Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
commemorate the king's and queen's 60th birthdays in 1989 and 1992, respectively. In the
base of the octagonal
chedi
is a hall containing a stone Buddha image.
The whole point of the park is to get as high as you can to see life in a colder climate,
and the coolness is such a relief from the sweltering plains below. Thais relish bundling
up in hats and jackets and posing for pictures among conifers and rhododendrons. Almost
at the exact summit there's a
chedi
dedicated to one of the last Lanna kings (Inthawichay-
anon). From there, a lovely boardwalk through the thick, cool forest leads to a cafe, oblig-
atory souvenir shop and the start of the Ang Ka nature trail, a 360m platform walkway
through a moss-festooned bog. Walking through the forest on the nature trail is an en-
chanting experience (if devoid of crowds).
The views from Doi Inthanon are best in the cool dry season from November to Febru-
ary. But don't expect a rewarding view from the summit, as for most of the year a mist,
formed by the condensation of warm humid air below, hangs around the top of the moun-
tain creating an eerie effect. You can expect the air to be quite chilly towards the top, so
take a jacket. The views on the way to the summit are much better.
The park is one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia for naturalists and birdwatch-
ers. The mist-shrouded upper slopes produce abundant orchids, lichen, moss and epi-
phytes, while supporting nearly 400 bird species, more than any other habitat in Thailand.
Most of the park's bird species are found between 1500m and 2000m; the best bird-watch-
ing season is from February to April, and the best spots are the beung (bogs) near the top.
The mountain is also home to Assamese macaques, Phayre's leaf monkeys, and a selec-
tion of other rare and not-so-rare monkeys and gibbons, as well as the more common Indi-
an civet, barking deer and giant flying squirrel - around 75 mammal species in all.
Sleeping & Eating
Park
accommodation
(
www.dnp.go.th
; camping 60-600B, bungalows 1500-3000B)
is available in comfort-
able bungalows located next to the information centre (the best ones overlook the water),
and camping in front of the information centre or at Nam Tok Mae Pan. At Km 31 there's
a restaurant that has decent Thai mains but is really a dining hall for tour-bus patrons.
Most accommodation options have an attached restaurant.
Outside the park there is a number of accommodation options lining Rte 1009, none of
which is outstanding but all perfectly OK for a night or two.
Ratchaphruek Hotel
HOTEL
$
