Explore Doi Inthanon

Trip Overview

Doi Inthanon is where Thailand reaches for the sky. At 2,565 meters, the summit stands as the highest point in the country, a place where cool mountain air replaces the tropical heat and mist clings to ancient forests that feel untouched by time. This is the Roof of Thailand, a landscape so different from the rest of the country that it's hard to believe you're only 90 kilometers from Chiang Mai.

This private day tour takes you deep into Doi Inthanon National Park, where nature, culture, and history come together in ways you won't find anywhere else. You'll walk boardwalk trails through cloud forests draped in moss, stand beneath the Twin Royal Pagodas built to honor the King and Queen, and feel the cool spray of Wachirathan Waterfall as it thunders 80 meters down a granite cliff.

The park is home to hilltribe villages that have lived here for generations. At the Hmong market, you'll find handwoven textiles, fresh mountain coffee, and produce grown on steep terraced slopes. In Ban Mae Klang Luang, a traditional Karen village, life still moves at the rhythm of the seasons, and the people welcome visitors with quiet warmth.

From the summit viewpoint where you can see across mountain ranges, to the gentle walk along the Ang Kha Nature Trail where rhododendrons bloom in winter, Doi Inthanon offers moments that stay with you. This is a place that asks you to slow down, breathe deeply, and take in the beauty of Northern Thailand's mountain heart.

The drive from Chiang Mai takes about 90 minutes, climbing steadily into cooler elevations where the landscape transforms with every turn.

Highlights

The Summit: Highest Point of Thailand

Doi Inthanon Summit has an elevation up to 2,565 metres (8,400 feet), many locals and tourists love to go high up the mountain and see Thailand from the top of the country. After all, Doi Inthanon is also known as “The Roof of Thailand”.

Ang Kha Nature Trail

The Ang Kha Nature Trail is a gentle 340 meter boardwalk loop that takes you through a rare cloud forest and swamp ecosystem found only at this elevation. The trail is mostly flat, easy to walk, and takes about 20 to 30 minutes at a relaxed pace. The forest here feels ancient and otherworldly. Moss clings to gnarled tree trunks, ferns grow in thick clusters, and in the cool season, rhododendrons bloom in shades of pink and white. The air smells of earth and damp wood, and the silence is profound, broken only by birdsong and the soft creak of the boardwalk beneath your feet. It is a place that invites stillness.

Royal Twin Pagodas

The Twin Royal Pagodas stand as monuments to Thailand's late King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit, built to honor their 60th birthdays. One pagoda is dedicated to the King, the other to the Queen, and both are masterpieces of Thai architecture. The exteriors are richly adorned with intricate carvings and colorful mosaics, while the interiors hold Buddha relics and murals depicting the life of the Buddha. The pagodas are set within beautifully landscaped gardens filled with seasonal flowers, and the views from this elevation stretch across the valleys below. It is a place of quiet reverence and stunning beauty, a reminder of the deep respect Thailand holds for its monarchy.

Entrance Fee (Per Person): 20 Baht

Hmong Hill Tribe Market

Here you’ll find fruit, vegetables, and tea that are grown on the nearby mountainside by local farmers using sustainable farming techniques. In fact, the produce cannot grow elsewhere in Thailand due to the mountain's year-round cool temperatures. By buying from them, you are supporting the local economy and the farmer’s families.

Toilet (Per Person): 5 Baht

Wachirathan Waterfall

Wachirathan Waterfall is one of the most dramatic sights in Doi Inthanon National Park. The water plunges 80 meters down a granite cliff face, and the force of it creates a constant spray that rises like rain from the pool below. In the wet season, from May to November, the falls are at their most powerful, thundering down with a sound that echoes through the valley. The mist catches the sunlight and creates rainbows that shimmer and shift as you move. You can walk right up to the base of the falls, feel the cool spray on your skin, and stand in awe of the sheer power of nature. It is both humbling and exhilarating.

Ban Mae Klang Luang

Ban Mae Klang Luang is a traditional Karen village where life moves at the rhythm of the seasons. The village sits among terraced rice fields that cascade down the mountainside in green and gold waves, a farming technique passed down through generations that protects the soil and conserves water. The people here live simply, growing rice, vegetables, and coffee, and weaving textiles using traditional methods. Walking through the village, you will see wooden homes on stilts, children playing in the courtyards, and farmers tending their fields with care. The village welcomes visitors with quiet warmth, offering a glimpse into a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for centuries.