Mae Fah Luang ArboretumExploring Mae Fah Luang Arboretum
The Mae Fah Luang Arboretum covers the top of Doi Chiang Moob, a summit some 1,500m high on Doi Tung that was once a bare opium field. Huge old trees were relocated to the peak and many more planted, including rare species and masses of flowering bougainvillea, completing the reforestation of the devastated area.
A refreshing scent of pine pervades the cool mountain air, and well-structured paths weave through sections of garden filled with rhododendrons, Himalayan cherries and many kinds of orchid. Benches and pavilions offer welcome rest, which is needed as the gardens climb a steep slope. The pathways are lined with ferns and mosses, and there is even a garden of strange-shaped stones - altogether a horticulturalist’s dream.
Perhaps the best thing about the arboretum is how quiet it usually is: as the furthest of the Doi Tung attractions, few visitors venture this far. If you are visiting the Doi Tung Royal Villa nearby, it is only a short diversion here and well worth the effort.
Nearby Attractions to Mae Fah Luang Arboretum
Weather & Climate near Mae Fah Luang Arboretum
Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in May) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 9°C to 30°C. Abundant rainfall (1405 mm/year), wettest in August with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 9° - 24° | 17° | 8 mm | - | - | 1.2 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 11° - 27° | 19° | 14 mm | - | - | 1.3 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 13° - 29° | 21° | 22 mm | - | - | 1.3 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 17° - 30° | 23° | 69 mm | - | - | 1.2 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 19° - 29° | 24° | 191 mm | - | - | 1.4 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 20° - 27° | 23° | 161 mm | - | - | 1.5 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 19° - 27° | 23° | 246 mm | - | - | 1.2 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 19° - 26° | 23° | 294 mm | - | - | 1.0 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 19° - 26° | 23° | 207 mm | - | - | 1.0 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 17° - 26° | 21° | 124 mm | - | - | 1.0 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 14° - 24° | 19° | 50 mm | - | - | 0.9 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 11° - 23° | 17° | 19 mm | - | - | 1.3 m/s | - | - |
Mae Fah Luang Arboretum: Getting There & Need to Know
- What is it? A hilltop wonderland of exotic plants.
- Opening hours: 07:00 - 18:00 daily.
- Entrance fee: 50B, or 220B including admission to the Royal Villa, Mae Fah Luang Garden and Hall of Inspiration.
- Where: about 10km north of the Doi Tung Royal Villa on Doi Tung.
Continue north from the Royal Villa complex on Highway 1149 for about 10km along a hair-raising mountain road until a sign to the left directs you to the arboretum.