Doi Inthanon National Park

Introducing Doi Inthanon National Park

Thailand’s highest peak, the 2565m Doi Inthanon (often abbreviated as Doi In) has three impressive waterfalls cascading down its slopes. Starting from the bottom these are Nam Tok Mae Klang (adult/child 400/200B, car/motorbike 30/20B; 8am-sunset), Nam Tok Wachiratan and Nam Tok Siriphum. Admission prices allow entry to all three sights. The first two have picnic areas and food vendors. Nam Tok Mae Klang is the largest and the easiest to get to; you must stop here to get a bus to the top of Doi Inthanon. It can be climbed nearly to the top, as there is a footbridge leading to rock formations over which the water cascades. Nam Tok Wachiratan is also very pleasant, and less crowded.

The views from Doi Inthanon are best in the cool dry season from November to February. You can expect the air to be quite chilly towards the top, so take a jacket or sweater. For most of the year a mist, formed by the condensation of warm humid air below, hangs around the highest peak. Along the 47km road to the top are terraced rice fields, tremendous valleys and a few small hill-tribe villages. The mountain slopes are home to around 4000 Hmong and Karen tribespeople.

The entire mountain is a national park (482 sq km), despite agriculture and human habitation. One of the top destinations in Southeast Asia for naturalists and bird-watchers, the mist-shrouded upper slopes produce abundant orchids, lichens, mosses and epiphytes, while supporting nearly 400 bird varieties, more than any other habitat in Thailand. The mountain is also one of the last habitats of the Asiatic black bear, along with the Assamese macaque, Phayre’s leaf-monkey and a selection of other rare and not-so-rare monkeys and gibbons as well as the more common Indian civet, barking deer and giant flying squirrel – around 75 mammal species in all.

Most of the park’s bird species are found between 1500m and 2000m; the best bird-watching season is from February to April, and the best spots are the beung (bogs) near the top.

Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon, a chedi built by the Royal Thai Air Force to commemorate the king’s 60th birthday in 1989, is off the highway between the Km 41 and Km 42 markers, about 4km before reaching the summit of Doi Inthanon. In the base of the octagonal chedi is a hall containing a stone Buddha image.

The 400B entry fee collected for Nam Tok Mae Klang near the foot of the mountain is good for all stops on the Doi Inthanon circuit; be sure to keep your receipt.

Park bungalows (0 5326 8550; bungalow from 1000B), 31km north of Chom Thong, are well-equipped, log-cabin style and can be reserved at the park headquarters or by calling. If you have your own tent camping is 40B a night, or you can hire a tent with sleeping bag for 250B.

Last updated: Mar 24, 2009