Pha Chor is a rock formation in Mae Wang National Park, about 50 kilometers southwest of Chiang Mai. It is sometimes called the "Grand Canyon of Chiang Mai," although the most famous place with that name is filled with water and much closer to the city. A thousand years ago, the Ping River flowed here, changing its course. Pha Chor, the final section accessible via several sets of stairs, is a 30-meter-high cliff with a series of pillars formed on multiple levels by the uplift of a tectonic plate and erosion from wind and rain. Some see similarities to the Grand Canyon in the USA and refer to Pha Chor as the Grand Canyon of Thailand (although Sam Pan Bok in Ubon Ratchathani province also bears this nickname). However, Pha Chor is comparatively small and therefore has nothing in common with the gigantism of the American Grand Canyon.

Admission: 100 THB per adult and 50 THB per child. Open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

There is no public transport to Pha Chor. The journey from Chiang Mai takes an hour, and there isn't much to see in the immediate vicinity. Personally, I don't find visiting this area particularly appealing for sightseeing alone, unless you're fascinated by geology. On the other hand, it could be a good stopover on the way between Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon National Park.

How to get there

How do you get to Pha Chor Grand Canyon? There is no public transportation to Pha Chor. The journey from Chiang Mai takes about an hour, and there isn't much to see in the immediate vicinity. Personally, I don't find visiting this area particularly appealing just for sightseeing, unless you're a keen geology enthusiast. On the other hand, Pha Chor makes a good stopover on a trip between Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon National Park.