Mae Salong Tea Plantations: Tea, Mountain Roads and Jungle Adventures
Pranit is a small tea company from Mae Salong in Chiang Rai. On their own farm, at 926 metres, they grow Thai Assamica and Oolong No. 12 next to an orchard and wildflower plantings, and keep bees for their own honey.
They also buy small seasonal lots from independent growers across the north. We stock two of their teas. And if you want to see where they grow, Pranit runs guided rides through the hills as Adventure Mae Salong.
Pranit in our shop
Thailand is famous for its beaches, islands and big cities, but high in the mountains of Chiang Rai things look very different.
Mae Salong sits among misty hills, winding roads and green tea plantations. Its strong ties to Chinese and Yunnan culture make it one of the most interesting places in Thailand for anyone who loves tea and nature. Tea here is part of local history and daily life.
Discover Tea Culture in Northern Thailand
Mae Salong is one of Thailand’s best-known tea-growing areas. The cool mountain climate and high elevation suit tea well, particularly oolong and other local varieties.
A visit lets you see where tea is grown, meet local producers and taste it close to its source.
Out among the plantations, you see how much of the final cup comes from the land and the people who work it.
More Than a Tea Plantation Visit
The area also has a Chinese heritage and close ties to Yunnan traditions. You can learn some local history, eat Yunnan-style food and see a slower side of Northern Thailand.
Mountain roads run between the tea gardens, forests and villages. You can also ride them on a motorbike.
Explore Mae Salong with Adventure Mae Salong
Adventure Mae Salong runs guided motorbike trips that combine mountain riding with tea, local history and food.
The day begins at an organic tea farm run by a local Akha family. Guests get a guided tasting of premium teas from Thailand and China and a tea pack to take home.
From there the ride goes through mountains, valleys, jungle edges and tea country, with stops at viewpoints for photos. Guests can also visit a local war museum on the history of Mae Salong and its Chinese heritage. The day ends with a Yunnan meal.
There are three rides to choose from.
Mountain Road Ride
The most relaxed option. It stays on paved mountain roads past tea plantations, valleys, jungle and viewpoints, with no dirt trails or technical off-road sections.
It suits casual riders, couples, passengers and anyone who would rather take in the tea country at an easy pace than ride hard.
Off-Road Jungle Ride
For confident riders who want a hands-on day in the mountains. The route covers dirt tracks, loose gravel, uneven surfaces, inclines, jungle sections and rural hillside terrain.
You should already be comfortable handling a motorbike on mixed surfaces. This ride is not for complete beginners.
It is still a full day, with tea tasting, cultural stops and Yunnan food, only on rougher ground and into the more remote corners of Mae Salong.
Jungle Blitz
The fastest and most energetic of the three: a concentrated off-road ride through jungle terrain, loose gravel, mountain roads and remote viewpoints around Mae Salong.
It includes a guided off-road ride, a Yamaha PG-1 motorbike, viewpoint and photo stops, and POV footage filmed on an Osmo Action 4. Pick it if you want less sightseeing and more action, still in the mountains of Northern Thailand.
A Journey Connected by Tea
At Leaf & Spirit, we believe every tea has a story. It starts with the land where the tea grows and continues through the people who harvest, process, prepare and share it.
In a tea-growing region like Mae Salong, you can follow that story beyond the cup and taste the local teas where they are made.
For guided road, off-road and Jungle Blitz rides, visit Adventure Mae Salong and choose the one that suits you.