1 / 3Bo Sang is a craft village in San Kamphaeng district, about 9 km east of Chiang Mai on Route 1006, known across Thailand for its hand-painted umbrellas and parasols made of saa paper and cotton. It is about 25 minutes by car from the Old City and about 40 minutes from Mae Hia on the other side of town. Entry is free, the workshops are open every day, and you can watch an umbrella go from bamboo frame to finished flower painting in a single visit.
Why go
Most souvenirs in Chiang Mai are bought in markets with no idea where they came from. In Bo Sang you see the whole process in one place. Craftspeople split bamboo for the ribs, carve the small wooden hubs, stretch saa paper made from mulberry bark over the frame, and then paint it freehand with flowers, birds and dragons. The painters work quickly and with no stencil, and watching them is the best part of the trip.
The village is also the start of San Kamphaeng Road, the old craft road east of the city. Along it are workshops and showrooms for silk, silver, celadon and lacquerware, so a morning in Bo Sang easily becomes a half-day of crafts. It is a gentle outing that works in the heat, in the rain and with children, since most of it is under a roof.
If you are in Chiang Mai in January, time your visit for the Bo Sang Umbrella Festival on the third weekend of the month. The main street fills with umbrellas and lanterns, there is a parade, and the village feels like a fair.
What to see
- The Umbrella Making Centre: the best known workshop, set up so visitors can walk past each stage of the craft, from cutting bamboo to oiling and painting the finished umbrella. It is free to watch.
- Painters at work: at the centre and in smaller shops along the main road, painters decorate umbrellas, fans and bags. Many will paint a small design on your phone case, hat or shirt for a modest charge while you wait.
- Saa paper: look for the sheets of mulberry paper drying in frames. It is the same paper used for lanterns, notebooks and greeting cards, all on sale.
- The main street: a row of family shops selling umbrellas of every size, from tiny cocktail parasols to garden umbrellas that can be shipped home.
- San Kamphaeng Road workshops: on the way back towards the city, stop at one of the silk, silver, celadon or lacquerware workshops to see another northern craft.
- The Umbrella Festival: on the third weekend of January, with a parade, decorated stalls and a lantern-lit street in the evening.
How to get there
- From the Old City
- about 25 minutes by car or Grab, heading east on Route 1006 (San Kamphaeng Road). Bo Sang is signposted on the left.
- From the airport or Mae Hia
- about 40 minutes by car. Take the outer ring road around the south of the city to join Route 1006, which avoids the traffic of the centre.
- By songthaew or Grab
- shared songthaews heading towards San Kamphaeng pass Bo Sang, but a Grab or a chartered red songthaew is simpler, especially if you plan to stop at workshops on the way.
- By own car or scooter
- parking is easy at the Umbrella Making Centre and at most large shops. Route 1006 is busy, so ride carefully on a scooter.
Tips
- Go in the morning, when the painters are settled at their tables and the tour groups have not yet arrived.
- Large umbrellas are hard to carry on a plane. Most shops can wrap them for travel or ship them overseas; ask before you buy.
- Saa-paper umbrellas are decorative and handle light rain only if oiled. For real rain, choose a cotton umbrella.
- Bring cash for small shops, although the larger workshops take cards.
- Combine Bo Sang with San Kamphaeng Hot Springs further east for an easy half day, or continue up the hill to Mae Kampong for a full day out of the city.
- It fits well into the second or third day of a 3-day itinerary. If you are staying in Mae Hia, buy something to eat at the Mae Hia community market in the morning before you cross town.
FAQ
Is Bo Sang Umbrella Village free?
Yes. The village and the Umbrella Making Centre are free to visit; you pay only for what you buy.
Where is Bo Sang?
In San Kamphaeng district, about 9 km east of Chiang Mai on Route 1006.
When is the Bo Sang Umbrella Festival?
On the third weekend of January each year, with a parade and a lantern-lit street.
How long do I need at Bo Sang?
One to two hours is enough for the workshops and the main street.
How do I get to Bo Sang from Mae Hia?
By car or Grab, about 40 minutes via the outer ring road and Route 1006.
