Sakura spots in Thailand
When it comes to hunting down the pastel pink flurries called sakura that our IG dreams are made of, Japan holds the key. But that doesn’t mean we have to stave off all things good until we save up for an air ticket across the South China Sea because we can also have a cherry blossom-themed holiday right here in Thailand.
If you’re looking for a nearby vacay to escape the sweltering heat and tick new experiences off your bucket list, here are 13 amazing Sakura spots where you can frolic under cherry blossom trees without the exorbitant plane ticket. These cherry blossom trees bloom from December through February so they are picture-perfect places to spend your end-of-year holiday.
— Chiang Mai —
1. Khun Chang Khian Highland Agriculture Research Centre (สถานีวิจัยและศูนย์ฝึกอบรมเกษตรที่สูงขุนช่างเคี่ยน) — a pink wonderland in Chiang Mai
Image credit: @ku8a via Instagram
Sporting a sister variety of the sakura called the Wild Himalayan Cherry or the “Tiger Queen” amongst locals, Khun Chang Khian is a pink wonderland tucked away amid Suthep-Pui Mountain, just an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai’s airport. It’s one of the most convenient sakura spots in Thailand to visit.
Image credit: @ariyarid via Instagram
The journey by songthaew (pick-up truck) – a common mode of transportation up the mountain – will take you a bumpy 40 minutes but the view up top is so convincing that you’ll momentarily forget you’re even in Thailand.
Strawberry picking at the farms.
Image credit: @shane2080 via Instagram
And if you’ve more time to spare, the Hmong villages atop the mountain hide a couple of authentic coffee houses and even strawberry farms for you to literally reap the fruits of your labour and pick your own punnet for the journey home.
TSL Traveller Tip: Don’t miss out on local delicacies like the sai-ua (northern Thai sausages) and dark purple sweet potatoes.
Address: Huai Kaeo Road | Suthep Subdistrict, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Opening hours: 12pm-12am, closed on Tuesday
Coordinates: Google Maps
2. Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station (สถานีเกษตรหลวงอ่างขาง) — one of the most magnificent garden parks in Thailand
Image credit: @rawang.thang via Instagram
Not only will you get to bask under full cherry blossom branches, but you’ll also get to enjoy a taste of winter with temperatures in Ang Khang dropping to as low as -3ºC at night!
Image credit: @aom_amp via Instagram
Standing at 1,400 meters above sea level with cool weather all year round and sprawled out over 318.24 hectares, the Royal Agricultural Station is one of the most magnificent garden parks in all of Thailand with its painstakingly manicured grounds home to a wide variety of highland crops, flowers, and temperate fruits – cherry blossoms being their seasonal highlight.
Entry to the park will set you back ฿50 (~USD1.43) per person and an additional ฿50 (~USD1.43) per car if you’re making the drive up, but we recommend allocating at least a full day to explore all 318.24 hectares of the grounds and take in all the beauty that is around you.
Mon Sone View Point. Image credit: @viewfinder_thailand via Instagram
For more adventure, bring along your camping gear and spend a night atop the mountain at the Mon Sone View Point.
Address: Moo 5 Mae Ngon District, Fang District, Chiang Mai 50320
Opening hours: 7am-5pm, Daily
Entrance fee: ฿50 (~USD1.43)
Coordinates: Google Maps
3. Khun Mae Ya (ขุนแม่ยะ) — a great spot to camp overnight for sightseeing Chiang Mai’s wildlife
Image credit: Pai Let’s Go!
Even though it’s rather morbid, we can thank a fire breaking out on Khun Mae Ya for the cherry blossoms we have today. The now-thriving pine and cherry forest make for a great spot to camp overnight in the presence of Chiang Mai’s wildlife.
Getting to the site is a 3-hour mountain drive through Routes 108 and 3033 from Chiang Mai airport, so you’ll need to plan the journey well ahead to pitch your tent before dark. As day turns to night, it’s a brilliant location to recharge and spend time with nature under the cherry trees as you look through the canopy of flowers into a starry sky.
Khun Mae Ya campsite
Image credit: @nokty_airline via Instagram
TSL Traveller Tip: Prepare to bring food along as there are limited facilities throughout the night if you get hungry. If you do, rent a charcoal stove from park management, make use of water taps within the grounds and visit the nearby grocery shop for instant noodles and coffee if you’re hungry for a midnight snack, but strictly no campfires allowed lest a repeat fire!
Address: Pong Sa, Pai District, Mae Hong Son 58130
Coordinates: Google Maps
4. Khun Wang Royal Agricultural Research Centre (ศูนย์วิจัยเกษตรหลวงเชียงใหม่ ขุนวาง) — a research centre full of Sakura trees
Image credit: @hisundays via Instagram
Khun Wang is the second royal agricultural project on the list. Also worthy of royalty is its hill sakura, which grows to a deep shade of pink during full bloom along the slopes of Doi Inthanon National Park.
And don’t just prepare your cameras and phones for the trip up, aside from the cherry trees, Doi Inthanon is also home to many fruits – Chinese pears, plums, peaches, nectarines, and strawberries – all of which are free for picking and tasting!
Doi Inthanon National Park.
Image credit: @j.n_world via Instagram
If you prefer your flora with fauna, take the time to do some bird watching to spot some of the many species of birds flitting from tree to tree. The centre also has 4 guest houses, perfect for groups of 4-8 visitors, in case you’re looking to spend more than just a few hours surrounded by nature.
Address: JGH4+5XC, Mae Win, Mae Wang District, Chiang Mai 50360
Opening hours: 8AM-4PM, Daily
Coordinates: Google Maps
— Chiang Rai —
5. Phu Lom Lo (ภูลมโล) — home to natural beauty
Image credit: @mixrinho via Instagram
It’s easy to see why the mountain of Phu Lom Lo was once used as a military base from the sheer size of Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park stretching 1,200 hectares, covering the provinces of Phitsanulok, Loei, and Phetchabun. With more than 100,000 cherry trees peppering its plains, there’s no limit to the number of beautiful pictures you’ll be able to take.
Image credit: @aoftine via Instagram
Be sure to layer up – the mountain does get a fair bit of wind on top of the 4-8ºC temperature in the early mornings.
Man Daeng Waterfall in Phu Hin Rong Kla
Image credit: @weirdkaewie via Instagram
Apart from flowers, there are plenty of other natural wonders like caves and waterfalls within the park itself, providing nature lovers with plenty to do. And while swimming in the winter months isn’t advisable, you can always plan a trip back in the summer months between May and September!
Address: Kok Sathon, Dan Sai District, Loei 42120
Opening hours: 7am-5pm, Daily
Entrance fee: ฿40 (~USD1.15)
Contacts: +66 8 1596 5977 | Google Maps
6. Doi Chang (ดอยช้าง) — grab a cup of arabica coffee and explore cherry blossoms
Image credit: Changrai Times
Catching the cherry trees in full bloom is a rare affair, and it’s even rarer to catch a large number of them blooming at the same time. So, if your motto is “Go Big or Go Home“, then the 500,000 Sakura trees up in Doi Chang will increase your chances of sighting them!
While you’re here, visit the Chiang Rai Highland Agricultural Extension Centre, where poppies, petunias and begonias proliferate – great for flower lovers who haven’t got their fill. They’re grown for experimental purposes – think Frankenstein, but in a pleasant flower form – which you can frolic amidst Mary Poppins-style with no judgment thanks to the low-key location.
TSL Traveller Tip: Don’t leave Doi Chang without a taste of their world-famous arabica coffee!
Address: Wa Wi, Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai 57180
Coordinates: Google Maps
7. Doi Pha Tang (ดอยผาตั้ง) — boasts cherry blossoms in Chinese minority villages
Image credit: @yaiibua via Instagram
Get into the tribal mood 2 hours away from Chiang Rai at Doi Pha Tang, which is home to several native Chinese minority villages all within walking distance of each other. And if you’re wondering why this is important, it’s because the cherry blossoms line the mountain roads between the villages.
Image credit: @noipoloi via Instagram
And if you’ve had enough of tom yum and boat noodles, you can always get your Chinese food fix at one of the nearby Yunnan restaurants or sample fresh local apricots, peaches and Chinese pears at one of the roadside fruit stalls.
Address: 17, Po, Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai 57310
Coordinates: Google Maps
8. Phu Chi Fah (ภูชี้ฟ้า) — a fantastic place to enjoy a commanding view of mountains and fog
Image credit: @cchinpat via Instagram
To catch a glimpse of the landscape spanning Thailand and Laos, Phu Chi Fah or “mountain pointing to the sky” is an ideal spot with its breathtaking views from high above the ground.
Image credit: @backpackaholic via Instagram
Cherry trees line the peak of Phu Chi Fah, with green gradually yielding to pink as you make your way to the top.
Image credit: @papae_foto via Instagram
And whether you’re an early riser or a nocturnal owl, the peak is where you’ll be able to catch two things:
1) The best view of the sunrise in all of Thailand
2) Thousands of stars contrasting a jet-black sky
Address: Moo 10, Po, Tap Tao, Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai 57310
Coordinates: Google Maps
9. Doi Mae Salong (ดอยแม่สลอง) — dubbed a miniature Yunnanese Shangri-La
Sinakarintra Stit Mahasantikhiri Pagoda.
Image credit: @shogo_gondo via Instagram
Dubbed a miniature Yunnanese Shangri-La because of its strong ties to Southern Chinese culture, the view of the mountains here is comparable to Sapa in Vietnam, except without the tiresome hiking.
Don’t like leaving your trip to chance? Then the Doi Mae Salong Tea & Sakura Festival that runs from 28th Dec – 2nd Jan will almost guarantee you a mountain full of whitish pink cherry blossoms in bloom. These are also known as the rare Dok Nang Phaya Suea Khrong, a species of blossoms rarely spotted in Thailand because of the cold climate required for its growth.
Image credit: @jhane7 via Instagram
Not only does the festival celebrate the fleeting beauty of the sakura, but it also gives recognition to Doi Mae Salong’s thriving production of oolong tea – said to be some of the best in the world! Catch cultural performances from ethnic groups, taste Thailand’s best teas, and buy handicrafts and items made by local tribes during the festival.
Address: Mae Salong Nok, Mae Fa Luang District, Chiang Rai 57110
Coordinates: Google Maps
—Nan —
10. Khun Sathan National Park (ขุนสถาน) — features a cave with mesmerising stalagmites and stalactites
Image credit: @nnamchr via Instagram
Cherry blossoms flourish in Khun Sathan because of its high altitude and abundance of water, with many rivers and streams. The best place to view these blossoms is from the Water Source Research Station – just 2km from the main office.
Image credit: makalu57
Or if you’d like to get an authentic Bruce Wayne experience sans bats, visit Pha Nang Khoi Cave where you can view the mesmerising stalagmites and stalactites and an internal stream within the 1.8-kilometre cave.
Address: 3, Moo 3, San Tha, Na Noi District, Nan 55150
Coordinates: Google Maps
11. Doi Phu Kha (ดอยภูคา) — capture the beauty of not only cherry blossoms but also Bretschneidera sinensis trees
Doi Phu Kha is another good spot in Nan where you can sightsee and take photos of yourself with scenic cherry blossoms on the hills. The route that will get you here — Route 1256 — is called ถนนลอยฟ้า or “Floating roads” in English as you can see a sweeping view of overlapping green mountains along the way.
Image credit: @mymild via Instagram
Beyond the enchanting cherry blossoms, another highlight worth mentioning is Bretschneidera sinensis which is said to be a rare plant species that you can’t find elsewhere but at Doi Phu Kha.
FYI, February presents the prime opportunity to admire the blossoms of Bretschneidera sinensis, as it marks their flowering season.
While you’re here, don’t forget to visit Viewpoint 1715. It’s a treasured spot where tourists love to come and capture the spectacle of the sunrise.
Address: Phu Kha, Pua District, Nan 55120
Entrance fee: ฿200 (~USD5.74) for foreigners
Contacts: Phu Kha National Park’s Facebook | Google Maps
— Phetchabun —
12. Phu Thap Buek (ภูทับเบิก) — 6-hour drive from Bangkok
Image credit: @re_chah via Instagram
If you’re seeking a Sakura spot that’s close to Bangkok, Phu Thap Buek could be a choice that goes into your thoughts, with a 6-hour drive from the city. We know that sounds like a long journey, but compared with the places mentioned above, it’s closer.
Image credit: มติชนออนไลน์
Phu Thap Buek is known as a spot to enjoy a view of thick fog, but it’s also one of the lesser known Sakura spots in Thailand. Many hikers have reported seeing plentiful sakura flowers, attracting many travellers. Some sightseers even stated that the beauty of cherry blossoms in Phu Thap Buek is as fantastic as anywhere else.
As you explore Phu Thap Buek, you will be embraced by a thick sea of fog. It makes for an atmospheric and beautiful setting, despite the visual difficulties.
Hopefully, you spare some time to pay a visit to Wat Pha Phu Thap Buek, located on the top of the hill. The temple is the highest in Thailand. The temple looks a bit mysterious and charming at the same time since it’s hidden away in fog during the winter.
Address: Kok Sathon, Dan Sai District, Loei 42120
Coordinates: Google Maps
— Phitsanulok —
13. Ban Rong Kla (บ้านร่องกล้า) — an idyllic village with Japanese vibes
Image credit: @doublebok via Instagram
For fans of Japan, Ban Rong Kla could be a place you find yourself coming back to over and over. This village holds its pride in rural Japanese vibes and a Sakura gem. It has a local temple where you can go up and enjoy a lovely view of the village with abundant cherry blossoms scattered around, making it a perfect location to capture the charm of this place.
Image credit: @iammaczey via Instagram
Hmong and Thai people live together in this village, so you can notice a unique mix of the local cultures. The people here are very friendly and welcoming.
Ban Rong Kla sits close to Phu Lom Lo; therefore, you can drop by this village while making a journey to Phu Lom Lo. But if you wish to stay overnight, you can find many accommodation options, starting from ฿800 (~USD22.87) per night.
Address: Noen Phoem, Nakhon Thai District, Phitsanulok 65120
Coordinates: Google Maps
Tick cherry blossoms off your bucket list with these Sakura spots in Thailand
These Sakura spots in Thailand can bloom as beautifully as those in Japan, so they’re worth checking out if you’re on a budget. The Sakura season in Thailand varies depending on the annual climate, but odds are full bloom happens between late December to February, sometimes even until March if temperatures have been soaring throughout the year.
Regardless of which site you’re visiting on this list, it’s always a great idea to do your research and preparation before visiting. That way, you’ll be able to maximise your likelihood of catching the cherry trees in all their budding glory.
For more travel ideas, make sure you check out 14 Bangkok Night Markets to visit, 8 Bangkok draft & craft beer bars to sip & savour on a get-together night, and 8 Christmas markets in Bangkok you can explore for gift shopping.
Cover image adapted from: @doublebok via Instagram, @mixrinho via Instagram, and @backpackaholic via Instagram
This post was originally written by Alex Tan for The Smart Local Singapore in collaboration with Amazing Thailand and updated by Bank Fasaisirinan in December 2023