Chiang Rai’s spectacular Doi Tung Range stretches from Mae Fah Luang in the south up to Mae Sai district in the north, with the Burmese border demarcating the mountains’ western slopes. These rugged peaks rise to over 1,500 metres and as with Chiang Mai province’s Doi Ang Khang, it was until relatively recently a wild and inaccessible spot. These days it’s frequented by minibus convoys of tourists (being too steep and narrow for coaches) and day-trippers from Chiang Rai where 30 years ago you’d have seen opium mule trains, KMT soldiers, Khun Sa’s Shan United Army and Akha women harvesting the chest high pink and white poppy flowers.
This is one of my favorite places I visit often, views are amazing and the roads are very quiet. This is the first part of the Doi Mae Salong and Doi Pui trail.