La Ong Fa Farm

La Ong Fa Farm is a durian conservation orchard in Ban Hup Luek, Khao Phra subdistrict, on the edge of Nakhon Nayok town — not the flower farm its name (Rainbow Sky) might suggest. Farmer Chom Sowantrakul started it in the mid-1960s after a major flood wiped out his original durian orchard elsewhere; he salvaged what cuttings and seeds he could and replanted here, and the collection has grown into more than 50 heirloom durian varieties spread across upwards of 30 rai.

The orchard works as much as a living seed bank as a tourist stop. Rows of mature durian trees, some grown from grafts the family carried out of the original flood, shade the paths that wind between the plots. Family members who work the land are usually happy to explain which varieties are which and why some are rarer than the Monthong and Chanee sold in supermarkets — this is a working conservation project first, a photo opportunity second.

The farm also serves as a nature-education stop for school groups and families, built around how a durian orchard actually functions season to season rather than a manicured display garden. Visitors get to see fruit at different stages of ripening and pick up the basics of grafting and orchard management, rather than just posing next to flower beds.

Durian ripens through the same broad April-to-June window as the rest of Thailand’s eastern fruit belt, and self-picking is sometimes available during the season, charged by weight rather than a flat entrance fee. Outside harvest months there’s noticeably less to see, so call ahead before making a special trip — availability depends on the year’s weather and how the crop is running.

Insider Tip: Phone ahead to check what’s fruiting before you drive out — a durian orchard between seasons is just rows of trees, however historic the collection.

Watch out: This is a genuine working farm, not a landscaped park — paths can be muddy after rain and there’s little shade infrastructure beyond the trees themselves.

Entry to the grounds is free. The orchard sits about 15 minutes from the provincial capital and pairs easily with the Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam or Si Ya Farm on the same day trip.