Doi Inthanon National Park: reviews, price 2026 and Exclusive Promo Code

Doi Inthanon, the rooftop of Thailand at 2,565 metres of mist and moss

It is 6:00 AM, and the road winds away from Chom Thong in the dark. After an hour of switchbacks, the dashboard thermometer reads 8 °C. Outside, the air bites your cheeks.

Welcome to the highest peak in Thailand, where tropical forest gives way to a cloud forest carpeted with sphagnum moss, where rhododendrons bloom at high altitudes, and where more than 500 species of birds have been recorded.

Why visit Doi Inthanon National Park?

The mountain is named after King Inthawichayanon, the seventh sovereign of Chiang Mai and the last semi-independent ruler of the Lanna Kingdom. Passionate about forest preservation, he requested before his death in 1897 that his ashes rest on the summit, which was then called Doi Luang.

The national park was officially established in 1972 and covers 482 km² of rugged terrain, ranging from teak forests and pine groves to waterfalls and terraced rice paddies farmed by the Karen and Hmong communities who have lived here for generations.

What strikes you right away is the range of landscapes. Within a few kilometres, you transition from humid heat to dry cold, from luminous rice fields to a canopy so dense that the sun no longer penetrates it. The elevation change between the park entrance and the summit exceeds 1,700 metres, and each level offers a different ecosystem.

Three trails, three atmospheres

The Ang Ka trail: The enchanted forest of the summit

A few steps from the sign marking the country's highest point, a 360-metre wooden boardwalk leads into a forest of an almost surreal green. Sphagnum moss covers every branch and every wind-twisted trunk. Humidity is constant, temperatures hover between 9 and 15 °C all year round, and mist slips between tree ferns.

The loop takes twenty minutes to walk, with no guide required. It is the most accessible trail in the park, suitable for everyone.

Kew Mae Pan: The panoramic ridge

This 2.5 km loop trail runs along an open ridge overlooking the western valleys. On a clear day early in the morning, a sea of clouds covers the plain below. The route is managed by the local Hmong community, and a guide accompanies each group for 200 THB. Plan for two to three hours of walking on easy to moderate terrain. The trail is only open from November to the end of May, closing every year from June 1 to October 31 for forest regeneration.

Pha Dok Siew: Waterfalls and villages

Less crowded, this trek descends through the jungle to roaring waterfalls and passes through a small Karen village. White-handed gibbons live near the trail. Seeing them is rare, but their calls often echo through the canopy in the early morning. A local guide is also required here.

Royal pagodas and spectacular waterfalls

The two twin pagodas, built by the Royal Thai Air Force in honor of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit, stand just below the summit. Their gardens are meticulously maintained, and the view stretches far to the west. Sunsets there are remarkable. Access costs 100 THB per person, separate from the park entry ticket. An escalator connects the parking area to the structures.

As for waterfalls, Wachirathan impresses with the power of its 80-metre-high torrent, visible from a landscaped viewing platform. The spray drenches visitors several metres away. More remote, Mae Ya and its 260-metre drop are worth the detour if your schedule permits. You need to head back down toward Chom Thong and then turn off, with a 600-metre walk from the parking lot.

Friendly tip: Aim for a weekday. Weekends and especially Thai public holidays cause traffic jams right inside the park. During New Year alone, up to 12,000 visitors crowd the summit. On a weekday, the experience is radically different.

Bird watching on the country's rooftop

With more than 500 species recorded, Doi Inthanon holds the national record. Some cannot be seen anywhere else in Thailand, such as the green-tailed sunbird, the ash-throated warbler, or the collared grosbeak. At the summit, near the small cafe next to the trail, squirrels and birds come within centimetres of the tables. The best time for birdwatching runs from March to July, when migratory birds arrive and breeding season is in full swing.