Things to Do in Mae Salong – Homing Hill Tribes in Serenity

The opium trade is a thing of the past for the tribes of Mae Salong, as tea trade has taken its place. Take a relaxing, scenic walk through tea estates that create patterns across the mountains. The tea stop can also offer you some refreshment in the form of a delicious green tea macchiato, especially if you're a fan of the strong taste of slightly sweet green tea. There's also an opportunity to engage in a tea tasting session. Even the streets of Mae Salong are often referred to as a tea drinker's paradise, where tea sellers willingly offer you all the samples your heart desires. On the more adventurous side of the tea journey, you could also enjoy a tea salad made of tea leaves and infused with a modern Thai twist with tuna, onions, tomatoes and lemongrass.

Tea salad, however, is not the only delicious dish Mae Salong has to offer. There are dozens of roadsides restaurants that can offer the best of the local cuisine, which primarily comprises Yunnanese food from Yunnanese braised pork leg and Yunnanese fried noodles. You could get a juicy braised pork leg with a Chinese steamed bun or a plate of soft yellow noodles, mixed with eggs, carrots and cabbage. If you wish you indulge in something lighter, the streets of Mae Salong will also offer you sunflowers filled with seeds for you to eat.

Mae Salong is Thailand's part of the Golden Triangle, where there is a union of three countries; Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort is the preferred place to enjoy the scenic beauty of all three lands combined. Other than the Golden Triangle, Mae Salong is also home to a number of temples from the Wat Santikhiri Temple to the Sinakarintra Stit Mahasantikhiri Pagoda in all its splendour.

Take a break from the cultural splendour and take a walk through the markets of Mae Salong, so many of which are located so close to a Lanna hotel. The markets can be a treasure chest of groceries, local cuisine, clothes, jewellery, household items and handmade items. The purchases may not be the best part of your trip to the market; the best part may just be the colourful lives the people of the tribes share with you.

The alpine climatic conditions that prevail in Mae Salong makes one reminisce about Switzerland. The beautiful trails, the even more breath-taking vistas and the flora found atop the mountains make the hike as refreshing as it burns calories.