Thailand – Chiang Mai 2018 (Part 4 Doi Inthanon) 2018

Our #Thailand – #ChiangMai Travel (Part 4 #Doi #Inthanon 2018)

After view the Mai Yai Waterfall, drive our motorcycle forward to the Doi Inthanon National Park which is under our planning for visit. Also known as “The Roof of Thailand”, Doi Inthanon not only is the highest mountain in Thailand and also is part of the Himalayan mountain range, rising 2,565 meters above sea level. It has lots of amazing variation in its lush geography and forest.

Doi Inthanon National Park was heavily involved in preserving Northern Thailand’s forests and it is home to rainforest, mixed forest, and pine forest. At the foot of mountain, we would pass the main entrance point to the national park, for foreign paid 300 baths for entries fees and 20 baht for motorcycle. NOTE: make sure keep your ticket because they would check on visitor center. The visitor center is less than 1 km further in to the park from this checkpoint. For our suggestion, you can fill full tank for your vehicle in the self-services petrol before go up to the mountain.

Cool weather is one of the main attractions. The park has high humidity and cold weather all year round. The average daily temperatures are normally around 10-12 °C at the higher elevations. The park’s protected status makes flora and fauna flourishes and it make the park is also one of top destination in the country for birders. With 383 avifauna species, it ranks second among Thailand’s national parks in number of bird species.

The summit of Doi Inthanon is also other attractions of the parks, great view for the summit and sunset. It must be visiting one of the many waterfalls in Doi Inthanon, except the Mai Ya Waterfall, it also have number of famous waterfalls such as Wachirathan, Mae Klang, Sirithan, Siribhume and Mae Pan Waterfalls. By driving up to the summit, you will see these waterfalls along the road.

If a hike is what you came to, it have several different type of trails in the Doi Inthanon mountain, you can enjoy for trek through the lush greens and onto picturesque mountain ridges for view the different beautiful of scenery.

Check point for first entry

One of the nature trail that we wish to go is Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail, approximately 2km, only hike it with local guide and the fee is 200 baths per group. It has a super scenic view that is view for the overall around two chedis. Sadly, is closed from June 1 to October 30 each year and we visit it is on the month of closing (July). 😥😥😥

We had continues to drive our motorcycles to our destination.🛵 🛵🛵That is two royal pagodas call Chedis. Their respective names are Naphamethinidon and Nophamethanidon in Thai; Two Chedis are on the main road 5 km south from the top of the main summit of Doi Inthanon.

Naphamethinidon, meaning ‘by the strength of the land and air’ was built in 1987 to honors 60th birthday anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Naphaphonphumisiri, meaning ‘being the strength of the air and the grace of the land’ was built in 1992 to honors 60th birthday anniversary of Queen Sirikit. In this beautiful and wide land plus around not have any high building, the two pagodas are even more prominent. The pagodas are surrounded by a beautiful garden.

Another attract point, Two Chedis is one of the good viewpoint for view the scenery and more popular for view of sunset. Unfortunately, on the time we tour there, the weather is bad, very foggy .Sad for not view the beautiful scenery and sunset. 😥😥😥

The top of the summit viewpoint which is distance 5km from the Chedis is the best view of the sunrise. Because of we arrived in evening plus weather is not good, we decided not driving forward it. The entry fee is 40 baths per person.

How to go there
To get to Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai take route 108 towards Chomthong. Follow this road for 57 km (35 miles) and turn right onto route 1009 (Chomthong-Doi Inthanon Road). Follow this road for 31km (19 miles) and you will arrive at the entrance of the park (trip time approximately 90 minutes). Once in the park you can explore it on foot or in a vehicle.

Entry Fees: National park; for foreign paid 300 baht per person and 20 baht for motorcycle

Entry Fees: Two royal pagodas; 40 baht per person

P/S: For thought whose same as we tour in the bad weather or you like to visit all of the attraction. You can choose to stay overnight at Doi Inthanon, there are several options available; the Royal Park Service maintains camping site and bungalows on the park. You can go to Doi Inthanon Visitor Center is situated next to the headquarters at km 30.8 near the Ban Khun Klang village of Hmong (Meo) tribe; the camping area and bungalows are 500 meters from the headquarters area.