Surrounded by lush greenery and mountains, Chiangmai is the perfect escape for you naturalists! In this Nature Lover’s Passport to Chiangmai, we’ve narrowed down some of the best places in Chiangmai you can go to if you’re looking to be immersed in nature. Regardless of how long you’re staying in Chiangmai, there’s a bit of Mother Nature for everyone to enjoy.
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park is one of the most well-known national parks in Chiangmai, and is home to one of the widely-loved Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a Buddhist Temple. The late King Bhumibol’s winter residence, Bhubing Palace, can also be found within the park grounds. It’s one of the best parks in the country for hiking, as there are many trails that branch out from the park and into the surrounding mountains. If you’re up for something faster, you can also try cycling, though we recommend you get the help of some local guides for these activities. There’s no end to wildlife here, and some species that have been spotted include the Asian golden cat, Malayan porcupine and the Assam macaque.
Doi Inthanon National Park
Welcome to Thailand’s highest peak atop Doi Inthanon mountain, which the national park is named after. The park is also nicknamed the “Roof of Thailand” for this reason. It sits about 70km from Chiangmai, and contains many waterfalls, picturesque farms, hiking trails and villages. A hike up this mountain will no doubt give you one of the best sunrise and sunset views you can get in Chiangmai. This jewel of a national park is also the home of at least 360 different species of birds, most of which are rare and hard to find otherwise. If that’s not enough to tempt you, the park sees cool weather all year round, so you can also take a break from the tropical heat here!
Huay Tung Tao Lake
This giant man-made reservoir rests at the foot of Doi Suthep, and while it’s man-made, it certainly offers the full comforts and peace that Mother Nature offers. It only takes you 20 mins from the city, and another THB 20 to enter the area, and you can make yourself at home at one of the straw huts. You can bring some food there and set up a small, intimate picnic while you look out at the tall mountains and lush greenery of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. There are many activities for you to engage in here such as camping, fishing, and even paintball!
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Opened in 1993, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden is actually Thailand’s first botanical garden of international standard, and is a champion for conserving and protecting biodiversity. It is about 6,500 acres in size and contains at least 12 glasshouses that display a wide variety of plants both native to Thailand and other countries. You can visit the Orchid House, Savannah House, the Carnivorous Plant collection and so much more at one place! A new addition to the gardens in the form of a 400m long canopy walk has also been built recently, and lets you experience walking amongst the towering trees. The entrance to the gardens will cost you THB 50, and you should be prepared to devote at least 3 hours to this huge garden.
Bua Tong Waterfalls
Also known in English as the “Sticky Waterfalls”, the Bua Thong Waterfalls is one of the most unique waterfalls we’ve seen. This multi-tiered waterfall is so named as the limestone deposits result in sufficient friction that makes climbing so easy you almost feel like you’re sticking to the waterfall as you climb! There’s 5 different difficulty levels for you to try if you’re looking to scale up the waterfall - we highly recommend it as it’s not often you get to climb up one so easily. When you eventually get back to the bottom, dip your toes in the cool water just to dispel some of that heat you must be feeling! This waterfall is only about 1.5 hours away from Chiangmai, so it won’t take you too long to witness this feat of nature.
Doi Pha Tang
This is as perfect as it gets if you want a birds-eye-view of the Mekong River and the perpetual sea of mist that clouds the mountains. It’s a lesser known summit so you won’t be bugged by large droves of travellers taking their #wanderlust shots. The surrounding area is also home to many ethnic groups like the Hmong and Yao, so the pace of life here will be vastly different from what you’re used to in the city. The hiking trail starts from the nearby market, and while it’s relatively straightforward and easy to follow, the last bit of path before you reach the peak can get a bit steep, so do be careful especially if the ground is slippery. As it’s close to the Thailand-Laos border, you’ll have to set aside a full day or so for this gorgeous peak, and a drive here can take you 4-5 hours.
Doi Luang and Chiang Dao Wildlife Reserve
Doi Luang is Thailand’s third highest peak at 2225m high, and sits within the Chiang Dao Wildlife Reserve. Given its peak, hiking is a very common and popular activity for those who visit. As it’s a protected wildlife reserve, there’s a diversity of flora, fauna and birds all around the reserve. If you’re quiet, you can observe them going about their routine a bit longer than usual. If you’ve come to hike, we recommend that you stay overnight. You’ll have to arrange your visit at least two weeks in advance with the park authorities and bring your own camping equipment, but it’s a reasonable trade-off for the far-ranging views and for the chance to see a whole sky full of stars while you’re camping at night.
Tham Pha National Park
Tham Pha National Park in Lampang is where a beautiful body of water lies. The Emerald Lake, named for its glistening and clear emerald green waters, is lovely to witness up close. It is actually a sinkhole, and not many are sure of its actual depth, but what we do know is that it makes for a great spot to take some pictures to document your travels! Locals respect the lake, and people generally do not swim or fish in the lake so do take note of this while you visit. Since you’re here, you can also check out the Phathai Cave, a limestone cave that was once visited by King Rama VII, with his initials inscribed on the inside of the cave itself. If you’re afraid of bats, you might want to check out something else instead!
Elephant Rescue Park
Animal exploitation is one of the negative impacts of tourism in Thailand that leaves a damaging imprint on the lives of the many wonderful animals that inhabit the land. In Elephant Rescue Park, founder Kid was inspired to save the lives of elephants after witnessing an elephant succumb to her wounds inflicted by her overseer in the elephant riding industry. Thus began the group’s mission to rescue elephants that have been mistreated or abused, and take care of their welfare in their old age. Here you can feed, bathe and walk with the elephants in tranquility and just enjoy your day by these peaceful creatures. There’s no better time to start responsible tourism than now!
Doi Mon Chong Mountain
This is one of Chiangmai’s best kept secrets when it comes to natural sites. Doi Mon Chong Mountain, is more of a local haunt than a tourist site, and is sometimes referred to as a savannah because of the field of tall grass that shrouds the mountain. It’s also the tallest hill in Chiangmai so get ready for a sweat-inducing but thoroughly rewarding 6km trek up to the top, where you can then admire some gorgeous sunset views! This hill is situated within Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can see some rare species of wildlife, and is about a 3-4 hours drive away from Chiangmai.
