Chiang Mai is a large city in northern Thailand. It is full of culture, color, life, food, and temples. When you picture Thailand, this is a great example of that. Though the town itself is great for walking around, it’s recommended to either rent a car or driver for a day to get outside of the city. During your trip, head south west for about 2 hours to reach the park. Here is what we recommend doing along the way and how to have a great visit!
What is Doi Inthanon?
Doi Inthanon is a national park in northern Thailand. It is well known for the beautiful trails, waterfalls, and remote villages located at a high elevation. Covering ~480 km² that includes the highest point in all of Thailand. Due to the high elevation, expect chilly weather year round.
The park is home to tons of wildlife ranging from beautiful amphibians to unique bird species. One of the last kings in Chiang Mai requested the park to be protected which allowed for the flourishing of the nature area. Now it is full of flora, fauna, animals, and beautiful views.
Things to do during your visit
It is recommended to start your day earlier in the morning. This is because there is such a wide variety of things to do that you can easily spend all day exploring this area. Here is the list of our favorite things that we did in the Doi Inthanon National Park.
Highest Point in Thailand
Head to the parking lot just beyond km 48 on road 1009. After parking, there is an entrance that takes you to the boardwalk area. If you choose, it is possible to go to the summit then back to the car parking lot. Check out the small artifacts along the way of this walk. The sign for the highest point and the actual highest point are slightly separated as the highest point is blocked off. Many tour groups visit this area so prepare for a line if you are wanting a photo. The boardwalk leads to another parking lot where there are bathrooms (not the best bathrooms).
On the opposite side of this parking lot was what appeared to be a large radio tower and a mention of an observatory. It’s our understanding it is specifically utilized for the colleges. There is a small viewpoint if you go up the stairs of the small tower. We also grabbed snacks here. The ginger tea is delicious but the hot milk was not my style.
Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail
A trail that cannot be missed is the Kew Mae Pan trail. It does cost a bit extra (200 baht) because a guide is required. Do note, the guide is required purely as a way for them to create jobs for local tribes people. The trail itself is relatively easy. Wear solid shoes as the ground can be slick. It’s roughly 2.5 km round trip. The views from the top are stunning. We had a slightly cloudy day and it felt like you were above the world in the sky. The clearing let us see the two chedis and it looked magical! There are decently clean bathrooms and snacks at this location. The parking lot is a bit on the smaller side.
The Two Chedis
Find your fairytale moment at the two chedis in Doi Inthanon. The gardens surrounding them are stunning. So many bright and beautiful flowers with small ponds. A couple smaller waterfalls make the perfect setting to snag some photos. There are stairs and escalators to reach the top of each chedi. Though they are a ways a part so plan with enough time to walk between them and through the gardens. The chedis on the inside have buddha statues and the story of buddha is painted around the edges. We really enjoyed reading the history aspect that went along with the story. As with all temples, please respect the area by taking your shoes off outside.
Waterfalls and Village
Throughout the park there are multiple waterfalls. If you are only spending your day here, there should be time to visit a couple of them. We did not have enough time to explore them as we explored other areas that day in the morning and evening. There is also the Mae Klang Luang Village. From our understanding there are cafes and shops located here. It’s about 5 km from the main center area.
How to get to Doi Inthanon
When planning your trip, it is always important to consider transportation ahead of time. There are a few different options:
- Rent a car – pros and cons depending on budget and comfort of driving in other countries.
- Hire a driver – this is the route we took. We booked with Grab for 8 hours. It can be scheduled ahead of time sometimes.
- Join a tour – great option to decrease stress of planning and ensure not getting lost.
- Public Transportation – it’s possible to hop on a songthaew but it will likely take longer and you might have to change throughout the trip. There is also no guarantee of one being able to take you back.
Grab was our best friend while traveling in SE Asia. We loved being able to hire a driver for a full day and not have to worry about fighting traffic ourselves. It’s generally a very safe option. We took a nap during the two hour ride and it was perfect since we started super early in the morning. Grab also has safety features.
General Recommendations
- Bring a jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses, solid shoes for walking.
- Pack your camera, phone, extra battery, and tissues for the bathrooms.
- Pack snacks and water. There are places to get snacks as well for very cheap if you prefer.
- Stop at a few temples on your way out or back from Chiang Mai (Wat Phra That, Wat Pha Lat, and Wat Prathat Doi Suthep).
- Carry small bills, a few things cost extra and it is easier if you have smaller bills to pay for it.
- Have transportation in the park. It is too big to walk between locations and the main road is very busy without a sidewalk.
- Check out our links below for guided tours!
We hope you found this information helpful! Here’s a couple other blog posts that we think you will enjoy!
