Therd Thai and Doi Mae Salong Tour

Therd Thai and Doi Mae Salong Tour

Your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in Chiang Rai for your Therd Thai and Doi Mae Salong Tour. Today we will explore an area northwest of Chiang Rai. It is one of the most spectacular landscapes of Northern Thailand, known for its hill tribe villages, tea plantations, and cherry blossoms. Along a winding road with magnificent views we gradually climb to a mountain called Doi Mae Salong. On the ridge of this mountain there is an interesting community, called Santikhiri (‘hill of peace’ in Thai). The people who live here are descendants from the Chinese Nationalist Fifth Army who after Mao’s victory in 1949 fled from China to Burma. In 1962 they entered Thailand after it became clear they were not welcome anymore in Burma. They are also known as the ‘Lost Army’. They have been allowed by the Thai government to settle in this area but still have strong ties to Taiwan. You will visit a museum that is dedicated to the “Lost Army”. You will also visit the tomb of General Tuan Xi-Wen from where you have a spectacular view over the mountains. There are many tea plantations in this beautiful area. We will visit our favourite one. We will have lunch at a local Chinese restaurant.

After lunch we will drive to Therd Thai, a Shan community near the border with Myanmar. The road goes up and down and the views are magnificent. Not many people venture out to this remote town which used to be the stronghold of Druglord Khun Sa and his Shan United Army. It was called Ban Hin Taek in those days. In 1982 Thai government troops dislodged Khun Sa from his base and took control of Ban Hin Taek. The town was renamed Ban Therd Thai (“village to honour Thailand”). We will visit the small museum dedicated to Khun Sa who is also considered a freedom fighter by the Shan people. On the way back to Chiang Rai we will stop at several hilltribe villages, amongst others Yao and Akha. An optional visit to a settlement of the Padaung people better known as the Long Neck Karen can be included today. They originally come from Myanmar.

We will drop you off at your hotel in Chiang Rai.