Queen Sirikit Botanic GardenAbout Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden is a national botanical garden in Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand, named for Queen Sirikit. It serves as a center for plant conservation, living collections and botanical research.
The garden contains cultivated collections, themed display beds and visitor facilities that showcase native and international plants. Glasshouse complexes and interpretive trails are used to present plants that require controlled conditions and different habitat types.
The site was developed and is managed by Thailand’s Botanical Garden Organization to support conservation, scientific study and public education about plant diversity. Facilities include research and propagation areas alongside public exhibition spaces.
The garden sits in the foothills north of Chiang Mai city in a montane landscape and is accessed from the Mae Rim area of Chiang Mai province.
Exploring Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Highlights include a glasshouse complex with both rainforest and arid-zone plants, a natural science museum, and several gardens focusing on specific families such as palms and ferns. The Mae Sa River runs through the site near the entrance, where there are lovely spots to sit beside the rushing stream, along with a visitor centre, souvenir shop and café.
The area is so large that walking it all is impractical, so take a car or hop on the garden tour bus that loops the site; motorbikes and bicycles are not allowed. Pick up a map at the entrance and follow the road that winds clockwise around the grounds, stopping wherever takes your interest. You could easily spend the whole day here and still not see everything.
Best Time to Visit Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Aim for the cool, dry months (November-February) for the most comfortable visit and reliable access to outdoor displays.
Weather & Climate near Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in April) and warm winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 13°C to 36°C. Moderate rainfall (979 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ideal | 13° - 28° | 21° | 2 mm | mostly sunny | 65% | 0.8 m/s | 1.4 high | 11.0h |
| February | Ideal | 15° - 32° | 23° | 7 mm | mostly sunny | 54% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 very high | 11.4h |
| March | Excellent | 18° - 35° | 27° | 21 mm | mostly sunny | 49% | 1.0 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.9h |
| April | Very Good | 22° - 36° | 30° | 52 mm | some cloud | 53% | 1.0 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.4h |
| May | Good | 23° - 33° | 31° | 149 mm | overcast | 73% | 1.3 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.9h |
| June | Good | 23° - 31° | 30° | 106 mm | overcast | 79% | 1.2 m/s | 1.9 very high | 13.1h |
| July | Good | 23° - 31° | 27° | 131 mm | overcast | 81% | 1.2 m/s | 1.9 very high | 13.0h |
| August | Good | 23° - 30° | 27° | 184 mm | overcast | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 1.8 very high | 12.6h |
| September | Good | 22° - 30° | 26° | 171 mm | overcast | 87% | 1.0 m/s | 1.8 very high | 12.1h |
| October | Very Good | 21° - 30° | 25° | 103 mm | overcast | 85% | 1.0 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.6h |
| November | Excellent | 18° - 29° | 23° | 44 mm | some cloud | 80% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 very high | 11.2h |
| December | Ideal | 14° - 27° | 21° | 9 mm | mostly sunny | 73% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 high | 10.9h |
How to Get to Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden is in the Mae Rim area of Chiang Mai province. The garden is most easily reached by car from Chiang Mai city (a drive of about 30-40 minutes); follow the main roads toward Mae Rim/Mae Sa and follow signs to the Botanic Garden where on‑site parking is available. There are also organised tours and private songthaew/van services from Chiang Mai that serve the garden on a regular basis.
Tips for Visiting Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
- Arrive early in the morning when the glasshouses and plant collections are quieter and cooler; the light in the living exhibits and the canopy sections is best before the heat of the day.
- Use the main visitor complex/entrance where the interpretive displays and maps are located-this helps you prioritise features such as the canopy walkway and the hilltop viewpoints many visitors skip.
- Public transport is limited; if you don't have a car, book a taxi or join a guided trip from central Chiang Mai to avoid long waits and to maximise time inside the gardens.