Doi Inthanon: how to visit Thailand's highest mountain
Thailand's highest mountain is a big, brilliant day trip from Chiang Mai — waterfalls, royal pagodas and a 2,565 m summit. Here's the ride, the stops and what to know (bring a jacket).
Tap a numbered stop for details. The route line is indicative — grab an offline map for turn-by-turn.
Doi Inthanon is the roof of Thailand — at 2,565 metres, the highest point in the country — and one of the best big day trips you can make from Chiang Mai. Waterfalls, royal pagodas, cloud forest and Karen rice terraces, all stacked up a single mountain road.
It's a proper full-day ride: roughly 90 km each way, so close to a 200 km round trip with the climb. Totally doable on a scooter, but it's long, it gets genuinely cold at the top, and the bike matters on the way up. Here's the route, the stops worth pulling over for, and how to do it comfortably.
The route at a glance
- 1Chiang Mai Start. Head south on Highway 108 toward Chom Thong — a flat, easy warm-up.
- 2Chom Thong The turn onto Route 1009 up the mountain. Fill up here — it's your last reliable fuel.
- 3Ban Mae Klang Luang A Karen village wrapped in rice terraces and coffee farms on the lower slopes.
- 4Wachirathan Waterfall An 80 m thundering cascade — the park's most spectacular waterfall, right by the road.
- 5Twin Royal Pagodas Two chedis for the late King and Queen, with manicured gardens and huge mountain views.
- 6Doi Inthanon Summit The roof of Thailand at 2,565 m, plus the misty Ang Ka boardwalk. Then back down the same road.
The ride, stop by stop
Chiang Mai → Chom Thong
An easy hour south on Highway 108 — flat and forgiving, a good warm-up. Fill the tank in Chom Thong; there's no reliable fuel once you're on the mountain.
Up Route 1009 → the waterfalls
Turn onto the 1009 and start climbing. Detour to the Karen rice terraces and coffee of Ban Mae Klang Luang, then pull in at the roaring Wachirathan Waterfall.
→ Twin Royal Pagodas
Higher still to the twin chedis built for King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit — landscaped gardens and, on a clear morning, a sea of cloud spilling across the valley.
→ the summit (2,565 m) & back
The final push to the highest point in Thailand. Walk the short Ang Ka boardwalk through dripping, mossy cloud forest — then it's the long ride back down. Leave the summit by mid-afternoon so you're off the mountain before dark.
Why it's worth the long day
Most Chiang Mai day trips are an hour out and back. Doi Inthanon is a commitment — but the payoff is scenery you don't get anywhere else in the north: an 80-metre waterfall, twin royal chedis floating above a sea of cloud, and a misty, moss-draped summit that feels more Himalaya than Thailand. You climb through banana plantations and rice terraces into pine and cloud forest, watching the temperature fall the whole way up.
One thing to get your head around: it is properly cold up there. While Chiang Mai bakes at 33°C, the summit can sit around 6°C — and dip below freezing on winter mornings (the record is −5°C). The t-shirt that's perfect in the city will be miserable at the top, so pack a real layer.
What bike to take
This is a long, high climb, so — like the run up to Doi Suthep — the bike matters. A small 110–125cc will manage it solo but will be flat out on the steeper sections; for 200 km and 2,500 m of climbing we'd take something with more in reserve. Our pick is an ADV 350; a PCX 160 or ADV 160 are ideal too. A 125cc, even a Click, will get you there if you're patient and travelling light. Fill up in Chom Thong — there's no reliable fuel inside the park. We run new models only, delivered anywhere in Chiang Mai. (You can see the whole range here.)
Good to know before you go
- Start early. The park runs roughly 6am–6:30pm; leaving Chiang Mai by 8am gives you a relaxed day and gets you back down before dark.
- Dress warm — really. The summit is 15–25°C colder than the city and can be below freezing on winter mornings. Bring a jacket, and gloves in December–January.
- Fees. National park entry is 300 THB for foreigners plus a small vehicle fee, and the Twin Pagodas are a separate ~100 THB — budget around 400 THB.
- Fuel up in Chom Thong. There's no reliable petrol once you're on Route 1009.
- Easy on the brakes downhill. It's a long descent — keep your speed down, feather the brakes rather than dragging them, and pull over to let them cool if they feel soft.
When to go
November to February is prime: cool, clear air and the best chance of that sea-of-cloud view from the pagodas. The Karen rice terraces at Ban Mae Klang Luang are greenest in September–October and turn gold around November, and the wild Himalayan cherry blossoms put on a show in January. Avoid heavy rain — the summit spends much of the wet season inside a cloud. For experienced riders, you can also descend the far side via Mae Chaem to turn it into a loop, but the up-and-back is the simpler day.
Quick questions
How far is Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai?
About 90 km to the summit — roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by scooter via Highway 108 and Route 1009. With the ride back it's close to a 200 km round trip, so it's a full-day outing, not a quick morning.
Can you ride a scooter up Doi Inthanon?
Yes, plenty of people do — the road is fully paved all the way to the summit. It's a long, steep climb though, so a slightly bigger bike (150cc+) is more comfortable than a small 125, and you'll want warm clothes for the top.
How cold is the summit?
Much colder than the city — typically 6–16°C in the cool season, and occasionally below freezing on winter mornings (a record −5°C). Even in the hot months you'll want a layer at the top.
What does it cost to enter?
National park entry is 300 THB for foreigners plus a small vehicle fee, and the Twin Royal Pagodas charge a separate ~100 THB. Budget around 400 THB.
When's the best time to visit?
November to February for cool, clear weather and the famous sea of cloud. It can be misty and wet through the rainy season, when the summit is often hidden in cloud.
