How To Get To Mae Salong, A Charming Thai Town

Mae Salong, also known as Doi Mae Salong or Santikhiri, is a town in northern Thailand. It belongs to the Chian Rai province and can be difficult to reach if you don’t do your research. Next, we give you the information you need to be clear about how to get to Mae Salong and, incidentally, what to see there.

Mae Salong can be easily reached in two ways: by car and by bus. Next, we explain how to do it from different parts of the country.

Getting to Mae Salong by bus

There are two roads that will allow you to get to Mae Salong. The first one leaves from Pasang, a town on the Chiang Rai-Mae Sai highway and the other from Tha Ton, north of Chiang Mai.

Both routes pass through places of great beauty. Of course, the roads are somewhat winding, so if you are prone to getting seasick in means of transport, keep that in mind.

From Tha Ton

The   yellow songthwews (public transport vehicles) departing from Tha Ton go directly to Mae Salong. They usually leave in the morning: 8:30, 10:30 or 12:30. From Chiang Mai to Tha Ton it is easy to get to, as there are direct buses.

From Chiang Rai via Pasang

At Chiang Rai Station, you will have to take a bus to Mae Sai (platform 5) and ask the driver to drop you off at the Pasang / Mae Salong stop. The trip takes about an hour and costs 25 baht.

Be careful, because there is another ‘Pasang’ to the east of Chiang Rai and buses leave there from platform number 9. But this Pasang is not the one near Mae Salong. So keep that in mind and make sure you’re heading in the right direction.

Once in Pasang, you will see that there are blue vehicles known as sawngtaew or songthaew going to Mae Salong. The price will be about 400 baht, which is divided by the number of travelers.

From Chiang Rai by Mae Chan

The second option is very similar to the first, since you have to take the same bus. The route is the same, but instead of getting off at Pasang, you will have to do it at the Mae Chan market.

Green songthaews leave from this place to Mae Salong more often: at 7:30, 9, 11 and 13. The cost of the songthaew ride is 60 baht and you may have to make a transfer or change of car, which would be 30 baht more.

Get to Mae Salong by car

The fastest route to Mae Salong is via Highway 1089, which runs from Mae Chan (near Chang Rai) to Tha Ton. The exit for Mae Salong is signposted and precedes 13 kilometers of impressive winding roads.

How to get around and what to see in Mae Salong

Although you can visit some of the most important places on foot, it is best to rent a motorcycle to explore the tea plantations, hills and valleys. They cost 200 baht per day and you have to refuel first.

Apart from the impressive tea plantations, tea drying rooms and tea houses, there are some typical places of Mae Salong that you must visit:

• The Chinese Martyrs Memorial Museum : shows the history and development of Mae Salong through the years.
• OTOP Agriculture Center : where you can admire the views and stroll through the tea plantations.
• Phra Boromathat Chedi : one of the most famous buildings in the area. It was built in honor of Princess Srinagarindra, on Mount Doi. Next to this stupa, there is a pavilion known as Princess Mother Hall that is also worth visiting. The views are incredible.
• Tomb of General Tuan : the mausoleum of the founder of Mae Salong, General Kuomintang Tuan Xi-Wen. Inside there is a small museum, but it is all in Chinese.

• Wat Santikhiri : a modern temple in traditional Thai style.

You can’t leave without buying an oolong tea bag

After admiring the endless tea plantations, you have to buy a little yes or yes. And it is that the most typical of Mae Salong is the excellent oolong tea grown there. Apart from tea, you can buy cups of tea, sweets, fruit and everything you need to have an incredible tea time.

The largest producers in the area are Wang Put Tan and Sweet Mae Salong, in whose plantations you can taste each of their teas. In addition, we recommend you visit the Morning Market and Tourist Market, where you will find local crafts, traditional sweets and typical Thai food.