This botanic garden, opened in 1993, covers a huge area of steep slopes, rising from 400 meters to 1,200 meters, and is a must-see for anyone interested in tropical plants.

Highlights include a glasshouse complex with both rainforest and arid zone plants, a natural science museum and several gardens focusing on specific families such as palms and ferns.

Because the area is so large, it’s impossible to walk around, so you need to either take a car or hop on the garden tour bus that runs around the site. Motorbikes and bicycles are not allowed. Pick up a map at the entrance and follow the road that winds clockwise round the site, stopping at all the places that interest you. You could easily spend the entire day here and still not see everything.

The Mae Sa River runs through the site near the entrance and there are some lovely spots to sit and relax beside the rushing stream. Also near the entrance is a visitor center, a souvenir shop and a cafe.

The garden is in the upper reaches of the Mae Sa Valley, north of Mae Rim. Head north on H107 from Chiang Mai, then after passing through Mae Rim, turn left on to H1096. The garden is about 14km on the left.

  • What is it? A beautifully laid out botanic garden.
  • When to go: Any time is fine, though it’s not so much fun walking round if it’s raining, as it can between June and October.
  • Nearest Town: Mae Rim is about 15km to the southeast, and Chiang Mai is about 30km in the same direction.
  • Don’t Miss: The rainforest glasshouse.
  • Trivia: The garden was named after Queen Sirikit on the occasion of her 60th birthday.
  • Website: www.qsbg.org
  • Opening hours: 08:30-17:00
  • Entrance fees: Adults 100B, children 50B.