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Mae Salong

Travel Guide Asia Thailand North Thailand Chiang Rai Province Mae Salong

Introduction

Doi Mae Salong or ‘Santikhiri’ which means ‘Hill of Peace’ is a small and peaceful picturesque mountain settlement inhabited mainly by Chinese from Yunnan province. These are descendants of Kuomintang soldiers who fled Communist rule in 1949. The village is visibly Chinese, filled with Chinese restaurants and small local shops selling Chinese specialities such as tea, jade, preserved fruit, mushrooms, herbs and wines. The terraced tea plantations which make Mae Salong so idyllic are where its trademark Oolong tea is grown. Visit a tea factory and the plantations, watch and learn about how tea is cultivated and sample different kinds of tea.

If you come in January/February, the drive up to Mae Salong is even more scenic as the Japanese cherry blossoms (or Sakura fowers) come to bloom.

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Sights and Activities

There is an interesting morning market (5:00-7:00am) at the intersection near Shin Sane Guesthouse.
Wat Santakhiri is also worth a visit. This temple is from the Mahayana but the style is Chinese, further up the top of the hill is the impressive Princess Mother Pagoda
15 kilometres north of Mae Salong is the Hilltribe Development & Welfare Centre, which sells a variety of hilltribe handicrafts (mainly Akha and Mien).

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Events and Festivals

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Getting There

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

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Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

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Eat

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Drink

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Sleep

Budget

Shin Sane Guest House - Tel: 053 765026, Singles/Doubles for 50-100bt Bungalows for 300bt. Simple bare rooms but spacious with shared bathrooms. Bungalows are more comfortable with private bathroom and cable TV.
Akha Mae Salong Guest House - Tel: 053 765103, 50-150bt. Next to Shin Sane Guesthouse, is an old building run by a friendly Akha family.
Saeng A Roon Hotel - Tel: 053 765029, 200-300bt

Mid-Range

Mae Salong Villa - Tel: 053 765114, 800-1,500bt. Stunnning views and well furnished bungalows. Has an on-site Chinese restaurant serving very good Chinese Yunnanese food.
Khumnaiphol Resort - Tel: 053 765001, Bungalows 1,200bt.Situated on the road to Thaton, this resort has bungalows perched on the hillside. Great views of the tea plantations.

Upscale

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Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

Post

Thailand Post is the Thai postal service that deals with all local and international mail in Thailand. The business is operated from local post offices. Post offices are easy to recognise with their red white and blue motifs and the words 'Thailand Post' in English and Thai above the entrance. They are open from Monday to Saturday, usually 8:30am to 4:30pm (main ones until around 8:00pm), though keeping shorter hours on Saturdays (usually until 1:00pm). They are generally closed on Sundays and Public Holidays. Each post office offers a comprehensive service which includes an Express Mail Service (EMS) and parcel post. They also have a price calculator for letters, postcards and parcels, both domestically as well as internationally. They also have a track and trace system and money transfer services.