Over on the eastern side of the broad Ping River valley is the seldom visited but rewarding Mae On area. It boasts a much more dramatic mountain skyline, pretty rural scenes covered in verdant rice fields, a remarkable cave, hot springs and a lovely mountain drive to the village of Mae Kampong.
Few of Chiang Mai’s mass of tourists reach this side of the valley, but Mae On district is equally pretty and offers a more untouched wilderness and some delightful scenery. Although the San Khampeng Hot Springs and Mae On Cave do attract tourists, few get to appreciate the mountains of the Doi Mon Larn range beyond. They are higher than Doi Pui and on a clear day look majestic.
After a well signposted 30-minute drive from Chiang Mai, the first of the area’s main attractions you come to is the San khampeng Hot Springs. They are the most popular of the area’s attractions, with several controlled geysers and a series of manmade pools and streams that are popular picnic spot for locals, especially in winter. Also on site is a warm water pool and private bath huts. There is a second, private hot springs resort site, behind these - Roong Aroon - which offers much the same in a better developed and more expensive environment.