Doi Inthanon National Park is house to Thailand’s highest mountain. The mountain, also called the “Roof of Thailand,” rises to a height of 2,565 meters. Due to the excessive altitude, the local weather in Doi Inthanon National Park is much cooler than in other areas in Thailand. The 482 sq. kilometre park is famous for its beautiful nature trails, lush rainforests, breathtaking viewpoints, dashing waterfalls, and the gorgeous twin pagodas that sit on the summit. It’s also residence to diverse species of reptiles, birds, and mammals. It’s the right vacation spot to get away and take pleasure in nature. So, if you would like to experience a trip off the crushed observe, here’s our information to Doi Inthanon National Park!
Like most parts of the country, there are three primary seasons in Northern Thailand: rainy, cool, and hot. Doi Inthanon National Park is usually colder than the remainder of the country. Still, the cool season, from November to February, is often the best time to explore the national park. The weather is generally sunny and pretty snug during this season, with a mean temperature of round 17ºC. However, Chiang Mai’s infamous smoky season often happens from January to March. During these months, the air quality may be very poor as a result of farmers burn their fields to organize their land for next year’s crop and eliminate their earlier harvests that can’t be offered available within the market. Therefore, for a prime experience, it’s best to go to Doi Inthanon National Park in November or December.
From June to October, Northern Thailand experiences the wet season. This means that you may run the danger of getting caught in torrential downpours whereas trekking at Doi Inthanon. The path shall be slippery and muddy, so it can be fairly dangerous to trek or hike the national park during this season. That said, many waterfalls in the national park are more incredible during the moist season.
Doi Inthanon National Park is located round ninety km from Chiang Mai metropolis centre. It takes round one and a 1-2 hours to drive to the park from town. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can undoubtedly get there by driving your personal scooter or car. Although driving on your own offers you the freedom to cease at any scenic viewpoint or waterfall, it can be difficult because the route is full of sharp turns and corners.
The easiest method to get to Doi Inthanon National Park is to rent a automobile with a driver in Chiang Mai. You can discover a car with a driver via one of many travel businesses in the city. Typically, you don’t should pay for the driver’s entrance charges. However, you should talk about all different particulars, like food stops and itinerary, upfront. If driving in a crowded minivan with strangers isn’t a problem for you, you can even opt for group excursions.
Doi Inthanon National Park is a superb place to flee the busy metropolis life and get closer to nature. Here are a variety of the best things to see and do in Doi Inthanon National Park:
For mountaineering and trekking lovers, Doi Inthanon has several nature trails for you to discover. These nature trails will lead you thru dense forests along mountain ridges. They provide stunning sceneries, and also you may get a chance to see the wildlife. All of the trails are maintained by the native people. However, a number of the longer hikes are only accessible with a information. Although you have to pay for the information, they will show you issues solely locals know, so the payment is more than worth it. Below are a few of the greatest nature trails in Doi Inthanon National Park.
Phak Dok Siew Waterfall Trail is among the many best to entry from the principle road. It takes you by a stunning multi-tiered waterfall and ends at Mae Klang Luang Village, where you can savour the beautiful view of the rice fields on the hillside. In the start, the hike was relatively straightforward. You’ll get by way of lush forests crammed with pine timber. There are information boards along the path, so you can study extra concerning the crops surrounding it. You can discover Pha Dok Siew Waterfall Trail all 12 months long.
Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail is the most well-liked nature trail in Doi Inthanon National Park. This well-maintained 2.5 km nature path will take you thru a dense forest into an opening, the place you’ll get to see a picturesque view of the forest under. Along the best way, you’ll discover numerous stations with info on the ecosystem and wildlife of the national park. If you’re extremely fortunate, you may see the uncommon Chinese goral (a goat-like undulate). The nature path also consists of several viewpoints, a waterfall, and a heart-shaped rock formation. Keep in mind that you can solely tackle this nature path with a neighborhood information. Also, Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail is closed in the course of the moist season from 1st June to thirty first October as things can get dangerous near the mountain summit. Besides being unsafe, the path is also closed in the course of the wet season for reforestation.
If you wish to stroll round in nature but you’re not into climbing, the Angka Nature Trail is the right option for you. Situated just under the summit of Doi Inthanon, it consists of a brief, circular boardwalk trail surrounded by mossy green forests. Due to its environment, it has pretty delicate climate all year long. It’s inhabited by some rare crops and wildfires indigenous to the delicate ecosystem. Hiking by way of this nature path is fairly simple, and it takes round 30 minutes to complete the path. Angka Nature Trail seems magical and peaceful during the rainy season, but it’s also very slippery.
The peak of Doi Inthanon is home to two beautiful royal pagodas and gardens. The lovely pagodas have been constructed to commemorate the King and Queen’s 60th birthdays. They’re referred to as Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri, respectively. The King’s pagoda is a bit bigger than the Queen’s, and although it’s not surrounded by a backyard like the Queen’s, it’s still gorgeous in its own proper. You can find a small shrine contained in the pagodas and distinctive mosaics on the ceiling. From exterior of the pagodas, you’ll get breathtaking views of the jungle-covered mountains of Doi Inthanon National Park. Since there are escalators, anyone can easily visit the pagodas with out having to walk or hike.
Doi Inthanon National Park is house to a quantity of stunning waterfalls. Some of the most popular ones are Mae Ya, Mae Klang, Wachirathan, and Siritharn. Mae Ya is probably the preferred but not the best to access. Since it’s not accessible from the national park’s primary entrance, you may have to plan a selected journey to reach it. However, its beauty is price all of the further effort. In distinction, the Wachirathan waterfalls are the simplest to entry as it’s situated only a few steps away from the parking area.
If you need to immerse yourself in the local tradition, you can go to a hill tribe in the Doi Inthanon National Park. You can go to their village, meet the people, and get a glimpse of their day to day actions. The individuals develop their own very good coffee beans, so make positive to purchase some for your self as presents in your associates.
If you need to camp inside Doi Inthanon National Park, you are able to do it within the Dong Song Campground. Mold s located simply 10 minutes away from the summit. Since the campground is surrounded by tall pine trees, you won’t get any breathtaking views from the campground. The good factor is, the timber will provide shade on your tent through the day and shield you from strong winds.
Planning to go on a self-guided trip to Doi Inthanon? Make sure to stop at the Tourist Service Centre to select up a park map and get the lay of the land. Doing Track record can permit you to pick and choose what to discover in the nationwide park.
If you need to take advantage of your day at the park, it’s finest to depart Chiang Mai by 9 am. If you’re ambitious, you can begin your journey as early as 6 am, when the park opens.
Since there aren’t a lot of locations to eat within the park, it’s beneficial that you just eat a solid breakfast and bring a snack and water.
Even when you’re not planning on climbing, exploring Doi Inthanon National Park requires a lot of strolling on uneven trails.
The summit of Doi Inthanon is possibly the only place in the entire of Thailand where you’ll experience cold. The common temperature can vary between 5º and 10ºC in the course of the dry season. It might even drop below freezing. Therefore, remember to wear warm clothes if you want to visit the summit or even the character trails..