• DurationFull day · approx. 08:00 – 17:00
• Pick-upHotels in downtown Chiang Mai
• TransportAir-conditioned car or minivan
• GuideEnglish-speaking
• LunchThai food · not too spicy
• Summit2,565 m · Thailand’s highest
• WalkingShort nature walks
• Dress codeLong pants & closed shoes at the pagodas

Why book this Doi Inthanon tour from Chiang Mai

• Thailand’s highest peak in one day – reach the 2,565 m summit by road and take a short nature walk at the top.
• Two waterfalls – walk through lush forest to Mae Klang Waterfall, then see the powerful Wachirathan Waterfall.
• The King and Queen Pagodas – the Twin Royal Pagodas, set among flower gardens high on the mountain.
• Hill-tribe culture – browse a local Hmong market and experience traditional life in a Karen village, with a tasting of their locally grown coffee.
• No planning needed – hotel pick-up in downtown Chiang Mai, air-conditioned transport, an English-speaking guide, Thai lunch and accident insurance are all included.

Doi Inthanon Day Trip Itinerary from Chiang Mai

The first label shows the pick-up time; the others show roughly how long you spend at each stop. Times are approximate, and the order of stops may change depending on weather, traffic and conditions on the day.

1. 08:00–08:30

   Hotel pick-up in Chiang Mai

   We collect you from your hotel in downtown Chiang Mai and drive to Doi Inthanon National Park.

2. 30–40 min

   Mae Klang Waterfall nature trail

   Follow a forest nature trail to Mae Klang Waterfall, one of the best-known falls in the park.

3. 30–40 min

   Wachirathan Waterfall

   See one of the most impressive waterfalls on the mountain, at its most powerful in the rainy season.

4. 50–60 min

   King and Queen Pagodas

   Explore the Twin Royal Pagodas, Phra Mahathat Naphamethinidon and Phra Mahathat Naphaphonphumisiri, and their flower gardens, with sweeping views on clear days. Please dress respectfully (see the dress code below).

5. 30–40 min

   Doi Inthanon summit

   Stand at the highest point in Thailand, 2,565 m above sea level, and take a short nature walk in the cool forest at the top.

6. 15 min

   Hmong hill-tribe market

   Browse the stalls of a local Hmong market for highland produce and souvenirs.

7. 50 min

   Thai lunch

   Enjoy a Thai lunch, prepared not too spicy.

8. 50–60 min

   Karen hill-tribe village

   Experience traditional village life, see the iconic stepped rice paddies (in season July – November) and taste the villagers’ locally grown coffee.

9. 17:00

   Return to your hotel

   Drive back to Chiang Mai, arriving at your hotel at approximately 17:00, depending on traffic.

What’s Included and What to Bring

What to Wear at Doi Inthanon: Dress Code and Weather

Doi Inthanon is much cooler than Chiang Mai city – the summit is often 10°C or more colder, and from December to January it can feel genuinely cold, especially in wind or mist. Be sure to bring a jacket, even if it is warm when you leave Chiang Mai.

When is the best time to visit Doi Inthanon?

About Doi Inthanon National Park

Doi Inthanon National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติดอยอินทนนท์) in Chiang Mai province protects Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain at 2,565 m. The mountain is named after King Inthawichayanon, one of the last kings of Chiang Mai, who was concerned about protecting the forests of the north; a small chedi at the summit holds his remains. Today the park is known for its waterfalls, cool mountain forest and the Hmong and Karen hill-tribe communities living on its slopes.

The King and Queen Pagodas (Twin Royal Pagodas)

On the road up to the summit stand the twin King and Queen Pagodas – Phra Mahathat Naphamethinidon and Phra Mahathat Naphaphonphumisiri (พระมหาธาตุนภเมทนีดล and พระมหาธาตุนภพลภูมิสิริ), also spelled Noppamethanedon and Nopphonphusiri. They were built by the Royal Thai Air Force to commemorate the 60th birthday anniversaries of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1987 and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit in 1992, and are surrounded by landscaped flower gardens with sweeping views on clear days.

How to Get to Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai

The summit of Doi Inthanon is roughly 100 km south-west of Chiang Mai, about 1.5 to 2 hours by road, with the last part climbing a long, winding mountain road. There is no convenient public transport to the sights inside the park: independent travellers usually take a bus or songthaew to Chom Thong, then hire a songthaew or drive up the mountain. As the main sights are spread out along the way, a day tour with hotel pick-up is the easiest way to see them all in one day.

Day tour or on your own?

Good to Know Before You Book

• Pick-up area. Pick-up is from hotels in downtown Chiang Mai between about 08:00 and 08:30. If you are staying outside downtown, please contact us before booking.
• Return time. You are normally back at your hotel at around 17:00, but traffic or weather can make it a little later.
• Order of stops. The programme may change depending on weather, traffic and conditions on the day.
• How much walking? This is a sightseeing day with short nature walks at Mae Klang Waterfall and at the summit. Paths can be wet and slippery, especially in the rainy season, so wear shoes with good grip.
• Rice paddies are seasonal. The stepped rice paddies at the Karen village are in season from July to November.
• Prefer a longer hike? Combine Doi Inthanon with a nature trail on our Kew Mae Pan Trail tour or Pha Dok Siew Trail tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

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