Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on Th Chiang Mai-Lamphun, just south of the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) office,
during daylight hours (20B, 30 minutes). Both can drop you off on Th Inthayongyot at the
stop in front of the national museum and Wat Phra That Hariphunchai. Minibuses and
sŏrng·tăa·ou
(20B, 30 minutes) return to Chiang Mai from the stop in front of the national
museum or from the city's bus terminal on Th Sanam.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Doi Khun Tan National Park
This 225-sq-km
national park
( 0 5354 6335, Royal Forest Department accommodation booking centre 0
2562 0760;
www.dnp.go.th
;
admission 200B; 8am-5pm)
straddles the mountains between Lamphun
and Lampang Provinces. It ranges in elevation from 350m at the bamboo forest lowlands
to 1363m at the pine-studded summit of Doi Khun Tan. Wildflowers, including orchids,
ginger and lilies, are abundant. At the park headquarters there are maps of well-marked
trails that range from short walks around the headquarters' vicinity to trails covering the
mountain's four peaks; there's also a trail to
Nam Tok Tat Moei
(7km round trip). Intersecting
the mountain slopes is Thailand's longest train tunnel (1352m), which opened in 1921
after six years of manual labour by thousands of Lao workers (several of whom are said to
have been killed by tigers).
Bungalows
( 0 2562 0760;
www.dnp.go.th
; bungalows 1500-2700B)
sleeping between two and nine
people are available near the park headquarters, where there's also a restaurant. The park
is very popular on cool-season weekends.
The main access to the park is from the Khun Tan train station. To check timetables and
look at its website. Once at the Khun Tan station, cross the tracks and follow a steep,
marked path 1.3km to the park headquarters. By car, take the Chiang Mai-Lampang high-
way to the Mae Tha turn-off then follow the signs along a steep unpaved road for 18km.
