Tung Roeng Royal Project Development Center

Rating: 4.2/5 (5 votes)

Open Days: Recommended to contact / make an appointment in advance (this is an operational area of the Royal Project Foundation)

Opening Hours: Recommended 08.00–17.00 (hours may change depending on field operations / season; please check before visiting)

 

Tung Roeng Royal Project Development Center is a great choice for anyone looking for a “Chiang Mai getaway” without having to compete for café queues or dramatic viewpoints. Tung Roeng’s real strength is the valley-and-forest atmosphere that naturally slows you down and quiets the mind. It’s not far from key attractions around Hang Dong, yet it feels like you’ve stepped away from city noise into a calmer rhythm. If you enjoy quiet trips—walking, observing local life, and seeing agricultural landscapes shaped by real development work rather than photo set-ups—Tung Roeng fits perfectly.

 

One story often mentioned is that, in the past, this center area was an important trial site for cool-climate flowers, especially roses, which once became a signature of the place—many people still remember the scent and the feeling of a “rose garden on the hills.” Over time, however, the center’s direction has been adjusted to match real conditions and community livelihood goals. Today, it focuses mainly on vegetable-based agriculture to create steady, practical income that suits local households.

 

The Tung Roeng Royal Project Development Center was established in 2521 BE (1978), with a clear mission: promoting agricultural livelihoods alongside watershed forest conservation. This addressed a major highland challenge in earlier decades, when shifting cultivation contributed to forest loss. The center’s work therefore goes beyond “what to grow and sell”—it considers the whole system: water, soil, forests, and the skills and options people need so communities can thrive without trading away the natural resources that sustain them.

 

The center’s service area includes 4 villages: Ban Mae Khanin Nuea (local residents), Ban Nam Sum, Ban Huai Kwang, and Ban Huai Mong (Hmong communities). The terrain is moderately sloped mountain landscape, at about 550–750 meters above sea level. This makes the climate warmer than high peaks, yet still cooler and more comfortable than the lowlands. Average temperature is often cited around 23°C, with moderate rainfall. That “just right” climate is what makes Tung Roeng suitable for a day trip or an overnight stay for a slower kind of rest.

 

If you see Tung Roeng as an agro-tourism trip, what stands out is how crops connect to seasons and real household income. You can visit avocado plots with a notable harvest period around June to November, and cool-climate vegetable plots that can produce year-round for some crops—such as chayote shoots and long purple eggplants. There are also demonstration plots for miniature roses, and greenhouse rose cultivation for cut flowers that can bloom throughout the year. Another angle is trial orchards of various fruit trees, such as sweet starfruit. Together, these show the center’s role is not only “production,” but also testing, learning, and gradually refining what works best for local soil, climate, and market realities.

 

But Tung Roeng’s charm doesn’t stop at farm plots. The cultural dimension—especially Hmong ways of life—adds meaning to the visit. You may see traditional games like spinning tops, as well as Hmong reed-pipe music. Local skills and crafts also matter here: Hmong embroidery, hemp-fiber weaving, silverwork, and knife forging. For visitors these might look like “activities,” but looked at more closely, they are community-rooted creative economies—another pathway for highland livelihoods that doesn’t rely on heavy natural resource extraction.

 

In terms of traditions, two seasonal highlights are frequently mentioned and can help with trip planning if you want to experience community life at its most vibrant. The first is the Hmong New Year, often held in January, when people dress in beautiful traditional clothing and gather at village activity grounds with games and celebrations. The second is the Buffalo Blessing / “tying the buffalo’s wrist” ceremony, held around June each year after buffalo have helped plow fields and rice seedlings have been planted. The ceremony includes words of apology and gratitude to the buffalo, reflecting a relationship between people, animals, and rice farming that is not merely labor, but a shared life grounded in respect.

 

Nature lovers also have several worthwhile nearby spots. First is “Tak Ka Tan Cave” in Ban Nam Sum. From the center to the visitor rest point is about 3 km, then it’s roughly a 300-meter walk down to the cave mouth. Inside, there are natural stalactites and stalagmites. From there, you can continue to the viewpoint above Tak Ka Tan Cave, with wide forest-and-mountain scenery and views toward Hang Dong and San Pa Tong; the distance is often cited around 3.5 km from the center. Another spot is Kaew Ta Chang Waterfall at Ban Pang Yang, about 5 km from the center; after parking, it’s around a 200-meter walk. These places are great for a nature loop that isn’t overly demanding, but gives you real forest air and a restful pace.

 

Souvenirs from Tung Roeng include both agricultural products and crafts. You’ll find seasonal vegetables and fruits such as chayote, eggplant, avocado, herbs, passion fruit, and other local produce. There are also value-added avocado products made by local women’s groups, such as shampoo and conditioner. Craft items can include silverwork, knives, and hemp-woven textiles or bags—ideal if you prefer souvenirs “with a story” rather than the same items you see everywhere.

 

For accommodation, information notes that the center has guest houses that can host around 20 visitors, and a camping area (campers need to bring their own tents). As for food, the center itself does not primarily operate a restaurant, but there are eateries run by locals or nearby resorts. If you’re visiting seriously, it’s best to plan meals and water accordingly, or stay at a resort in the area for convenience.

 

Getting There From Chiang Mai, take Highway 108 (Chiang Mai–Hot) through Hang Dong. At around kilometer 10, turn right toward Samoeng on Highway 1269. Continue past landmarks such as Krisada Doi Resort, Ban Mae Ha, and Ban Pang Yang. At around kilometer 15, turn left and continue about 2 km to reach the center office. The total distance is often estimated at about 32 km. Drive carefully as there are winding hillside sections, especially during the rainy season or when fog is present.

 

In short, Tung Roeng suits travelers who want a peaceful rest but still want “meaning” along the way—highland agriculture, living community culture and crafts, and nearby nature in the same trip. Most importantly, arrive with respect for the place, and you’ll feel that this trip doesn’t just take you somewhere—it helps you breathe a little deeper, too.