Mae Salong Guesthouses and Resorts
It’s surprising for such a relatively small town but there is a pretty good selection of accommodation for travellers to choose from in Mae Salong.
Budget
If you’re travelling on a budget there should be many options to suit your needs – located throughout the town, including right in the centre where the main attractions are walkable.
The Shin Sane Guesthouse and Bungalows are a popular option, located in the heart of the Golden Triangle next to the morning market. It’s very basic accommodation but is a historic wooden building that provides an authentic experience in this fascinating area of Thailand. There are hot showers and bedrooms and bathrooms are clean and simple.
Another good budget option is Mae Salong Little Home, located next to the old Shin Sane and in front of the local mosque (no calls to prayer, don’t worry!). In spite of its central location it’s a pretty quiet and peaceful spot, and the bungalows are fairly new meaning that you get good value for money for a budget price. They’re well equipped with air conditioning, fans, hot showers and comfortable beds, and there’s also an onsite restaurant, making it a good base within the town for those on low budgets.
Mid-range
If you have a little more money to spend and want to stay in a historic location, the Mae Salong Resort is a good option on Doi Mae Salong. In days gone by this was a KMT training camp and there are still bungalows decorated in army colours! Be sure to try and ask for one of the newer rooms, and if possible negotiate on price, especially in the quiet season. It even has a small onsite museum and a small restaurant serving well priced and tasty food.
Another good mid range accommodation choice is Mae Salong Flowers Resort, which can be found on a hillside around 2 kilometres outside of the town. This is best if you have your own transport as otherwise it’s a fair old trek into Mae Salong itself to go in search of food and things to do. It’s set in beautiful gardens (hence the name!) and features various styles of rooms and bungalows. Rooms are good and there’s a big onsite restaurant serving quality Thai dishes at not unreasonable prices.
Finally in the mid range sector, there’s Mae Salong Villa which is on the main road just a few minutes walk from Mae Salong town. It’s a striking building, combining northern Thai with Chinese decor and the rooms are maintained well and most have balconies offering good views. Again, there’s an onsite restaurant although this is mainly targeting Chinese visitors, and it’s probably worth heading into town for dinner, especially as the walk back isn’t too taxing.
Unique Experience
For a really unique experience you can even choose to stay in the Akha village of Hloyo which is not far from Mae Salong, and gives you a much more off the beaten path option - perfect for adventurers! The accommodation here takes the form of a unique homestay, the Akha mudhouse, which is a traditional style home made mainly from mud and bamboo. This gives you the chance to experience local life, meet the villagers and to enjoy some locally prepared food. There are also a couple of options of rooms, from private spaces to cheaper shared rooms. Helpfully, this also falls into the budget category with most rooms costing less than THB500 per night.
