LIFESTYLE
Forget Japan Or Korea If You Want To Catch The Cherry Blossoms – Just Go To Thailand!
Each year, come April, hundreds of thousands of people flock to several Asian countries to catch one of Mother Nature’s best gift to the Earth – the cherry blossom season.
Those countries in particular are Japan and Korea. The cherry blossom season is indeed one of the greatest sights in existence. Plus, in this millennial era, it’s super Insta-worthy!
But with the soaring ticket prices, long-haul flights, and overcrowded parks, it will make you think twice if it’s really worth going through all that.
Well guys, it turns out that you don’t really need to sit through a six to eight-hour flight just to see this natural phenomenon.Apparently, there a few spots closer to home for you to be surrounded in pink mania – Thailand!
Yes, the land of yummy tom yum is home to several cherry blossoms locations probably unknown to us Malaysians. The blooming season happens only from December to January annually, though.
And before you scratch your heads thinking where and how to get there, worry not; we’ve prepared a list of ‘secret’ cherry blossoms spots in Thailand and how to get there.
Situated in the northern region of Thailand, Chiang Mai hosts an abundance of wild Himalayan cherry trees. And the best part about going to the northern side during the cherry blossom period is its chilly weather! So just imagine how pretty your pictures will turn out to be, with you wearing layered or light winter clothing plus an amazing blooming pink backdrop!
#1 Chiang Mai
Situated in the northern region of Thailand, Chiang Mai hosts an abundance of wild Himalayan cherry trees. And the best part about going to the northern side during the cherry blossom period is its chilly weather! So just imagine how pretty your pictures will turn out to be, with you wearing layered or light winter clothing plus an amazing blooming pink backdrop!There are a few places you can bask yourself in this sakura heaven such as the Khun Chang Khian Highland Agriculture Research Centre located within the University of Chiang Mai, Khun Wang Royal Agricultural Research Centre at the Doi Inthanon National Park in Ban Luang, and Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station in Fang City.
Entrance fees: 300 baht (Doi Inthanon National Park), 50 baht (Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station)
How to get there: You can take a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai via AirAsia. Flight journey is 2 hours 45 minutes.
You might think that Chiang Rai must be situated next to Chiang Mai, just like how Subang Jaya is bordering Shah Alam, but they’re not! Both destinations are separated by 200km and Chiang Rai definitely has its own charm.
#2 Chiang Rai
You might think that Chiang Rai must be situated next to Chiang Mai, just like how Subang Jaya is bordering Shah Alam, but they’re not! Both destinations are separated by 200km and Chiang Rai definitely has its own charm.Bordering Laos, Chiang Rai is also where you can find stunning pink cherry blossoms canopying the streets and hills. And the best part is, there are more cherry blossom spots in Chiang Rai then Chiang Mai!
Here are the locations where you can seek what locals call the ‘Tiger Queen’ or Nang Phaya Sua Kroang: Doi Chang (which is also famously known for its coffee), Doi Mae Salong, Doi Pha Tang, and Phu Chi Fah.
Entrance fees: 30 baht to enter Doi Mae Salong while other locations are free
How to get there: Chiang Rai is slightly further than Chiang Mai so flight time is about 2 hours 50 minutes. You can catch a flight directly from Kuala Lumpur via AirAsia.
To be honest, we’ve never heard of Loei before, although we admit it does sound like a luxury brand’s name. But if there’s anything luxurious about the place, it’s definitely the jaw-dropping view of 100,000 wild Himalayan cherry trees blooming gracefully at the Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, Phu Lom Lo. Wow, it’s like swimming in a sea of pink!
#3 Loei
To be honest, we’ve never heard of Loei before, although we admit it does sound like a luxury brand’s name. But if there’s anything luxurious about the place, it’s definitely the jaw-dropping view of 100,000 wild Himalayan cherry trees blooming gracefully at the Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, Phu Lom Lo. Wow, it’s like swimming in a sea of pink!Apart from cherry blossoms, the park is also every nature lover’s dream ‘playground’ – boasting 1,200 hectares of lush green landscape consisting of tropical trees, waterfalls, a myriad of flora, unique rock formations, mountains and many more. So, you might want to stay overnight if you’re planning to make a trip here and explore the park.
Entrance Fee: 500 baht
How to get there: There are a few ways you can travel to Loei. You can take flight from Kuala Lumpur to either Loei Airport or Phitsanulok Airport. Please take note that you will transit in Bangkok before making your way to your destination. Both routes take about six to seven hours from KL depending on your transit duration. Phitsanulok airport is about two hours away from the Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park while Loei’s airport takes about two and a half hours.
If you’re uncomfortable with transits or airports you’ve never heard before, you can alternatively fly directly to Udon Thani from Kuala Lumpur which is a five-hour flight via AirAsia. It will take you another four and a half hours to reach your destination.
So which destination would you travel to for a chance to get a glimpse of nature’s pink marvel? Once you've made up your mind, you can also book other attractions or services in Thailand at a discounted rate via Travelog.
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