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Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon National Park Day Trip to the Top of Thailand
published 24 March 2019
Being a lover of nature and the great outdoors, there was one national park in Thailand that was high on my list of places to visit, and my chance came late in 2018 when I visited Chiang Mai for the annual lantern festival.
If you prefer to see for yourself then go ahead and watch my Doi Inthanon National Park video now.
Getting to Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai
Getting to Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai is quite straight forward. Either you can rent a motorbike or car and drive yourself, or you can take a guided trip. I chose to rent a motorbike in Chiang Mai and drove myself. The drive was easy along good roads and took me about 1 hour and twenty minutes from Chiang Mai to the entrance gate of Doi Inthanon National Park. Once inside the park the roads continue in very good condition.
How to get to Doi Inthanon National Park from Chiang Mai
- Rent a bike Thb150 - ($5)
- Guided trip Thb 2000 ($60)
"You can easily spend all day exploring the Doi Inthanon National Park and immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the Chiang Mai countryside."
The first sign I saw at the park entrance said Thb 40 for a foreigner, but alas that was wishful thinking. On arrival at the ticket booth after queuing a short while it turns out the actual price was Thb300 (US$10) plus Thb 20 for my bike (or Thb 30 for a car). Children get a 50% discount. Although this was more expensive than other Thailand highlights I had visited in the Chiang Mai area such as Doi Suthep and the Floating Pagodas, it was still a small price to pay for the privelage of exploring what must be one of Thailand's most beautiful national parks. You can easily spend all day exploring the park and immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the Chiang Mai countryside.
Doi Inthanon National Park Entrance Fees (2018)
- Adult (Foreign): Thb 300
- Child : Thb 150
- Car : Thb 30
- Motorbike: Thb 20
"Wachirathan is a spectacular waterfall"
Once in the national park my first stop was at Wachirathan Waterfall.
Wachirathan is a spectacular waterfall which you can get quite close to. There is an easy paved path with a few small steps along the way and then you can stand at the base of the waterfall and admire the rainbows which glimmer over the rapids downstream from at the waterfall. As well the beautiful view points you will find a few facilities for your comfort here such as toilets, souvenir shops and drinks.
"From the parking area you can already hear the roar of Sirithan waterfall"
Next stop on my Doi Inthanon waterfall itinerary was Sirithan Waterfall. I was blessed with a beautiful day, blue skies and sunshine, but by now it was noticable that I was no longer in the lowlands, and was in fact not far from Thailands highest point above sea level, but more on that later.
From the parking area you can already hear the roar of Sirithan waterfall, and it is a pleasant walk along another well maintained path through the beautiful tropical forest to view the waterfall, which while not as majestic asWachirathan is still a beautiful waterfall.
After admiring Sirithan Waterfall and of course taking lots of photos it was time to head back on the bike again ready for the drive to waterfall number three on my Doi Inthanon day trip.
"By now I was well on my way towards the Summit of Doi Inthanon"
Waterfall number three for me was Siriphum Waterfall. This waterfall was the highest and tallest waterfall I visited in Doi Inthanon, from the parking area you could already see it towering above you. Another tree lined path criss crossing small streams leads the way to the main viewpoint for Siriphum Waterfall. Actually you don't really get that close to the main tall waterfall seen from the parking area, instead you get to a smaller waterfall further down the river.
By now I was well on my way towards the Summit of Doi Inthanon. There
are lots of other waterfalls to admire and rest at on your way to
the top of Thailand so arrive early and take your time to enjoy the
park.
"Two elephants mark the start of the path to the summit of Doi Inthanon, and then you start the meandering uphill climb made up of well spaced small steps."
So now, to the Summit of Doi Inthanon itself. Again there are toilets, drinks and souvenir shops here which were very welcome by this stage of the day, but of course what I have really come to see is the Pagoda marking the highest point in Thailand.
Two elephants mark the start of the path to the summit of Doi Inthanon, and then you start the long meandering uphill climb made up of well spaced small steps. It's not a steep or difficult walk and soon enough you will come across a large sign for the highest point in Thailand at 2565 metres above sea level. Just a few more steps and you will be at the shrine guareded by two more stone elphants.
"As the day draws to a close there was one last place I really wanted to visit before leaving Doi Inthanon"
This day started in Chiang Mai and so far has been a fun filled day of exploring waterfalls and visiting Thailands highest point at Doi Inthanon summit. The time has flown by and already I can see that the sun is starting its daily journey down towards the horizon. However as the day draws to a close there was one last place I really want to visit before leaving Doi Inthanon, and that is the King and Queen Pagoda. These Pagodas were built to commemorate the King & Queens 60th birthdays and they are both quite beautiful. Much more modern in feel than most of the pagodas you will visit in Thailand, and oh yes, there are just a few more steps....
The views from the King and Queen Pagodas were stunning, and it was the perfect place to watch the sun set at the end of another memorable day in the Chiang Mai region of Thailand.
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