Doi Inthanon National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Thailand! Located just 2 hours from the center of Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon is home to the tallest mountain in Thailand! It is also one of the few places in Thailand that you will actually be COLD!
Doi Inthanon National Park is also home to multiple waterfalls, amazing viewpoints, unique nature, and gorgeous temples.
While it’s not the easiest place to get to using public transit, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to get to Doi Inthanon, when to visit Doi Inthanon, and why this national park should be added to your list of places you must visit in Thailand!
All About Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon’s claim to fame is that it has the highest peak in Thailand. At it’s highest, Doi Inthanon Mountain is 2,565 meters (8,415 feet) high!
The mountain range that includes Doi Inthanon actually links to the Himalayas and can be considered the Himalayan foothills.
The national park is huge! It covers over 480 square kilometers (300 square miles) and is known as ‘The Roof of Thailand’.
This national park is very humid and usually quite cold year round. During the winter in Thailand it can even reach temperatures below freezing!
The national park is full of unique habitats – some of which can only be seen in Doi Inthanon! It is full of cloud forests, different species of mosses, evergreen trees, and also deciduous trees. You may even see cherry blossoms in the park during the end of January and beginning of February.
As well as the different landscapes, there are also many different animals in the park! Doi Inthanon is known as a great place to bird watch as it has over 500 species of birds! Some species are only found in this national park!
Where is Doi Inthanon National Park?
Doi Inthanon National Park is in the northwest of Thailand, close to Myanmar.
It is easiest to get to from Chiang Mai. From Chiang Mai it takes about 2 hours to get to the top of Doi Inthanon.
Most people will do a day trip to Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai, however there are also options to stay in the national park overnight.
How Much Does Doi Inthanon Cost
A ticket to enter the national park is 300 baht for adults and 150 baht for children.
It’s an additional 30 baht for a car and 20 baht for a motorbike.
If you want to visit the twin pagodas at the top of the mountain, it is an additional 40 baht per person.
All of these fees must be paid in cash! You should also have some additional cash for food and souvenirs.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Doi Inthanon?
The park is open from 5:30am-6:30pm 365 days a year. Keep in mind that the popular hiking trail, Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail, is closed from June to October (most of rainy season).
While we haven’t seen it personally, Doi Inthanon is supposed to have cherry blossoms at the end of January and beginning of February! I would love to return during this time as it sounds amazing to see!
While the park is open 365 days a year, try to avoid weekends and holidays. As we said before, this is one of the busiest national parks in Thailand. Avoiding peak times will make your visit much more enjoyable.
Rainy Season in Doi Inthanon
May to October is the rainy season. I would try to avoid Doi Inthanon during the rainy season for the best chance of a clear day. Doi Inthanon is already a very cloudy, humid place. While the mountain is always a bucket list location, it will be much more enjoyable with nice clear views!
Look at our pictures below to compare the pagodas on a clear day during April and a rainy day in June.
The positive of visiting Doi Inthanon during rainy season is that the waterfalls will have much more water! There will also be less tourists than the popular months of November-February.
Winter in Doi Inthanon
November to January is winter in Thailand. Doi Inthanon is already cold. If you go during Winter it will be even colder! During winter, Doi Inthanon has recorded temperatures below freezing!
However during winter you will be able to take advantage of all the amazing viewpoints in Doi Inthanon due to less rainy/clearer skies!
I would say this is the best time to visit Doi Inthanon (as long as you have warm clothes!). However this is also when you can expect the most people to be visiting. Plan accordingly and try to book tours and hotels in advance!
Burning Season in Doi Inthanon
The burning season in Chiang Mai usually occurs from the end of January until April. During this time the land is very dry. Fires are quite common. These can be either intentional agricultural fires, agricultural fires that got out of hand and spread, or even accidental forest fires.
Regardless of how the fires were set, they visibly make the air smokey. It can be more difficult to breath and also make the air hazy and less clear than normal. Many people avoid the north of Thailand during this time.
How to get to Doi Inthanon?
Most people who want to go to Doi Inthanon will start in Chiang Mai as it is the closest big city to the mountain.
Unfortunately there isn’t any good public transportation to get you to Doi Inthanon. Your only options are to drive yourself there or to take a tour. We chose the first option.
Rent a Car and Drive to Doi Inthanon
If I was going to Doi Inthanon tomorrow, this is the option I would chose!
It is a simple 2 hour drive between Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon. You can type Doi Inthanon directly into google maps.
You can follow highway 108 for over 50km. It goes from Chiang Mai city to Chom Thong. From there turn right onto route 1009 which you can follow the remaining 40+km directly to the summit.
Fill up your gas tank in Chom Thong as there aren’t gas stations inside the national park!
I think a car would be preferable to a motorbike as you will be covered from the elements – and trust me there may be many throughout this 2 hours drive! We started off covered in sunblock on the highway for an hour under the scorching sun. And we ended the day freezing and wet from the rain. All of this would’ve been avoided in a car!
Can You Drive a Motorbike to Doi Inthanon?
Yes, you can. This is what we did. While this option was the cheapest, it was definitely NOT the most comfortable.
As stated above, you are exposed to all the elements on a trip to Doi Inthanon. We started the day burning in the sun needing aircon and ended the day freezing and wet from the rain!
The road was also very steep in some parts which was a struggle for our little Scooby.
If you do choose to take a motorbike to Doi Inthanon, make sure you have warm clothes, a poncho for surprise rain on top of the mountain, and possibly even gloves as our hands were freezing.
Although you should also have sunblock and be prepared for hot weather for the hour that you will be driving along the highway with no shade.
Make sure to stop for gas in Chom Thong as there weren’t gas stations in the national park.
Join a Group Tour to Doi Inthanon
There are many different small group tours you can sign up for that will take you to Doi Inthanon. The prices on these vary a lot – as well as what’s included on them! Be sure to read what your tour includes so that you don’t sign up for one that skips things you want to see! Some good tours are available here, or you can find many tour agencies while walking around Chiang Mai.
Book a Private Tour to Doi Inthanon
If you don’t mind paying more for a more flexible option without other people, you can also book a private tour. You can find some online here or book through tour agencies in the city (you will see many if you walk around and look for them)!
What to Do
So what is there to do in Doi Inthanon National Park? There is surprisingly a lot! From hiking to multiple waterfalls to visiting hill tribes and the two pagodas, you can spend as little or as much time in Doi Inthanon as you would like!
Doi Inthanon Must Sees
Doi Inthanon Summit
When you arrive at the very top of the parking lot, there is a small trail in the back corner of the parking lot that directs you to the Do Inthanon Summit. Do not miss this trail!!! It is a very quick loop. Along the way you will see the famous wooden sign that says ‘The Highest Spot in Thailand’. It is also a gorgeous walk covered in every shade of green you can imagine!
Doi Inthanon Observation Platform
Also right next to the parking lot at the top of the mountain, you will see a platform on your left that you can climb up. If you come on a clear day you will have amazing views from here! Unfortunately we were not so lucky and we could only see clouds.
This is also a popular spot to watch the sunrise at Doi Inthanon! It’s famous for having a sea of clouds during sunrise.
The Twin Pagodas
The twin pagodas, also known as the king and queen’s pagodas, are about 5km from the top of the mountain. They are open from 8:30am-5pm and cost an additional 40 baht per person to enter.
The two stupas are named Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon and Naphapholphumisiri. They are buddhist temples that were made in honor of the King and Queen’s 60th birthdays. They are unlike any other temples that we have seen in Thailand!
Behind the Queen’s temple are the most gorgeous gardens! If the weather is nice you will have the most amazing views and photo ops from the gardens! This is the most popular place to watch the sunset in Doi Inthanon!
One tip: we initially drove past the pagodas as we wanted to go to the summit first. When we came back down to the pagodas, the weather had gotten SO much worse in less than an hour! Do not pass them on the way up because the weather can change very quickly at the top of the mountain!
Hiking at Doi Inthanon
Hiking, or trekking, is also very popular at Doi Inthanon National Park!
Ang Ka Nature Trail
The Ang Ka Nature Trail is another must see at Doi Inthanon!! It is just 2 minutes before you reach the summit (after the pagodas, before the top summit parking lot).
The trail is very short – only 340 meters. It is a one way, looped boardwalk through the cloud forest. While it is short, it is truly amazing! The cloud forest and the green moss makes you feel like you are in a whole different world!
It only took us 15 minutes to complete the loop, but that included many stops for pictures, videos, and to admire the scenery! Make sure you do this trail if you are in Doi Inthanon!
Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail
Probably the most famous trek at Doi Inthanon is the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail. Unfortunately this one is not as easily accessible as the Ang Ka Nature Trail.
It is closed from June to October due to the rainy season. Even when the trail is open, you need a guide to access it. Many guides wait by the entrance to take you along the trail. You actually can’t book them in advance! It should cost just 200 baht.
The trail is just under 3km long (less than 2 miles) and has some of the most gorgeous views of the entire national park!
Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail
The Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail is another popular place to hike in Doi Inthanon. It is a 2.6km linear hike that starts off the main road and ends at the Mae Klang Luang Village.
The trail an amazing way to see lots of nature, including the rice fields of the Mae Klang Luang Village. It is also the only way to get to the Pha Koh Siew Waterfall which is about halfway along the trail.
You also need a guide to accompany you on this trail. The guides should be waiting at the entrance to the trail and they charge 200 baht.
Waterfalls at Doi Inthanon National Park
Wachirathan Waterfall
Wachirathan Waterfall is the most popular waterfall in Doi Inthanon. It’s conveniently located right off the main road. It’s also very easy to get to as the waterfall is just a few steps from the parking lot.
Sirithan Waterfall
This is another of the most popular waterfalls at Doi Inthanon!
It’s also easy to access as you can park on the main road and walk a short 200 meters to the waterfall viewpoint.
Unfortunately you cannot go the whole way down to the base of the waterfall, but the view from the viewpoint is still worth it!
Siriphum Waterfall
This waterfall is not as easy to access. You need to hike a 1.5 km trail to get to the watefall.
If you happen to be here at the end of January to the beginning of February, you might get lucky enough to see all the cherry blossoms nearby the waterfall!
Pha Dok Siew Waterfall
This is the waterfall we mentioned above. You must follow the Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail to get to the waterfall.
You also cannot hike here alone. You need to pay one of the local guides to accompany you on the trail.
Other Waterfalls at Doi Inthanon
There are some more waterfalls located throughout the national park. These include the Mae Klang Waterfall, the Mae Ya Waterfall, and the Mae Pan Waterfall.
Mae Klang Luang Village
This is a small local village in the middle of Doi Inthanon National Park. It’s best known for the picturesque rice field terraces. These are best seen in the rainy season.
You can stop by the village for a quick bite to eat. They also grow and harvest their own coffee here!
I’ve read that there are huts here you can sleep in overnight, however I’ve found no information about how to reserve the huts.
Camping at Doi Inthanon
Another great option for adventurous travelers is to camp at Doi Inthanon! Camping at national parks is Thailand is quite cheap and easy. You can either bring your own tent and pay a very nominal camping fee, or you can pay a little more to use their tents/sleeping bags/pillows/etc.
While we have not camped in Doi Inthanon, I imagine it would be extremely cold overnight! Make sure you have enough warm clothing and blankets with you.
Camping in the national park is one of the best ways to make sure that you can get up to the summit for the once in a lifetime sunrise!
What to Take to Doi Inthanon
I’ll keep this short as the main things you need are warm clothes!
- Warm clothes – even if it is a very hot and sunny day in Chiang Mai, it might be freezing at the top of Doi Inthanon! And I mean that literally! The temperature at the top has been below freezing.
- Gloves – this is especially necessary on a winter day or if you are driving a motorbike.
- Rain jacket – similar to the weather being extra cold, it could also rain on the top of the mountain when you aren’t expecting it to.
- Cash – the entrance tickets are cash only, as well as many other things you may want to purchase inside the park. Take some extra cash with you.
[…] If you continue up the road a little further, you will come to the Pha Trom Jai Viewpoint. This is the top of the mountain and also the highest viewpoint in all of central Thailand! It is 1,290 meters or 4,233 feet above sea level. (Read about the highest spot in Thailand here!) […]
[…] sure you read our full guide to Doi Inthanon here! It’s a long drive on a motorbike (yet totally doable). Or you can sign up for one of the […]