Mon Cham

Mon Cham sits on a ridge above Mae Rim at around 1,300 metres, on land farmed by the Hmong village of Nong Hoi under the Royal Project Foundation - the programme that replaced opium poppy in the northern hills with temperate crops from the 1970s onward. What grows here is strawberries, cabbages, lettuce, herbs and cut flowers, terraced down the slope, and the village opened the ridge to visitors: bamboo tables and huts set along the edge where food is served with the valley dropping away below, flower beds planted for photographs, and simple accommodation. It became widely known through social media and is busy on cool-season weekends. The produce is real and the royal project connection is genuine, but the flower beds and photo points are laid on for visitors. The road up is steep and winding, and cloud fills the valley on cool mornings.

What you actually see

• The terraced crops - strawberries, vegetables and flowers under the royal project.
• The ridge tables - bamboo huts and tables set along the edge of the drop.
• The Hmong village - Nong Hoi, which farms the land and runs the site.
• The valley cloud - mist filling the ground below on cool mornings.

When to go

November to February; strawberries are in season from around December. Weekends are crowded; weekday mornings are quiet and give the mist. Half a day.

Honest expectations

The flower beds and photo points are laid on for visitors rather than being farm planting. Crowded at cool-season weekends. Steep winding access road. Small entry charge plus food.

Nearby

Mae Sa waterfall and the Mae Rim valley are below; Chiang Mai is south.