Gracie’s Epic Guide to Doi Inthanon National Park (2024)
Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in all of Thailand, is one of the most beautiful spots in the north. I’ve been here twice, and each time I discover stunning natural beauty, like massive waterfalls and lush mountains, that make the trek up here worth it. Let me be your guide to Doi Inthanon so you too can take in the ethereal beauty of this national park.
The King and Queen pagodas are some of the most beautiful temples you’ll ever see, and the peak of the mountain has a spiritual calmness that you feel in the air. It’s a majestic place, and I would most definitely recommend it if you’re traveling through Chiang Mai.
Exploring more of the native vegetation and animal species here in northern Thailand is another huge perk of this well-maintained national park. Out of all the national parks in Thailand, this one may be the best, solely based on resources and beauty. So, are you ready to go exploring? Here is my guide to Doi Inthanon National Park.
Guide to Doi Inthanon National Park Logistics
I know there are many tours you can take from Chiang Mai, but I’d recommend going to the national park on your own if you have the time. Either rent a car or drive up on a motorbike (although beware, the drive is pretty long at ~2 hours).
The first time I went was in early December, prime time to visit this stunning park.
The second time I went in early November, which is another prime time to visit. The weather is cool, the sun is out, the mountains are green and lush. I’d recommend going between October – January.
Though the Doi Inthanon tours are convenient, I’d recommend making your own adventure and being on your own time to thoroughly enjoy each spot. This is where my true guide to Doi Inthanon begins, by exploring on your own.
You can do Doi Inthanon for a day trip, or stay in a village for a night. I’ve done both, but I recommend staying in a village if you have the time. The secluded towns scattered in the mountains are a unique experience that make Doi Inthanon even more special.
I’d recommend Chadaporn Rentroom in Mae Chaem if you’re going to stay a night. It’s ~$30 / night. This homestay is in a cute lil village in the middle of rice fields, ~30 minutes to 1 hour from the summit of Doi Inthanon. The drive there is also really beautiful, and the homestay is cozy with a beautiful view of rice fields.
We arrived as the sun was setting and it was so lovely to be in an authentic place after exploring the naturally stunning national park. The whole experience felt like coming back to Mother Nature, a whole reset of the mind body and spirit.
The national park fee is 300 baht for foreigners. You have to stop at the rest stop to buy tickets before proceeding into the park.
Guide to Doi Inthanon Gems
Here are all the hotspots (some common, some hidden) that I’ve explored in Doi Inthanon National Park.
Wachirathan Waterfall
Wachirathan Waterfall is the most stunningly beautiful waterfall I’ve ever seen! It’s massive, with different levels and springs to look at. The waterfall makes perpetual rainbows, which are awe-inspiring to take in. It feels like a fairy-tale! Unfortunately, it’s usually swarmed with tourists, so definitely go early if you want a peaceful moment alone with this natural beauty.
Mae Pan Waterfall
Mae Pan Waterfall is a HIDDEN GEM of Doi Inthanon. When we turned a corner and saw it, we started whooping and hollering. This waterfall has two levels, unlike any other naturally formed waterfall I’ve ever seen. It’s so so so tall, and the sounds of water crashing to the pool at the bottom is calming and beautiful.
It takes around 30 minutes to walk here through rough terrain (prepare to get a little dirty) and there was only a few locals who came as we were leaving. We had the whole place to ourselves, and it was a special moment.
Doi Inthanon Summit
Another popular spot, Doi Inthanon summit (tallest in all of Thailand) is where I felt the most spiritual energy. There are moss covered paths to a nature trail, where you can view native flowers and plants. It was really cold when we went, so the mist and moss added to the spiritual energy. Make sure you go on the nature trail, it was really beautiful and well-preserved!
King & Queen Pagodas
The King & Queen Pagodas are the iconic draw of Doi Inthanon, for good reason. These temples are quite literally floating in the clouds, with stunning flowers growing as far as you can see. The complex of these two temples are huge, so you can walk around and take in the beauty for a while.
It costs an additional 100 baht (cash) for foreigners to enter.
Make sure you dress appropriately, as this is a very sacred place in Thailand. When we went it wasn’t very busy because it had just rained a few minutes early. We lucked out, but I’m sure it is usually super crowded during peak seasons. So, go early really early in the morning or right as it’s closing.
Pha Dok Sieo Nature Trail
PSA: You do not need to pay the 300 baht entrance fee to do the Pha Dok Sieo Nature Trail. If you’re just coming to Doi Inthanon for this trail, then don’t pay the entrance fee! The booth where they check your tickets is just after the entrance to this trail. Win!
Show up at the trail head here and you’ll meet local guides ready to take you through the trail (you must have a local guide to do this hike).
It costs 220 baht / group for the 2 hour hike (in cash). I went with one friend, so it was just us two and our super nice guide. There were a few other tour groups here, but nothing too overly crowded. Still, I’d recommend coming early, before 10am, so you’re the only ones on the beautiful trail.
It takes ~2 hours, through stunning waterfalls, rice fields, native plants & animals. Look at the poisonous snake in the picture below! It camouflages so well, and we were all freaking out about how close it was to us! There were also spiders the size of my hand, and banana leafs the size of human beings.
The local guides will point all this cool & freaky stuff out to you. It’s so cool to explore the native vegetation and animal species in the national park!
You’ll pass beautiful rice fields, and finish at the indigenous tribe’s village, called the Karen tribe. They will serve you local coffee and teas, and you can buy sustainable goods like candles or soaps to support the local people’s efforts. It feels more sustainable & ethical than other tourist indigenous tribe spots, like the long-neck villages.
To Conclude
So, there my guide to Doi Inthanon, a glorious national park. It’s a special place that the Thai people are very proud of. Like I said before, I find exploring on my own more fun than organized group tours, so I hope these recommendations can be an outline for your own explorations at Doi Inthanon.
Comment below if this article helped you, & until next time!
xx Gracie
If you liked this article, you may enjoy my others about northern Thailand: