Orchid and Butterfly Sanctuary

Situated just a few miles north of Chiang Mai in the Mae Sa Valley, the Sai Nam Phung Orchid Nursery and Butterfly farm performs an important function for the region.Their cause is the preservation of rare species of indigenous orchids and butterflies.

Orchids have long been revered and celebrated in the Thai culture both through cultivation and their use in art and sacred ceremonies and holiday decorations.

However, much like the reverence for elephants has not translated to their protection, this love of orchids has not led to the conservation of their homelands.

Chiang Mai and the surrounding jungles are still home to over 473 species of orchids and approximately 1000 species of butterflies.

Many species, however, are now endangered due to forest degradation. In fact, several types of orchids found at Sai Nam Phung are now extinct in the wild.

The level of initiative taken by Sai Nam Phung to preserve these rare orchids and butterflies is an example of the type of conservation effort that the region will require in order to preserve its biodiversity into the future.

Those orchids and butterflies we have a chance to see in the wild can often be observed more closely at Sai Nam Phung. This is a beautiful place to spend an hour or so one afternoon.