Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden in Chiang Mai
After two months of COVID-19 lockdown in Chiang Mai, most tourist attractions are allowed to open again. With restrictions, like wearing a face mask, social distancing, using alcohol gel and signing in with a Q.R. code when you arrive and signing out when you leave the attraction.
We decided to get out of our house and visit the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden in the Mae Sa valley, just 30 minutes north-west of Chiang Mai. We recommend renting a motorbike or car to drive to the garden by yourself. You will be able to park it at the entrance, or you can take your transportation into the park and drive to the different attractions in the park. The price to enter with a car is 100 Baht and with a motorbike 30 Baht. The park is quite large, 1040 Hectare, so if you are not into hiking, driving is a better option. The entrance fee is 40 Baht per person and includes a free map of the park.
The Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden opened its doors in 1993 under the name, Mae Sa Botanical Garden. In 1994, the garden received great honor and was granted Royal permission by H.M. Queen Sirikit to change the name to Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden. The garden is a research center and promotes biodiversity by showcasing the diverse flora that Thailand has to offer. The gorgeous location surrounded by jungle and mountains and right next to the Mae Sa Noi Waterfall makes you feel like you are in a very remote spot, deep in the rain-forest, while just 30 minutes away from the city.
What to do in the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden
If you a garden and flora enthusiast, then we recommend visiting an entire day to see all the glasshouses, research centers, and nature trails.
Most people will probably be most interested in the following three parts of the garden.
The Canopy Walk
The 400-meter canopy walk or Flying Drago Trail takes you above the jungle and gives a fantastic view of flora and fauna. Try standing on the glass platforms along the route, if you dare! If you are lucky, you will be able to spot monkeys and the Flying Drago lizard.
The Glasshouses
Boasting the largest glasshouse in Thailand and 12 smaller glasshouses showcasing different themes and types of plants, Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden has a vast collection. Orchids, Cactea, Lotus Flowers, Carnivorous Plants, and even an indoor rainforest with an enormous waterfall.
Mae Sa Noi Waterfall
The Mae Sa Noi Waterfall is the little brother of the nearby Mae Sa waterfall, but it is still worth to visit. It is right at the entrance of the park and offers some refreshing streams and pools. We recommend bringing some drinks, snacks, and lunch and have a picnic under the shady trees here. Please note that the park only has a few coffee shops but no restaurants, so bring your own meals if you want to have lunch.
Samoeng Loop
To make it a full day trip, you can continue driving the windy road to Samoeng after the visit to the Botanical Garden. This 100-kilometer loop around Doi Suthep will take you past jaw-dropping viewpoints, quaint villages, cute coffee shops, and local restaurants. You can read more about the Samoeng Loop in our Top 15 things to do in Chiang Mai Blog.