The Colours of Doi Tung Festival returns in its 12th edition this winter, from December 2nd, 2025 to January 25th, 2026, taking visitors on a whimsical adventure in the highlands of Chiang Rai. 

The Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage invites event-goers to journey with the forest guardians of Doi Tung. Held every Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the festival transforms the Doi Tung Development Project into a vibrant landscape of flower gardens, highland culture, and community creativity. 

The Monsters’ Journey – Blooming Inspiration

This year’s festival concept is “The Monsters’ Journey – Blooming Inspiration,” a theme inspired by the Doi Tung forest guardians and the legacy of Her Majesty the Late Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, whose vision restored both local livelihoods and the highland environment.

Visitors travel through gardens patterned after tribal embroidery, community-led cultural spaces, and educational installations that illuminate the deep relationship between people and the forest. 

At the heart of the festival are five original characters created in collaboration with Mae Fah Luang University to help younger generations engage with nature, culture, and sustainable living: 

• Phi To (พี่โต): The kind-hearted forest protector of biodiversity, always looks after all life to live together happily. His companion, the Green Cochoa, brings a little color to his life with beautiful birdsong.
• Naka (นาคา): Guardian of land, water, and air, Naka is a symbol of harmony between nature and culture.
• Malee (มาลี): The voice of diversity and peace, Malee sees the world through a lens of equality.
• Akkhi (อัคคี): The fire of the Chiang Saen kitchen, Akkhi represents food wisdom and local ways of life.
• Sali Mueang (สะหลีเมือง): As the protector of the heart of Chiang Saen, Sali Mueang always welcoming visitors with warmth and blessings of happiness.

Each character represents a facet of Doi Tung’s identity, transforming the festival into a playful learning journey that blends tradition with modern storytelling.

In keeping with its nature conservation values, Colours of Doi Tung maintains its status as a Carbon Neutral Event through biodegradable packaging, borrow-and-return food containers, clear waste management systems, youth-led environmental booths, and exhibitions such as Nature Snap, featuring nature photography by Doi Tung residents. Visitors learn how restored forests, responsible tourism, and community-driven conservation come together on Doi Tung.

Colours of Doi Tung 2025 festival highlights

• Floral landscapes & highland culture: Stroll through the Tribal Embroidery Flower Garden, where textile patterns bloom as living displays. Take in cool-climate flowers and mountain views at the Mae Fah Luang Garden, and enjoy tribal performances, folk music, and ceremonies from Akha, Lahu, Tai Yai, Tai Lue, Lua, and Yunnan Chinese communities.
• Meet the forest guardians: Find Phi To and the Maan Maan guardians Naka, Malee, Akkhi, and Sali Mueang across floral installations, art spots, and activity zones. Join The Monsters’ Journey by checking in at character stations and posting your photos with event hashtags for a chance to win Bangkok–Chiang Rai flights, stays at Doi Tung Lodge, and special souvenirs.
• Markets, crafts and creativity: Browse more than 35 stalls at the Tribal Market and Doi Tung Market offering local dishes, handicrafts, and seasonal produce like Phu Lae pineapple and perilla seeds. Stop by Doi Tung Lifestyle shops and the Tribal Handicraft House, join workshops at the Fun Pavilion, or dress in full traditional costume at the Tribal Studio.
• Food, coffee, and chill corners: Enjoy highland drip coffee at the Doi Tung Slowbar Café and festival treats such as Choco Strawberry Slushy or Doi Tung vanilla soft serve. Try signature Royal Kitchen dishes made with ingredients from the project’s sustainable agriculture.
•  Night sky & seasonal festivities: Catch the Geminids Meteor Shower, Jazz in the Garden concert, and New Year celebrations on the mountain. 

Entry to the main festival grounds is free, with regular admission applying to key attractions such as the Doi Tung Royal Villa and Mae Fah Luang Garden. However, discounts apply for the elderly, students, and people with disabilities, with blanket free entry for children under 120 cm. On-site amenities include shuttle services, first-aid stations, and wheelchairs.

For more information and event updates, follow the Doi Tung Club’s Facebook page, Instagram account, and TikTok account.

About the Mae Fah Luang Foundation

Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra devoted her life to creating opportunities for people of every background. Beginning in the 1960s, she travelled to remote rural areas with volunteer medical teams to deliver essential healthcare and support. Her visits to isolated ethnic communities in Northern Thailand, which were often only reachable by helicopter, earned her an affectionate title used by the hill tribes to address Her Royal Highness, “Mae Fah Luang,” meaning “Royal Mother from the Sky.”

The Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage has spent more than 30 years restoring forests, improving livelihoods, and promoting sustainable development in the northern highlands. Through the Doi Tung Development Project, once-degraded land and former opium fields have transformed into a thriving watershed forest and a model of social enterprise.

“Colours of Doi Tung” is one of its key annual showcases, bringing together community pride, ecological care, and cultural storytelling to inspire visitors from around the world.

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