hiking Doi Inthanon the highest mountain of Thailand

Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak (2,565 m.) in Chiang Mai Province, is an offshoot in this southern extension of Himalayan Range. This national park's vegetation consists of 8 types (a native pine, lower & upper dry dipterocarp, opened & moist hill evergreen, and sub - alpine etc.). It is a habitat of more than 446 kinds of wildlife particularly 364 kinds of wild birds and there are several famous trails to explore the wonder of nature. Doi Inthanon is therefore one of Thailand's best places for a nature walk and bird watching activities. There are Karen & Hmong tribesmen dwell in isolated villages in this area where visitors can observe their unique lifestyle and culture.

Drive downhill to the remote valley of Mae Chaem, the fascinating lifestyle of former Northern Thai Village still remain to be seen here. In village we have ample time to visit a local temple in Lanna Thai Style of art - observe home factory of hand woven clothes - and beautiful paddy field in a valley

We will have a great time of excitement and fun together on the third day's soft whitewater rafting through rapids of grade 2 + and beautiful landscape of rock - walled gorges along Mae Chaem River at Ob Luang before returning to Chiang Mai.

Day 1 Chiang Mai - Doi Inthanon National Park - Nature Walk - Hmong & Karen Hilltribes (L,D)

08.00 Pick up from a hotel in Chiang Mai and travel by van/minibus to Doi Inthanon National Park (about 1.30 hrs.). Explore the summit, and visit to the visitor's center.

Nature walk at Ang Ka nature trail near the summit. Here you will see tall trees cloaked in moss, fern, orchid and other epiphytes, especially "Sphagnum Moss" and Rhododendron. Then go down to the King & Queen Stupas for lunch. After that hiking on Kiew Mae Pan nature trail for about 3 hrs.

16.00 Finish hiking, drive down to visit Hmong Fruits & Flowers Market before check-in at Karen Ecolodge in the Karen terrace rice field. Take leisure or hike to visit Karen Village (about a half an hour), meet & chat with Karen people and observe their fruit & coffee orchards.

19.00 Dinner and overnight (in huts) at the Karen Ecolodge or Nature Lodge in the park.

Day 2 Doi Inthanon - Mae Chaem - Forest Cottage (B,L,D)

08.00 Breakfast at the resort

09.00 Proceed to Mae Chaem District. Village tours: visit to some villages, well-known for hand woven clothes and local temples.

12.00 Lunch at a food shop, or homemade lunch in the village.

Pm Proceed to the Forest Cottage near Ob Luang.

Check into the Forest Cottage, the beautiful resort, located on the beautiful landscape.

At leisure and biking to children school in village.

Dinner and overnight at the Forest Cottage

Day3 Forest Cottage - Ob Luang - Whitewater Rafting - Chiang Mai (B,L)

08.00 Breakfast at the resort. Hike from the resort to visit the pre-historic rock painting site and a beautiful scenic gorge of Ob Luang. After that Enjoy soft whitewater rafting (grade 2-3) with full safety gears on Mae Chaem River about 4.5 km. / 1 hrs.

12.30 Lunch at the resort

14.00 Return to Chiang Mai by van

16.00 Arrive Chiang Mai

B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner