Doi Inthanon National Park protects the highest mountain in Thailand, 2,565 metres above sea level, about 90 km south-west of Chiang Mai. Allow around 2 hours by car from the Old City, a little less from Mae Hia, which sits on the south-western side of the city on the way out. The park covers cloud forest, big waterfalls, two royal pagodas on a ridge and hill villages growing coffee, and it is cold enough at the top that you will want a jacket even when the city is warm.
This page is about the park itself: what is there and what it costs. For the full plan with timings, tour versus private driver and the best order of stops, see our Doi Inthanon day trip.
Why go
Chiang Mai has temples and markets in every direction; it has nothing else like Doi Inthanon. The road climbs from rice fields through pine and evergreen forest into mossy cloud forest, and the temperature falls with every bend. In December and January the mornings at the top are genuinely cold, and in some years there is frost on the grass, which Thai visitors call mae khaning. Seeing it is a small national event.
It is also a place to see the variety of northern Thailand in a single day: the power of the waterfalls, the formal gardens of the royal pagodas, the quiet of a forest trail at 2,000 metres and the villages of the Hmong and Karen people who farm the slopes.
What to see
- The summit and the Ang Ka boardwalk: a short wooden boardwalk loop through moss-covered forest beside the highest point in Thailand. Cool, misty and very green.
- The twin royal pagodas: Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon and Naphaphonphumisiri stand on a ridge in terraced flower gardens, with wide views when the sky is clear. Pagoda admission is charged separately from the park fee.
- Kew Mae Pan nature trail: a ridge walk through forest and open grassland, one of the finest short walks in the north. It is closed in the rainy season, June to October, and a local guide is required.
- Wachirathan Waterfall: a powerful fall close to the road, at its loudest after the rains. Expect spray on the viewing area.
- Siriphum Waterfall: a tall waterfall higher up the mountain, quieter than Wachirathan and worth the short detour.
- Hmong and Karen villages: small markets selling vegetables, fruit and local coffee grown on the mountain. Stop for a cup; it is one of the nicest breaks of the day.
How to get there
- From the Old City
- about 2 hours by car each way. Most visitors come on a tour or with a private driver.
- From the airport or Mae Hia
- about 100 minutes by car. Mae Hia is on the south-western edge of the city, so you start ahead of the Old City traffic.
- By songthaew or Grab
- there is no practical public route to the summit; Grab is not suited to a full day on the mountain. Book a tour or a driver instead.
- Full plan
- see the Doi Inthanon day trip for departure times, the best order of stops and the tour versus self-drive comparison.
Tips
- Bring a warm layer at any time of year, and a proper jacket from November to February.
- Arrive by 09:00 to see the summit and pagodas before the clouds build up and the tour groups arrive.
- Keep cash for the park fee, the car fee and the separate pagoda admission.
- Kew Mae Pan is closed from June to October; outside those months, plan your day around it.
- The weather at the top changes fast. Check the view from the pagodas first if the morning is clear.
- For a mountain closer to the city, Doi Suthep is 35 minutes from the Old City. On a gentler day in Mae Hia, the flower gardens of Royal Park Rajapruek are a good match for the pagoda gardens.
- If you plan to visit Doi Inthanon, Mae Hia is a quiet base on the right side of the city, with drivers used to the trip.
FAQ
How much is the entrance fee for Doi Inthanon National Park?
Foreign adults pay 300 THB and children 150 THB; Thai adults pay 50 THB and children 20 THB, plus 30 THB per car.
What time does Doi Inthanon open?
The park checkpoint opens 05:30 to 18:30 every day.
How high is Doi Inthanon?
2,565 metres, the highest point in Thailand.
When is the best time to visit Doi Inthanon?
November to February, for clear skies and cold mornings; arrive by 09:00 for the best views.
Is Kew Mae Pan trail open all year?
No. It closes in the rainy season from June to October, and a local guide is required when it is open.
