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Everything You Need to Know about Mae Fah Luang Garden
- Where is Mae Fah Luang Garden?
- Things to Know
- How to Get to Mae Fah Luang Garden
- What to See and Do in Mae Fah Luang Garden
- Stroll around Mae Fah Luang Garden to see all the colorful flowerbeds
- Take a breather at the garden’s pondside wooden deck
- Explore the garden’s arboretum trail
- Capture numerous fun photos at the rock garden area
- Check out the Doi Tung Royal Villa
- Where to Eat and Drink in Mae Fah Luang Garden
- KruaTamnak by DoiTung
- Café DoiTung Chiang Rai
- Hug Hom Mai Farm
- Where to Shop in Mae Fah Luang Garden
- Doi Tung Bazaar
- Doi Tung Lifestyle
- Lotus’s Mae Chan
- Where to Stay in Mae Fah Luang Garden
- Doi Tung Lodge
- Poonyamantra Resort Chiang Rai
- Doi Tung View Resort
- FAQs about Mae Fah Luang Garden
Mae Fah Luang Garden is a picturesque botanical garden in Chiang Rai, the province famous for its geysers hot springs. It boasts a distinctive European-style landscaping design featuring thousands of colorful flowers, and evergreen trees.
Aside from its breathtaking setting, this botanical paradise has unique themed gardens. Added to that, there’s a historic royal villa, a charming cafe, and a world-class souvenir shop that keeps tourists returning for more.
It’s certainly a must for Chiang Rai tourists looking for a nature-filled adventure and culture-rich experience. This is especially true when you’re short on time given all the wonderful adventures the tourist attractions in the province offer.
Where is Mae Fah Luang Garden?
Mae Fah Luang Garden is in the northeast end of Mae Fah Luang District in Chiang Rai. It’s along Highway 1388 and across the street from the Doi Tung Development Project Coordination Office.
Things to Know
Location: Mae Fa Luang, Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai
Phone: +66 63 643 1744
Operating Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Website
Admission Costs: 90 baht
How to Get to Mae Fah Luang Garden
Taxi: The best way to get to Mae Fah Luang Garden from Chiang Rai is to book a taxi using the local Grab or Bolt apps. This method is convenient because the driver can pick you up anywhere in Chiang Rai.
You also don’t need to negotiate for the fare because it’s already listed on your app’s dashboard.
Rental Car: Another way to get to Mae Fah Luang Garden from Chiang Rai City is to self-drive using a rental car. This method requires a driver’s license and an International Driving Permit.
You must drive north from the city center via Highway 1 and turn left to Highway 1149 once you reach the San Kong Community Police Station. Afterward, turn right to Highway 1388 and keep going until you arrive at the garden’s entrance.
What to See and Do in Mae Fah Luang Garden
Stroll around Mae Fah Luang Garden to see all the colorful flowerbeds
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Mae Fah Luang Garden is a 16,000-square-meter tropical garden filled with numerous colorful plant beds. Strolling around the garden gives you the best chance to observe a broad range of temperate and winter plants and flowers.
The garden’s stunning European-style design also gives you plenty of exciting photo opportunities during your stroll.
Take a breather at the garden’s pondside wooden deck
Media credit: mzii
This pondside wooden deck is one of the more relaxing spots within Mae Fah Luang Garden. Here, you can sit on cozy wooden benches while enjoying the cool tree shade and the pleasant view of the surrounding flowerbeds and topiary plants.
Ducks and geese also frequent the pond, so you can observe them swimming around in peace. There’s also a rock pavilion with pink elephant statues for some cutesy photos.
Explore the garden’s arboretum trail
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Aside from the colorful flowers, people frequent Mae Fah Luang Garden for the arboretum on its northwest end.
In case you didn’t know, it’s a botanical garden dedicated to trees so expect to see numerous tropical tree species. Think Cambodia beng trees, Malabar silk-cotton trees, hairy-leafed apitong, and more.
There’s also a stilted concrete pathway for easier traversal and a few pavilions in case you like to relax and soak in the arboretum’s relaxing atmosphere.
Capture numerous fun photos at the rock garden area
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The rock garden in Mae Fah Luang Garden is one of its most Instagrammable attractions. It’s a boulder-strewn tropical garden featuring unique rock formations alongside vibrant flowerbeds, tropical trees, and topiary plants.
You’ll also find a small maze garden surrounded by a tall bamboo fence next to it. Inside are more palm trees, tropical flowers, and half-buried boulders.
Check out the Doi Tung Royal Villa
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A trip to Mae Fah Luang Garden won’t be complete without visiting the Doi Tung Royal Villa. It’s a traditional royal mansion known for its distinctive and rustic Lanna-Swiss architectural style.
Moreover, this massive estate is filled with numerous flowerbeds, so there are plenty of tropical flower varieties to see while you’re there. The villa’s courtyard also boasts a breathtaking mountain view.
Visitors can also enter the villa to see the furnishings and listen to the audio guides to learn more about the late Princess Mother. In the past, she stayed in the villa while doing philanthropic work in Chiang Rai.
Where to Eat and Drink in Mae Fah Luang Garden
KruaTamnak by DoiTung
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Address: Doi Tung Royal Villa, Mae Fa Luang District
Phone: +66 53 767 001
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Good to know: Good for northern Thai food
Website
KruaTamnak by DoiTung is the only restaurant in Mae Fah Luang Garden, so it’s the best option for food while you’re there. This restaurant specializes in northern Thai dishes, including local specialties in the Doi Tung area.
They also serve a wide range of healthy dishes and drinks. Think stir-fried vegetable dishes, fresh fruit smoothies, and cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices.
Café DoiTung Chiang Rai
Media from cafedoitung
Address: Doi Tung Royal Villa, Mae Fa Luang District
Phone: +66 53 767 015
Pricing: ฿฿฿
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Good to know: Good for coffee
Website
Café DoiTung Chiang Rai is an on-site cafe in Mae Fah Luang Garden, so it’s a convenient place for visitors who want to get their caffeine fix. They offer a wide selection of drinks, from hot or iced coffees to slush coffees, Thai teas, and more.
You can also enjoy your drink with a set of cake slices or topped and filled croissants. They also sell cutesy popsicles shaped like flowers and the garden’s mascots.
Hug Hom Mai Farm
Media from hughommai.farmcafe
Address: 144/2 Moo 11, Huai Khrai
Phone: +66 84 046 3914
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Thursday – Tuesday)
Good to know: Good for coffee, Thai food
Website
Hug Hom Mai Farm is one of the trendier cafes in Mae Sai District, so it’s definitely worth the 19-minute drive from Mae Fah Luang Garden. This tree-lined cafe offers a relaxing open-air garden dining area next to a small pond.
There’s also a small paddle boat, so you can cruise the pond while enjoying the wide array of coffee and refreshments they serve. Their nice selection of Thai dishes and desserts is also a plus.
Where to Shop in Mae Fah Luang Garden
Doi Tung Bazaar
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Address: Mae Fa Luang, Mae Fa Luang District
Phone: +66 2 267 0412
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Good to know: Good for souvenirs, fresh produce
Doi Tung Bazaar is a roadside ethnic market on the north end of Mae Fah Luang Garden.
Here, you can find numerous local stalls offering a broad range of ethnic handicrafts. Think patterned fabrics, traditional clothes, woven baskets, gourd bottles, and more.
You’ll also find stalls selling other local products like tropical fruits, root crops, fermented shrimp pastes, coffee beans, etc.
Doi Tung Lifestyle
Media from doitung.official
Address: 1149, Mae Fa Luang District
Phone: +66 53 767 015
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Good to know: Good for local handicrafts
Website
Doi Tung Lifestyle is a souvenir shop across the street from the garden’s entrance, so it’s a practical option if you plan to buy local handicrafts during your trip. Here, you can choose from a wide selection of woven products like bags, clothes, and more.
They also sell ethnic accessories, including bangles to necklaces, hairpins, rings, etc. You can also buy packs of local produce here—check out their coffee beans!
Lotus’s Mae Chan
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Address: 245 Phahonyothin Road, Mae Chan District
Phone: +66 53 660 020
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Good to know: Good for all-around shopping
Website
Lotus’s Mae Chan is an accessible shopping place along the main road from Chiang Rai City to Mae Fah Luang Garden. This hypermarket has a supermarket offering a large selection of grocery items, from fresh produce to toiletries, house supplies, etc.
It also has numerous specialized shops selling books, electronic devices, hardware items, clothes, and more. There are restaurants, cafes, and arcade games, so you’re covered for food, drinks, and entertainment.
Where to Stay in Mae Fah Luang Garden
Doi Tung Lodge
Media credit: montril
Address: Doi Tung Development Project, Mae Fah Luang
Phone: +66 53 767 015
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 3 p.m. (Check-in) & 11 a.m. (Check-out)
Good to know: Good for couples
Website
Doi Tung Lodge is the closest accommodation to Mae Fah Luang Garden. It’s only a 15-minute walk, so you don’t need to ride to access this popular botanical garden and arboretum.
This place also provides airy 2-person rooms with minimalist interiors, wide sliding windows, rustic furnishings, and modern amenities. You can also choose between a room with a breathtaking mountain view or a pleasant garden view.
Poonyamantra Resort Chiang Rai
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Address: 316 Moo 7, New Phra Tamnak, Doi Tung Road
Phone: +66 53 763 111
Pricing: ฿
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Good to know: Good for couples, families
Website
Poonyamantra Resort Chiang Rai is a charming hideaway that’s only a 15-minute drive from Mae Fah Luang Garden. This property is best known for its modern Thai villas and lush landscaped garden.
Their spacious units feature colorful interiors, rustic furnishings, up to 3 bedrooms, and numerous amenities.
There’s also an outdoor pool, fitness gym, and on-site restaurant focusing on local specialties. They also have a reliable room service so food may be delivered to your villa.
Doi Tung View Resort
Media credit: jeera_khng
Address: 101 Moo 10 Mae Sai District
Phone: +66 53 763 619
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. (Check-in) & 1 p.m. (Check-out)
Good to know: Good for families
Website
Doi Tung View Resort is arguably the best family-friendly hotel near Mae Fah Luang Garden. Here, you can stay at colorful European-style townhouses and villas with private balconies, private showers, garden views, and other essential amenities.
There’s also a spacious grassy garden where guests can enjoy picnicking and outdoor lounging. Look around for several photo op spots and even a mini-train that families can ride around the garden.
Moreover, this place is pet-friendly which is great for tourists traveling with their beloved fur babies.
