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District in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Photo: Millevache, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Samoeng (สะเมิง) is in Chiang Mai Province, about 50 km west-northwest of Chiang Mai. Its claims to fame are its delicious strawberries, and the so-called Samoeng Loop, a 100-km circuit through the mountains from Chiang Mai, appropriate for cyclists and motorcyclists. The town is about as Thai as possible, with only the occasional Westerner in sight.
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Specializes in temperate crop propagation. Focus on tropical fruit trees, flowers, beans, vetiver, and rapid-growth woods. Career development out-reach to local farmers. Visitor amenities limited.
Wonderful hot springs. 150 baht (refuse if they try to charge you 200) gets you towels, a wrap, and admission to a small, private bathhouse of your very own enclosing a rock-walled pool of hot water, about the size of a hot tub. Stay as long as you want. The grounds are lovely, with a restaurant/bar on-site and what appears to be a nascent cooking school with lodgings (vacant by the look of them) adjacent. Almost thirty kilometres from Samoeng, over a road that is intermittently great, then terrible. Tents for rent for camping on-site, 350 baht.
Pittayakhom School is always in need of native English speakers to assist their foreign language staff. Two school terms run from Nov-Mar and May-Oct. Volunteers are placed via the Swiss-Thai NGO, Child's Dream.
อุทยานแห่งชาติขุนขาน
Great viewpoints, hot springs caves.
As their website states, "you learn how to ride on its neck".
The biggest strawberry festival in Thailand. The yearly festival coincides with Valentine's Day and a couple of days either side of it. Parade (Saturday), music, dancing, vendors galore (food and otherwise), crowning of Ms. Strawberry. Your basic small town fete.
บ้านระเบีงลม
Spiffy clean restaurant on stilts just as you come into Samoeng. Menus in Thai and English. Strong Wi-Fi. Food good and cheap, but portions small. Order two of everything. The gorgeous owner is named Oi. In low season does not seem to open until about 17:00.
สุพรรณี
Serves up what is reputed to be great cashew chicken and garlic pork in gigantic portions at unfairly low prices.
ไร่สตรอเบอรี่สะเมิง
You can get a good cup of coffee at Strawberry Samoeng, and there is a restaurant. They sell strawberry liquor, strawberry wine, other local products. Free Wi-Fi.
Geared to a Thai clientele. Nice-looking bungalows just off the road. Attractive restaurant.
The lodges are in traditional Thai style, but to western standards and situated in a large traditional terracotta brick wall with views over the strawberry/sunflower field and forest. They have air conditioning, Wi-Fi, refrigerator, flat screen televisions, large beds, hot shower and restaurant. The resort has handouts about things to do in the area. Visitors, including those not staying at the resort, may arrange to pick organic strawberries in the field, in season. The manager speaks English/French/Thai.
Funky collection of rustic cabins on a hillside on the west side of Samoeng Valley. Proprietor is the inimitable Kanita. Everything about staying here is negotiable: price, check-in, check-out, meals. She is prepared to offer Thai cooking lessons, act as your local guide, and do other things to enhance your stay.
หลองข้าวสะเมิง
Calls itself a bed & breakfast, but it is so much more than that. Bills itself as an "organic homestay", whatever that is. 30 cute rooms of varying sizes (Thai northern style), all with super bath facilities. All beds have mosquito nets that lend the beds a romantic aura. On 12 rai of gardens, strawberry patches, and rice fields stretching away to the nearby hills. Free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is (Thai) puri rice with pork. Host is an engaging young lady named "Khun Taew" who speaks excellent English.
Again, Thai clientele mostly. Appear to have bungalows. They advertise their coffee shop.
ตลาดสด dtà~làat-sòt
Variety of fresh and prepared foods. There is a public toilet at the left rear as you face the market from the high street.
ตลาดเช้า dtà~làat-cháao
A reminder that 7-Elevens sell alcohol only between 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-24:00, although neighbouring shops pay no attention to this restriction.
Celadon green-glazed ceramics. Sift through their pile of rejects in the covered area to the right of store and find something interesting.
Frequented mostly by young village boys addicted to Internet gaming. It is possible to pop in to read email.
By songthaew
A yellow songthaew from Chiang Mai (Chang Phuak Bus Station) costs 60 baht and will take roughly 90 minutes to reach Samoeng.
You must rely on your own transport in Samoeng. Although there is songthaew service to neighbouring communities it is difficult to figure out.
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Chiang Mai · International · CNX
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