San Pa Tong is a workaday town south of Chiang Mai best known for its large cattle and water buffalo market held every Saturday morning.

San Pa Tong isn’t really a tourist destination in itself, but it is on the way to Doi Inthanon and has an authentic small town atmosphere that is quite pleasant to explore. There are plenty of little restaurants serving northern Thai food but nothing in the way of shopping or attractions, though the Ganesh Himal Museum is just a few kilometers south and worth checking out if you have time.

The most exciting thing in San Pa Tong is the Saturday livestock market, which begins at 05:00 and runs around 10:00 in the morning. It is a very lively market, and something unusual to see. Besides selling buffalo and cows, the market also has a handful of vendors trying to unload used vehicles and other sundry items.

  • Saturday Livestock Market: every Saturday morning, Thais converge on the town to sell water buffalo and cattle to anyone interested.

Buses and songthaew (pick-up taxis) regularly run from Chiang Mai Gate, on the south side of Chiang Mai’s old city, to San Pa Tong. If you’re confident enough to ride a motorbike, it’s only about 30 minutes south of Chiang Mai on Highway 108. Chiang Mai is well serviced by air, train and bus from most parts of Thailand and home to the closest airport.

  • What is it? A market town.
  • What to do: check out the unusual scene of the Saturday livestock market.
  • Best time to go: from November to February the air is clear and cool.
  • How long? A few hours is enough to take in the sights of San Pa Tong.