Mon Cham

Mon Cham sunset.

Have robocar will travel and after Doi Inthanon we enjoyed another high altitude afternoon exploring Mon Cham.

About a 40 minute drive north of Chiang Mai (head to Mae Rim, look for the Mae Sa turn-off sign take a left and keep going) and 1,400 metres up, Mon Cham was a brilliant destination choice for a Sunday drive.

The steep and windy road up is as spectacular and epic as the summit, especially in early February when quite a few trees are in blossom.

Also eye-catching was an open air cafe/bar about three quarters of the way up, that in addition to coffee, drinks and snacks offers a stupendous view of the surrounding hills and valleys to its customers.

Closer to the top was the beautiful Mon Cham soccer ground.

The Mon Cham 'field of dreams' - this photo doesn't do it justice.

Tucked away off the highway, this mini field of dreams is stunningly picturesque thanks to its perfect playing surface, a jungle backdrop on one side, grape vines on the other, and a strawberry patch behind one of the goals. Given this 'slice of heaven' footballing setting, I guess it was no surprise that the local team is Christ FC.

Yes, this is where the grapes sold in the supermarket come from.

Refreshing sunset beer at Baan Mon Muan.

After many stops for photos shoots and a bit of grape and strawberry picking we finally made the Mon Cham summit in the late afternoon.

The peak was recently developed as a tourist attraction with new gardens, huts, a camping site, a restaurant and walkways to attract a wide range of visitors - here's a good and informative article about the summit area and its attractions.

The final port of call was the Baan Mon Muan hotel for dinner. Just 10 minutes drive from the peak, this beautiful rustic hillside resort is a super spot to enjoy a sunset drink and meal in one of the most scenic and cool parts of northern Thailand.

Built for Sunday afternoons - the Baan Mon Muang gardens.