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Doi Inthanon National Park

Thailand's highest summit, about two hours from Chiang Mai, with twin royal chedis, big waterfalls and the Kew Mae Pan ridge trail. ฿300 for foreign adults, and pick a clear day.

4.7(3,669)
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Plan your visit

Hours
Daily 05:00–18:00

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Finding your way around Doi Inthanon National Park

Layouts, fares and hours change. If something here has moved, use “Suggest a correction” at the bottom of the page.

The stops, in the order the road climbs

Mae Ya Waterfall
On the park's southern edge, behind its own checkpoint, where you show the park ticket or buy one. A detour from the main road up.
Wachirathan Waterfall
A big roadside fall a minute from its parking lot, covered by the park ticket.
Twin royal chedis · ฿100
Naphamethinidon (1987) and Naphaphonphumisiri (1992), built for the King's and Queen's 60th birthdays, with gardens and the view. Run separately from the park, so they charge their own ฿100.
Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail
A two to three hour loop along an open ridge, open 1 November to 31 May only, with a compulsory local guide at ฿200 per group.
Summit and Ang Ka boardwalk
Thailand's highest point at 2,565 m, a marker and a shrine with no view, and a 360 m boardwalk loop through cloud forest that takes 20 to 30 minutes, no guide needed.

Getting there and around

  • The park is about 100 km from Chiang Mai, roughly two hours each way by car or scooter, and the last 48 km climb steeply from the Chom Thong junction.
  • Yellow songthaews run from Chang Phueak and Chiang Mai Gate to Chom Thong, but there's no public transport inside the park, so without a tour or your own wheels you need to hire a driver from there.
  • Most visitors come on a day tour from Chiang Mai, ฿1,200 to ฿1,800, which covers the chedis, a waterfall and the summit, and often Kew Mae Pan in season.

Details

Full opening hours
Monday05:00–18:00
Tuesday05:00–18:00
Wednesday05:00–18:00
Thursday05:00–18:00
Friday05:00–18:00
Saturday05:00–18:00
Sunday05:00–18:00

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Why go, and how to do it well

Go on a clear day. That's the whole trick, because the twin royal chedis near the summit, built for King Bhumibol's 60th birthday in 1987 and Queen Sirikit's in 1992, are all about the view across the highlands from their gardens, and cloud turns them into two pretty buildings and not much else. They're run separately from the park and charge ฿100 of their own. The summit itself, at 2,565 m the highest point in Thailand, has no viewpoint. It's a marker, a shrine and the Ang Ka boardwalk, a 360 m loop through dripping cloud forest that takes 20 to 30 minutes.

The walk worth planning around is the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail, a two to three hour loop along an open ridge that opens only from 1 November to 31 May. You can't do it alone. A local Hmong guide is compulsory, ฿200 per group of up to about ten, hired at the trailhead. The big waterfalls are covered by the park ticket. Wachirathan is a minute from its parking lot, and Mae Ya, on the park's southern edge, has its own checkpoint where you show the ticket you already bought.

It's about 100 km from Chiang Mai, roughly two hours each way, and the last 48 km climb steeply from the Chom Thong junction. Riders love those curves, but if you're not confident on a scooter, a guided day trip from Chiang Mai costs ฿1,200 to ฿1,800 and adds hill-tribe villages, coffee stops and roadside fruit markets. Yellow songthaews run from Chang Phueak and Chiang Mai Gate to Chom Thong, but there's no public transport inside the park, so without a tour or your own wheels you'll be hiring a driver for the mountain.

Foreign visitors pay ฿300 for adults and ฿150 for children, plus ฿30 for a car or ฿20 for a motorbike, in cash at the gate, under the national park fee schedule in force since June 2022. The gates open at dawn and close at 18:00. November to February brings the clearest and coolest days, March and April are hazy with smoke from the burning season, and December and January nights at the top drop to a few degrees above freezing, so pack a jacket whatever the season.

Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Oct 2026

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Experience hints

Visitor favorite

Reviews from Google

Doi Inthanon is one of those rare places that genuinely lives up to every bit of its reputation. From the moment you begin the ascent, you realize this isn’t just a mountain — it’s an experience. Riding up on a motorcycle with my son made it unforgettable. The road itself is a masterpiece. Long, sweeping curves flow into tighter bends, followed by stretches that feel like they point straight into the sky. It’s a perfect rhythm of curvy and steep, demanding just enough focus to keep you fully present while rewarding you with breathtaking scenery at every turn. The climb feels almost vertical at times, yet the pavement is smooth and beautifully maintained. Each section of the road offers something different — cool air rolling down from the summit, dense green forest wrapping around you, and viewpoints that make you want to stop just to absorb the silence. What truly stands out is the feeling of riding through changing worlds. As you climb higher, the temperature drops, the landscape shifts, and the air becomes crisp and refreshing. It’s not just visually stunning — it feels invigorating. Sharing that ride with my son turned it into more than just a scenic trip. It became one of those perfect father-son moments where the journey itself becomes the memory. The mountain, the curves, the climb — everything came together in a way that felt both thrilling and peaceful. Doi Inthanon isn’t simply a destination. It’s a ride, a challenge, and a moment you carry with you long after you’ve come back down.

I booked an experience through booking.com and got picked up from my hotel. The guide Pai was very friendly and provided lots of interesting information. He planned the day very well and has included lots of little activities. We stopped at 2 waterfalls, then a few tribes where we tasted coffee and tea and contributed to the little village. We also stopped at a fruit and nut market which was super delicious and fresh. I recommend you buy little portions and eat them straight away if they are fresh, otherwise there is still a long way to go and the fruits might get mushy. It was strawberry season so they tasted very very good and sweet. I also got mulberries which I haven't eaten since I was a child, which was a great memory. After we had lunch at a restaurant nearby and then we went for a walk in a little forest opposite the national park. It was great to connect with nature and the air was cooler which was great as it was super hot otherwise. I recommend bringing sunscreen and insect repellent if you know you might burn quickly or you are a treat to the insects. The national park was also great, with the highest peak in Thailand and the little shrines. I forgot to mention, but we also visited the King and Queen's pagodas which was pretty cool to see. Recommend for an all day experience.

I really enjoyed visiting this national park. It is very big so you need a tour, guide or suitable transport. Some of the route arr extremely steep for driving. The waterfalls are huge and so beautiful. You can also visit the pagodas and explore their lovely surrounding gardens. You can visit the highest point in Thailand, there is no viewpoint here but still cool to say you've been.

A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 3,669 reviews on Google.

119, Tambon Ban Luang, Amphoe Chom Thong, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50160, Thailand

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Tips for Visiting Activities & Tours

Do Outdoor Activities in the Morning

Heat and humidity peak from noon to 3 PM. Schedule jungle treks, cycling tours, and outdoor cooking classes for early morning. Water activities are more flexible since you're in and out of the sea.

Doi Inthanon National Park: Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the entrance fee for Doi Inthanon National Park?

฿300 for foreign adults and ฿150 for children aged 3 to 14, plus ฿30 for a car or ฿20 for a motorbike, in cash at the gate. Thai visitors pay ฿60 and ฿30. The twin royal chedis charge a separate ฿100.

How far is Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai?

About 100 km, roughly two hours each way. The last 48 km from the Chom Thong junction is a steep mountain road.

Is the Kew Mae Pan trail open, and do I need a guide?

It opens from 1 November to 31 May and closes for the rainy season. A local guide is compulsory, ฿200 per group of up to about ten, hired at the trailhead, and you can't walk it alone.

How long do you need at Doi Inthanon?

A full day. With the drive from Chiang Mai, the chedis, a waterfall, the summit boardwalk and Kew Mae Pan, a tour leaves around 07:00 and gets back in the early evening.

Is Doi Inthanon worth it?

On a clear day, yes, for the chedis' view, the ridge trail and the big waterfalls. In cloud the summit and chedis lose most of the point, so check the forecast and pick the clearest day of your stay. November to February is the best season.

How cold is Doi Inthanon?

Much colder than Chiang Mai. On December and January nights the top drops to a few degrees above freezing, and frost forms in some years, so bring a jacket whatever the season.

When is the best time to visit Doi Inthanon National Park?

The best months to visit Chiang Mai are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – January & Songkran (April) — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: Mid-February – April (smoke & heat).

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