The Ultimate Doi Inthanon Adventure – Dry Season

Day 1 Chiang Mai – Doi Inthanon

Spectacular waterfalls

This trip is a private tour. Your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel at 0800 for your Doi Inthanon Adventure. This two-day tour features the two most beautiful but very different nature trails of Doi Inthanon National Park: Kew Mae Pan and Pha Dok Siew. Each of these trails takes about two hours of hiking, depending on your speed and the time we spend along the route taking pictures and enjoying nature. First, we will drive to Doi Inthanon National Park, which will take about one hour, depending on the traffic. Our website features an extensive article on the park, the trails, the villages, and the history.

Our first stop is the Mae Klang Waterfall, named after the Mae Klang River. We continue further into the national park. Next up is the spectacular Vachirathan Waterfall, which is the most popular fall in the park. Next up is the small Sirithan Waterfall. Also, this waterfall is often bypassed due to time constraints. We love this waterfall, though. It is only a short walk to the viewpoint. After this, we continue to the summit of the highest mountain in Thailand.

The Angka and Kew Mae Pan Nature Trails

Near the summit, we will hike the short but beautiful Angka Nature Trail and briefly visit the shrine of the 7th ruler of Chiang Mai, King Inthawichayanon. The ashes of this king are contained in the shrine, and the park was named after him. Next, we continue to the start of the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail, the most popular trail in Doi Inthanon National Park. A local Hmong guide will accompany us. The Hmong have been calling Doi Inthanon their home for a long time. They manage the trail and work as guides.

The famous view deck

The trail starts through the forest until we reach a viewpoint. From here, the trail continues along the ridge offering stunning views of the park and the lowland. Doi Inthanon is the “Roof of Thailand.” We return to the forest and hike back where we started. After this, we will visit the two chedis constructed in honor of his majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit.

We will spend the night in a bungalow near the Karen village Baan Mae Klang Luang. Dinner will be in a local restaurant.

Day 2 Doi Inthanon – Chiang Mai

The Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail

After an early breakfast, we will depart for our next adventure: the lovely Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail. It is only a short drive to the beginning of the trail. The Karen people of Baan Mae Klang Luang manage the trail and work as guides. This trail mostly goes down and ends in the village where we spend the night. We start hiking in the forest until we hear the sounds of a thundering waterfall: the Pha Dok Siew falls.

We descend several steps of this impressive waterfall along bamboo stairs and bridges. Then we leave the waterfall behind and hike along an easy, mostly flat trail to Baan Mae Klang Luang, where the trail ends. We have lovely views of the rice fields and mountains along the way. We will enjoy a cup of coffee. The Karen villagers grow coffee in the forest.

The Royal Project and Market

After our coffee, we will drive to the Hmong village Khun Klang to visit the Royal Project. The late King Bhumibol Adulyadej founded the Doi Inthanon Royal Research Station in 1979. The project aims to research the cultivation of flowers, ornamental plants, vegetables, and fruits at this elevation. The ultimate aim was to convince villagers to grow these cash crops instead of opium, which has been illegal in Thailand since 1958. The Royal Project has been a great success and improved the lives of the hill tribes on the mountain and preserves the watershed area at the same time.

The Doi Inthanon Royal Research Station

The Doi Inthanon Royal Research Station is an extensive complex with greenhouses, a fern house, an ornamental plants house, a garden, and a shop where you can buy products. We will follow a trail to the base of the Sriphum, aka Siribhumi Waterfall. It takes us through an area with beautiful fern trees. After this, we will drive back to Chiang Mai after two unforgettable days in one of Thailand’s most beautiful national parks. We will drop you off at your hotel. It is the end of your Ultimate Doi Inthanon Adventure.