Mae Fah Luang Garden, Chiang Rai Overview

The Mae Fah Luang Garden is a beautifully landscaped 10-acre garden in the Doi Tung Development Project. Located in northern Chiang Rai, close to the Myanmar border, it holds rock formations, maze gardens, and a variety of flowers like dahlias, petunias, and rhododendrons.

The Mae Fah Luang Garden was started as a revamping of what was originally Akha village, a strategic location for opium and gun trafficking into the country. The brainchild of the Princess Mother, Princess Srinagarindra, was affectionately called “Mae Fah Luang” meaning ‘Royal Mother from the Sky.’ The garden aims to celebrate nature and provide an attraction for Thai people who have never seen flowers from overseas. In 1993, the garden was awarded the Pacific Asia Tourism Association Award for Tourist Site Development.

Attractions at Mae Fah Luang Garden

1. The Gardens

Northern Thailand has a cooler climate than other parts of the country, making it conducive for growing both indigenous and foreign flowers. Mae Fah Luang Garden houses all kinds of flower species across its 10 acres of land. It includes attractions like statues, rock formations, a water garden, and a maze. The gardens have been well-maintained with manicured lawns, tall trees, and paved paths to walk around. Children will enjoy running around and exploring them.

2. Continuity, the Sculpture

One popular sculpture is called Continuity by the late Misem Yip-In-Soi. It’s believed that this sculpture, depicting children in a pyramid lifting upwards, was named by the late Princess Mother to signify how continuity ensures success of any endeavour.

3. Lady's Slipper

Another attraction is a smaller garden of rare orchids known as Lady’s Slipper. They are cultivated in the Doi Tung Development Project’s tissue labs and the garden is now the largest host of the Lady’s Slipper species, both domestic and foreign. This unique purple, pink, and white orchid is an incredible sight to behold.

4. Doi Tung Tree Top Walk

In recent years, the Doi Tung Tree Top Walk above Mae Fah Luang Garden has become a popular activity. In this collection of rope bridges hanging 30 metres (close to 100 feet) above the ground, one can overlook the garden and its beauty from a unique vantage point. A safety harness is wrapper around the leg and hips, making this a unique mixture of nature walks and zip-lining. This is open to anyone above the age of 12 for a cost of THB 120, not including the garden entry fee. It is open from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and then 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM every day. On average, this activity lasts half an hour.

How To Reach Mae Fah Luang Garden

Mae Fuh Luang Garden is around 60 kilometres (one hour and 15 minutes) from central Chiang Rai. It is accessible by taxis as well as public transport. One can catch the Green Bus 619 that leaves Chiang Rai every few hours towards Mae Sai. Get off at Baan Huay Krai bus stop, a songtaw to Mae Fuh Luang Garden will cost around THB 50 only.

If travelling by taxi or renting a car, exit Chiang Rai on Route 1 and drive north. At the intersection of Route 1016 and Route 1, stay to the left and continue straight. After crossing several landmarks like Bua Thong Resort, Wat Don Moon, and Ban San Kong School, turn left onto Route 1149. This road can get long and winding.