Bua Tong Waterfall in Chiang Mai is sticky

Bua Tong Waterfall Chiang Mai
Bua Tong waterfall

Bua Tong waterfall in Chiang Mai,  is popularly known as the sticky waterfall.

If you only have time for one waterfall in Chiang Mai, make Bua Tong waterfall your pitstop!

If you want shopping, go Bangkok.
If you want nature and adventure, go Chiang Mai YES!

Continuing our #skbChiangMai escapade, this waterfall is one of our highlights, refer Day 3 “North” in our Chiang Mai itinerary.

Picnic looks inviting 🙂

We have seen folks abseiling waterfall, but climbing up?
Imagine our surprise when we tested our feet on the “lime stone”, it is not slippery, it felt super surreal

Amazing, we can walk up a waterfall!

IS Bua Tong safe for children
Sticky Waterfall

Most waterfalls are slippery, not Bua Tong Waterfall. It look daunting, but after a few climbs, it gets easier!

Definitely doable even for 4 or 5 years old, kids are far more agile and fit than we parents would give credit for.

 

Video (YouTube Link) : Check out the fun, we got dogs to lead the way too!

After a few test trials, kids got comfortable and wanted to explore on their own. But I reminded them to pair up and look out for each other.

Word of caution, this is still a waterfall and parents should exercise caution. Keep the kids in sight, do not wander off the edge. We would recommend a parent to accompany a smaller child.

Although the surface is non-slippery, accidental slip or pushing can still lead to serious injury.

If Bua Tong is crowded, do not try to rush up the slope, if someone on top slipped, he might pull everyone down like a domino.

Just be careful and look out for each other. Do watch out for green moldy patches (and leaves) on the ground as it might be slippery.
Sticky Waterfall

My kids became good friends with the local “guides”, there were at least 4 or 5 of them, all friendly! (checkout Video above on how they climbed the waterfall with us)

After the third “hike”, you will start to feel soreness in your under-utilised core and muscles haha. When we are having FUN, and with the constant showering, we tend to forget about tiredness 🙂

 

There are three segments to Bua Tong waterfall, top, middle and bottom.
For most folks ( ie you and me), the top segment (slope of up to 45 degrees) would be more than enough.

A climb up would take you between 3 to 5 minutes. Sometimes, we need to go on all fours to maintain our balance and grip.

The slopes for the middle and bottom segment are much steeper (up to 75 degrees!) And you would definitely need the ropes to pull yourself up.

Bua Tong waterfall photos

Some visitors were swimming in the bottom ponds, it looked Fun but I had to skip as I needed to look after the kids.

Not sure why a waterfall lime stone (deposits) surface can be non-slippery, but we know Bua Tong waterfall scores 4.5/5 for sheer Fun Factor, and it is FOC!

Map of Chiang Mai North Area, relative distance  from Chiang Mai city (Train Station) 1. Bua Tong Waterfall, 2. Siam Insect Zoo and 3. Doi Suthep (Temple)

Chiang Mai Map

We spent almost two hours at Bua Tong waterfall.

More photos from Day 3 is on our Facebook, refer links below.
Tips to enjoy sticky Waterfall:

– You need at least 1 hour to fully enjoy the “climbing” experience. If you have more time to relax,  spend 20 minutes at the 7-colour pond, and another  20 minute for picnic after exercise

– Go early to avoid crowd, you will have the waterfall to yourselves

– Bua Tong waterfall GPS – 19.070030, 99.080118
(about 60km North of Chiang Mai Railway station)

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If you are looking for shopping centres in Chiang Mai, you would be disappointed. All our 5D4N Chiang Mai Family Itinerary photos have been uploaded :

– 5D4N Chiang Mai Family Itinerary
– Day 1 photos — Airbnb stayGrand Canyon Waterpark
– Day 2 photos – Doi Inthanon
– Day 3 photos – Buatong waterfallSiam Insect ZooDoi Suthep temple
– Day 4 photos – Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, Old city

Follow out hashtag #skbChiangMai

Shoutout : In case you need a Local Expert to bring you to Bua Tong, checkout the friendly folks from TakeMeTour group (itinerary package).

Fiji itinerary – White Water rafting Upper Nuava River

I was happy to find White Water Rafting in our Fiji itinerary.

From our face (and sandwiches) , you can sense our group had a lot of Fun! But believe me when I tell you we were dead tired and shivering after 2 hours of paddling (halfway point only)!
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Earlier, we arrived dry and ready to taste the class 2 rapids.
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Very hard for our raft to flip as rapids is class 1 and 2 only. Joyce (middle) is very proud to survive the water ordeal! (Click for my kids’ Sabah white water experience).
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After a short 15min hike (25min if you are less fit), we reached the water entry.
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Our group is the last one haha.
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Love the narrow canyon as we row along. The sheer steepness on both ends are nothing short of spectacular. Shout and hear your echo along the corridor. And songs we did hymn and sing along, so many talented singers in Team Fiji (checkout our video below).

I shall spare you the dialect “Greetings” (haha cultural exchange) between Singaporeans and Fijians!
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They call this the Christmas rock, because it fell from the cliff around Christmas period. Look at the massive boulder!
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Wannanavu! (Fiji for AWESOME!). Must remember to have FUN and Joy otherwise you will only be complaining about cold weather and bulging biceps :p

Our guide Joe, thank you for hosting us Rivers Fiji!
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The funny thing for me (and most guys) are hearing the gals complain about their messed-up hair, eye-liner etc wahaha! Their favourite term is CUI (3) (similar meaning as cannot-make-it, smashed, or devastated).

Yet, all their modeling-like poses look so chill and chio! Talk about professionalism 🙂
(obviously, you will not see me posing some CUI photos on this blog haha)

Ok, I digress.

The beautiful scenery along the way does distract us from the constant paddling. (one more time, Row Row Row your boat).
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A handmade leaf filter wahaha! Love the authentic effect 🙂
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We will see at least 5 to 6 waterfalls, some are more majestic.
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Video (link): Cui, Singing, Paddling, having an awesome time!

Two boats for the Singapore team.
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Anticipation and tension, as our raft inch nearer and you can hear the roaring rapids.
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Beautiful “lagoon-like” stopover, our picnic venue.
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While the lifestyle bloggers were bravely posing for their OOTDS, I did two jumps into the water and could not hold my GoPro straight! (I was shivering with COLD! Checkout video above 20 second segment).
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Thousands of layers of sediments. Some of the rock faces look like embedded skulls? (Hint : Do not strain your eyes too much haha)
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Chill. Literally haha! The splashing water will really shake you up, SHIOK!
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White Water rafting is my favourite activity in our Fiji Itinerary, even though it soak up 5 hours of paddling 🙂
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I have already Dayre up to day six on SengkangBabies, Day 4 link . Do pop by Nuffnang Dayre recap of our Fiji itinerary too (link).
Fiji itinerary

Fiji trip photos on our Fanpage albums:
Day 1 and 2 (Arrival and Radisson Blu)
Day 3 (Sigatoka River, Village and The Pearl Resort)
Day 4 (White Water rafting)

Blog:
Day 1 and 2
Day 3
Day 4

ps.. Our trip is sponsored by Fiji Airways and Fiji Tourism. Vinaka!
#NuffnangSGxFijiAirways