If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path delight in Chiang Mai, come to Khamthiang Tree Market. It is a real oasis for for crafters, families, and nature lovers.
Located just behind Chiang Mai's Tesco Lotus on the superhighway, this market is huge! It is an open-air area of more than 3 acres with just about any kind of tropical or sub-tropical plant you can think about. With thousands of plants, scrubs, trees, cactus and orchids, this place is perfect for a few hours of wandering.
At Khamthiang Market most stalls specialise so you will find one shop with 30 different species of orchids, another with 20 colours of bougainvillea, a third shop with hundreds of cacti. And then there are the trees and the plants... the place is so big you might even get lost.
Amongst the many tree shops in the market, you will also discover beautifully handcrafted garden ornaments: pots, fountains, statues, coloured stones and paving stones cut from every rock imaginable. You will also find a seed packet shop, should you wish to try your hand on planting a few exotic flowers back home, but don't forget to check your country's customs and quarantine laws.
The spirit of nature extends to the coffee shops which are located along the alleys, with some of them being real little gems decorated incredibly with flowers, trees and even fish ponds.
Even if gardening is not your top hobby, Khamthiang Market is a great place to visit; a good option is to go there in the morning or late afternoon, in order to escape the heat. Next to the market is the fish section with spectacular Siamese fighting fish and hundreds of Koi carps. It is another place not to be missed. Both markets open every day from 10am to 5pm.
KHAMTHIANG MARKET
Tambon Pa Tan, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai.
Phone: 082 759 3280
www.facebook.com/Kamthiengmarket
June 2023.
