Beyond the Map: Discover Li, Northern Thailand’s Quiet Power

Where mountains guard ancient faith, and silence becomes the luxury.

A Hidden Valley of Faith, Forests, and Still Waters

Wat Phra Phutthabat Huai Tom : A revered spiritual center and educational destination. The temple reflects Li’s deep-rooted Buddhist faith and the enduring cultural identity of the Pa Ka Keryaw people.

Tucked 110 kilometers from Lamphun town, Li District feels worlds away from the familiar tourist routes of Northern Thailand. Quiet, expansive, and embraced by layered mountain ranges, Li is not a place you pass through. It is a place you intentionally seek.

There are no grand boulevards or luxury complexes here. Instead, you’ll find simple guesthouses, modest eateries, and an atmosphere of profound stillness. Rolling hills, drifting clouds, and morning light over the mountains offer the kind of welcome that gently dissolves travel fatigue.

For Pacific Leisure, Li represents conservation in spirit and experience, where nature, culture, and faith coexist with humility and depth.

A Living Cultural Landscape: The Pa Ka Keryaw Community

Krua Tan Procession at Phra Maha Chedi Si Wiang Chai : Thousands gather in devotion as the Pa Ka Keryaw community carries ceremonial offering trees in a sacred procession — a powerful expression of faith and unity in Li District.

A large part of Li’s population belongs to the Pa Ka Keryaw (Karen) community, deeply spiritual, devoted to Buddhist practice, and guided by a philosophy of simplicity.

One of the most powerful cultural experiences here is the Hae Krua Tan Festival and Celebration of Phra Maha Chedi Si Wiang Chai. During this annual tradition, Karen communities from across Thailand gather in Li to pay homage to the sacred chedi.

Pa Ka Keryaw Devotion : Faith is not performed here. It is lived. The annual festival is a profound convergence of spirituality, heritage, and collective gratitude.

The ceremony begins in Ban Phra Bat Huai Tom Village, where villagers dress in handwoven cotton garments, natural tones adorned with subtle patterns. These are not costumes for tourists; they are authentic expressions of identity.

Thousands walk together toward Phra Maha Chedi Si Wiang Chai, forming a vibrant yet serene procession. Rituals blend Brahmanical and Buddhist traditions, lasting from morning into the afternoon.

Raising the Offering Tree : Young men work together to lift and position the heavy ceremonial offering tree — strength guided by devotion, tradition carried forward by community.

The highlight is the Krua Tan procession, a large ceremonial offering of trees carried through the village. Heavy and intricately prepared, they require groups of men to rotate carrying them along a multi-kilometer route before returning to the chedi grounds.

To witness or participate in this tradition is not just a cultural activity. It is a deeply meaningful spiritual gift.

Mae Ping National Park: Where Water Meets Wilderness

Ko Luang Waterfall & Kaeng Ko Rapids, Mae Ping National Park : Crystal-clear emerald waters cascade over layered limestone cliffs, forming natural pools that invite mindful immersion. Hidden deep within Mae Ping National Park, Ko Luang is a reminder that untouched beauty still exists — quietly powerful, refreshingly pure.

Li District is home to the headquarters of Mae Ping National Park, which spans three provinces: Chiang Mai, Lamphun, and Tak. The park offers diverse landscapes, from dry dipterocarp forests to waterfalls and vast reservoirs.

Highlights in Li District:

Thung Kik

A wide savanna-like grassland surrounded by forest, ideal for eco-camping. In the cool season, the open sky becomes a natural observatory for stargazing.

The Forest Road to Thung Kik : A narrow road winds through dry dipterocarp forest, connecting village life to wilderness. This quiet stretch leads to Thung Kik — where civilization slowly dissolves into open sky and forest silence.

Thung Kik Grassland : A vast meadow embraced by forest. Thung Kik is not just a campsite — it is a natural observatory, a place where the horizon opens, and the sky feels infinite.

Thung Kik Camping Ground : Minimal, open, unadorned. Here, nights belong to stargazers and early risers. The absence of city light reveals constellations stretching from dusk until dawn.

Ko Luang Waterfall & Kaeng Ko Rapids

Clear emerald waters cascade over layered limestone. The refreshing pools are perfect for mindful immersion in nature.

Floating Raft Homes at Sunrise : Morning light glides across Mae Ping Lake, reflecting mountain silhouettes and wooden raft homes. Life here moves with the rhythm of water — slow, resilient, deeply connected to nature.

Raft Shop & Local Livelihoods : Floating convenience stores, straw transport for cattle, fishing docks — Mae Ping Lake is not only a landscape, but a living ecosystem of livelihoods. It is also the departure point for long-tail boat journeys across the reservoir.

Mae Ping Lake : An expansive reservoir stretching along the Ping River for nearly 140 kilometers. Vast yet intimate, serene yet alive.

Mae Ping Lake

Stretching along the Ping River (approximately 140 km), this expansive reservoir invites long-tail boat exploration. During the dry season, visitors may glimpse the remains of a submerged temple emerging from the water.

Long-Tail Boat Exploration : Exploring Mae Ping Lake requires local long-tail boats — guided by villagers who know every current, every hidden cove. Travel here is personal, not commercial.

Floating Rafts & Lakeside Dining Platforms : Large floating platforms serve as gathering spaces and local restaurants — where visitors and villagers meet over simple, freshly prepared meals.

The Floating School : One of Thailand’s most remote raft schools, functioning as both classroom and dormitory. A symbol of perseverance and adaptation, famously featured in the Thai film The Teacher’s Diary.

One of the most fascinating sights is a floating school—one of Thailand’s most remote raft schools—once featured in the Thai film “The Teacher’s Diary”. It stands as a testament to resilience and adaptation in isolated communities.

Where to Stay: Quiet Comfort in Nature

Experiencing the festival or exploring the park requires at least one overnight stay.

Travelers may choose:

Simple local resorts and guesthouses in Li town
Floating raft houses on Mae Ping Lake, managed by Mae Ping National Park

Waking up on the water, surrounded by silence and mountain reflections, is an experience that reconnects you to the rhythms of nature.

On moonless nights, whether camping at Thung Kik or resting in a raft house, the sky reveals a breathtaking canopy of stars from dusk until dawn.

Meaningful Travel with Pacific Leisure

Li may appear small, a quiet valley town hidden among mountains—but it holds extraordinary depth for those who visit with intention.

At Pacific Leisure, we curate journeys that:

Respect local traditions
Support community livelihoods
Preserve fragile ecosystems
Encourage mindful, low-impact exploration

Li is not about spectacle.
It is about stillness, devotion, and authentic connection.

If you are seeking a destination where nature, faith, and culture remain beautifully intertwined, Li awaits.

Travel deeper. Travel responsibly. Travel with Pacific Leisure.

Editor in Chief : Nampetch Siramanon
Editor: Pacific Leisure (Thailand)
Content Creator : Mr. Saroj Na Ayutthaya