Doi Inthanon National Park is house to Thailand’s highest mountain. The mountain, also identified as the “Roof of Thailand,” rises to a top of 2,565 meters. Due to the high altitude, the climate in Doi Inthanon National Park is far cooler than in other areas in Thailand. The 482 sq. kilometre park is famous for its beautiful nature trails, lush rainforests, breathtaking viewpoints, dashing waterfalls, and the stunning twin pagodas that sit on the summit. It’s additionally home to various species of reptiles, birds, and mammals. It’s the perfect vacation spot to get away and bask in nature. So, if you want to experience a visit off the beaten observe, here’s our guide to Doi Inthanon National Park!
Like most components of the nation, there are three main seasons in Northern Thailand: rainy, cool, and sizzling. Doi Inthanon National Park is mostly colder than the remainder of the nation. Still, the cool season, from November to February, is usually one of the best time to explore the nationwide park. The weather is usually sunny and fairly comfortable during this season, with an average temperature of round 17ºC. However, Chiang Mai’s infamous smoky season often happens from January to March. During these months, the air high quality is very poor as a end result of farmers burn their fields to prepare their land for subsequent year’s crop and do away with their previous harvests that can’t be sold in the market. Therefore, for a major expertise, it’s finest to go to Doi Inthanon National Park in November or December.
From June to October, Northern Thailand experiences the moist season. This means that you can be run the chance of getting caught in torrential downpours whereas trekking at Doi Inthanon. The trail might be slippery and muddy, so it may be pretty dangerous to trek or hike the nationwide park during this season. That said, many waterfalls within the national park are more incredible in the course of the moist season.
Doi Inthanon National Park is positioned round ninety km from Chiang Mai city centre. It takes round one and a 1-2 hours to drive to the park from town. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can definitely get there by driving your own scooter or car. Although driving by yourself gives you the freedom to stop at any scenic viewpoint or waterfall, it could be challenging because the route is full of sharp turns and corners.
The easiest approach to get to Doi Inthanon National Park is to rent a automobile with a driver in Chiang Mai. You can discover a automobile with a driver via one of the travel agencies in the metropolis. Typically, you don’t need to pay for the driver’s entrance charges. However, you need to discuss all other details, like food stops and itinerary, in advance. If driving in a crowded minivan with strangers is not a problem for you, you can even go for group tours.
Doi Inthanon National Park is a great place to escape the busy city life and get nearer to nature. Here are a few of the greatest things to see and do in Doi Inthanon National Park:
For mountaineering and trekking lovers, Doi Inthanon has several nature trails for you to explore. These nature trails will lead you thru dense forests along mountain ridges. They offer stunning sceneries, and you might get an opportunity to see the wildlife. All of the paths are maintained by the local people. However, a variety of the longer hikes are solely accessible with a information. Although you want to pay for the guide, they’ll present you issues only locals know, so the charge is more than price it. Below are a number of the best nature trails in Doi Inthanon National Park.
Phak Dok Siew Waterfall Trail is among the many easiest to entry from the primary road. It takes you by a surprising multi-tiered waterfall and ends at Mae Klang Luang Village, where you possibly can savour the beautiful view of the rice fields on the hillside. In the beginning, the hike was comparatively simple. You’ll get via lush forests full of pine trees. There are info boards alongside the path, so you’ll have the ability to learn more about the vegetation surrounding it. You can explore Pha Dok Siew Waterfall Trail all year lengthy.
Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail is the most well-liked nature path in Doi Inthanon National Park. This well-maintained 2.5 km nature trail will take you through a dense forest into an opening, the place you’ll get to see a picturesque view of the forest below. Along the means in which, you’ll discover quite a few stations with info on the ecosystem and wildlife of the nationwide park. If you’re extremely fortunate, you may see the rare Chinese goral (a goat-like undulate). The nature trail additionally consists of several viewpoints, a waterfall, and a heart-shaped rock formation. Keep in mind that you can only tackle this nature trail with a neighborhood information. Also, Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail is closed during the moist season from 1st June to 31st October as issues can get risky near the mountain summit. Besides being unsafe, the path can be closed during the wet season for reforestation.
If you need to stroll round in nature but you’re not into hiking, the Angka Nature Trail is the proper possibility for you. Situated slightly below the summit of Doi Inthanon, it consists of a brief, circular boardwalk trail surrounded by mossy green forests. Due to its environment, it has pretty delicate climate all 12 months long. It’s inhabited by some uncommon plants and wildfires indigenous to the mild ecosystem. Hiking through this nature path is pretty simple, and it takes around half-hour to finish the trail. Angka Nature Trail looks magical and peaceful through the wet season, but it’s additionally very slippery.
The peak of Doi Inthanon is residence to 2 stunning royal pagodas and gardens. The lovely pagodas were constructed to commemorate the King and Queen’s 60th birthdays. They’re known as Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri, respectively. The King’s pagoda is a bit greater than the Queen’s, and though it’s not surrounded by a garden like the Queen’s, it’s nonetheless gorgeous in its own proper. You can find a small shrine contained in the pagodas and exceptional mosaics on the ceiling. From outdoors of the pagodas, you’ll get breathtaking views of the jungle-covered mountains of Doi Inthanon National Park. Since there are escalators, anybody can simply visit the pagodas without having to walk or hike.
Doi Inthanon National Park is residence to a number of stunning waterfalls. Some of the most popular ones are Mae Ya, Mae Klang, Wachirathan, and Siritharn. Mae Ya is presumably the most popular however not the best to entry. Since it’s not accessible from the nationwide park’s main entrance, you would possibly must plan a selected journey to reach it. However, its beauty is worth all the extra effort. In contrast, the Wachirathan waterfalls are the simplest to entry as it’s situated just some steps away from the parking area.
If No nonsense wish to immerse your self in the native culture, you can go to a hill tribe in the Doi Inthanon National Park. You can visit their village, meet the individuals, and get a glimpse of their day to day actions. The individuals develop their own excellent espresso beans, so remember to purchase some for yourself as gifts for your friends.
If you need to camp inside Doi Inthanon National Park, you are able to do it in the Dong Song Campground. It’s situated simply 10 minutes away from the summit. Since the campground is surrounded by tall pine timber, you won’t get any breathtaking views from the campground. The good thing is, the bushes will present shade on your tent through the day and shield you from strong winds.
Planning to go on a self-guided journey to Doi Inthanon? Make sure to cease at the Tourist Service Centre to select up a park map and get the lay of the land. Doing this can allow you to decide and choose what to discover in the national park.
If you need to take advantage of your day at the park, it’s greatest to leave Chiang Mai by 9 am. If you’re formidable, you can start your journey as early as 6 am, when the park opens.
Since there aren’t plenty of places to eat within the park, it’s beneficial that you eat a solid breakfast and produce a snack and water.
Even when you’re not planning on hiking, exploring Doi Inthanon National Park requires plenty of strolling on uneven trails.
The summit of Doi Inthanon is probably the one place in the whole of Thailand where you’ll experience chilly. The average temperature can vary between 5º and 10ºC during the dry season. It might even drop under freezing. Therefore, be positive to wear heat clothes if you want to go to the summit and even the nature trails..