Mae Salong

Mae Salong reviews

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• A little China with some hill tribes thrown in

  We only stayed in Mae Salong for one night, but it is a nice place and we had a very lovely time there! It is hilly and a bit spread out along the main road with a bunch of guest houses, coffee houses and places to eat. You can definitely see that the town in more Chinese than Thai. The people look different, the restaurants look different, but in a good way! The best part are the views from the surrounding hills, especially from the chedi above town on the hilltop. You can walk there, but the views from the road are fantastic, so rent a motorbike and ride right to the top!
  Visit the morning market and have breakfast there. We tried the sweet rice with coconut (to go wrapped in a banana leaf) and soy milk with fried doughy things, and bought some great fruit. The girls selling the soy milk were very friendly. Didn't speak much English, but just kept smiling at us! Sit down there with your food and just watch the women from the numerous nearby tribes (some in traditional clothing) sell their produce, and then walk back to their villages.
  You will see all the children going home from school in the afternoon, walking alongside the road. So cute!
  If you have motorbikes, it is possible to take some back roads out of the town that take you past (or through) so many villages, it is a very interesting experience and the scenery is really cool.
  The horse trekking at Shin Sane now costs 500 baht and takes you to 3-4 villages in about 3 hours, with a person walking beside you holding your horse. We did not take the tour, since it didn't sound that appealing, but there really are so many villages in close distance that you can easily do the walk yourself.

  • Sights & activities
  • History & culture
  • Scenery & environment
  • Eat & drink
  • Traveller's scene
  • Romance
  • Value for money
  • I'll be back (or not)

  By brambora (dabbler)
  Written on 25th November, 2011 after a visit to Mae Salong in November, 2011

  
  

• A Lot of Tea, Not as Many Smiles

  Mae Salong is a beautiful town, hidden away from the rest of the country in one of the many nooks and/or crannies of the Northern hills. The drive up was half the joy of it, and is one main aspect that would definitely entice me back. The town is fairly straightforward to get around, with several very affordable accommodation right along the main road.
  
  There wasn’t a great deal to do, but there were some beautiful temples, affordable treks, and easy access to nearby hill tribes, though we felt a bit less welcome visiting the villages than we are used to. In fact, this was true for the area in general; we’ve come to expect our friendly smiles to be returned, but this was rarely the case in Mae Salong, possibly a byproduct of their historic relationship with outsiders, who generally were trying (and eventually succeeded) to alter their way of life/agricultural choices. Regardless, I definitely enjoyed the town and the tea, and would definitely recommend a visit to anyone in or around Chiang Rai with a bit of time and motivation. Think of it as a trip to Southern China without the plane flight or visa hassle!
  

  • Sights & activities
  • History & culture
  • Scenery & environment
  • Eat & drink
  • Traveller's scene
  • Romance
  • Value for money
  • I'll be back (or not)

  By KhowNeow11 (dabbler)
  Written on 22nd September, 2011 after a visit to Mae Salong in August, 2011

  Also reviewed by KhowNeow11: Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang, Pai,

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