Doi Tung, mountain of flowers

Doi Tung is a mountain about one hour drive north of Chiang Rai. It is the location of a well-known Royal Project and the magnificent Mae Fah Luang Botanical Gardens. The mountain used to be a major opium growing area. Local, mostly tribal people grew opium on the slopes of the mountain. HRH The Princess Mother established the Doi Tung Development Project in 1987 under the management of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, also established by the Princess Mother. The aim of the project was to eradicate opium cultivation and help the hill tribe people to earn their livelihood from cash crops such as coffee and macadamia nuts.

As she traveled to remote areas by helicopter she was given the name “Mae Fah Luang” (“Royal Mother from the Sky” in Thai). The Royal Project turned a troubled mountain into a wonderful tourist destination, really worth visiting. Usually a visit to the mountain is combined with a visit to the Golden Triangle or to Doi Mae Salong. Views from the mountain are stunning. Don’t forget to visit the stunning Phra That Doi Tung.