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3 Days 2 Nights

Start the journey in Chiang Rai by using highway No 1 to Mae Chan district. Drive another km and turn left to hit highway No 1089 and go for 23 km to Pha Dua Village. Take a break and enjoy shopping hill-tribe handmade products. Then proceed to E Kor T-junction, turn left and keep driving on the tar road for 18 km to Doi Mae Salong. It is situated in Mae Fa Luang district. Visit tea plantations and educate yourself on the hill-tribe way of living. Don’t miss pork leg and Doi Mae Salong tea, which can also be excellent souvenirs.

Box – December to February is the time when Nang Phraya Sua Krong flowers and the small sakuras are in full bloom along the way up the mountain.

Use the same route back to highway No 1. Turn left to highway No 1149 and drive for 15 minutes to Doi Tung Palace. Built in mixed Lana and Swiss styles, the palace served as a royal winter retreat for the Princess Mother who passed away in 1995. The royal balcony has a spectacular scenic view and is a fine spot to take pictures. Inside the building, there is an exhibition in the royal history room. Mae Fa Luang garden features various winter plants. Before departure, don’t forget to buy some souvenirs.

The palace is open daily from 7am to 6pm. Admission to Doi Tung Palace is Bt70 per person. The Mae Fa Luang admission fee is Bt50. Package ticket is Bt100. It is not open to the public from July to September (053-767-015-7).

Use highway No 1149 up the north, which passes the Mae Fa Luang botanical garden to 17.5 km to visit Wat Phra That Doi Tung. It is where the left collarbone of the Lord Buddha is kept. For the first time, relics of the Buddha were enshrined in a temple in Lana or the northern part. During the construction of the Phra Stupa, a 1,000-metre long centipede flag was installed atop the Doi Tung or “Tung” in local dialect.

Drive straight for 23 km to Mai Sai district. Use highway No 1149, which is opposite Tha Khi Lek district in Burma, widely known as the border market. Park your car and enjoy shopping products of the two countries. Burmese vendors cross the border to sell food and desserts. You can cross over to the other side to walk in the Burmese market.

A 200-metre walk up the market would lead you to Phra That Doi Wao, the second oldest after Phra That Doi Tung. Remainders of the hair of the Lord Buddha is kept there. You can have a panoramic view of the entire landscape of Mae Sai and Thai Khi Lek in Burma.

Highway No 1149 is a narrow, old tar road. Be careful about vehicles coming from the opposite direction. It’s more convenient to drive up than to drive down as the route is on the hill. It’s the border between the two countries and hence has military check-points along the way. Travelling after 6pm is not recommended.

Thai citizens can cross the border everyday from 6.30am to 6.30pm. Use ID card or other official cards. Admission fee is Bt40. Foreigners must carry their passport.

After shopping, return to the Chiang Rai Muang district to visit Phu Chi Fa, which has the cliff facing towards Laos. Phu Chi Fa is 1,628 metres above sea level. Use highway No 1020 to Thoeng district, travelling a total distance of 64 km. Change to highway No 1021 Thoeng-Chiangkam and drive for 24 km. Six km ahead of Chiangkam, there is an intersection that leads to Phu Chang Waterfall National Park-Ban Yuak, which is 19 km away from highway No 1093. Continue driving another 30 km to Phu Chi Fa. You need to walk one km on a steep trail to reach the viewpoint.

Another route offers a shorter option. From Thoeng, drive 6km and turn left at Ban Pi to highway No 1155. Continue for 41 km to Phu Chi Fa and pass Mong village on the way. Although the road is wider and in better condition compared to other routes, it is steep and winding up the mountain. Use low gear and low speed and also be careful about vehicles coming from the opposite direction. It takes some 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach the site.

Ban Rabiang Fa is located near the view point. Electricity and water is available 24 hours. Price, including dinner, is at Bt450/night for adult and Bt250 for children under 8. Contact Khun Waew (089-850-6303) and Khun Pe (081-737-3155).

The sea of mist viewpoint can be accessed in two ways: at the Tourist Service in Ban Rom Fa Thai and at the Water Source Unit and the Arts and Crafts Centre Work Centre in Ban Rom Fa Thong.

At dawn, walk up to the summit to watch the stunning mist and sunrise. Take memorable pictures and come back for breakfast and pack your bags. Follow the same route back to highway No 1 to Muang Chiang Rai district. There are many petrol stations between 816 km and 825 km. For LPG cars, you can go to Pure at 824 km. After that, head in the southern direction to Chiang Mai and stop by at Wat Rong Khun on the way. The temple is located at 817-818 km, about 12 km away from Chiang Rai downtown. Turn left to highway No 1211 and drive for 100 metres to arrive at the temple. It is designed by Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat, one of the country’s leading artists. The white Ubosot is made of cement carved in Thai pattern and decorated with glasses. Don’t miss the murals by Ajarn Chalermchai inside the Ubosot.

Resume the journey by heading to Mae Lao district. Move past Mae Lao Hospital (053-603-100) 3-4 km to turn right at the intersection to hit highway No 118. An Esso petrol station is expected after the turn. Drive past Mae Suai district, Mae Suai Hospital (053-786-017), Wiang Pa Pao district and take a break at 65 km. Visit Mae Kha Jan Hot Springs, the natural hot springs and have your meal or shop for souvenirs at the market nearby.

Take highway No 118 to Doi Saket district in Chiang Mai province and keep moving to the Muang Chiang Mai district. Go further to highway No 11 superhighway until you reach Rin Kam intersection. Turn right and head for Wat Phra That Doi Suthep to pay respects to the holy Buddha statue of the province. The temple oversees the entire picturesque view of the town below. The 12 -km route up to the mountain is steep and winding.

A wide parking area is provided. During high season, you might have to park your vehicles along the road side but don’t forget to pull the gear, turn the wheels a little but and use some rocks to block the tyres. Test your fitness by walking up some 300 steps. If you prefer convenience, cable cars are on service and can take you inside the temple area.

Use the same route back. Notice a Thai-style restaurant on your left ahead of the Mae Rim intersection. Its specialty is pork and chicken Kao Soi. Don’t forget to order pork satay (053-212-700).

After lunch, proceed to Doi Inthanon National Park, the highest mountain in Thailand. Fill the tank at petrol stations on the superhighway. From Chiang Mai downtown, use highway No 108 Chiang Mai- Chom Thong via Hang Don, San Pa Tong and Doi Lo districts. At km 57, turn right to highway No 1009 Chom Thong-Inthanon for a total distance of 48 km. The fine tar route is winding up the mountain. Take precautions in some parts and use low gear on your way back down the mountain. Don’t change the gear too often, which can damage the brake. Traffic jams can occur during the rainy season.

Travellers must pay a fee at a police check-point at 8 km to enter the park. Continue driving to 9 km, past Tourist Service Centre where restaurants and necessary items are available. There is an area for camping but booking should be made 7 days in advance. In winter, early booking is necessary and can be made at the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department of the Royal Forest Department (02-579-7223 or 02-579-5734).

After checking in, drive to 30 km and turn right to highway No 1284, which is an asphalt road. Go a km further to reach the Doi Inthanon Royal Project, which is located in Kun Klang village. Catch a glimpse of fantastic flower plantations including asters, carnations and gypsohpilias grown by hill tribes under the royal project. Go to bed early as you need to wake up at dawn to experience the sea of mist at the highest point in Thailand at 31 km.

Use highway No 1009 and drive to 37 km where you will find a T-junction. Turn right and stay on highway No 1009. Toilet is available at police check-point No 2. Drive 3 km further past Phra Mahathat Napha Methanidon and Phra Mahathat Naphaphon Phumisiri to stop at the far end of the route. This is the summit of Doi Inthanon with a wide parking space. Don’t forget to use some rocks or logs to prevent the tyres from moving if you park in the sloping area.

Witness the mist and feel the chill on the summit, which is 2,565 km above sea level. Don’t forget to take pictures with the “Highest Spot in Thailand” sign. Take the same way back to km 42. Slow down and keep left to park on the opposite side of the Phra Mahathat Napha Methanidon and Phra Mahathat Naphaphon Phumisiri. Walk across the road to catch the magnificent scenery of the sites which oversee the landscape of Doi Inthanon.

Drive back to 31 km near the park accommodation. On the left is the hill-tribe market, where vegetables, fruits and local products are sold. On the other side of the road is the Bird-watching Information Centre or Lung Daeng Shop where you can inquire details about birds, bird-watching trails and bird pictures.

On the same road, drive to 21 km and look for a sign “Namtok Wachirathan”. Turn left and park your car on a spacious ground. There are many restaurants here.

Take the same route back to Chom Thong district. Turn right to highway No 108 to visit Namtok Mae Ya, which is a huge picturesque waterfall. The water falls from the 280-metre high cliff while you can swim in the pond below. The weather is not too chilly.

Mae Ya Waterfall is 1 km from Chom Thong- Inthanon T-junction. Drive 14 km further to the site and park your vehicle. To access the site, you have to go 200 metres on foot. Use highway No 108 back to Chiang Mai downtown.

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