Mae Salong

[enigma6164]

Hi everybody

I was thinking of taking a visit to Mae Salong in the next couple of weeks. I've never been there before but i was warned that the road can be quite treacherous, i assume as to the condition of the road. I will be driving myself there in something like a Honda Jazz.

Can anyone give me any genuine feedback as to the actual condition of the road and whether you recommend going. It's a tourist attraction so i'm sure it's not as bad as they led me to believe.

Thanks

Enigma

[Riggi]

The road surface is fine. I went up on the Constitution Day weekend and there hasn't been any heavy rain since to cause any problems.

Only thing to be careful of is other traffic cutting corners on all the winding mountain roads. Especially tourist minivans!

There are 2 ways to get up the mountain. Just before you get to Mae Chan at a set of traffic lights (I think they are the first ones after the police check point) you can veer to the right to go to Mae Sai or keep going straight to go to Mae Ai and Fang.

If you go straight, there will be signage telling you when to turn right to head to Mae Salong. This route is a little longer, but has less traffic.

If you veer to the right towards Mae Sai, there will be a left hand turn at some traffic lights with signage telling you it is the way to Doi Mae Salong. This is the route all the tourist minivans take.

Last time, I went up the back way and then came back the main way via Mae Chan. All roads were fine.

Rich

[Firelily]

there is very little traffic on the road that goes from the south (branches off the road to Fang), and it was resurfaced sometime between July and December last year. perfectly fine road.

also worth going to Doi Tung if you are in that area. there is a back road connecting the two places, that one is not so great but still fine, and absolutely no traffic on it on new year's day, when practically half of Bangkok was up in the mountains but sticking to the main route.

[sceadugenga]

I must have gone up there three or four times last year and the roads are fine.

[enigma6164]

Hi

Thanks to all for the feedback and reassurance.