Rating: 4.5/5 (4 votes)

Open Days: Daily (it is recommended to contact the community in advance if you wish to stay overnight or arrange learning activities, and to check weather conditions during the rainy season)

Opening Hours: Recommended 08.00–17.00 (suitable for traveling up and down the mountain with daylight, and to avoid heavy fog or rain in the evening)

 

Baan Suan Rai Suchanan (Community-Based Tourist Accommodation) is a community-run guesthouse established to welcome visitors to Ban Pong Khrai, Pong Yaeng Subdistrict, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province. The place is genuinely managed by the local community, with a clear purpose that goes beyond comfort or luxury. Its goal is to offer visitors a chance to relax amid headwater forests while learning about local ways of life with respect and balance.

 

Staying at Baan Suan Rai Suchanan offers an experience quite different from conventional resorts. Here, the accommodation is part of the community rather than a separate enclave. Guests can enjoy a simple atmosphere, fresh mountain air that changes with the seasons, and a slower rhythm of life. Income from accommodation is circulated back into the community to support shared spaces, headwater forest conservation, and ongoing local environmental initiatives.

 

Ban Pong Khrai places strong emphasis on living in harmony with nature. Tourism in the area follows a conservation-oriented approach. Visitors are encouraged to travel gently and respectfully—walking through nature with care, avoiding littering, keeping noise to a minimum, and asking permission before photographing people or private spaces. Choosing to stay at a community-based guesthouse is therefore both a relaxing experience and a meaningful way to support sustainable, community-led tourism.

 

The most suitable time to stay is from the end of the rainy season through the cool season, when the weather is pleasant and nature is lush. The rainy season has its own charm as well, though visitors should be cautious of slippery roads and dense fog, and allow extra travel time. Preparation should include a windbreaker or rain jacket, sturdy shoes with good grip, personal medication, and a bag to carry personal waste back down, helping to reduce the burden on the community.

 

Getting There From Chiang Mai city, the distance to Baan Suan Rai Suchanan is approximately 45 kilometers, with a travel time of around 1 hour. The usual route is toward Mae Rim District, then into Pong Yaeng Subdistrict and Ban Pong Khrai. The final section includes uphill and downhill roads with continuous curves. Drive at a suitable speed, use low gear on steep sections, and avoid traveling at night, especially during the rainy season.

 

 

A: It is ideal for travelers seeking a peaceful nature-based stay, who value quiet surroundings and are interested in community-based, conservation-oriented tourism.

 

A: Yes, advance contact with the community is recommended, especially during the high season or if you wish to arrange learning activities, so proper care and preparation can be made.

 

A: The final section includes mountain roads with continuous curves. Drive carefully, use low gear on steep slopes, and avoid nighttime travel, particularly during the rainy season.

 

A: Do not litter, keep noise to a minimum, respect local ways of life, ask permission before photographing people, and use local resources thoughtfully.