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The Grand Canyon Chiang Mai is a large water-filled canyon to the southwest of Chiang Mai. There are two water parks located at the Grand Canyon. In this article we will compare each water park, tell you what to expect and everything you need to know about planning a trip to the Grand Canyon water park in 2026.
We have included the latest prices, tips, how to book & how to get to the Grand Canyon. The golden rule in travel is this: A little planning and research now can save a lot of time, money and stress later. And that is definitely true if you’re planning a trip to the Grand Canyon. Please read this article carefully to save time, money and make the most of your trip to the crazy fun place.
We love the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai so much that we have included it in our ultimate 10 day Chiang Mai itinerary.
Getting to grips with the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai
The Grand Canyon Chiang Mai is a large abandoned limestone quarry that is filled with rain water from the monsoons. The lakes and steep sides of the canyon create an impressive panorama. The Grand Canyon is located approximately 20km to the south west of Chiang Mai old city. The canyon is divided into three sections and in total it is approximately 500m in length and around 300m wide. There are two separate water parks situated at the location. In this article we will review both waterparks and tell you everything you need to know to plan an independent trip to the Grand Canyon.
Each of the waterparks are right next to each other (the walk between these water parks only takes a few minutes).The south west site is bigger. It is called “The Grand Canyon Water Park” and includes an inflatable obstacle course. The north east water park is smaller and just called “The Grand Canyon” and is to the northeast. You need to buy separate tickets for each site.
Top tip: If you are limited on time we recommend only visiting the first site. Both sites have restaurants serving Thai and western food (more expensive than local food).
Which water park is the best?
| The Grand Canyon Water Park (big park – southwest) | The Grand Canyon (small park – northeast) |
| Newer More activities (inflatable course, zip line, slide, cliff jump, kids water park & wake park) More expensive 800 baht adults and 600 baht children | Older, more worn out Less activities (zipline, kayaks, paddle boats and inflatable jump bag, cliff jump) Cheaper 30 baht + 50 baht for the zipline |
You can probably guess what we think. In our opinion the larger southwest water park is better. We particularly loved the inflatable obstacle course here. It is more expensive as an attraction, but we think the difference in price is justified by the additional activities that you find at the larger site.
1 The Grand Canyon Water Park (big park – southwest)
This water park is more developed and in better condition. It has more activities and it is more expensive. The Grand Canyon Water Park has excellent facilities including toilets, showers and changing areas.
- Inflatable obstacle course (life jackets included)
- Zipline (safety equipment included)
- Children’s water park (excellent and pretty big)
- The water slide with a drop (very fast and big drop – take care)
- Cliff jump (around 7m)
- Wakeboarding circuit (not included with standard tickets)
Top tip: They have a strict “no outside drinks” policy here and may check bags! We recommend bringing water anyway, just keep it discreetly at the bottom of your bag.
What are the latest prices at the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai?
You can either book your tickets at the ticket office at the entrance to the park OR you can book your ticket online in advance on KLOOK. It is often cheaper to book online in advance 🙂
If you buy your ticket at the office: Adult tickets cost 800 Baht per person for foreigners (£16 or $20). Children’s tickets cost 600 baht (£12 or $15) for a height between 90-120 cm. Children under 90cm get free entry. It costs 420 baht for Thai local adults (around £8 or $10).
Ticket includes entrance to the water park, canoeing and kayaking, cliff jumping, giant sliders, life jacket and one ride of the zipline. Entry to the waterpark AND 1,250 Baht Per person (£25 or $30) – 1 hour wake boarding including equipment (up to 3 people can share a board).
2 The Grand Canyon (small park – northeast)
This site is cheaper and there are less activities. It has a slightly older, more “worn out” feel. It costs 30 baht to enter and 50 baht to go on the zipline. They have a zipline, jump platform, air cushion jump, kayaking and pedal boats.
They also have an inflatable slide into an inflatable pool. If you have a full day we recommend visiting the small park for around 1-2 hours in the morning before heading over to the big Grand Canyon water park. If you are short on time, we recommend going straight to the big Grand Canyon Water Park.
Is the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai suitable for kids?
Yes, the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai is a great spot for families with kids of any age. We recommend the larger south west park for families. There is an amazing kids section that is suitable for babies up to around 10 years old. They also allow children to have a go at the inflatables obstacle course if they are accompanied by an adult (however they have to pay for an adult ticket to do this).
BUT we particularly recommend the Grand Canyon for families with active teens. If you have teens who love challenge, adventure and an adrenaline rush, we think your family will love the Grand Canyon.
Our main advice for families is to bring good sun protection (waterproof factor 50 sunscreen). The area is quite exposed. Also if you visit with kids, we would recommend being firm about needing to bring your own water into the park. They do sell drinks but they are expensive and small bottles. The changing facilities are suitable for families with kids.
How to get to the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai
The Grand Canyon is located around 20km to the southwest of Chiang Mai. There are no buses that run directly to the Grand Canyon from the Old City so you will need to arrange your own transport. The journey takes around 30 – 45 minutes. There are three ways to get to the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai:
1 Rent a Bike in Chiang Mai
The first and cheapest way to get to Grand Canyon Chiang Mai is to rent a motorbike. Bike rental is cheap, easy to find – you do not need to pre-book this. There are rental shops all around the Chiang Mai Old City. You can even rent motorbikes from hostels and guest houses. You can find bike rental in Chiang Mai starting at around 100 baht per day (this is roughly £2 or $2.50). It is easier to get better prices if you do a longer term rental. The roads between Chiang Mai and the Grand Canyon are all well surfaced and suitable for motorbikes.
The 20km journey is likely to take 30 – 45 minutes on a motorbike. Be prepared that bike rental places generally ask for some kind of deposit (ID card, passport or money). We recommend taking photos of any scratches, cracks or scuffs on the bike before rental. Also it is very important to make sure you are qualified, insured and experienced to ride a motorbike in Thailand. Riding a motor bike in Chiang Mai is a cheap and fun way to get around. Be aware that many of the roads around the Old City operate a one way system. Furthermore, the route to Grand Canyon Chiang Mai follows a large, busy inter-state road. Ride with caution and be aware of other cars and bikes on the road.
2 Rent a car in Chiang Mai
Another way to get to the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai is to rent a car in Chiang Mai and drive there. Again this relies on you being qualified to drive in Thailand. Consider getting an international driver’s permit before your trip to Thailand if you wish to rent a car. Car rental is likely to be more expensive than a taxi if you are only going to the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai.
Prices depend on the season and availability. Car rental starting prices in Chiang Mai range between 600 baht – 1,000 baht per day (this is roughly £12 – £20 or $15 – $26). Petrol also costs around 30 – 40 baht per liter in Thailand (this is roughly £0.60 or $0.80). Car rental shops on Chiang Mai generally ask for a cash deposit of around 5,000 baht and may also ask to check your drivers license. During busy times it can be hard to find a car rental and it may be worth booking in advance.
3 Arrange a taxi from Chiang Mai
A return taxi trip from Chiang Mai to Grand Canyon should cost around 200 – 300 baht (which is roughly £4 – £6 or $5 – $8). There are taxi apps that work in Chiang Mai. Bolt is a bit cheaper and Grab is more convenient but more expensive. Alternatively you can flag taxis around the old city. There are also lots of red buses called Songthaews. Drivers are often very happy to arrange trips like this. You probably don’t need to arrange your taxi in advance to visit the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai.
Can you take a tour to the Grand Canyon?
Yes. You can easily arrange tours to the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai with tour operators in Chiang Mai old city. Tours range in price from 1,250 – 2,500 baht (roughly £25 – £50 or $30 – $70) per person and include return transportation. The tours of the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai don’t really offer anything more than transport. We recommend visiting th
What do I need to bring to visit the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai?
Pack a bag with water, swimming stuff, towel and sun protection. You may also want to bring snacks and food. Both sites do have restaurants serving a range of Thai food.
- Suncream (50SPF)
- Towel
- Swimming kit
- Plastic bag for wet swimming stuff
- Small day sack
- Plenty of cash
- Water bottle
- Sun glasses
- Rash Guard
- Snacks
What facilities do they have at the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai?
The Grand Canyon Chiang Mai has all of the facilities that you would hope for in a water park. They have toilets, showers, lockers, cafes and restaurants.
What else is there to do near the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai?
Here are some other attractions to the south of Chiang Mai. The Royal Park Rajapruek is located to the south of Chiang Mai not too far from the Grand Canyon. This is a large and beautiful park with a temple, flower gardens and a kids play park. Close by is the panoramic hill temple Wat Phrathat Doi Kham – a hill temple with an amazing view over Chiang Mai. On the way to or from the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai you could also drop in to the Carp cafe. This is a magical cafe built amongst pools filled with Carp swimming around and a small damp artificial cloud forest. They serve a range of drinks, cakes and some very fresh sushi (er hem). Also just to the south of the Chiang mai old city, don’t miss the Chiang Mai Gate (or south gate) night market. Lots of tempting street food and treats.
Where are the best places to stay in Chiang Mai?
Don’t miss our guide on THE BEST family hotels in Chiang Mai AND Don’t miss our FULL Guide on THE BEST Old City Hotels in Chiang Mai (COMING SOON) There is a lot of great accommodation around Chiang Mai:
Best Boutique Old City Hotel – Phra Singh Village (Beautiful, boutique warm hotel)
This lovely little Boutique Hotel is located in an excellent location to the south west of the Old City, close to the prestigious Wat Phra Singh temple. Check out the latest prices at Phra Singh village on booking.com
Best Budget hotel in Chiang Mai – Yak Guest House (Cheap and great location)
Small clean budget Guest house with a range of rooms for every traveler. Rooms range from £10 – £20 per night (roughly $13 – $26). A few minutes walk from the old city walls and a 5 minute walk from the buzzing Thapae Gate. Book Yak Guest House on booking.com
Best Chiang Mai hotel for families – Shangri La (Outdoor waterslide and play rooms)
Large well equipped 5 star resort – super family friendly with play rooms, a large outdoor pool and waterslide. Check out the latest prices at Shangri La here
Best Luxury Hotel in the Old City – The Inside House (Glass pool suite)
One of the most unique hotels in Chiang Mai – we love the glass pool suite – genuinely a super special experience. Check availability at The Inside House on booking.com
Best Luxury Riverside Hotel – Rati Lanna Resort (Luxury on the Bank of the Mae Ping River)
Super luxury Regal 5 star Resort and Spa located on the banks of the Mae Ping River. A great place to unwind and take a tech detox. Check the availability at the Rati Lanna Resort on booking.com
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