Doi Inthanon National Park

Location: Doi Inthanon National Park is in the southwest of Chiang Mai, about 120 kilometers away from the ancient city of Chiang Mai at the highest point.
Entrance fee: 300 baht (adult) / 150 baht (child) for foreigners
Opening hours: 6 am to 6 pm every day.
Reasons to visit: Thailand's highest mountain, famous nature reserve, with beautiful natural scenery

Doi Inthanon National Park is in the southwest of Chiang Mai, with the highest peak at 2565 meters above sea level, which is also the highest mountain in Thailand and the most famous nature reserve. You can enjoy the magnificent natural scenery, rich flora and fauna, natural forest trails and several excellent birdwatching spots here. You can also visit the royal projects, twin pagodas and hill tribes, and experience the culture and history of Thailand. Here is some useful information you need to know about Doi Inthanon National Park.

What to do in Doi Inthanon National Park

Hike on the Pha Dok Seiw Trail:

This is a natural forest trail, with a total length of about 3.5 kilometers, with multiple viewing points and rest points along the way, suitable for hikers. You can see the original forest landscape here, such as towering trees, lush vines, weird rocks, etc. You can also see some wild animals here, such as birds, insects, small mammals, etc. If you are lucky, you can even encounter some endangered species, such as clouded leopards, macaques, civets, etc.

Enjoy the spectacular waterfalls:

There are 7 huge waterfalls in Doi Inthanon National Park, which fall from the towering cliffs, forming a spectacular sight. Among them, there are 3 worth seeing, namely: Nam Tok Mae Klang, Nam Tok Wachiratan and Nam Tok Siriphum.

Nam Tok Mae Klang is a waterfall with a height of 100 meters, which is the highest waterfall. Nam Tok Mae Klang is at the entrance of Doi Inthanon National Park, and is also the easiest waterfall to reach. You can enjoy the full view of the waterfall here, or swim and play in the pool under the waterfall, enjoying the cool water flow. Nam Tok Wachiratan is located in the mountains, and is a typical cascading waterfall. The water flows on different steps, forming a beautiful rainbow. You need to walk along the forest trail for about 1.5 kilometers to reach it, but the scenery along the way is also beautiful and worth a try. Nam Tok Siriphum is a double waterfall, with two streams falling from different directions, forming a pool. This waterfall is located near the top of the mountain, and can be seen from the viewing platform of the twin pagodas. You can also walk along the trail to the side of the waterfall and feel the impact of the water flow.

Visit the Royal Agricultural Station:

The Royal Agricultural Station is an agricultural project initiated by the Thai royal family, aiming to help the hill tribes improve their living conditions, improve their agricultural technology, and protect the environmental resources. You can see a variety of crops here, such as coffee, tea, strawberries, corn, etc., and you can also taste the fresh agricultural products, such as juice, jam, ice cream, etc. You can also visit a flower research center here, and enjoy various rare flower varieties, such as chrysanthemums, roses, orchids, etc.

Pray for blessings and enjoy the view at the Chedi’s of the King & Queen (The Great Holy Relics Pagoda Nabhapolbhumisiri)

The Chedi’s of the King & Queen is a landmark building of Doi Inthanon National Park, which is built by the Thai Air Force to commemorate King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. They are two pagodas, representing their birthdays and constellations. The King and Queen Pagodas are located near the top of the mountain, about 40 meters high, with a magnificent appearance and exquisite interior decoration. It is a place full of sacred atmosphere. You can take an escalator up to the pagoda body, and then worship the Buddha statues here, pray for peace and happiness, and enjoy the view of the top of the mountain, including the highest point of Doi Inthanon and the surrounding valleys.

Climb to the summit:

You can drive all the way to the summit of Doi Inthanon, which is 2565 meters above sea level. You can see a huge wooden sign here, with the words "Thailand's highest point" written on it. You can also take pictures here to commemorate your climbing trip. You can also feel the climate of the summit here, which is much cooler than the bottom of the mountain, and sometimes even snows.

Useful information

Best time to visit: Doi Inthanon National Park can be visited all year round, but different seasons have different features and landscapes. The best time to visit is from November to February, when you can see the most beautiful scenery and enjoy the most comfortable climate.

How to get there:
1. At the south gate of Chiang Mai Old City, Chiang Mai Gate, take the bus to Chom Thong County, and get off at the terminal station Wat Chom Thong, and then take a songthaew bus up the mountain.
2. In addition, you can also choose to sign up for a one-day or two-day tour group of a travel agency, which can save you the trouble of arranging yourself, and also enjoy the professional guide service, generally around 1000 baht.