Known by locals as ‘Switzerland in Thailand’, Doi Tung (‘Flag Mountain’) is located in Chiang Rai Province in the north of the kingdom, not far from Chiang Rai and the Thai-Burmese border town of Mae Sai.
This gorgeous mountain-top destination comprises forests and close-by Akha, Lahu and Shan tribal villages and makes for a magnificent trip through the mountains in combination with a visit to Mae Sai and Tachileik, across the border in Myanmar.
The most historic sight in the region is the 1,000-year-old Wat Phra That Doi Tung, a temple that is a significant place of pilgrimage. From the time its twin chedis were built, an oversize flag has been flown, giving the mountain its name. A few kilometers away, the Mae Fah Luang Arboretum on top of Doi Chang Moob is a horticulturalist’s dream, with an astounding variety of plants and flowers.
The arboretum is part of the Doi Tung Development Project, initiated by Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother (the King’s mother) who passed away in 1995. Some kilometers south, the Doi Tung Royal Villa has been maintained precisely the way it was when the Princess Mother stayed here and is a symbol of her continuous efforts to improve the well-being of her subjects.
Set just below the Royal Villa, the beautifully landscaped Mae Fah Luang Garden is filled with blossoming and ornamental plants, making it one of the country’s most colorful sites. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors flock to this attraction and learn about the tireless endeavors of Princess Srinagarindra, which are now catalogued in the new Hall of Inspiration at the same site.
Where to Go
- Mae Fah Luang Garden: A beautifully-landscaped garden on a hill
- Mae Fah Luang Arboretum: a small botanic garden on a hilltop
- Wat Phra That Doi Tung: A pilgrimage site for many Buddhists
- Doi Tung Royal Villa: Former home of the Princess Mother
- Hall of Inspiration: An accolade to the achievements of Thailand’s royal family
Getting There
Doi Tung can be accessed by taking Highway 110 from Chiang Rai and after about 30kms turning left onto Highway 1149, which leads directly to Doi Tung. The more adventurous can depart from Mae Sai on Highway 110 and find a small side road after about five kilometers that climbs very steeply through several hairpin bends to Baan Phamee, passing a number of Akha and Lahu villages. Chiang Rai is a 1-hour, 30-minute flight from Bangkok.
Need to Know
- What is it? One of Thailand’s most stunning mountain-top destinations.
- When to go? In the dry season between November and April.
- Nearest towns: Chiang Rai and Mae Sai, both around a 1-hour, 15-minute drive away.
- Don’t miss: Mae Fah Luang Garden, a kaleidoscope of color.