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Guide · Doi Inthanon
Doi Inthanon National Park: a day on Thailand's roof
Doi Inthanon National Park rises from rice valleys to a cloud forest at the top of Thailand. Here is what the park holds, how a day there works and which tour to book.
Check availabilityfrom $39 · free to cancel
Editorial team, trekkingtourchiangmai.comUpdated October 27, 2026Read time: 7 min45 sources
Quick answer, the park
- 01Highest point
- The park reaches 2,565 meters, Thailand's highest summit.1
- 02From Chiang Mai
- Around 90 minutes' drive from the city.2
- 03Entrance fee
- 300 Baht for adults and 150 for children, as TAT gave it in 2021.3
- 04Top-rated day
- A 9-hour tour with 7,099 reviews, from $39.
- 05Take
- A warm layer: the upper highlands are wet and cold all year.4
A park built around the highest summit
Doi Inthanon National Park was established in 1972 as Thailand's sixth national park, and today covers 482 square kilometers across the districts of Chom Thong, Mae Chaem and Mae Wang and Doi Lo Minor District.56 It was first created with 270 square kilometers and enlarged to its present size in 1978.7 The land climbs from 400 meters to 2,565 meters, and the top is Thailand's highest summit.1
The mountain was once called Doi Luang, the large mountain, or Doi Ang Ka.8 Its present name honours King Inthawichayanon, who valued these forests and asked that some of his ashes be placed in a stupa on the mountain.9 That stupa still stands at the summit, joined to the visitor center by an elevated walkway through the forest.1011
Below the top, the park is a great water tower. The national park service calls it a significant catchment for the Ping River and the source of streams such as the Mae Wang, Mae Klang, Mae Ya and Mae Chaem.12 Those streams feed the falls that make a visit here as much about water as about views, and in the rainy months the trails turn muddy and the falls loud.
The listed day
A day on Doi Inthanon
-
Morning
Van from Chiang Mai
About 1.5 hours by van to the park.
-
Near the top
Ang Ka Nature Trail
A short boardwalk through cloud forest.
-
Late morning
The Grand Pagoda
One of the twin royal pagodas.
-
Midday
Lunch and Mae Klang Luang
Lunch, then a hill tribe village.
-
Afternoon
Wachirathan Waterfall
Then about 2 hours back to the city.
Tropical at the foot, temperate at the top
The height changes everything. The park service describes a tropical climate below 1,000 meters, subtropical between 1,000 and 2,000 meters and temperate above 2,000 meters.13 Above 1,800 meters low clouds keep the forest foggy for most of the year, which is what gives the upper slopes their mossy, dripping look.14 Average annual rainfall is 2,000 to 2,100 millimeters.15
In the central part of the park the average temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius through the year and 15 to 17 degrees in December and January.16 On frosty days in those months it can fall to 0 to 4 degrees, enough for frost.17 Dress for a cool mountain day even if Chiang Mai is hot when you leave; the upper highlands are described as wet and cold all year.4
The seasons follow the monsoons: summer from March to May, rain from June to November and winter from December to February, in the park service's own description.18 TAT lists Thai cherry blossoms at Doi Inthanon in January and February.19 Our weather page goes month by month and explains what the Chiang Mai station figures can and cannot tell you about the summit.
Day trips compared
Doi Inthanon tours from Chiang Mai
| Tour | Length | Walking | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eco-friendly day | 9 hrs | Ang Ka boardwalk | 7,099 | from $39 |
| Waterfall & lunch day | 1 day | Short stops | 1,413 | from $37 |
| Pha Dok Siew trek day | 1 day | 2-hour trek | 1,158 | from $35 |
| Kew Mae Pan hike day | 11 hrs | About 2 hours | 1,023 | from $59 |
| Pha Dok Sieo small group | 1 day | 2-hour trail | 796 | from $60 |
Lengths, walking and review counts as each listing shows them; prices are starting prices on GetYourGuide and change by date.
Three ways in
Sightseeing, a trail, or a ridge walk
This page's pick
Most walking
Best viewsDecision helper
Which Doi Inthanon day suits you?
Find the line that sounds like you, then check that listing.
The eco-friendly day
Ang Ka, the Grand Pagoda, Mae Klang Luang and Wachirathan in 9 hours.
The Pha Dok Siew trek day
A 2-hour guided trek plus the pagodas and the highest point.
The Kew Mae Pan day
A hike of around 2 hours, available only from November to May.
The shared waterfall day
Waterfalls, viewpoints, the summit and the pagodas, from $37.
He specified that if he died, he would take some of his ashes and use them to construct a stupa on the mountain and "Doi Inthanon" is the name given to this mountain.
What a Doi Inthanon tour covers
A guided Doi Inthanon tour packs the main sights into one long day. The most reviewed listing runs 9 hours: a van of about 1.5 hours out, the Ang Ka Nature Trail near the top, the Grand Pagoda, lunch, the village of Mae Klang Luang and Wachirathan Waterfall, then 2 hours back. It has 7,099 reviews averaging 4.66 and starts from $39.
Its listing is careful to call Ang Ka a short 360-meter boardwalk rather than a hike, and it sells options with and without the park fees. If you want real walking, look at the days that add a guided trail: one includes a 2-hour trek on Pha Dok Siew, another a hike of around 2 hours on Kew Mae Pan, available only from November to May.
A cheaper shared format also exists. One listing with 1,413 reviews covers waterfalls, viewpoints, the highest point, a Karen village and the two pagodas, in vans of 10 to 12 guests, and drops you at your hotel at about 6 to 7 pm. It starts from $37. Read each listing's stops before you book, since the same sights are often visited in a different order.
Map
From the old city to the roof of Thailand
First the hills around Chiang Mai where the treks and hikes go, then Doi Inthanon with its summit, pagodas, trails and falls.
1Chiang Mai old city3Doi Suthep temple5Thailand's highest summit6Mae Wang7Mae Kampong
8Summit stupa9Twin pagodas and Kew Mae Pan11Pha Dok Siew12Mae Klang Luang13Siriphum Waterfall14Wachirathan Waterfall15Mae Klang Waterfall16Mae Ya Waterfall17Mae Pan Waterfall
- 1Chiang Mai old city
Start of the site tour: the meeting point is Baan Meesuk in the old town, with pickup available.
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Doi Suthep temple
Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep stands at 1,056 metres, an easy half hour drive from downtown.26
- 5Thailand's highest summit
The top of Doi Inthanon, at 2,565 meters.1
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Mae Wang
Mae Wang District is one of the districts Doi Inthanon National Park covers.6
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Mae Kampong
Ban Mae Kampong, a village in Mae On District, won the PATA Gold Award 2010 in the culture category.27
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Summit stupa
The stupa of King Inthawichayanon stands at the summit, linked to the visitor center by an elevated walkway.1011
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Twin pagodas and Kew Mae Pan
The Great Holy Relics Pagodas near the top; TAT lists give the nearby Kio Mae Pan Nature Trail as closed from 1 June to 31 October.282930
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Pha Dok Siew
Pha Dok Siao Waterfall has 10 tiers and lies about 1 kilometer on foot from the park headquarters.3132
In Google Maps ↗ - 12Mae Klang Luang
Ban Mae Klang Luang, a hill tribe village on several Doi Inthanon day trips.
In Google Maps ↗ - 13Siriphum Waterfall
Twin falls reached on foot through the flower plots of the Inthanon Royal Project.33
In Google Maps ↗ - 14Wachirathan Waterfall
About 70 to 80 meters high, at milestone 20 of Highway 1009.2334
In Google Maps ↗ - 15Mae Klang Waterfall
Flows all year into large pools; rainy-season currents make swimming perilous.35
In Google Maps ↗ - 16Mae Ya Waterfall
Thirty tiers and approximately 260 meters in height.36
In Google Maps ↗ - 17Mae Pan Waterfall
Four tiers and over 100 meters tall, about 400 meters on foot from the ranger station.37
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
Before you drive up the mountain
01
Bring
- A warm layer or jacket
- Cash in baht for the park gate
- Water and a rain shell
- Shoes with grip for wet boardwalks
02
Check
- Whether your tour option includes the fee
- Keep the fee receipt for inspection
- Opening hours at the gate
- Trail closures for your month
Cost calculator
Price a Doi Inthanon day for your group
Work out a park day for everyone in your party.
People
Total from$77
each from $39
Check availabilityfree cancellationStarting prices come from GetYourGuide, converted with European Central Bank rates; booking reveals the exact figure.
Video
What to see in Doi Inthanon National Park
The video loads only when you tap play.
Doi Inthanon National Park entrance fee and hours
The Doi Inthanon National Park entrance fee is set by the park service, not by the tour you book. When the park reopened in November 2021, TAT gave the fee as 300 Baht for adults and 150 Baht for children, with opening hours of 05.30 to 18.30 daily.3 Fees can change, so confirm at the checkpoint, and keep your receipt: the park service asks visitors to carry it for inspection.38
If you book a tour, check whether the fee is in the price. The most reviewed day sells options with and without the park fees, and the Pha Dok Siew trek day does the same. A Viator listing that combines the park with an elephant sanctuary lists admission fees as not included. Bring cash in baht for the gate in case your option leaves it out.
One quirk applies to drivers. The park service notes that if you are only passing through towards Mae Chaem and not visiting the summit, you can tell the checkpoint staff and be exempt from the fee.39 That exemption is for through traffic; a day of sightseeing on the mountain is not covered.
Getting there on your own
Driving yourself is straightforward. The park service's route follows Route 108 from Chiang Mai towards Hot for about 56 kilometers, through Hang Dong and San Pa Tong to Chom Thong.24 From there Highway 1009 climbs into the park, entering at milestone 8 by Mae Klang Waterfall, with the park headquarters at milestone 31.25
Most sights sit along that one road, and the milestones make them easy to find: Wachirathan Waterfall is at milestone 20 and Sirithan at milestone 22.3422 Siriphum Waterfall is reached on foot through the flower plots of the Inthanon Royal Project, near the village of Khun Klang.33 Allow time for slow traffic on the mountain road at weekends and in the cool season.
Mobile signal is patchy away from the main areas. The park service lists AIS and TRUE coverage at the Kio Mae Pan Nature Trail and at the Wachirathan Waterfall area.40 Download offline maps before you go, carry water and snacks, and fill the tank in Chom Thong before the climb.
How long to give the mountain
One day is enough for the headline sights if you start early. Tours leave Chiang Mai in the morning and the most reviewed one spends 9 hours in total, which leaves time for the summit boardwalk, a pagoda, lunch, a village and a waterfall but not for a long trail. If you want both the sights and a proper walk, choose a day that includes a guided trek, or split the mountain over two days.
Staying overnight near the park gives you the early hours, when the light is soft and the valleys can fill with mist. TAT names the summit and the Kiew Mae Pan Viewpoint as favourite spots for the morning sea of mist in the cooler months.41 With your own transport you can be on a viewpoint at first light and still reach the busier waterfalls before the tour vans arrive.
Whatever you choose, keep the afternoon loose. Weather on the upper slopes turns quickly, roads are slow, and the falls lower down deserve more time than a quick photo. A day that tries to tick off every sign on the map usually ends up spending most of its hours in a van rather than on your feet in the forest.
Wildlife, birds and what has been lost
The forest is rich in plants but quieter in animals than you might expect. The park service says the park's wildlife has declined significantly and several large animals have disappeared, so most of what remains is small.42 Among the rare species it records are the Himalayan newt, the bar-throated minla, the white-browed shortwing, the ashy-throated warbler and the green-tailed sunbird.43
Birdwatchers come for exactly those high-altitude species, and the boardwalks near the summit are the easiest place to see the mossy cloud forest they live in. At the edge of the summit bog grows Rhododendron simsii, which the park service describes as found only on the top of Doi Inthanon.44 Walk slowly, stay on the boardwalk and you will see more.
The park service lists nature trails, trekking, waterfalls, flower and plant watching, bird, butterfly and wildlife watching, stargazing, mountain biking and camping among the activities on offer.45 Our pages on the trails, the waterfalls and the twin pagodas and summit go into each of those in detail.
Your trek
Two days, one village night, one raft.
All meals, a group of 12 at most, and free cancellation until 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
How high is the top of Doi Inthanon?
2,565 meters. The park lies between 400 and 2,565 meters, and the summit is Thailand's highest.1
How far is the park from Chiang Mai?
Around 90 minutes by road. TAT puts the park around 90 minutes' drive from Chiang Mai city, so plan a full day.2
How much is the park entrance fee?
300 Baht for adults, in TAT's 2021 figure. TAT gave 300 Baht for adults and 150 Baht for children when the park reopened in November 2021; confirm at the gate.3
What time does the park open?
05.30 to 18.30, per TAT. TAT gave daily opening hours of 05.30 to 18.30 when the park reopened in 2021.3
Is the park fee included in tours?
It depends on the option. The most reviewed day sells options with and without the fees; check yours before booking.
Is Ang Ka a real hike?
No, it is a short boardwalk. One listing describes the Ang Ka Nature Trail as a 360-meter boardwalk, not a full hiking trail.
How cold does it get at the top?
Close to freezing in winter. On frosty days in December and January temperatures can fall to 0 to 4 degrees Celsius.17
Sources
What this text is based on
- 1Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 2Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Doi Inthanon National Park and its 'sea of mist' reopens to visitors (11 November 2021)↩
- 3Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Doi Inthanon National Park and its 'sea of mist' reopens to visitors (11 November 2021)↩
- 4Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 5Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 6Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 7Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 8Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 9Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 10Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon Summit - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 11Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon Summit - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 12Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 13Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 14Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 15Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 16Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 17Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 18Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 19Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Thailand's Flower Blooming Calendar (February 2025)↩
- 20Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 21Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)TAT highlights SIRIVANNAVARI Autumn-Winter 2026/2027 collection inspired by Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail in Chiang Mai (9 March 2026)↩
- 22Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandSirithan Waterfall - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 23Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandWachirathan Waterfall - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 24Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 25Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 26Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Exploring Chiang Mai's many natural and man-made wonders (May 2021)↩
- 27Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Thailand reaffirms its commitment to promoting responsible tourism (February 2016)↩
- 28Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)TAT advises tourists to Northern Thailand to take precautions amid air quality concerns (25 March 2019)↩
- 29Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Opening/closed status of Thailand's national parks (July 2023)↩
- 30Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Thailand's national park system starts annual seasonal closure of attractions (April 2018)↩
- 31Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandPha Dok Siao Waterfall - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 32Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandPha Dok Siao Waterfall - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 33Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandSiriphum Waterfall - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 34Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandWachirathan Waterfall - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 35Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandMae Klang Waterfall - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 36Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandMae Ya Waterfall - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 37Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandMae Pan Waterfall - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 38Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 39Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandThaen Phra Sang Waterfall - Doi Inthanon National Park↩
- 40Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 41Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)Doi Inthanon National Park and its 'sea of mist' reopens to visitors (11 November 2021)↩
- 42Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 43Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 44Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
- 45Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), ThailandDoi Inthanon National Park↩
