The Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon Tour

 

Price per person in THB
2 persons3 persons4 persons5 persons6 persons7 persons8 persons
9,0007,3006,3005,7005,3005,0004,800

 

This is a private tour. The Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon Tour is a two-day and one-night tour during which you will experience some highlights of these fantastic National Parks.

 

From: 9,000.00 ฿

View of mountain and rice fields
View of Doi Suthep from Wat Phrathat Doi Hang Bat

The Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon Tour

Day 1 Chiang Mai – Doi Suthep – Doi Inthanon

Visit the two “Dois” of North Thailand

This trip is a private tour. Your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel at 0800. This two-day tour features fantastic nature trails of the Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Parks. First, we will drive to Doi Suthep mountain. “Doi” is the Northern Thai word for mountain. For local people, Doi Suthep is a sacred mountain. At the foot of the mountain, we briefly stop at the shrine of Kruba Srivichai, whose followers constructed the road to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. After this, we continue along this road to the temple. The winding road through the national park is popular with cyclists.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the most famous temple in North Thailand. We walk the iconic stairway up to the temple, where you have a magnificent view of Chiang Mai’s surroundings. Your guide will tell you the story of the temple’s founding more than 500 years ago. Then we will enter the main temple with the famous gilded chedi, one of the most photographed objects in Thailand. Then we will descend and board our vehicle to drive to Wat Pha Lat, the “jungle temple” of Chiang Mai.

Bamboo bridge
Bridge on the Monk’s Trail

Wat Pha Lat and the Monk’s Trail

Not much is known about the history of Wat Pha Lat. For centuries it probably was a resting place for pilgrims from Chiang Mai to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The Burmese merchant Luang Yonakarn Phichit funded the construction of a pavilion housing Buddha images around the turn of the century. Over the years, few people paid attention to Wat Pha Lat and its Burmese-style pavilion. About ten years ago, Wat Pha Lat started to appear on social media, and more people visited the temple. The Fine Arts Department rebuilt the pavilion called Ho Phra Nam Rin. From Wat Pha Lat, we walk a part of the old Monk’s Trail to the temple’s base. It is a short and easy walk.

The Roof of Thailand

The Galae restaurant has always been a favorite. We will have lunch here before we drive to Doi Inthanon National Park. Our first stop is the Mae Klang Waterfall, named after the Mae Klang River. We continue further into the national park. Next is the spectacular Vachirathan Waterfall, the most famous waterfall in the park. Please note that you can’t swim in these waterfalls. Then we head for the Karen village Baan Mae Klang Luang, where we will spend the night. We settle into our bungalow before walking through the village to the village temple on a forested hill. It is an unusual and remarkable building, unlike other temples you have seen on your trip.

View on Vachirathan Waterfall Doi Inthanon
Doi Inthanon Vachirathan Waterfall
Statue of an elephant
Baan Mae Klang Luang temple

Day 2 Doi Inthanon – Chiang Mai

The Angka and Kew Mae Pan Nature Trails

On the summit of Doi Inthanon is the shrine that contains the ashes of the 7th ruler of Chiang Mai, King Inthawichayanon, after who the park was named. Very close to the summit is the short Angka Nature Trail with some beautiful ferns. The highlight today, though, is the amazing Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail, the most popular trail in the park. The Hmong people of a nearby village manage the trail and act as guides. 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 nicknamed 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. Then it is time for lunch at a local restaurant.

The Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail

After lunch, we will drive a short distance to the starting point of the Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail. The people of Baan Mae Klang Luang manage the trail and are guides. It is a lovely trail that descends along the Pha Dok Siew waterfall with bamboo bridges and walkways, and it is a beautiful hike. After the waterfall, the trail is mostly flat and easy and leads us back to the village with fine views of rice paddies and mountainous landscapes. After a cup of Mae Klang Luang coffee, it is time to drive back to Chiang Mai. In the late afternoon, we will drop you off at your hotel in Chiang Mai.

Highlights

Comfortable and safe private transportation

Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Park

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Pha Lat

The first section of the Monk’s Trail

Summit of Doi Inthanon, highest mountain of Thailand

Three different nature trails suitable for everyone in reasonable shape:
Angka Nature Trail
Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail
Pha Dok Siew Waterfall nature trail

Wachirathan waterfall

Karen village Mae Klang Luang: great coffee!

Doi Inthanon National park

Thailand’s highest point

Comfortable overnight in a village lodge

Karen tribal culture

Hmong Royal Project market

The Mae Klang Luang Temple

Inclusions

What is included?

English speaking guide
Transportation by AC minibus
Two lunches, one dinner, and one breakfast
Drinking water during meals
Limited medical insurance

What is not included?

Other drinks except for water during meals
Personal expenses
Tips

Timelines

Day 1
08.00 – Departure from hotel
08.45 – Arrival Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
09.45 – Visit the temple
10.15 – Arrival Wat Pha Lat
Wat Pha Lat visit
10.45 – Walking the Monk’s Trail down
11.30 – Drive to Galae restaurant
11.45 – Early light lunch
12.30 – Drive to Doi Inthanon
14.00 – visit Mae Klang Waterfall
15.00 – visit Vachirathan Waterfall
16.00 – Arrival Baan Mae Klang Luang
Visit the temple
16.30 – Check into Mae Klang Luang Hills bungalow
Free time
18.00 – Dinner

Day 2
06.00 – Early breakfast (time depends on the sunrise)
07.00 – visit the summit of Doi Inthanon and a short walk
07.30 – start hiking Kew Mae Pan for 2,5 hours
10.00 – end of the hiking
10.30 – visit two chedis
11.15 – Visit the Hmong village Khun Klang and the Royal Project
12.00 – Lunch at a local restaurant
13.00 – Start the Pha Dok Siew trail
15.00 – End of the hike. After coffee drive back to Chiang Mai
17.00 – Drop off at the hotel

What to bring

Long sleeves/Jacket during wintertime (Nov – March)
Hiking shoes with good grip
Sunscreen
Hat or cap
Insect repellent
Sunglasses
Raincoat
Small backpack