Doi Mae U Kho in Mae Hong Son
Rare phenomenon in nature that only occur once a year should be appreciated, don’t you agree? That’s also why we think this place in Thailand – whose offerings can rival flower fields in Japan or the Netherlands – should receive more attention from enthusiastic travellers like you.
Doi Mae U Kho boasts wild sunflower fields covering entire hills in Mae Hong Son, and this wonderful sight only happens annually for 2 months, from November to December. For those who love admiring nature’s finest blooms in action, def seek the opportunity to visit this place before the year ends. But first, here’s a sneak preview on what to expect.
More places to visit in Thailand:
- Phu Kradueng has hiking trails with red maple leaves in Loei
- Ban Tha Ranae in Trat has massive mangroves for SUP paddling
- Khao Chi Chan is a Buddha-carved cliff in Pattaya
Admire brilliant yellow flowers on hills at Doi Mae U Kho
Surrounded by plenty of overlapping mountains covered in fog, Doi Mae U Kho in Mae Hong Son has become a highly sought-after tourist destination every year. But can you guess what is the main reason that makes this so popular, especially when winter is approaching?
Well, don’t worry if nothing is coming to you, let us tell you directly. What keeps visitors coming back yearly are the Bua Tong Fields or ทุ่งบัวตอง in Thai. These vast meadows are home to thousands of yellow flowers covering the hills, making it a pleasant sight to gaze at.
However, it’s not easy to come and admire the fields in their full glory. We’ll have to time our visits right as these yellow sunflowers are in full blossom only in November and December.
If you hike to the peak of Doi Mae U Kho, we’re sure your jaw will drop with the 360° panoramic views of the impressive Bua Tong Fields and mountain ranges from afar.
But it’s not just the flowers that will keep you enthralled. We also find that timing our visits to coincide with the sunset is key to ensuring that the golden light reflecting on the fields will result in even more picturesque views.
Do pay close attention to look for stairways hidden in the fields too. We find it best to take leisurely strolls among them, to admire the flowers up close. As the stairs trace the hill’s terrain, you can get commanding views of the distant green hills in the background as well.
Before leaving for another place, take the chance to strike a few cute poses for your IG feed. We bet your followers will wanna tag along on your future trips as well, once they see your pics.
Drop by a rustic cafe with drinks made by local students
Right next to Bua Tong Fields, there’s a cute cafe with rustic feels that you can head to unwind at. Posaho Cafe, located 5KM away from Doi Mae U Kho, is a small coffee house that’s established and co-run by a local school and community. If you want our recommendation, it’s best to order a cup of hot tea to sip on amidst the cooler climate, we’d say.
What’s special about this cafe is their waiters are adorable locals – young students who’ll help to make your drinks and take orders from customers with cheerful smiles. We were pleasantly surprised by how passionate they seemed, and how joyful they were in mixing drinks for guests.
As for prices, the drinks here cost around ฿40 (~USD1.10) for hot beverages and ฿50 (~USD1.40) for iced drinks. Considering the atmosphere and experience you’ll get, we’d say they are quite affordable indeed.
We’ve included a snippet above, in terms of a popular spot for pictures here as a teaser for the atmosphere we’re talking about. We love that the cafe offers guests an open dining area with panoramic views of wide paddy fields along with the rolling hills.
Whether you decide to sit indoors, or dine al fresco, definitely take your time to take in the views as you sip on your coffee or tea.
Getting to Doi Mae U Kho
Since the flower fields are only in full bloom as the year draws to a close, visiting this place will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity. If we were you, we would make sure to make the most out of this moment. Besides planning for the perfect time to pay these yellow flower fields in Doi Mae U Kho a visit, we’re sure Mae Hong Son’s other nature spots will give you reasons to keep returning to this beautiful province.
Do note that driving to Doi Mae U Kho from the downtown in Mae Hong Son could take up to 2 hours, so it’s best to plan your trip carefully. Having your own vehicle would be the most convenient. Hopefully, if you time your drive to avoid peak hours, traffic wouldn’t be a headache as well.
If you’ve been on the hunt for somewhere special to take your squad of friends or work fam, we hope you keep this place in mind. Feel free to share your stories from your trips with us too, after you’ve returned.
Doi Mae U Kho
Address: 1 Mae U Kho, Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son 58140
Telephone: +66 5361 2982
Google Maps
Cover images adapted from (Clockwise from Top Left): @aunkung_wara, @riverchat, @koncampfotocafe
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