The most beautiful natural sites to discover Thailand

It is possible to visit a number of ethnic villages located in the vicinity. There are also tea crops that will be of interest to amateurs: in particular a Chinese variety called Oolong. Contact the French Alliance of Chiang Rai.

The Umphang Reserve has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989. You can cross the reserve by raft (bamboo/rubber) over a 20 km route, passing through the following remarkable sites: Pha Woa cave, Gang Ta Kho Bi hot-water river, Khang Kao cave. Not forgetting the main attraction, the Thi Lor Su waterfalls, the "black waterfall" in Karen, the largest and most spectacular in the country, "discovered" just over 20 years ago.

You have to take a song-teo. The departure point is in downtown Mae Sot, a few hundred meters south of the mosque. Departures take place in the morning, approximately every hour from 6 a.m. (depending on the number of passengers) until around 2 p.m. at the latest: so be sure to take precautions and find out in advance so as not to miss the last transport! The journey takes around 4 hours 30 minutes and is not particularly comfortable. Umphang has to be earned!

The road is very winding and steep. It crosses a chain of small mountains, and you're treated to panoramic views of the local cultures or the jungle. The scenery is magnificent. Halfway along the route, you can stop for a toilet, a coffee or a snack.

Activities. The park is in many ways a remote area, but nothing insurmountable for those who really want to experience the charm of a more authentic, wilder Thailand... Give preference to local agencies!

This park consists of 51 islands, the most important being Koh Tarutao, Koh Adang and Koh Rawi. The agencies of Koh Lipe propose excursions there. The entry ticket, valid for 5 days, is essential to go to Koh Lipe, keep it carefully. This archipelago offers paradisiacal landscapes. Koh Tarutao was a penitentiary from 1939 to 1946, and the Talo Wao Bay prison is worth a visit to see the harsh conditions of detention at the time. Bungalows available.

The office is in the centre of Chiang Mai and the training site is 50 km away from the town in the middle of the jungle. Transfers from Chiang Mai are included in the vacation packages. It is a good way to discover Asian elephants, the importance to preserve them by feeding them, the bath as well as physical training methods. During the trainings, you will learn how to control the animal, how to bathe it and to ride it across the jungle. It is important to be well equipped before going through this experiment. Trousers and sandals are highly advised as well as mosquito repellent and a sun screen lotion. This agency is very serious and should be privileged as it is doing much for the preservation and well-being of Thai elephants. 

To enjoy a panoramic view of the valley and river, it is interesting to climb the hill that dominates the agglomeration. At the middle of the temples, at the level of the temples, the view already embraces the landscape and it only requires a quarter of an hour of effort. From the foot of the Buddha statue, you can see clearly the last meanders of the river that leads to mountain foothills before conquering in the plain.

An exceptional panorama is available from the heights of the island. The climb takes place from the village of Ta Sai on the beach side of Loh Dalum. The path (the staircase, in fact) starts not far from the new reception office of Maya Tour (the itinerary is signposted), with 25 min of «intensive» ascent. The first view is at the top of a long house occupied by a Thai family that has since opened a restaurant. Since the viewpoint is located on private property, the right of passage must be fulfilled. Provide good shoes and water. It is by continuing the same path as you can access Relax Beach and Loh Bakao Bay, among others.

From the rocks in above, unobstructed on the beaches of Loh Dalam and Ta Sai, and the cliffs plunging into the sea opposite. The beauty of the site seems unreal. It is preferable to climb around 16 h 30 rather than at the moment of the setting (18 h) when the colored rock walls still receive sunlight.

A second point of view is 500 m from there, in the north, following a small path that flows through the trees, descending first and then moving towards the main ridge. Here, installed all the top, a guesthouse has been set up: a long house with a wooden terrace. You can spend the night there. On the edge of the slope, a tiny terrace offers a different panorama, by a ditch in the middle of the trees. A third is a step further, by entering the forest.

The road is called n°12 green road because it provides access to various natural parks and waterfalls, the occasion for a nice trip of one or two days around the city. It is possible to get a menu with detailed information from the Tourist Office plan your itinerary.