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Village in Chiang Rai province, Thailand
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kudumomo/, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Mae Salong (แม่สลอง), also known as Doi Mae Salong (ดอยแม่สลอง) and officially called Santikhiri (สันติคีรี), is a village in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand.
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A tribute to the Kuomintang settlers of Mae Salong who fought and died for Thailand. It exhibits their history and the development of Mae Salong. There is detailed information in Thai, Chinese and garbled English.
This grandly named — but mostly closed — hut features a map of the nearby tea plantations and a thermometer. This viewing point is primarily a handy reference if you have your own wheels and want to do a round of the plantations.
A chedi (Thai-style stupa) built on a hill near Mae Salong village, in honour of the late Princess Mother, Srinagarindra. Next to the chedi is the Princess Mother Hall, a modern, Thai-style pavilion outwardly like a temple in appearance, but not containing any religious objects. There are good views across town and west towards Myanmar from the top. There are two ways up top: on foot, follow signs from the village center up the hill towards the Mae Salong Resort and Wat Santikhiri, turn to the right into a parking lot next to a smaller temple, and then go up the steep 719-step staircase. If you find yourself at the resort, you have gone too far, back up to find the parking lot. One can also drive to the top, as there's a winding, steep road that starts from behind the tourist market and curves up from behind, with breathtaking hilly views along the Myanmar border.
The mausoleum of Mae Salong's founder and erstwhile drug warlord, Kuomintang General Tuan Xi-Wen. At the end of a road beside a tea house with General Tuan's name, up another steep staircase. There's a small museum here, but unfortunately it's all in Chinese. There are some tea houses nearby, and you can enjoy a spectacular view of Mae Salong there.
A modern, standard-issue Thai temple guarding the approach path to the Phra Boromathat Chedi. The more interesting parts of the temple lies across the street leading to the Mae Salong Resort. Peek inside for a nice little Chinese-style pavilion.
In a nearby village is the supposed former headquarters of the druglord Khun Sa. The dilapidated museums have been turned into a small museum about how the drug trade helped the community, with slight ethno-nationalist undertones. However, all of the information is written in Thai or Shan. Ask a tour guide in Chiang Rai to call ahead of your visit, as you'll need a local to unlock the doors to the buildings for you.
The English language sign may sound a little unfortunate, but their 40-50 baht noodles soup are pretty good and served with free, tasty oolong tea.
If all that tea is starting to get to you, drop into this little wood-panelled cafe for an espresso, some home-baked cakes and pastries, plus great valley views from the terrace.
As the name promises, this operation is run by Akha tribes people, who also arrange treks to their villages. 200 baht single/400 baht double with shared bathroom
Very nice place run by a terrific family who are always happy to help or give any information you might need.
The name means Number 1 in Yunnanese, and it's no idle boast, as this place was the first guesthouse in Mae Salong when it opened back in the 1970s. It's still a pretty good budget option. The bungalows in the back are quieter.
Clean rooms with WIFI and hot showers, private and shared bathrooms available, 500 Baht.
Nice new brand guesthouse, clean and comfortable. Restaurant at the entrance. The owner speaks very good English and will be pleased to tell you what to do in town.
เซ็นทรัล ฮิลล์
It doesn't get more central than this. Small, but clean, rooms with good views out into the valley. 19 rooms.
The newest and nicest of the mid-range places, you'll see the breathtaking sloped flower gardens if arriving from the east. The 1,500 baht rooms are overpriced as each bungalow partly obscures the view of its neighbour and there is a long walk up 2 flights of steps to get there. Another downside is the location, a fair hike away from town.
แม่สลอง รีสอร์ท
Easily the most historic of Mae Salong's hotels, this place used to be a KMT military training camp and some of the army green and brown bungalows look the part. However, these days it's a little under-used and the older buildings are pretty grotty. Ask if they can give you a deal on the newer, nicer ones. There's a small but mildly interesting photo exhibit on the KMT and nice views down towards town. At Sakura, the in-house restaurant, try the Yunnanese food, especially the mushroom dishes, made with mushrooms grown on premises.
แม่สลอง วิลล่า
A tarted-up concrete block with a good Yunnanese restaurant with a terrace plus its own tea shop. 60 rooms.
บ้านหอมหมื่นลี้
One of the largest producers in the area, you can see the giant golden teapot guarding their plantations in the fields below their flagship store. Various grades of oolong available, from 200 to 1,000 baht per 100 g, and they'll be happy to serve up a sample.
True to the name this place opens at the crack of dawn and most of the action is over by 08:00, making this a great place for an early breakfast. A few shops do stay open until noon and beyond.
Opens in the afternoons on the south side of town, with Akha selling local produce (tea, mushrooms, herbs) and knick-knacks to tourists.
By bus
There are several minibuses per day from/to Mae Chan for 100 baht — at 09:00 and 13:00 from Mae Chan, and at 07:30, 11:00 and 15:00 from Mae Salong. Inquire with Shin Sane Guesthouse.
By thumb
It is straight forward and not too hard to reach the police checkpoint on Hwy 107 by thumb and another ride from there.
By taxi
You can also hire a car with a driver from a travel agency or even hail a taxi from the street. Price in high-season is around 1,200–1,600 baht from a travel agency (as of 2017).
By motorbike
Otherwise, it is convenient to rent a motorbike to motor around the hills and valleys. Rental cost is about 200 baht per day. Bikes come with empty tanks, so you need to fuel up first.
By thumb
Nearby villages have lots of regular traffic going in and out of them. Hence, it is also easy hitching a ride, even for destinations farther away.
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Chiang Rai · International · CEI
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