Doi Inthanon National Park: Thailand’s Highest Peak

Doi Inthanon: Thailand’s Roof

At 2,565 metres, Doi Inthanon is the highest point in Thailand. The mountain is part of the Himalayan chain’s southernmost extension — the Daen Lao Range — and the contrast between the summit and the plains below is dramatic: from the hot agricultural valleys of Chiang Mai province you drive into temperate cloud forest, and at the top in the cool season you can find near-zero temperatures, mist, and meadows covered in frost. It is not quite what most people expect from Thailand.

The national park covers 482 sq km and contains some of the most important highland bird habitat in Southeast Asia. Over 380 bird species have been recorded here, including several that exist nowhere else in Thailand: the Ashy-throated Warbler, the Green-tailed Sunbird, the Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker. Birders from around the world come specifically for the highland species that are unreachable at lower elevations.

The Summit

A paved road climbs to within a few hundred metres of the summit, where a short walking trail leads to the actual peak: a small chedi marking the highest point in Thailand. The chedi contains the ashes of King Inthawichayanon, the last independent ruler of Chiang Mai, who requested burial at the highest point in his kingdom.

The summit area at dawn — especially from October through January — is extraordinary: cloud fills the valleys below while the peaks emerge into clear sky, and the temperature at the top is cold enough to require a jacket even in November. By 10:00 the clouds build and the views close in. Come early.

The Royal Twin Pagodas

Seven kilometres below the summit, the twin pagodas of Napamethanidol and Naphapholphumisiri stand on a ridge surrounded by well-maintained gardens. The pagodas were commissioned in 1987 and 1992 to honour the King and Queen on their 60th birthdays. Each is set on a tiered platform with gardens planted with flowers from across the northern highlands. The combination of the pagodas, the gardens, and the cloud-forest backdrop is one of the more photographed views in northern Thailand.

Entry to the pagoda gardens is included in the park fee. The gardens are maintained throughout the year, but are at their best from November through January when the cool-weather flowers are in bloom.

The Waterfalls

Several waterfalls along the main road are accessible without the main park fee. Wachirathan Falls, about 21 km from the park entrance, is the largest: a 70-metre drop into a pool that roars in the wet season and reduces to a more photogenic curtain in the dry. The spray creates a permanent mist and rainbows appear in the afternoon light.

Mae Klang Falls, near the park entrance, is the most accessible and consequently the most crowded. Sirithan Falls, 37 km from the entrance, is less visited and has good swimming pools at its base in the dry season.

Birdwatching

The park’s reputation among birders rests on the highland-specialist species that concentrate at the summit area and along the km 37–42 stretch of the summit road. The best spots are the km 41 carpark area (silver pheasants, laughingthrushes, babblers), the Kew Mae Pan nature trail near the summit (mountain warblers, sunbirds), and the first few kilometres of the summit road above km 37 (mixed-species flocks containing species not found below 1,600 metres in Thailand).

Serious birders stay overnight in the park’s bungalows to be at the summit area at dawn, which is when most species are most active. The park bungalows and camping areas can be booked through the DNP (Department of National Parks) website.

Practical Information

Entry to the national park is 300 baht for foreigners (vehicle entry is separate). The main gate is on Highway 1009, about 60 km southwest of Chiang Mai city. The drive from Chiang Mai takes about 1.5 hours. The summit road from the park gate is 48 km; allow 2 hours to reach the top including a stop at the twin pagodas.

Most visitors come as a day trip from Chiang Mai. This is feasible but tight: leave by 06:00 to reach the summit before the clouds build. Many guesthouses in Chiang Mai offer organised day trips to Doi Inthanon that include the summit, the twin pagodas, and Wachirathan Falls for around 800–1,200 baht per person including transport.

If you are driving yourself, petrol is available at the park entrance and at Ban Inthanon village 12 km inside the park. The road is paved throughout and manageable in a standard sedan; a 4WD or motorbike is not required but a small car will find some of the switchbacks tight.

Bring warm clothing. At the summit, temperatures in November through February regularly fall below 10°C and can approach zero at night. In the valleys below the park entrance, the same day can be 28°C. The temperature differential is one of the most striking physical experiences of the drive.

Combining Doi Inthanon with Other Sites

The park is frequently combined with a visit to the Royal Agricultural Station at Inthanon, which demonstrates alternative crops and sustainable agriculture for highland communities and has a good market selling produce grown at altitude: strawberries, coffee, temperate vegetables, and cut flowers.

The drive to the park passes through Chom Thong, a district known for its Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong — a Lanna-style temple with a notable brass chedi that is considered one of the most important in northern Thailand outside of Chiang Mai. Worth a 20-minute stop on the way in or out.