Chiang Rai is a great staging point for exploring Northern Thailand. The options for day trips are many and include places like Mae Salong, Doi Tung, Mae Sai, Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong, Pha Tang, Phu Chi Fa, Phu Sang Waterfall, Phayao, and many other interesting destinations in and around Chiang Rai.

Occasionally one feels the need to travel further afield, as we did this last week. We decided it had been too long since we had been to Pai and beyond. So we arranged for family to watch the house and dogs, packed up the Fortuner and off we went. We covered a total of 1167 torturous but beautiful kilometers and went from 365 meters at home to 2565 meters above sea level on top of Doi Inthanon.

First we headed to town and then off in the direction of Chiang Mai. At Mae Suai we turned right onto the 109 headed for Fang. Our first stop was to visit friends in Fang on the 107. Visit complete, we continued on the 107 to our first destination, Doi Angkhang high in the mountains.

It is quite a steep and twisty climb up the mountain but that is exactly what I was looking for on this trip. We arrived in time to search around for a place to stay. Things had changed a lot since the last time I had been up there so we needed to checkout the options. The cottages located inside the park were full and we didn’t feel like staying in budget accommodation, so fortunately we found a room at the Angkhang Nature Resort.

There were a surprising number of people with the same idea we had of missing the winter crowds, but we were fortunate enough to get a very nice room for 1600 baht. Most of the visitors were Thai families but the second day a number of French tourists checked into our hotel. When the temperature dropped to 10 at night we were glad to find the switch for the thermal pad built into the bed, and were soon all toasty and comfortable for the rest of the night. We liked the place so much we extended our stay one more day.

We got up early the first morning, to try our luck at catching the sunrise from a popular mountain top viewing point. The sunrise was not great but it was still and interesting experience with all the people milling around and my wife bought some small gifts from the girls selling handicrafts.

After a wonderful breakfast back at the hotel, we walked the three kilometer loop through the park exploring every display and side trail. They were busy getting things ready for the winter rush, planting strawberries and flowers. Still it was very lush and green after all the rain we have had this year. The fruit trees were eerie looking stick figures, far bigger than I remember from my last visit.

Later in the day we drove to Ban Nor-Lae to look from the Thai military camp over into the Burmese encampment on the opposite hilltop. Later we went to Ban Khop Dong which turns out to be a very appropriate name for the village, with their little shacks perch on the cliff edge above the basket like valley and their terraced farms.

After our second night at Angkhang Nature Resort, we got up early and hit the road for Pai. Overnight the remnants of a tropical storm had settled over Thailand and we found ourselves shrouded in cloud and mist as we headed down with nearly zero visibility, at least until we were better than halfway down the mountain.

As it turned out the sun didn’t come out for the rest of our trip but somehow I enjoyed the misty forests and cool weather. Even with limited photographic opportunities, I still came home with a couple hundred shots. I was merciless and soon pared that down by half when I returned home.

In part two I will cover Pai and beyond but for now I want to share some photos from Doi Angkhang.

This is not new and copied from my blog so if there is any interest in part 2 just let me know and I will post it.

The resort accommodation looks nice and tasteful, and the general area looks quite similar to the mountains in the north of the Philippines.

Which parts of that trip are located inside or outside the national park? I have a big aversion to places that practice dual-pricing.

The resort accommodation looks nice and tasteful, and the general area looks quite similar to the mountains in the north of the Philippines.

Which parts of that trip are located inside or outside the national park? I have a big aversion to places that practice dual-pricing.

I don’t share your aversion so took no notice. If I want to go somewhere, I go. Fees are minimal in comparison to other travel expenses, in my opinion.

great report and photos. Thanks for sharing

So is there any interest in Part 2?

Wow. Those are some great pictures. You've got the eye for detail! Thanks for the report and yes, would love to see part 2!!

You live in a beautiful part of the world. Very lucky.

Okay, I just posted Part 2. Hope you enjoy it.

If that's the GF / wife in the photo looking out towards the hilltop, she's easy on the eyes too....

If that's the GF / wife in the photo looking out towards the hilltop, she's easy on the eyes too....

We have been together for 18 years, and yes she is still easy on the eyes. Thanks for noticing.

Thank you for such a wonderful post. I live (part of the year) in Chiang Rai and I appreciate your research and travels. I hope to follow in your footsteps!

This might make it easier to find Part 2. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/877283-part-2pai-mae-chaem-doi-inthanon-chiang-mai-and-home/

Loved the report and the pictures...you seem to have a natural gift for gab (this is a compliment)...Thanks for sharing!

Thank you Villagefarang for this report;

I have discovered this sub forum today !!

Beautiful photos; I like them ;

I went to Doi Angkhang a few months ago with some friends; all on our MTBike from Chiang Mai where two of them are living .

I will do like you:

a post about this journey ; not only Doi Angkhan ; we went to Doi Mae Salong also;

oh ! how difficult was some roads to climb, even we had MTBikes.

About our dogs, I/we have five dogs ; it's easier for me because my wife or my daughter is still at home when cycling .

Great post;

Thank you

Loved the report and the pictures...you seem to have a natural gift for gab (this is a compliment)...Thanks for sharing!

I fear my gift for gab pales in comparison to my writing muse on a good day but I do appreciate the compliment. Then again some say I simply talk too much, and at times they are probably correct.