Doi Inthanon National Park is not usually among the most popular attractions to see in Thailand, but it particularly caught my attention from the first moment I saw the photos of those two Pagodas with a modern and unique architecture located on the mountain.
I fell in love with that image and said to myself “I have to go…I don’t know how but I’m going to go.”.
In this post, I'll tell you how to visit Doi Inthanon Park from Chiang Mai, what to expect, and my tips for visiting.
Table of Contents
Where is Doi Inthanon National Park?
The Park It is located 60 km from the city of Chiang Mai, in the north of the country. The Doi Inthanon It is the highest mountain in Thailand, at 2,565 meters above sea level, and is located within the National Park (hence the name).
How to visit Doi Inthanon Park on your own
The park can be visited on a tour or on your own if you're feeling adventurous. As is my custom, I chose to visit it on my own.
Arrive at Chom Thong town
Assuming we are based in Chiang Mai, and we want to go and return in the same way, we must start early.
Our goal is Get to the nearest town to Doi Inthanon Park, which is called Chom ThongTo do this, you have to go to the bus terminal south of Chiang Mai, where several local services leave, and take the one that goes to the city of Chom Thong.
The area near that terminal is quite busy, full of shops and a lot of traffic on the streets. It's outside the tourist part of the city, so many people don't speak or understand English, so we have to figure out how to make ourselves understood.
Once they understood where I wanted to go, they told me which bus I was going to and where I should get off. The ride to Chom Thong takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
That trip was an experience in itself. I was the only foreigner on that local bus, which was packed with farmers and people who live in the surrounding villages. The route was also interesting, as we saw the different towns in the surrounding area.
Arrival in Chom Thong City
When I arrived at Chom Thong, the driver told me that it was my stop and I had to get off (luckily he remembered :P).
As soon as I get off, I find myself in a semi-ghost town. Where were the people? I don't know if they were taking a siesta or if it was always like that.
I wasn't very prepared, as information was scarce at the time. And I didn't have any internet data to search for options. I was kind of lost.
I walked around a bit and saw that at one of the temples in the city (or town), there was a driver standing next to an empty minivan. I asked him if he could take me to the Pagodas at the top of the mountain. Doi Inthanon Park, but he just laughed in my face.
He told me that taking me alone would be super expensive because I'd have to pay for all the seats in the van, otherwise it wouldn't be a good deal for him. Obviously, I ruled it out, but I asked him if there was another way to get there. He told me there's no public transportation to the pagodas, and that my only option was to rent a scooter and take it there on my own.
Ok, I thought at first... but I had a small detail... I've never ridden a motorcycle in my life, not even a scooter.
I knew that in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and elsewhere, it's common to rent motorcycles to explore the area without any license checks, but I'd never ridden one before. I was a little apprehensive.
My first time riding a motorcycle
It was the moment of truth, either I resigned myself and returned to Chiang Mai with my head down, or I took courage and took the risk on the motorcycle, without a license and without having ever driven one, alone, in the middle of a ghost town, without anyone knowing I was there and outside the orbit of other foreign tourists (local tourists do visit the Park).
I was hesitant. What if I fall and hurt myself? Or crash?
Unsure, I went to a motorcycle rental agency and asked how much the day's rent was and what requirements I needed to drive.
An automatic scooter cost 300 baht (almost $10) a day, and didn't require any requirements. It's common there for them to ask for nothing more than a photocopy of your passport. They don't ask for a license or anything else.
When I get on the bike, and the owner sees that I was hesitating a lot, he asks me if I've ever ridden.
I had to tell him yes, but that it had been a while, and that I needed to practice a little :D.
He made me take a spin to see how I was doing. If they'd seen how badly I'd started, they would have made me get off immediately, haha. I weaved and almost hit the wall. The man, slightly nervous, almost sweating, didn't know what to do. Since I expected it, I tried to reassure him, saying I was out of practice, but that I'd improve.
I don't know how, but he ended up letting me go...it only happens in Thailand :).
Now it was just me and the bike...no one could stop us now, haha. Luckily for me (and the bike's owner), the further I went, the calmer and more confident I felt. Plus, the automatic transmission made it easier to ride.
I went from uncertainty and fear to total euphoria. I'd never driven anything on the streets of Buenos Aires, but I learned to ride a motorcycle, alone, in a village in Thailand. These are the things that happen when you challenge yourself, even in Southeast Asia.
Already with more confidence and super happy, I faced the Doi Inthanon Park.
How to move around the Park
The park is large. Due to the long distances between attractions, visitors need a car, motorcycle, or, if necessary, a bicycle to get around the park (although with so many hills, I find it quite demanding for a bicycle).
I think it would be a bad idea to try to walk to attractions and take the main road. Not recommended.
How much does it cost to enter Doi Inthanon Park?
As of June 2022, admission to Doi Inthanon National Park is 300 baht for adults and 150 baht for children ages 3 to 14. Cars are charged 30 baht, and bicycles are charged 20 baht.
The Two Chedis are the only attraction within the national park not managed by the park; an additional 100 baht entrance fee per person is required to visit.
What are the opening hours of Doi Inthanon Park?
Doi Inthanon National Park is open from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, year-round. The park's main trail, Kew Mae Pan, is closed to the public from June to October for annual forest restoration.
Doi Inthanon Park guide map and directions
How to explore Doi Inthanon and what to do there
The park has one main road, Highway 1009, which is very well maintained. It is accessible from Highway 108, which connects Chiang Mai with Chom Thong.
The main entrance is located through a checkpoint at km 8 of the rural road, and the visitor center and headquarters are located 22 km inside the park.
As we walk further, we'll pass several temples along the side of the street. Some are more ornate, others more ordinary, but they're ideal for stopping for a while, stretching your legs, taking photos, and continuing on.
The road becomes steeper and winding as we approach the summit. Along the way, there is abundant vegetation, with beautiful views of rice fields along the road.
With just a few kilometers left to reach the summit, I finally find the two pagodas that made me fall in love at first sight.
The 2 Pagodas of Doi Inthanon (Two Chedis)
There's a large flower garden connecting the two temples facing each other. Their architecture was what caught my attention the most when I first saw them. They're unlike any other temples you'll see throughout Thailand, coupled with their epic hilltop location and beautiful panoramic views.
Unfortunately, one of the two pagodas was covered for repairs, but the other one could still be seen well.
Several staircases connect each temple. There weren't many people in the park, and the few who were there were all locals.
The monks come and go. It's a very calm environment, ideal for relaxing or meditating.
A viewpoint to enjoy the views of the region from over 2,000 meters above sea level.
Everything I saw here were postcards etched in my retina and on my camera. That's what I came to this place for, and I was fulfilling it.
This area exudes a peace and silence that makes you not even want to squeak.
After a good while of resting and contemplating the views, I decided to continue to the top on the motorcycle to see if there was anything else to discover.
To my surprise, I couldn't see much at the top. It's just full of trees and a large observatory. There's a short 20-minute hike through the forest, but it's not much.
My advice is to only go as far as the temple area, because there's nothing interesting to see beyond that.
Other attractions to visit within Doi Inthanon Park
They're marked on the map I left above. I didn't have time to visit them all, but most of them involve waterfalls and short trails.
Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail
Starting from the main road just a few hundred meters north of the two pagodas, this 2.5-km circular trail requires the company of a Hmong guide. The hike is easy to moderate, unobstructed, and well-maintained. Part of the trail follows a mountain ridge with a beautiful view to the west. Hiring a guide costs 220 baht; there are always some waiting at the trailhead on the main road and they can only be hired on-site.
The Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail is closed from June to October and reopens on November 1.
Ang Ka Nature Trail
A trail of less than 1 km through a lush, dense forest. The trail is entirely a footbridge. It begins at the summit of the park.
Pha Dok Siew Trail and Waterfall
A multi-tiered waterfall located midway along a 2.6-km trail that starts off the main road, about a kilometer east of the venue, and ends in the nearby village of Mae Klang Luang. During the rainy season, the village offers a picturesque view of the rice paddies on the hillsides.
The trail requires the accompaniment of local guides who wait at the trailhead on the main road. The fee for local guides is 220 baht per group.
Mae Pan Waterfall
Mae Pan is a 100-meter-high waterfall, located at the end of a 2-km dirt road off Mae Chaem Road, away from Doi Inthanon's other attractions. It is the highest waterfall in the park. Due to its relatively remote location, it is rarely visited by local tourists, who prefer to stop at the first four or five waterfalls on the way to the park. The trail to the waterfall can be very slippery, but it is well worth the effort. In addition to the waterfall, there is a shorter loop trail that can be hiked in less than two hours.
There is a campsite in the Mae Pan area, but tents are not available for rent and there are no restaurants nearby.
For more information you can check the official website of Doi Inthanon Park.
Visit Doi Inthanon Park on a tour
Back to Chiang Mai…or not?
It was already late afternoon and I had to go back to catch the bus back to Chiang Mai.
I started to accelerate the bike to pick up the pace. BIG MISTAKEThe descent near the top is steep and winding. For a novice like me, it could be treacherous…and it was.
On one of the sharp turns, I leaned the bike too far and ended up falling to the asphalt. Nothing happened to me, except for a few scratches, and the bike was still running, so I thought everything was fine. I picked it up, luckily it started, and I continued on until I reached Chom Thong.
When I returned it, the owner, visibly pleased that it was back in one piece :D, asked me if everything was okay. I told him yes, since the bike was running fine and had no damage, so I avoided mentioning the fact that I had fallen. I said goodbye, everyone happy, and headed to the bus stop.
If it had ended there the story would have been great...but no :(.
After waiting 15-20 minutes for the bus, the owner approached the stop and asked me to come back. He showed me several scratches on the bike and told me they weren't there before. He said he had to pay for the repairs.
He demanded 1,000 baht ($31) for the repairs. Since the man didn't speak English well, he called someone else to translate for him. After some negotiation, they finally got the price down to 800 baht ($24).
Once we've agreed and I give them the money, I ask them when the next bus to Chiang Mai is due. They look at each other and tell me the last one had been two hours ago.
CURSE!!! Everything is going wrong for me today (I told myself).
The owner of the establishment, the translator, and another guy who were there must have seen my resigned face and took pity on me.
They offered me water and beer, trying to cheer me up. They gave me back 200 baht of the 800 I had paid them, so I could buy some food and pay for accommodation in the village. They turned out to be geniuses.
I had to spend the night there so that the next day the bus could return to Chiang Mai early.
Final thoughts on a visit to Doi Inthanon Park
Beyond all the things that happened to me, both negative and positive, I had a unique and unrepeatable day on the trip I was taking through Southeast Asia.
I had several moments of uncertainty and disappointment, from having to learn to ride a motorcycle in Thailand, to having to fall, to having one of the pagodas obscured, to missing the last bus and having to find a hotel there, to spending much more than I had originally planned. It was exhausting, but there were some rewarding moments.
I learned to ride a scooter on the other side of the world. I saw the temples I wanted to visit, unique, and with landscapes I loved. I felt the kindness of people firsthand when they helped me find a hotel and refunded me part of my money.
The combination of all these events and feelings meant that even today, years later, I still remember them with happiness.
So, Is Doi Inthanon Park worth visiting?
For me, yes. Whether you're on a tour with others or exploring it on a rented motorbike, you'll have plenty of beautiful sights to see. It's a unique experience, one that most people who pass through Chiang Mai ignore.
It's important to keep in mind the bus schedules for returning. At that time, the last one was at approximately 6 p.m., although it's best to ask carefully.
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