# Doi Inthanon — Thailand's highest mountain, Chiang Mai > Doi Inthanon is Thailand's highest point, 2,565 m, in a national park 100 km from Chiang Mai, about two hours by car. Wachirathan and Mae Klang waterfalls are on the way; up top are the royal pagodas and a cloud-forest trail. Park entry is 300 baht for adults and 150 for children, a car 30; the pagodas cost 100 extra. Allow a full day. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-inthanon - City: [Chiang Mai](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai), Thailand - YesGo score: 17/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 4 h - Entry: entry 300 baht, children 150; car 30; pagodas ≈ 100 - Opening hours: A day trip; set off early in the morning - With kids: Fine with kids - National park entry: 300 baht for adults, 150 for children aged 3–14 - Vehicle fee: Car — 30 baht, motorbike — 20 - Royal pagodas: About 100 baht — a separate ticket, not run by the park - Height: 2,565 m — Thailand's highest point - Weather at the top: Cool and windy; near freezing on winter mornings - Distance: ≈ 100 km from Chiang Mai's Old City, about 2 hours each way - Coordinates: 18.59222, 98.48667 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **2,565 m** — the summit — Thailand's highest point (source: English Wikipedia) - **1954** — the mountain became one of Thailand's first 14 national parks (source: English Wikipedia) - **482 km²** — the park's area — from 800 m up to the summit (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 500** — bird species live in the park (source: English Wikipedia) - **Prince Inthawichayanon** — the mountain is named after the Chiang Mai ruler who protected the northern forests (source: English Wikipedia) - **Wachirathan** — the 'Diamond Creek' waterfall by the Karen village of Ban Sop Had (source: English Wikipedia) - **100 baht** — a separate ticket for the two royal pagodas (source: Thai National Parks) - **≈ 102 km** — by road from central Chiang Mai to the summit, about 2 hours (source: OSRM route) ## Park fees, season and weather According to Thai National Parks, park entry for foreigners is **300 baht** for adults and **150** for children aged 3–14, with **30 baht** per car and 20 per motorbike. The two **royal pagodas** and the royal agricultural station aren't run by the park: the pagodas cost **about 100 baht** and the station 20. The rates were published in 2022, and 2026 guides confirm them. It's **cool and windy** at the top all year, and **December to February** mornings can be near freezing — bring a jacket. The clearest views come in the **dry season, November to February**; in spring the valleys are often hazy, and June to October brings rain and cloud. ## What is Doi Inthanon? **Doi Inthanon** is **Thailand's highest mountain**, 2,565 m, in Chom Thong district south-west of Chiang Mai. It was once called Doi Luang Ang Ka; its present name honours **Prince Inthawichayanon**, a ruler of Chiang Mai who cared about preserving the northern forests. In **1954** a **national park** was created around the mountain — one of the country's first 14. It now covers **482 km²**, from lowlands at 800 m to cloud forest at the summit, and is home to around **500 bird species**. On the way up are waterfalls, Karen and Hmong villages, rice terraces and a market. > **You'll need transport** There's no public transport to the summit: almost everyone goes on a tour or with a hired car and driver. The road is a long series of switchbacks; on a scooter, take great care on the descents. The Kew Mae Pan trail is seasonal and open only with a local guide — check on the spot. ## What to see - **The summit** — Thailand's highest-point sign and the Ang Ka boardwalk through cloud forest. - **The two royal pagodas** — Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri, with gardens around them. - **Wachirathan Waterfall** — 'Diamond Creek' tumbling over a granite ledge. - **Mae Klang Waterfall** — at the foot of the mountain, on the road from Chiang Mai. - **The Kew Mae Pan trail** — along a ridge with views, seasonal and guided. - **Karen and Hmong villages** and a market on the way. ## How to get to Doi Inthanon 1. **On a tour from Chiang Mai** — morning hotel pick-up, usually covering the waterfalls, pagodas and summit. 2. **By car with a driver** — about 100 km, 2 hours each way; agree a full-day itinerary. 3. **By rental car** — south on the highway to Chom Thong, then up through the park. 4. **To Wachirathan Waterfall** — about 76 km from Chiang Mai, 1.5 hours. 5. Pay the park fee in cash at the entry checkpoint. ## How long do you need? It's a **full-day** trip: four hours of driving there and back and 4–5 hours in the park. **Set off early**: the top is more often clear before noon, and the pagodas and summit aren't yet busy with groups. Up to 12,000 people come on New Year's Day — pick another day during holidays. Bring warm clothes, water, cash for the fees and comfortable shoes for the trails. ## Is Doi Inthanon worth it? Yes: the country's highest point, cloud forest, pagodas among flowers and waterfalls make one of the most beautiful days in northern Thailand. The YesGo take: the drive is long, and entry, the car and the pagodas are all paid separately. The summit itself is forest without a panorama; the views are from the pagodas and the Kew Mae Pan trail. If you can't spare a whole day, Doi Suthep is closer to town. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] A warm jacket — it's cold at the top - [ ] Cash: entry 300, car 30, pagodas 100 baht - [ ] An early start - [ ] A tour or a driver for the whole day - [ ] Comfortable shoes for the trails ## Chiang Mai views: compare and choose Viewpoints and mountains around Chiang Mai rated by YesGo. - [Wat Phra That Doi Suthep](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-suthep) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20 - [Doi Inthanon](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-inthanon) — YesGo score 17/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · entry 300 baht, children 150; car 30; pagodas ≈ 100 ## Chiang Mai's mountains in two days Day one: Doi Inthanon. Day two: Doi Suthep temple, then the Night Bazaar in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Doi Inthanon](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-inthanon) — YesGo score 17/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · entry 300 baht, children 150; car 30; pagodas ≈ 100 2. [Wat Phra That Doi Suthep](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-suthep) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20 3. [Chiang Mai Night Bazaar](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/chiang-mai-night-bazaar) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free ## Good to know Doi Inthanon is a mountain and national park. Hotels and resorts named Inthanon, and Doi Inthanon coffee, are something else. Doi Suthep is a separate mountain right next to Chiang Mai. ## Tips - The best pagoda photos are in the morning, before the clouds. - At the summit, snap the country's highest-point sign. - Wachirathan is at its best just after the rainy season. - Buy coffee and fruit at the Hmong market on the way. - Closer to town: [Doi Suthep](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-suthep). ## Questions ### How much is Doi Inthanon entry? 300 baht for foreign adults and 150 for children; 30 baht per car; the pagodas are about 100 extra. ### How high is Doi Inthanon? 2,565 m — Thailand's highest point. ### How do I get there from Chiang Mai? On a tour or by car with a driver — about 100 km, 2 hours each way. ### Is it cold at the top? Yes — cool all year and near freezing on winter mornings. ### When is the best time to go? In the dry season, November to February, early in the morning. ### Do I need a guide for Kew Mae Pan? Yes — the trail is seasonal and open only with a local guide. ### How long do you need? A full day including the drive. ### What's on the way? Mae Klang and Wachirathan waterfalls and Karen and Hmong villages. ## How we checked The 300/150 baht entry, 30/20 baht vehicle fees and 100 baht pagoda ticket come from Thai National Parks, with 2022 data; a guide updated in October 2026 confirms them, but we haven't seen an official 2026 order, so they're marked unconfirmed. Height, history, area and the waterfall are from English Wikipedia. Winter temperatures are from guides. Distances are OSRM routes from Wat Chedi Luang to the summit (102.5 km) and to Wachirathan (76.4 km). We don't give the pagodas' construction dates, as we couldn't confirm them independently. ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Doi Inthanon: height, name, 1954 national park, area, birds, Wachirathan Waterfall, New Year visitors - Thai National Parks (2022 data) — entry, vehicle, royal pagoda and agricultural station fees - 2026 travel guides (Visit Thailand Today and others) — fee confirmation, trip tips (unofficial) - Wikidata Q1140075 — summit coordinates; OSRM route — distances from Chiang Mai --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.