MonSamKien Homestay — a treehouse farmstay in a teak forest where you wake up to the mist in Phayao
Picture waking up early, opening the door of your wooden cabin, and finding a thin veil of mist drifting above a grove of teak trees, horses in a paddock not far off, and hot coffee waiting at a little cafe on the farm — MonSamKien Homestay, which locals in Phayao call Mon Sam Kien Farmstay, is a treehouse-style stay scattered through a teak forest in Mae Ka, Muang Phayao district, near the University of Phayao · this isn't a hotel in town, it's a horse farm and lodging where guests consistently agree the cabins are beautifully designed, the decks jut out over the forest, the atmosphere is quiet, and the owner genuinely cares · there's horseback riding, kayaking, and make-your-own pizza, with breakfast included in the rate · the trade-off is that it's out of town and you need your own car · rooms start at about THB 1,290/night, with a score around 8.8 from reviews on Trip.com.
Who MonSamKien Homestay is for, in a nutshell — if you want the shortest summary, Mon Sam Kien Farmstay is a stay for people who want to "really live with nature" in Phayao, rather than just find a hotel to sleep in · this isn't a downtown hotel where you walk out to a coffee shop by Kwan Phayao lake, and it isn't a waterfront stay selling lake views directly · it's a horse farm and a treehouse-style lodging scattered through a teak forest in Mae Ka, Muang Phayao district, in the Ban Mae Ka Hua Thung area, near the University of Phayao · the concept here is "Don't Go There. Live There." which captures the place well, because it's designed so you spend time settling in — riding horses, paddling, sipping coffee at the forest's edge — rather than rushing off somewhere · from the real reviews, the people who fit best are couples wanting to escape the city, families with kids who want them close to animals and nature, groups of friends on a road trip, and parents dropping off or picking up children or with business at the University of Phayao who want to stay somewhere with a nice atmosphere · on the flip side, anyone who wants a downtown stay within walking distance of food, or who doesn't have their own car, may find this place inconvenient · the overall score on Trip.com sits around 8.8 out of 10, with cleanliness, facilities, location, and service all rating close to one another, which is good for a small farmstay.
Location and getting there — this is something to be straight about before you decide · MonSamKien Homestay is located at 332/3 Moo 2, Ban Mae Ka Hua Thung, Mae Ka, Muang Phayao district, a suburban area on the southern edge of Phayao, next to the grounds of the University of Phayao · the location's big plus is that it's very close to the University of Phayao — about a 6 min drive from the university's main gate, which makes it handy for parents dropping off or visiting students, or anyone with a seminar at the university · nearby spots within a few kilometers include Wat Mae Ka Huai Kiang, Wat Phra Non, and the Mae Ka community market · downtown Phayao and Kwan Phayao lake, the province's highlight, are farther out and require a drive of about 15–25 min depending on your destination and traffic · the key point to stress is that you need your own car or motorcycle here, because the property sits deep inside the teak-forest area with no convenient public transport access · several real reviews agree on the same advice: turn on Google Maps navigation from the moment you set off, because the lane and farm entrance can be hard to find the first time, especially if you arrive after dark · the upside that comes with this kind of location is the quiet and clean air you won't get in town.
"Woke up early, opened the door, and there was mist drifting over the teak forest with horses in a paddock not far off · sat sipping coffee on the deck that juts into the forest all morning · so quiet and peaceful it felt like I'd slipped right out of the city."
Room types and decor — MonSamKien Homestay has only a handful of cabins, around 5–7, each designed as a contemporary wooden cabin scattered through the teak forest rather than built in a row like an ordinary hotel, so privacy is high · what guests mention most is the beautiful, thoughtful cabin design, with a deck or terrace jutting out toward the forest, perfect for sipping morning coffee and watching the teak trees · some cabins are designed with an open-air outer section that catches the natural breeze and an air-conditioned inner section for sleeping, giving you both the outdoor atmosphere and comfort at the same time · each cabin has all the basics covered — air conditioning, a fridge or minibar, and a private bathroom with a shower · cabin types range from a budget double room, to a garden-view room, to a room for four, up to a two-bedroom house for families or groups of friends · reviews on TripAdvisor agree that the owner designed and built each cabin very well, with spacious rooms and quality furniture · one small note real reviews flag is that the power outlets in some cabins are two-pin, so if you bring gear that needs a three-pin plug, pack an adapter just in case · another is that the cabins are in the middle of the forest, so be prepared for some natural insects, which is normal for this kind of stay.
Facilities and farm activities — the real charm of MonSamKien Homestay isn't a swimming pool or gym like a big hotel, because it doesn't have those · it's the farm activities you won't find at a hotel in town · the number-one highlight is horseback riding, because this is a real horse farm with both general riding and half-day or full-day farm-tour packages · there's also kayaking on the pond, climbing activities, and a tipi or tent rest corner for anyone who wants a camp feel · another activity reviews mention often, and one that's fun for kids, is make-your-own pizza on the farm · for basic facilities, there's free Wi-Fi in the common areas, free private parking, a garden, a bar, a barbecue spot, a picnic area, laundry service, and luggage storage · the property is also pet-friendly, accepting both dogs and cats at no extra charge · one note real reviews flag is that the farm has several of its own dogs (around four), so people who are afraid of dogs or bringing small children should be careful and keep a close eye, even though the dogs are used to people.
Food and cafe — Mon Sam Kien has a small on-site cafe called MR.Handsome serving coffee and drinks, ideal for sitting with a cup in the morning or afternoon amid the teak-forest setting · breakfast is included in the room rate, and real reviews say it's a simple breakfast such as rice porridge or a sandwich with tea or coffee — not a big buffet, but it fits the farmstay style · some suite packages also include drinks, homemade pizza, and the horseback-riding fee, which is good value for anyone who wants to try all the activities in one place · the thing to plan ahead for is that there's no full dinner service here — real reviews suggest ordering from outside restaurants or bringing food in the car, because the area around the property doesn't have as many restaurants as in town · for anyone who wants to head out for food, the Mae Ka area near the University of Phayao has a decent choice of restaurants and student eateries a short drive away · overall, the food here is a well-done add-on at a small scale rather than a reason to eat every meal on site, but the forest-side coffee atmosphere and the cook-it-yourself activities create more lasting memories.
Service and the owner — the heart of a farmstay is the owner, and MonSamKien Homestay earns praise here · reviews on TripAdvisor note that the owner is friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful (wonderful, knowledgeable and helpful) · many guests are impressed that the owner designed and built each cabin personally, so they can tell the story of the property and the farm in detail · the owner and team communicate in several languages — Thai, English, and French — which helps foreign travelers feel at ease · because it's a small property the owner runs personally, the service leans warm and friendly rather than formal like a chain hotel · the reception desk is staffed 24 hours · to be fair, since it's a small farmstay, some services aren't as buttoned-up as at a big hotel, and at times the owner may be busy tending the farm or activities, so contacting them ahead of arrival helps everything go more smoothly.
What real reviews say (the good and the not-so-good) — pulling from Trip.com, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and Thai-language reviews on Pantip, the picture is fairly consistent · on the praise side: the cabins are beautifully designed and well built, the decks jutting into the forest are what everyone falls for, the atmosphere is quiet and close to nature, you can wake up early to mist over the teak forest, the horseback riding and pizza-making are fun especially for kids, the owner is friendly and knowledgeable, and the on-site cafe earns praise for its food and coffee · on the caveats side: the thing mentioned most is the out-of-town location and the need for your own car, with the farm entrance hard to find the first time without GPS · next is that the property has several of its own dogs, so anyone afraid of dogs should be prepared · other small things reviews flag are that some power outlets are two-pin so pack an adapter, there's no full dinner service so you'll need to plan dinner yourself, and being in the middle of the forest means some natural insects · most of these gripes are about setting your expectations to match a "farmstay in the middle of nature" rather than problems that put people off coming back.
"The cabin was gorgeous, you can sit on the deck watching the forest all day, and the kids loved the horseback riding and making their own pizza · the only downsides were that the entrance was a bit hard to find at first and there are several dogs, but once you get used to it it's fine — we'll be back next time."
Price and value comparison — the starting price for a budget cabin is about THB 1,290/night in normal periods, and it can climb to around THB 5,490 for a two-bedroom house or a package with full activities · there's a suite at around THB 2,490 that real reviews say includes breakfast, drinks, homemade pizza, and the horseback-riding fee, which is good value if you look at it as getting the full experience in one place · compared with downtown Phayao stays like Hop Inn or M2 Hotel, which are cheaper but are standard hotel rooms, MonSamKien is selling something different — you're not paying for a downtown location, you're paying for the farmstay experience, the treehouse cabins, and activities that are hard to find elsewhere · if you're here to relax with nature, ride horses, and settle in, the money buys a full experience · but if you just want a cheap bed so you can spend the whole day out in town, an in-town stay may be better value in terms of price and convenience · prices depend on the season and the package, so compare across platforms and ask what activities the rate includes before booking.
What to know before booking — a few things help the trip go more smoothly · one, you need your own car and should turn on Google Maps navigation from the moment you set off, because the property is deep in the teak-forest area and the entrance is hard to find the first time, especially after dark · two, ask clearly what the room package includes — some rooms include breakfast, drinks, pizza, and horseback riding, some don't; asking ahead helps you get value and avoid confusion at check-in · three, plan dinner ahead, because there's no full dinner service here, so order from outside restaurants or bring food in the car · four, if you're afraid of dogs, be prepared that the farm has several dogs, and pack a three-pin plug adapter just in case since some outlets are two-pin · five, check-in is in the afternoon (from about 2:30 PM) and check-out is before noon (around 11:30 AM), so plan your travel time to arrive before dark for easier wayfinding and to soak up the atmosphere · six, this is a small property with only a few cabins, and it fills up fast on long weekends, so book ahead.
The verdict — from all the real reviews, MonSamKien Homestay, or Mon Sam Kien Farmstay, is best suited to people who drive their own car and want a treehouse farmstay experience in a teak forest, with horseback riding and a quiet atmosphere close to nature in Phayao · the beautifully designed cabins, the decks jutting into the forest, waking up to mist over the teak trees, and the friendly, knowledgeable owner are what make many guests say they want to come back · if you're looking for a downtown stay within walking distance of Kwan Phayao lake, don't have your own car, or want systematic big-hotel service with a pool, this may not be the answer, and you should consider Hop Inn, M2 Hotel, or a lakeside stay in town instead · but for a trip where you really want to live the "Live There" concept — settling in with nature, riding horses, sipping coffee at the forest's edge, and letting the kids get close to animals — MonSamKien Homestay does it well in a way a hotel in town can't.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beautifully designed wooden cabins with decks over the teak forest
- ✓ Quiet atmosphere, mist to wake up to in the morning
- ✓ Full farm activities — horseback riding, kayaking, make-your-own pizza
- ✓ Friendly, knowledgeable owner who speaks several languages
- ! Out of town, you need your own car, the entrance is hard to find the first time
- ! Several of the property's own dogs, so be prepared if you're afraid of dogs
- ! No full dinner service, so you'll need to plan dinner yourself
- ✓ A treehouse farmstay experience that's hard to find elsewhere
- ✓ Spacious rooms, quality furniture, and plenty of privacy
- ✓ On-site MR.Handsome cafe praised for its coffee and food
- ✓ Pet-friendly, accepting dogs and cats for free
- ! Some power outlets are two-pin, so pack an adapter
- ! Set in the middle of the forest, so some natural insects
- ! Only a few cabins, fills up fast on long weekends
- 💡If you don't have your own car — this place is deep in the teak forest of Mae Ka with no public transport access and nowhere to walk to → try Hop Inn Phayao or M2 Hotel in town, where you can walk to food instead.
- 💡If you want a stay right on Kwan Phayao lake or in the city center — this place is on the southern edge of town near the University of Phayao, a 15–25 min drive into the city → try M2 Hotel Waterside or Naga Tara by the lake instead.
- 💡If you're afraid of dogs or want big-hotel service — this is a farm with several dogs, no swimming pool, and no systematic chain-style service → set your expectations to a "farmstay in the middle of nature" and be prepared for the pets on the grounds.