Take a scenic mountain drive

Doi Mae Salong. Travel through the scenic mountain route to Doi Mae Salong and visit the idyllic Santikhiri Village to experience the local way of life of the hill tribe villagers, visit Choui Fong Tea Plantation and Tea House, and stop by the local co-op store to shop for home-made products and other locally grown produce. The area is at its most picturesque in the cool months of December and January when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and mist covers the mountains in the mornings.

Doi Tung. Just an hour’s drive from Chiang Rai town centre, there are several attractions in Doi Tung worth visiting. The Doi Tung Royal Villa is a Swiss styled chalet built for the late Princess Mother; the beautifully landscaped Mae Fah Luang Botanical Gardens which feature cool-climate plants and colourful flowers; and finally Wat Phra That Doi Tung, a religious site on the mountain where visitors can stop to enjoy the panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. For something more adventurous, try a 300 metre-long and 30m high Tree Top Walk. 

Nature lovers can also go camping at Doi Luang National Park, Lam Nam Kok National Park, Khun Jae National Park, and Phu Chee Fah Forest Park.