Doi Inthanon National Park: Chiang Mai Trekking & Royal Pagodas
Embark on an unforgettable trekking adventure through Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand's majestic highest peak. Explore lush trails and stunning royal pagodas near Chiang Mai.
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Embark on an unforgettable trekking adventure through Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand's majestic highest peak. Explore lush trails and stunning royal pagodas near Chiang Mai.
ดอยอินทนนท์
Another tour I took during my free and easy trip to Chiang Mai. Doi Inthanon National Park, which sounded impressive just from its name, and since I was going there anyway, I signed up for the trekking option, thinking it would be a good idea to do both. But seriously, I would have deeply regretted not doing this!
The views during the trekking were incredible, making me feel like this particular route might just be one of Chiang Mai's must-visit spots.
The Highest Point in Thailand
It says it's the highest point. I hadn't really thought about it and just came in my usual Southeast Asian travel attire, but for being the highest point, it wasn't *that* cold. (It was a bit chilly, though!)
There's a small shrine-like structure, and fresh flowers are available next to it, so it seemed like you could just take them, place them, and offer a prayer. There was no separate charge for this.
But strangely, the newspapers wrapping them... were all Korean newspapers, haha! Are there no newspapers from other countries here, lol?
We took a moment for photos here, then moved on to the next spot.
The King and Queen Pagodas
The next stop was the twin pagodas. These are the King's Pagoda and the Queen's Pagoda, respectively, and behind them, beautiful gardens were meticulously maintained.
Behind these pagodas, you'll find beautifully landscaped gardens and flowerbeds, perfect for taking photos.
If you go behind *this* pagoda, instead of beautiful gardens like before, you'll be able to gaze down at a sprawling, expansive view, as this area is quite high up.
And before climbing the pagodas, there's a photo zone at the waiting area below. There's no need to rush there early; just arrive around the meeting time and take your pictures then. Because there's always someone who'll be late, right?
Oh, and perhaps because this wasn't a tour exclusively for Koreans, the atmosphere was incredibly relaxed (?). Instead of strictly sticking to schedules, it was more of a 'go with the flow' kind of vibe. Thanks to that atmosphere, it truly felt like a free and easy trip in Chiang Mai, though I must admit, it took a little getting used to at first.
Kew Mae Pan Trekking
What I signed up for just thinking, 'I'm here anyway, might as well do it!' actually had surprisingly good views. Personally, this was my absolute favorite part.
First, since we'd be walking for two hours, we fueled up a bit, listened to the course explanation, and then began.
At the entrance to the trail, bamboo sticks were laid out like that. They were meant to be used as hiking poles. But with my coffee, sweet potato, and phone... my hands were full, so I skipped the stick.
It was lush and green, with water flowing in between, which wasn't bad, but up until this point, it was just okay.
From this point, I started walking, thinking, 'Maybe this isn't so bad after all...?' And honestly, maybe it's just me getting older, but I was already secretly quite tired....
Oh, this is nice. It's beautiful.
Being at a high altitude, there were lots of clouds, and the panoramic view looking down was quite spectacular. This makes it all worthwhile! It felt like all the hardship just melted away.
Nature truly is magnificent. And since we were constantly walking, it was more hot than cold. The only chilly part was briefly at the very beginning, in Doi Inthanon National Park.
I could also spot the pagodas we visited before coming here,
This spot is quite magnificent. It truly feels like being enveloped by clouds. This is definitely worth adding to your list of places to visit in Chiang Mai! The trekking was scheduled for two hours, but when I timed it, it only took 1 hour and 20 minutes. That's approximately 6,000 steps. I suppose it could be flexible depending on the group, but everyone walked well – no one lagged behind, and the pace was surprisingly fast. If there had been someone walking a bit slower, it probably would have taken closer to two hours. Even though it was a tour, it felt quite relaxed, almost like a free and easy trip in Chiang Mai, giving us a good amount of freedom.
Hmong Hill Tribe Market and Local Food
We made a quick stop at a market selling nuts and fruits. (While it might not be a must-visit spot in Chiang Mai in terms of variety, I did see reviews saying it was cheaper than other places. So, if you're planning to buy nuts or fruits, it might not be a bad idea to get them here!)
Strawberries were 20 baht, so I bought some to try, and they were delicious. Compared to the Dalat strawberries in Vietnam, these were... truly tasty.
Next up was local lunch. It was quite similar to the menu I had on a different tour yesterday, and despite its somewhat modest appearance, it was delicious, so I enjoyed it thoroughly.
After eating, we went to a local cafe for coffee and tea (those mugs were so cute, I bought two!). After a short break, we headed to the final stop.
Magnificent Waterfall
By this point, I was getting a little tired, haha, and just wanted to head back to the accommodation, but the waterfall, which I hadn't expected much from, turned out to be quite magnificent. As the water droplets scattered, the sunlight hitting them was clearly visible, creating a mystical and enchanting scene.
As magnificent as it was... a lot of water splashed around! You didn't even have to get close; just standing slightly nearby would get you completely soaked. But perhaps it's precisely because of such a powerful surge that it looks so amazing.
The Chiang Mai tour I took was this one, and you can add trekking as an option. In my opinion, it's definitely worth including haha. If you don't add it, the tour might feel a little bland... Since it's in a high-altitude area, it's great for walking, and the views are fantastic, making it a course that felt like exploring Chiang Mai on your own.
Additionally, there are other versions of the same course: this one and this one, so feel free to check them out.
Despite being the highest point in Thailand, the temperatures weren't extremely cold, just a bit chilly. You might even feel warm while trekking due to continuously walking.
The Kew Mae Pan trek was scheduled for two hours, but I completed it in 1 hour and 20 minutes (approximately 6,000 steps). You can enjoy magnificent cloud views from the high altitude, and bamboo sticks are provided as trekking poles at the start of the trail.
Behind the King and Queen's pagodas, there are beautifully decorated gardens and flower beds, perfect for taking photos. You can also look down upon a magnificent panoramic view from the high altitude.
The waterfall, the final stop on the tour, is stunning enough to create a mystical scene as water droplets catch the sunlight. However, a lot of water splashes, so your clothes might get wet if you go too close.
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