Hiking at Doi Inthanon

For the most part, I wouldn’t classify Thailand as a hiking destination. Kayaking, diving, and motorcycling: definitely yes. But the hot and humid weather generally makes for uncomfortable hiking. Perhaps for this reason, hiking is also not a very popular activity among the locals, so the hiking infrastructure is sometimes lacking. But Doi Inthanon is an important exception.

Doi Inthanon National Park is about a 90 minute drive from Chiang Mai. The highest peak is 2565 meters above sea level (~8400 feet), making it the highest mountain in Thailand. It can get pretty cold due to the high elevation, which is perfect for hiking. There are many trails to explore in the park, as well as overnight tours if you want to camp in the mountains.

We visited Doi Inthanon as a private tour with “Happy Bird Tours“. Bird, who is indeed a very cheerful fellow, is both an outdoor enthusiast and a photographer. That’s why we have all these great couples shots that aren’t selfies. Thanks Bird!

One of the funny rules at Doi Inthanon is that all hikers must be accompanied by a guide. And although we went with a local guide, he didn’t count because he wasn’t employed by the park. So even our guide had to have a guide. Off we all went together.

We first visited a forest, which included several waterfalls as well as beautiful old trees.

The forest gave way to rolling hillsides with interesting fauna.

Eventually, we were rewarded with some incredible views of the valley.

Thanks for a wonderful day, Bird!