-effective and flexible with timing.
Where to Stay Inside and Around Chae Son
If you want to wake up to the morning mist and soak in the mineral baths early before the crowds arrive, staying overnight in the park is a good choice.
Park bungalows (book via DNP)
National park bungalows in the headquarters area, in several sizes, starting from a few hundred to just over a thousand THB per unit. Book ahead at nps.dnp.go.th (search for Chae Son National Park). They fill up fast on long weekends.
Chae Son campground
A camping zone inside the park with tents for rent and space to pitch your own. Fees are low, and you can walk over to boil eggs first thing in the morning. Great for nature lovers on a budget.
Mueang Pan resorts and homestays
Around Mueang Pan district there are small resorts and homestays with mountain views, many bookable through Agoda/Trip.com. Good if you want more comfort than the park bungalows.
If you'd rather stay in Lampang town and drive out for the day, that works easily too. The town has hotels across a range of budgets and is convenient for restaurants. See your in-town stay options in the link below.
Find a place to stay in Lampang before heading out to Chae Son
See the Top 10 hotels in Lampang →What to Pack Before Visiting Chae Son
- Change of clothes + towel — you'll need them for both the mineral baths and the waterfall. The park has changing rooms.
- Warm layer — the cool season gets cold, especially in the morning and if you stay overnight.
- Cash — entry, baths, eggs and the park shops mostly take cash.
- Snacks — there are restaurants in the park but not many options, so bringing water and snacks is reassuring.
- Trash bag — carry your trash out to help keep the mineral stream clean for the next generation.
Make the most of a single day
A sensible order is to boil eggs at the hot spring field in the morning, follow it with a relaxing mineral soak, then head to the waterfall in the late morning to midday when the sun is warm. Cap it off before you leave with another free foot-soak by the stream.