Ten Most Spectacular Hills

[x-pat]

The “Trips” Thai travel magazine’s January issue no. 111 feature is titled “The 10 Most Spectacular Hills of the North”, which I thought might interest folks here. For the benefit of those who are too stingy to spend 90 THB on the magazine, those tied to their beds by prolonged new year hangovers, and everyone else not commanding enough enthusiasm to rush out and grab a print copy, here is a short summary:

(1) Doi Inthanon

Altitude: 2,565m

Location: Jomthong / Mae Chaem / San Patong districts

ca. 30 km southwest of Chiang Mai

National Park office at km 57 on highway 108

Attractions: Sakura flowers, Siriphum waterfall (km 30), Mae Klang waterfall (km 8), Mae Ya waterfall (km 1), Brijinda cave (km 8.5), Wachiratarn waterfall (km21), Mae Pan waterfall (km 37), Beauty Spot (km 41), Summit Ang Ka Luang Nature Trail

Accommodation: Touch Star Resort (053 267-364, www.touchstarresort.com), Inthanon Highland Resort (01-9610-361, www.inthanon-highland.com), National Park Office (053 268-550, 053 268-577)

Best time to visit: December to early February

(2) Doi Pha Hom Pok

Altitude: 2,285m

Location: Mae Fang National Park, Fang district, ca. 160 km north of Chiang Mai

Note: 4W vehicle is recommended/Some areas are only accessible on foot

Attractions: Fang Hot Spring, Rare plants and orchids, hiking along the Nature Trails, Pu Muen waterfall, Mae Heng Yai waterfall

Accommodation: Mae Fang National Park Office (053 453-517-8) Six lodging houses and camping grounds

Best time to visit: December to March

(3) Doi Luang Chiang Dao

Altitude: 2,225m

Location: Chiang Dao district, 5km west of Chiang Dao, 75 km north of Chiang Mai

Note: this mountain is only accessible on foot

Attractions: impressively shaped mountain range, Doi Kew Lom summit, Doi Pyramid summit, wild plants, grasslands

Accommodation: tents only – no facilities. Doi Luang Chiang Dao Wildlife Santuary (053 455-802)

Best time to visit: December to March

(4) Doi Ang Khang

Altitude: 1,900m

Location: Ban Khum/Mae Ngon, Fang district, 150 km north of Chiang Mai

Attractions: Royal Agricultural Station Angkhang, Kew Lom viewpoint, Ban Khob Dong handicraft village, Ban Nor Lae, Burmese border beauty spot, mule riding, bird watching.

Accommodation: Royal Agricultural Station (053 450-110, 02 2553-960)

Best time to visit: December to February

(5) Doi Hua Mae Kham

Altitude: 1,850m

Location: Mae Salong Nok/Mae Fa Luang district close to Myanmar border region, 100km northwest of Chiang Rai

Attractions: Orchards, Mexican sunflower plantations, tea plantations, Namtok Hua Mae Kham Park, Ban Doi Hua Mae Kham Akha and Lisu hilltribe village, Hua Mae Khan waterfall, Wat Doi Hua Mae Kham

Accommodation: Camping at Hua Mae Kham Park, Lodges at Hua Mae Kham Agricultural Center (053 918-101, 053 600-531), Baan Hua Mae Kham (053 609-106, 07 192-055)

Best time to visit: All year

(6) Doi Suthep/Doi Pui

Altitude : 1,685m

Location: Mae Tang, Hang Dong, Mae Rim districts on Chiang Mai’s northwest side

Attractions: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Huay Kaew waterfall, Monthathan waterfall, Chiang Mai viewpoint at km 13.5, Phu Phing Royal Palace, Doi Pui summit, Doi Pui Hmong village, bird watching

Accomodation: in town or Doi Suthep-Pui National Park (houses, lodges call 02579-5734, 02 579-7223, tent ground call 053 295-177)

Best time to visit: All year

(7) Doi Pha Tang/Pu Chi Fah

Altitude: 1,635m

Location: Doi Pha Mon, Ban Pha Tang district, Wiang Kaen district, 100 km east of Chiang Rai next to Laos border

Attractions: Bauhinia blossom, Doi Pha Tang hiking, Talay Mork (misty sea) vista, Hmong and Akha villages, Phu Chi Fah summit, Doi Pha Mon highland development center.

Accommodation: Phu Chi Fah Park Office (053 918-764), Phu Chi Fah Resort (07 938-911, 01-522-519), Toeng District Tourist Information Center (053 795-345)

Best time to visit: November - February

(8) Doi Tung

Altitude: 1,509m

Location: Mae Fah Luang District, 100 km north of Chiang Rai, next to Myanmar border

Attractions: Mae Fah Luang Botanical Garden, Doi Tung Royal Villa (Phra Tammak Doi Tung), The Princess Mother Museum, Doi Chang Mub summit (gardens and viewpoint), Phra That Doi Tung, hill tribe villages, Jud Song Sam Kwaen viewpoint, beauty spot at km 12.

Accommodation: Ton Nam House (053 767-015-7 ext. 230, 231), Doi Kham Resort (053 763-092, 053 763-039)

Best time to visit: All year

(9) Doi Khun Tarn

Altitude: 1,374m

Location: Tha Pla Duk and Mae Tha districts of Lamphun province, approx. 35 km southeast of Chiang Mai

Attractions: Khun Tarn railway tunnel, evergreen forest, Yor1 resting point, Mom Rajawong Kukrit Pramot’s lodgings at Yor2, view on Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon from Yor3, wild orchids, summit with view over Lamphun and Lampag provinces, Tad Mei waterfall.

Note: this mountain is only accessible on foot

Accommodation: Khun Tarn National Park lodgings (053 519-216-7), Bungalow Train (02 621-8701 ext. 5217, 02 225-6964)

Best time to visit: All year

(10) Doi Mae Salong

Altitude: 1,440m

Location: Mae Fah Luang District, 90 km northwest of Chiang Rai, next to Myanmar border

Attractions: 101 tea plantation, tomb of General Tuan, Santi Khiri village, Phra That Sinakarindhra, Sakura road (blossoming from December ot February), hill tribe festivals during the winter season

Accommodation: Mae Salong Resort (053 765-014-8, 053 765-132-4), Khum Nai Pon Resort (053 765-001-2)

Best time to visit: All year

[Gulliver_in_LOS]

Let me add that Doi Inthanon is the highest spot in Thailand

[meadish_sweetball]

Let me add that Doi Inthanon in my opinion is overrated and overcrowded. The rest of those dois are all well worth a visit though.

Doi Pha Hom Pok is the only one I havent been to so far. The name suggests it might be a bit chilly ('Mount Covering Blanket').

[cm das]

Went to Phu Chee Fah last weekend - amazing! And it was a full moon so we got to see sunset/moonrise as well as sunrise/moonset. And a big brush fire right near the summit just before sunrise. Bonus!

[PrivatePilot]

Thanks for taking the time to reprint the list, x-pat. Having visited only 5 of the peaks on the list, I now have some interesting new alternatives to check out next time I go on a hike.

Does anyone have any more information on Doi Chiang Dao or Doi Khun Tan? I'm especially interested in more details regarding hiking up to the summits (for example, how long it takes to walk up in kms and/or hrs, any fees involved, road conditions and availability of food/water).

I'm averse to the crowded conditions at Inthanon, Ang Khang, and Phu Chi Fah so I'm planning to check out DCD or DKT this month.

BTW, for those who usually pass through Tak on their way to BKK, if you've got a couple free days try taking a detour to Doi Soi Malai ("the roof of Tak" according to the TAT). Getting there ain't easy (you'll need a 4WD vehicle) but it's surely worth the view, as seen below:

[chanchao]

Let me add that Doi Inthanon in my opinion is overrated and overcrowded.

Absolutely!!! Also:

> (1) Doi Inthanon

> Best time to visit: December to early February

The hel_l it is. Early Feb has got to be the WORST time to visit.. Very little water left at the waterfalls and everything is incredibly dry and dusty. Doi Inthanon almost seems dryer than any other area in the north. For Doi Inthanon, the best time to visit is actually during (or shortly after) the rainy season.

As for 'overcrowded', that only applies to the spots immediately next to the road, the nature trail and the summit. Keep in mind that this is likely not only the highest mountain in Thailand, it's also the widest. (Correct?) It's a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE area, most of it doesn't get visited at all. Of course visiting those areas takes serious effort.

[AsiaWolfie]

let me add that if you REALLY wanna experience a SPECTACULAR hill (or rather MOUNTAIN, in that case), then go to Borneo and climb the MOUNT KINABALU (4.100 m). its a challenge, but can be done by everybody, even older folks....

Kota Kinabalu airport is just 3 hours flight and 599 Baht plus Taxes away from Bangkok (thanks to airasia). this IS a spectacular place and an experience u will never forget (especially if u r lucky to reach the summit when there are no clouds in the sunrise-hours.... ).

the Thai "hills" are okay, nice to see, Mae Fa Luang is worth a visit for sure, .... but nothing spectacular at all..... and I dont think its very romantic if u can reach the highest spot of a country easily by car.... (well, the THAIs will love this fact of course )

[mobile69]

Did the Phu Chi Fah trip midweek in the wet season. Well worth it. Guesthouse owner surprised to see anyone at that time. Woke up pre dawn & dismayed to look out the window to see we were in the clouds. Luckily, wasn't put off, got outta bed & went up to the top - which was of course above the clouds. Beautiful views, and even better - the only sound was of a few birds. Never known it so quiet in Thailand. No motorbikes, no village loudspeakers, no other homosapiens nattering away etc. Probably crap at a weekend in winter season. Did a holiday weekend on Doi Pukha, Nan, a while back - half of BKK was in the campsite with their karaoke machines etc. Couldn't believe it - they escape from the city to get back to nature, & take all the city's trappings with them.

Anyone wanting to climb Doi Chiang Dao - a couple of yrs ago Malee, who runs bungalows nr base of mountain arranged for guide & porter for no extra cost but their fees. Spent the night nr the summit. Tough on the knees coming down.

Mt Kinabalu - best sunset & sunrise in Asia.

[Ajarn]

half of BKK was in the campsite with their karaoke machines etc. Couldn't believe it - they escape from the city to get back to nature, & take all the city's trappings with them.

Yeh, reminds me of the USA and camping in a Winnebago.