Known as the northern capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai was the centre of the once independent Lanna Kingdom. Like the slower and melodic accent of Chiang Mai’s locals, the province seems to run at its own pace, allowing a peaceful respite for travellers.
A wonderful mix of ancient temples, hip cafes and walkable streets make up the capital city while surrounding areas provide a host of cultural and agricultural points of interest. Today, we’ll focus on the sleepy district of Samoeng as we go on the Chiang Mai strawberry trail.
A perfect morning in Thailand’s northern capital starts with breakfast on trendy Nimman Road. Located between the old city area and Doi Suthep, this is also a good jumping off point to visit nearby ancient temples like Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang, or head west to Doi Suthep with its famous mountaintop temple and surrounding national park.
For great coffee, go to Ristr8to ORIGINAL, where head barista and founder, Arnon Thitiprasert (Tong) won 5th place at the World Latte Art champion 2015 in Hotenburg, Sweden. If you woke up late, visit Rustic and Blue the Farm Shop for their all-day breakfasts. They are popular for their colourful smoothie bowls and vegetarian-friendly options. If you’re not a coffee drinker, Rustic and Blue has a line of artisan tea blends that are caffeine-free, many of which are infused with local Thai fruits.
After breakfast, it’s time to start your journey west to the nearby Samoeng district, where a quieter slice of Chiang Mai Province, known for its picturesque mountain roads and agriculture tourism, awaits. We recommend taking the scenic Samoeng Loop, one of the most charming drives in northern Thailand. It is advisable to take your own car, motorbike or bike to explore this travel path. The drive covers a distance of approximately 100 kilometres and winds through Samoeng and up to Mae Sa Waterfall towards the town of Mae Rim. From Chiang Mai, take Canal road south to Samoeng Intersection then enter the valley in the eastern direction to slowly scale up the mountain road.
After driving around 50 minutes, you will reach your first stop, the Samoeng Rice Research Centre. It is advisable to arrive before midday or late afternoon when the sun is low on the horizon. The recommended time of year to visit is from February to March, as you’ll get a breathtaking view of the golden wheat fields that are even more incredible at sunset.
When you’ve taken your best postcard-perfect photos, it's time to head to one of Samoeng’s famous strawberry farms for the night. Many strawberry growers provide guestrooms or camping grounds for visitors.
Napa Phu Pha Strawberry Farm is one of the first strawberry farms in Samoeng and provides both camping facilities and bungalows. You’ll wake up surrounded by mountain views, ready to begin your day of strawberry picking.
Another beautiful spot nestled deep in the mountains is Strawberry Wongwan Farm. This organic farm also has a popular restaurant that features strawberries on the menu such as the spicy strawberry salad and strawberry fried rice.
Fitting for couples or small families, Doi Nok Strawberry Resort provides traditional Thai-style villas on raised beams. These rooms give a sweeping view of the strawberry fields below.
Whichever location you choose, it is important to wake up early. The ideal time to pick strawberries is in the morning, shortly after dawn. In the cool mountain air, you’ll be surrounded by the scent of ripening berries as you work up an appetite for breakfast. An interesting point worth noting is that all the strawberries grown in this region are the ‘Phra Ratchathan 80’ species that was developed and given to farmers by His Majesty late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama 9) to commemorate his 80th birthday anniversary. These strawberries are especially sweet, with a ruby colour and pleasing scent. Before leaving the farms, stock up on a few edible souvenirs such as dehydrated strawberries and preserves. Fresh strawberries can also be kept in a cooler with a cold pack to ensure they stay in pristine condition for your ride home.
You can choose to return the way you came or continue on the Samoeng Loop up to Mae Rim before returning to Chiang Mai. If you choose to return on the same path, it will be a short hour and half drive back to the city. However, when continuing to Mae Rim, there are several interesting sights like the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden and Mae Sa Waterfall. It can easily take two to six hours depending on how many stops you plan to take along the way.
Note: Travellers should consider the season before planning their trip and reservations are recommended. The strawberry season usually runs from November to March.
This article is brought to you by Tourism Authority of Thailand.
To know more about Tourism Authority of Thailand, please visit https://www.tourismthailand.org/
More information:
TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND, CHIANG MAI OFFICE
105/1 Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road, Tambon Watgate, Amphoe Mueang, Chiang Mai
Tel. +66 (0) 5324 8604-5
Email : tatchmai@tat.or.th
www.tourismthailand.org/chiangmai
Addresses:
Doi Nok Strawberry Resort
291 M1 Mae Sap, Samoeng Tai, Samoeng District, Chiang Mai
Tel. +66 (0) 53 487 289
www.doinokresort.com
Napa Phu Pha
203 Mu 10, Samoeng Tai Sub-District, Samoeng District, Chiang Mai
Tel. +66 (0) 8 1603 9800
Ristr8to Original
15/3 Nimmanahaeminda Road, Tambon Suthep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai
Tel. +66 (0) 53 215 278
www.ristr8to.com
Rustic and Blue The Farm Shop
Nimmanahaeminda Road Soi 7, Chiang Mai
Tel. +66 (0) 5 321 6420
www.rusticandblue.com
Samoeng Rice Research Centre
2 Mu 10, Samoeng Tai Sub-District, Samoeng District, Chiang Mai
Tel. +66 (0) 5337 8093-4
http://smg-rrc.ricethailand.go.th/
Strawberry Wongwan Farm
269 Mu 10, Samoeng Tai Sub-District, Samoeng District, Chiang Mai,
Tel. +66 (0) 8 5712 0901, +66 (0) 8 1796 3576
