Is Doi Inthanon Worth Visiting on Trips to Thailand?

We knew we wanted to visit an elephant sanctuary as a day trip from Chiang Mai, but we didn’t really have any other plans for adventures outside of the city.

It only took a little research to find a gem that promised us a few things we love in travel, namely waterfalls and opportunities to hit the trails.

Doi Inthanon National Park, aptly nicknamed the roof of Thailand, offered both.

While it took a bit of maneuvering in our plans to make our visit to the park happen, we’re so glad we did. Read on to learn more about this special place for yourself.

Is Doi Inthanon worth visiting?

Doi Inthanon National Park is worth visiting for its beautiful scenery, waterfall trails, and opportunities for wildlife spotting.

It’s also known as the rooftop of Thailand. The moniker comes from Doi Inthanon, the country’s highest mountain, a highlight of the park. You’ll also get waterfalls, hiking trails, and a chance to visit a king and queen at this national park.

How to Get to Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon is about a two-hour drive from Chiang Mai. The easiest way to experience the park and what surrounds it is on a small group tour, private tour through a tour company, or with a hired car.

We had every intention of visiting Doi Inthanon National Park on our own, as we’re usually the sort who like to see things independently. We had planned to rent a car, even had the route planned out, and were ready to tackle Thailand’s traffic patterns.

In the end, though, we decided to just book a driver.

Brian wasn’t feeling all that great leading up to our day trip, but we didn’t want to skip it altogether. It was just easier to have someone take us up there and back from our Chiang Mai accommodations, instead.

READ MORE: Starting in Chiang Mai? Use my itinerary to help you plan your time there.

It’s likely more affordable than you think if you want to do the same. You’ll just need to have an idea of what you want to see there so that you’re able to relay that to the driver. If English is a concern, you’ll want to share that information with your concierge.

Once you’re there, the entrance fee is less than 10 USD for foreigners. There are additional fees if you’re driving in, planning any guided hikes, or parking. It’s generally a good rule of thumb to have some cash on hand anywhere in Thailand.

Tips Before Booking Guided Tours of Doi Inthanon

If you don’t want to go with a driver, you’ll find a wide range of options on the usual tour websites. Some include stops at other sights in the area and others include lunch for those worried about fending for themselves.

Just be aware that some tours include visits to local hill tribes.

This isn’t a problem in and of itself, as there are local communities that greatly benefit from tourism. There’s a difference between purchasing handicrafts and photographing yourself alongside locals there to put on a show with little benefit to them, though.

I’m talking about Kayan village stops to gawk at the “long neck women,” or members of a group within the Red Karen.

These women, likely Burmese refugees, are said to be living their lives in a virtual zoo for the benefit of unsuspecting tourists.

You will find travel bloggers, more often than not white travel bloggers, extolling the virtues of supporting these women with their visits there. That’s just not true.

If you want to check out small guided tours to Doi Inthanon, check out any of the highly-rated options below:

Driving to Doi Inthanon National Park

If you stick to our original plan of doing a self-drive tour of the park, you can book a car in advance or rent a car through your accommodations. Many Chiang Mai hotels will also have the option to book rentals from them. Do whatever is cheaper.

Keep in mind that if you choose to make the drive to the park, it isn’t for the faint of heart.

Driving in Thailand can be sketchy if you’re a nervous driver. While you’ll be out of the city limits for the majority of your drive, the road up to Doi Inthanon is twisty and intense.

On the drive up to the summit, we saw quite a few motorcycles and motorbikes making the winding journey, too.

It looked harrowing from the safety of my window seat, so I’m not sure my constitution’s good enough for that kind of adventure. It is an option, though, if you’re of the braver sort.

Public Transportation to Get to Doi Inthanon

There’s always a way to use the public transit options to get from Point A to Point B. You can make use of Thailand’s network of songthaews to get to the park by picking up a yellow-colored songthaew in front of the Pratu Gate of the old city.

From there, you’ll need to change at Chom Thong to another songthaew that will take you to the main entrance of Doi Inthanon National Park.

This fun journey could take you upwards of three hours. That isn’t round-trip, by the way. The added quirk of a songthaew is that they often wait until they’re full to move on to their destination.

Note: I’m not deriding songthaews generally here, as we used them several times getting to and from popular tourist destinations in the city. Shorter distances are a better fit for the (usually) red trucks.

Once you get to the park, you’ll also have a difficult time getting around without a car, or at the very least, a bike.

There are no public transport options to get you to the summit or many of the trails. That means all of those highlights I’ll be going into next won’t be as accessible without a car, bike, or guided tour.

That’s before ever considering the nearly full day of traveling you’ll have just to get there and back.

Things to Do at Doi Inthanon National Park

You don’t need a ton of time at Doi Inthanon, but it helps to know about the highlights to seek out so that you don’t miss out on what all the fuss is about.

Take in the view from the roof of Thailand.

If you don’t visit the highest point of wherever you’re going, did you really visit that place?

You may not be able to climb up to the summit on the day hike of your dreams — unless you consider the walk from the car park to the summit a hike — but saying you’ve been to the highest point of Thailand is still an impressive accomplishment.

You’ll be able to access the short and sweet Ang Ka Luang Nature Trail from here, too, a lovely introduction to the vegetation in these parts.

Hike the trails.

If you’re looking to visit a national park on your Thailand adventure, you’re likely interested in some trekking.

Note: You can’t hike to the summit of Doi Ithanon. You can only reach the summit by car. If you’re of the aggressive sort, you can climb up from the parking area to the actual summit.

In addition to the trails that will take you to the waterfalls I describe next, there are a few additional options for travelers looking to stretch their legs:

• Ang Ka Luang Nature Trail: You won’t break a sweat across its 0.2 miles, but this one is a nice, easy walk to signage for the highest point in Thailand. There’s a coffee shop across the way if you need a little boost before moving along.
• Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail: This moderate two-mile trail is only accessible with a local Hmong guide. The loop takes you along a mountain ridge and has beautiful views of the surrounding valley. Book guides upon arrival for under 10 USD.

Chase the park’s waterfalls.

One of the most popular activities while out and about on a Doi Inthanon tour is visiting the beautiful waterfalls that can be found throughout the park.

While they’ll be gushing in the rainy months of May through October, I don’t recommend the park during the wet season. Not only will you risk the chance of getting caught in intense rain, but you’ll also find many of the trails shut down for the wet season.

Even in the dry season, though, you’ll be impressed by these falls. Let’s take a closer look at your waterfall options:

• Mae Klang Waterfall: This easily accessible waterfall is located right at the entrance to Doi Inthanon. You’ll find that its convenient location off the road makes it popular with visitors, so expect crowds when you’re there.
• Mae Pan Waterfall: This is the highest single-tier waterfall in the park, with water flowing from about 328 feet, or 100 meters, at the tallest point. The falls are reached on a somewhat slippery loop of about half a mile.
• Mae Ya Waterfall: The Mae Ya Waterfall is one of the more popular waterfalls in the park, as it’s just 0.3 miles from the car park to this multi-tiered cascade. At its widest, the falls here are over 320 feet (or about 100 meters) wide.
• Pha Dok Siew Waterfall: This waterfall is accessible by another guided trail, the 3.5-mile Pha Dok Sieo Nature Trail. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts with a multi-tiered waterfall at the halfway mark and the village of Baan Mae Klang Luang.
• Siriphum Waterfall: You may also see this one spelled as Siribhume on your maps. To reach this one, you’ll need to trek down a well-maintained loop trail of about 0.3 miles. If you visit in February, you’ll be treated to the pink blooms of sakura flowers.
• Sirithan Waterfall: Steps away from the main entrance, you’ll come upon Sirithan Waterfall, a lovely 40-meter, or 131-foot cascade of rushing water. This one’s not off the beaten path in the slightest, but impressive nonetheless.
• Wachirathan Waterfall: This wide, centrally located waterfall is a popular stop in the park, in part thanks to its easy access from the main road. This one is about 131 feet (or 40 meters)  tall, with multiple streams coming down from its peaks.

Visit the twin pagodas.

I’m talking about the two chedis, or Buddhist monuments, that are a focal point for visitors to Doi Inthanon. They’re known as the king and queen around here, as they were built in honor of actual royalty.

The “king” was built in 1987 to commemorate King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 60th birthday. The “queen” arrived in 1992 for the 60th birthday of Queen Sirikit.

Fun fact: Queen Sirikit isn’t just the Mother of Thailand. She’s known for having fun blending Eastern culture with Western fashion. In fact, she had a decades-long collaborative relationship with Fashion designer Pierre Balmain.

Those interested in a workout can climb the steps of both for some of the best views in the park, but escalators make the chedis even more accessible.

There is a small entrance to visit the chedis. This is included in some tours, but it’s nominal either way.

READ MORE: If you want a historical approach to Thailand, check out my guide to Sukhothai.

Stroll the gardens.

If you don’t get the sneezies like Brian, there are all kinds of options for you to enjoy the park’s floral offerings.

Start with the lovely bridges and landscaping behind the queen’s chedi, imagining that you’re the royal around here, heading to the surrounding gardens from there.

If you’re more into horticulture than I think, consider a visit to the park’s Royal Agriculture Station, one of 27 of its kind in and around Chiang Mai.

The station is part of a larger endeavor through the Royal Project Foundation to support the local hill tribes through agriculture.

The station in the park includes a winter vegetable garden, greenhouses, and a rose garden. The effort’s connected goal is to reduce opium growing among the local tribes in favor of sustainable agriculture.

Go bird-watching.

There are folks out there who visit Doi Inthanon with the sole purpose of catching that sweet bird action. I’m not judging you.

In fact, I’m telling you that the park is a great place to do all of that.

February through April is a migratory period when the birds return to Thailand from wherever they were before the upgrade.

There are more than 360 species of birds that visit here throughout the year. Most serious birdwatchers will want to spend more time in the park, even overnighting in the lodging options there.

When to Visit Doi Inthanon National Park

The weather in the park matches that of the rest of Thailand. Thailand’s rainy season, which lasts from May all the way into October in best-case scenarios, is not the ideal time for your visit.

Everything you’ll be doing will be outdoors, and that just isn’t a good time in a monsoon unless you have aspirations for a Singin’ in the Rain revival.

You’ll find circumstances much more pleasant during the high season months of December through February. Temperatures start rising from the end of March through the wet season.

The months of January and February have the added bonus of pink blooms throughout the park. Those are the sakura flowers, and they look just delightful.

Fun fact: In addition to a wide variety of flora, the park is home to some interesting fauna, too. Tread lightly and you may hear the sounds of the barking deer, or muntjac. The deer does, in fact, make a barking/squawking-like sound.

Weekdays are predictably less crowded at the park, as this is a popular weekend destination for locals. Local holidays are best avoided altogether as traffic jams up that winding road to the park are a possibility.

More Attractions Near Doi Inthanon

You may not need a full day at the park, but there’s quite a bit more to do in the region. If you’re on a guided tour, you may already have a full day planned. Here are a few options:

• Doi Suthep: This popular Chiang Mai day trip is known for the trek to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Climb 306 steps to get up to the mountaintop temple. We found it to be a powerful experience.
• The Hill Tribes: Visits to the surrounding hill tribes are a popular add-on to many Doi Inthanon tours. Working with the locals when visiting the villages in and around the park seems to be the most ethical way to experience the local culture
• Mae Wang National Park: This park is just an hour east of Doi Inthanon. The main highlight here is Pha Chor Canyon, created by an aggressive route adjustment of the Ping River. It’s no Grand Canyon, but it’s an interesting geological feature.
• Op Luang National Park: This park is about an hour and a half south of Doi Inthanon. It’s known for its nature trails, waterfalls, and caves. The Op Luang Canyon, carved by the Mae Chaem River, is a highlight for tourists.

Where to Stay When Visiting Doi Inthanon

Intrepid travelers can overnight in the park. If you’re a camper, all the equipment you’d need for your night in the park is available to rent at park headquarters. The only available campground is within a stone’s throw of the entrance.

If you’re not a camper, your other option inside the park for accommodations are the bungalows run by the park service.

Your options are either to book in-person — this is more likely during the week, as bungalow space sells out most weekends — or call the visitor center for a booking.

This would still require a money transfer, so you’d need to be in Thailand to complete a booking in advance. If you’ve gone this route, do give me the lowdown, as there’s quite a bit of misinformation out there that is contradictory.

There are also a number of guesthouses available in the villages near Doi Inthanon National Park. I’d highly recommend accommodations in Chiang Mai, though, as you’ll have access to numerous additional day trips from there. That’s what we did.

Use the map below to browse your options near Chiang Mai:

Doi Inthanon is worth the trip.

Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest peak, offers breathtaking views, accessible forests, and serene waterfalls for your day trip from Thailand. While you’re there, you can explore royal pagodas and plan trips to visit villages nearby.

We enjoyed it as a nature escape from the city, and would love to return and complete our initial itinerary of a self-drive in the region.

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