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(KM. 19. Closed December 10 to mid-April/May. Check with the TAT if planning a visit near these dates as the palace may be closed. For the rest of the year the flower gardens are open to the public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only from 8:30-11:30 AM and 1-4 PM. Entry free, but polite dress required. Sarongs and loose fitting trousers to cover lower legs may be rented for 10 Baht)
The Thais hold their Majesties in great reverence and many like to visit the palace, which is used by members of the royal family as a winter retreat.
The palace itself is an elegant, modern Thai-style building of moderate size.
Visitors may go as far as the front entrance that overlooks a terraced ornamental garden.
Entry to both the terraced garden and the palace is prohibited. Visitors must stick to a few paved walkways from which they may appreciate the rose beds.
The palace is closed to the public during peak flowering when members of the royal family may be in residence.
During the rainy season there are almost no flowers at all.
(Ban Maew - 3.5 km. From Phuping. 4WD)
From the palace a narrow road continues up the mountain. After one kilometer the road forks. The left (south) turn goes down to Ban Doi Pui, a Hmong village. The large car park leads to a "high street" that consists solely of souvenir shops.
The village also has a pleasant terraced flower garden where opium poppy as well as other flowering plants are grown for display.
There is also a hilltribe museum. Though the main income of the village is derived from tourism, many of the men also work in fields on the mountains slopes beyond the village.
The right turn at the road fork after Phuping Palace leads to the summits of Doi Suthep and Doi Pui (there is a fine view west after 1.4 km.). After the road drops from the first summit of Doi Suthep, a track to the right leads to San Khu, the site of a chedi. Offerings at the small spirit house emphasize the strength of local animist beliefs. Take the track downhill from the chedi for good walking and bird-watching.
The scaled road goes to Doi Pui, but in recent years the summit has, unfortunately, been closed to visitors. A dirt road (4WD) continues down to a plantation of the "Highland Coffee Research Institute" (4.5 km.) where you can taste fresh "Coffee Arabica" from Chiang Mai (30 Baht a cup) and further to the Hmong village of Chang Khian (0.5 km.).
See also: [Hiring a Vehicle] [Staying in National Parks] [Forest Types on Doi Suthep]