Doi Inthanon Day Trip From Chiang Mai: Fees and Transport

Foreign adults pay THB 300 and children THB 150 at the park, plus THB 30 for a car. Public songthaews stop at Chom Thong and the park headquarters, not the summit. The visitor centre is open daily from 08:00 to 16:00, and the Twin Pagodas charge THB 100 per person.

By Vincent Nguyen

Doi Inthanon is a long, cold and rewarding day from Chiang Mai, and the one thing to get right is transport: public songthaews do not reach the summit. Foreign adults pay THB 300 at the park.

Doi Inthanon National Park fees and opening hours

Foreign visitors pay THB 150 per child and THB 300 per adult to enter Doi Inthanon National Park. Vehicles pay separately: THB 30 for a four-wheel car and THB 20 for a motorcycle. These rates took effect on 7 June 2022.

The park visitor centre is open daily from 08:00 to 16:00. Most attractions can be visited from early morning until around 4-5 pm.

Twin Pagodas charge

The Twin Pagodas are not managed by the park authorities. Their entrance is THB 100 per person.

Kew Mae Pan trail guide and closure

The 2.5 km Kew Mae Pan trail must be walked with a Hmong guide, hired on the spot for THB 220. The trail is closed from June to October every year and reopens on 1 November.

What to see at Doi Inthanon

The park covers almost 500 square kilometres. Pick your stops along the road up the mountain.

Waterfalls on the way up

Mae Ya Waterfall, in the foothills not far off Highway 108, can be your first stop. It has its own checkpoint where the park fee is paid.

Wachirathan Waterfall is about 30 kilometres further up, which makes a double-waterfall day.

The Twin Pagodas

The Twin Pagodas, also called the King and Queen Pagodas, sit at km 41.5. They commemorate the fifth-cycle birthdays of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. A two-level walking path surrounds both, and escalators are available for the steps.

Summit stupa and Ang Ka Luang trail

Doi Inthanon Summit is Thailand’s highest peak, covered in high-altitude hill evergreen forest. The stupa of King Inthawichayanon is enshrined there and gives the mountain its name. An elevated walkway links the stupa to the visitor centre.

The Ang Ka Luang Nature Trail is 360 m long and runs through wet, cold valley forest. It is known as the gate to the Himalayan Range.

Who a Doi Inthanon day trip suits (and who should skip it)

• Good for a waterfall-and-pagoda day. Mae Ya, Wachirathan and the Twin Pagodas sit on one road.
• Good with a car or a hired driver. No public transfer reaches the summit, the trails or the Twin Pagodas.
• Skip it without your own vehicle or a hire. The songthaew route ends at the park headquarters and can take 2-3 hours.
• Skip the summit for sunrise if mist puts you off. The summit area is too often misty for sunrise.

How to get to Doi Inthanon from Chiang Mai

By car or motorbike

Drive 58 km west on Highway 108 to Chom Thong, turn right onto Highway 1009 and continue 48 km to the summit. The asphalt road is good but rather steep, so the vehicle must be in good condition. Visitors pay the entrance fee at km 8.

Open Doi Inthanon National Park Visitor Centre in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Open Doi Inthanon Summit in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Renting a scooter for the climb? The motorbike rental guide covers passport, helmet and licence.

By songthaew

Take a yellow songthaew from in front of Pratu Gate of the old city to Chom Thong. Change there to a second songthaew to the park headquarters. With two songthaews it can take 2-3 hours.

Songthaews often leave at irregular times, because drivers do not set off until there are enough passengers. No public songthaew goes on to the summit, the trails or the Twin Pagodas. The red songthaew guide explains city fares and how to flag one.

Private hire and minibus tours

A full-day private taxi starts from THB 3,200. Book your planned itinerary with all potential stops before you hire the driver.

How long the day takes and how to get back

Public transport takes at least 2.5-3 hours each way.

The public songthaew route ends at the park headquarters, so there is no ride back from the summit. Songthaews leave when full, and the last departure back to Chiang Mai is not confirmed. Book a driver for the whole day if you want the return sorted.

When to go and how long

The rainy season lasts from May to October, with the heaviest rainfall between July and September. The Kew Mae Pan trail is closed from June to October.

The summit is strongly windy and very cold, and on the coldest days of December and January the temperature drops to 0-4 degrees Celsius.

On 21 November 2025 the park chief reported 9 degrees Celsius at the summit. Wear warm clothing for the cold mornings and evenings.

The viewpoint near the Kew Mae Pan trailhead is popular for sunrise, and the Twin Pagodas area is a favoured sunset spot. Most attractions can be visited until around 4-5 pm.

The park is extremely crowded at New Year and Songkran, and weekends are busier than weekdays. To stay overnight, the campsite is open from 1 October to 15 February and park rooms cost THB 1,000 to 6,500 per night. The DNP booking system has been down during the 2026 season.

Nearby and how to combine it

A one-day plan follows the road up. Start at Mae Ya Waterfall, then Wachirathan Waterfall about 30 kilometres further. Next come the Twin Pagodas at km 41.5, then the summit stupa and the Ang Ka Luang trail.

For another mountain day, read the Doi Suthep guide for fees and songthaew fares. The Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall guide covers a free climbable waterfall.

Before you go

• Bring warm clothing for cold mornings and evenings.
• Budget THB 100 per person for the Twin Pagodas.
• Budget the gate charge for your vehicle: THB 30 per car or THB 20 per motorcycle.
• Skip the Kew Mae Pan trail from June to October.
• Hire the Kew Mae Pan guide at the trailhead for THB 220.
• Plan to finish the main stops by about 4-5 pm.
• The park office phone number is 053 286 729.

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Not confirmed: Fee: THB 300 is the DNP rate from June 2022; no 2026 notice was found. Motorbike charge: THB 20 in that notice. Last songthaew back and gate hours: no official source.

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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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