Thailand is located in southeast Asia. It is the about same size as the country of France. It shares borders with Myanmar (Burma) on the north and west, Laos on the north and east, Cambodia on the southeast, and Malaysia on its southern end. Thailand is ruled by an elected government and is inspired by the world's longest-reigning monarchy. Buddhism is the main religion of about 95% of the population. The country is often called the "land of smiles." This slogan holds considerable truth to the Thai people who are gracious with a strong sense of self and humanity. Throughout history, Thailand has been known to create its own unique path. The result is a country that has never been colonized by a foreign power, never sought to conquer a neighboring country, and retained its past while moving ahead in the future.

The largest city in Thailand is Bangkok. It has a population of about 12 million and is kind of like its own little world. To give you an idea on how big the city is, one out of every six Thai people live there. Bangkok's full name would take a whole paragraph to spell out but in English translates to "City of Angels." It is the international gateway to much of southeast Asia. For tourists it seems like a bewildering maze of traffic, noise, and people. Yes, this is all true, but Bangkok is also Thailand's capitol and most famous city. It contains some of most beautiful temples and shrines. There is a lot of history to be discovered here and most people can not walk away without being impressed with places such as the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In reality, Bangkok bears little resemblence to the rest of the country. Most of Thailand is a rural patchwork of rice fields, villages, and forests.

In 1939, the name Siam was officially changed to Thailand, meaning "The Land of the Free." Thai is the official language of Thailand but each region has a different dialect. This can be confusing to people who have never been there before. In Northern Thailand, "Doi" means mountain. In the rest of Thailand "Phu" means mountain. I have listed the three highest mountains below. All of them are located in the Chiang Mai Province. Only Doi Inthanon is currently on Summitpost but there are a lot of other mountains in the region.

NOTE ABOUT PHOTOS: Anyone who has been to this area in Thailand is welcome to submit photos to the page. I know a lot about this area but don't have very many photos of my own to add. I know that it would improve the page a lot so it is appreciated.

Monthathon Waterfall

Regions Overview

Thailand is generally divided into four regions: The central plains, the north, the northeast, and the south.

The North-Eastern Region - The northeast region of Thailand is known as Isan and is located on the Khorat plateau. It comprises about one-third of Thailand's total area but is generally poorer than the rest of the country. This is where rice and other staple crops are grown. The majority of people that live here are farmers. This area is famous for its annual festivals and ceremonies and hot spicy food. There are many mountains to climb in this region too. The northeast was once an important part of the mighty Khmer Empire with its capital at Angkor Wat, the entire Isan region is rich with ancient Buddhist shrines and temples. The military was a stong influence on this area during the Vietnam War. The city of Udon Thani, which is also called Udorn, was the site of a major U.S. Air Force Base. The base is still used today by the Royal Thai Air Force. The whole northeastern region consist of nineteen provinces.

The Central Plains - This is where Bangkok is located. Central Thailand is the basin of the Chao Phraya River. It is fed by a large network of canals and rivers in a lush, fertile valley supporting vast fields of rice, sugar cane, pineapples and other fruit. It is the richest and most extensive rice-producing area in the country and has often been called the "Rice Bowl of Asia". Two places that you should see are Erawan National Park and Sai Yok National Park which are well known for many of their spectacular waterfalls. The former capitol of Ayutthaya is located to the north and is something that should not be missed. The old temples and ruins in this city date back to the year 1350. Another place to visit is the city of Kanchanaburi which is located west of Bangkok. It has the Death Railway Bridge used in WWII, more commonly known as The Bridge over the River Kwai, made famous by the movie of the same name.

The Southern Peninsula - This region is south of Bangkok and extends down to the Malaysian border. This region has something for everybody, marine national parks, endless beaches, and several resort towns. Tourists are always having fun here and enjoying the cheap accommodations that are available. Popular rock climbing areas can be found in the province of Krabi. Winter is the best time to visit this area. On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.3 earthquake, erupted on the floor of the Indian Ocean. Along Thailand's Andaman coast, a tsunami struck six provinces. In Thailand, the toll was 8,000 people confirmed dead or missing. Since then, Thailand has slowly rebuilt itself out of the disaster. Tourists are encouraged to visit these areas that are now open for business.

Doi Inthanon View

The Northern Region

The Northern Region appears to be a remote area that is far away from many tourist destinations. Even though it is located 450 miles north of Bangkok, the area is quite accessible by driving or air travel. It consists of 17 provinces and occupies approximately 170,000 square kilometers. There are two distinct areas. They are the wide plains of the lower north from Nakhon Sawan up to Sukhothai. Sukhothai was the old capitol of Thailand. It lasted from the year 1238 till 1438 and has many ruins and temples in amazing condition. This area leads into the mountaina�ous upper north that has long borders with Myanmar and Laos. Trekking is popular along with elephant riding and river rafting. These mountains are home to several hill tribes. There are also many national parks.

Chiang Mai is the second-largest city in Thailand, the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located on the banks of the Ping river and is set in a green, fertile plain. Modernization has crept into this place for decades. This has had both positive and negative effects. Chiang Mai now has a well developed tourist industry with hotels in all price ranges. The city of Chiang Mai has tried to retain its traditional charm and centuries-old culture throughout all of this. More than three-hundred temples are located here and give the city an atmosphere of calmness and timeless elegance. Chiang Mai is famous for traditional handicrafts. Each locality has its own particular craft product, such a wood carvings, silverware engraving, and silk weaving.

Chiang Rai is a city in the northern-most province of Thailand. The mighty Mekong River creates a border on the north. The small town of Sop Ruak is a place where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge. It's called the famous-infamous Golden Triangle - an area which was well known for being unsafe because of drug smuggling across the borders. Today, it is a popular tourist stop where many visitors come for an hour or so to take pictures. You can even visit the Opium Musuem which showcases the history of opium in the region. The views across the river into Laos and Myanmar are excellent and there are several open-air restaurants which offer panoramic views. The Chiang Rai province is mountainous and covered in large parts with tropical rain forests.

Here is a map of Thailand and the Northern Region

Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon Temple

Doi Inthanon

Elevation: (8,415 ft) - (2,565 m) -- This is the highest mountain in Thailand. It is located in Doi Inthanon National Park above the town of Chom Thong and about 1.5 hours southwest of Chiang Mai. It is the most popular National Park in northern Thailand. Since 1899, the mountain was formerly known as Doi Angka. Doi Inthanon is a shortened version of the name of Chiang Mai's last sovereign, King Inthawichayanon. During his reign, he had great foresight to express his concern for the forests of the northern hill country as being the watershed for all of central Thailand. Before the King died near the turn of this century, he said that he wanted his remains to be placed at the top of this mountain. His ashes at the summit stupa are visited by thousands of people each year.

You can drive all the way to the top along a very windy road. A short trail takes you to the summit past a sign that says Highest Spot in Thailand. You'll want to hike some of the trails while you're there. The Gew Mae Pan Trail is one that I recommend and takes about two hours. It is a rewarding hike that goes through the jungle and then onto a high mountain ridge. You should also see the two temples that were completed by the Thai Air Force in 1989 to honor the 60th birthday of the King and Queen Sirikit. There are several waterfalls here too. Mae Yah Waterfall is remarkable for its combination of size and beauty. It has a large volume of water that plummets for nearly 30 stories down to the rocks below. Brichinda Cave is an impressive limestone cave with two gigantic chambers and takes an hour to get to.

Hikers who want to experience real nature may want to travel on foot. This was the traditional means of climbing Doi Inthanon before car transport was available. The popular hiking route begins at Mae Klang Waterfall. The first night, hikers can stay overnight at a Karen village or in the forest. The second overnight is at the Karen village of Pah Mon. The third overnight at Pang Somdej before reaching the top of Doi Inthanon. During the journey, hikers will enjoy the high mountain environment and get the see the lives of Karen villagers. More information can be found at Doi Inthanon National Park website.

Doi Pha Hom Pok

Wachiratan Waterfall

Doi Pha Hom Pok

Elevation: (7,496 ft) - (2,285 m) -- This is the second highest mountain in Thailand. It is located in Mae Fang National Park. This large park is situated at the northern limits of the Chiang Mai Province near the city of Fang. It is in one of the least spoiled areas of Thailand. Strong winds blow every day and have caused the mountain to have a flat top with layers of dirt and granite rocks. From the summit, there are usually wonderful views of a sea of clouds and the ridges of mountains along with Thai-Myanmar border. There are also several waterfalls and caves in the area.

Doi Pha Hom Pok is cold all year long. The lowest temperature in the winter is around 35 degrees and up to only 60 degrees in the summer. The route to the mountain is so steep that it�s considered a great challenge for those who think they can reach the top. The mountain is made up of forest with trees covered by moss, fern, and lichen. This gives the area the appearance of being covered by a blanket and given the name; Pha Hom Pok, which simply means the blanket covered mountain. Many types of plants and animals can be seen. There are rare orchids on the mountain and over 200 types of birds.

Ten kilometers from the town of Fang, are the headquarters of the park where maps and information can be obtained. This is also where the famous hot springs are located. In 1989, an geothermal power plant was installed using the pressure of hot water from a hundred meters deep well. This project was carefully planned so that it would not ruin the environment. The staff is happy to show visitors around the plant. There are number of boiling geysers that shoot from the ground. This is a great place for a picnic and the whole area is beautiful. Hikers who want to visit and climb Doi Pha Hom Pok, should ask for permission first at Mae Fang National Park, Chiang Mai. More information can be found at Mae Fang National Park website.

Doi Chiang Dao

Foot Bridge

Doi Chiang Dao

Elevation: (7,300 ft) - (2,225 m) -- This is the third highest mountain in Thailand. It's located about 1.5 hours north of Chiang Mai. Chiang Dao is a massive, cone-shaped, limestone mountain in the Chiang Dao Wildlife Reserve area. It attracts many visitors every year. The peak is usually very cool and windy. It is full of rare highland flowers, birds, and butterflies. Doi Chiang Dao's steep and jagged hills will test the strength and determination of most hikers. It is well worth the arduous climb. Narrow plains on top of the mountain overlook spectacular views of the Chiang Dao mountain range, Doi Sam Phi Nong, and the far end of Doi Inthanon National Park. Descending the mountain is possible on the trail near Ban Tham, which is located near Chiang Dao cave. The trail is rather steep; nevertheless, it could shorten a lot of the hiking distance. It is quite difficult to climb up though.

Equally popular, if not more, is Tham Chiang Dao near the mountain. "Tham" meaning cave which includes 5 areas designated to visit: (Tham Maa, Tham Kaew, Tham Phra Nawn, Tham Seua Dao, and Tham Naam). The caves extend around twelve kilometers into the mountain but only more experienced should venture beyond. The area is quite nice and admission to the caves cost only 10 baht and guides are available for a low price. More information about the cave can be found here.

Hiring a guide is recommended for climbing Doi Chiang Dao. At Chiang Dao Cave, guides and porters are available. You can also be chartered to the starting point of the trail. Rented local truck costs around 900 baht and, a porter is 300 baht per person. There are no tourist facilities on Chiang Dao Mountain. Visitors must bring their own sleeping bags, food, and water. Travel must be arranged at least 2 weeks in advance. More information can be found at the Chiang Dao National Park website.

Mae Pan Waterfall in Chiang Mai

Other Mountains

Doi Lahnga

Elevation: (6,664 ft) - (2,032 m) -- Doi Lahnga is located in Khun Chae National Park. It is the fifth highest mountain in Thailand. Most of the area is covered with granite, which is common in Northern Thailand. It is very steep with many creeks that drop down into a number of waterfalls. This terrain is caused primarily by the high amount of seasonal rain and highly erodable soil. Doi Lahnga has many subpeaks and is located at the southern end of the park.

Doi Mot

Elevation: (5,577 ft) - (1,700 m) -- This mountain is also located in Khun Chae National Park. It was made a national park in 1995 and is located an hour northeast of Chiang Mai. The trail to Doi Mot passes by a scenic evergreen forest. The environment is wet and ferns, mosses, and several types of orchids can be seen here. The view from the summit includes the Chiang Mai province to the west, Chiang Rai province to the east, Doi Lahnga in the south, and Doi Phangome to the north.

Doi Tung

Elevation: (4,951 ft) - (1,509 m) -- This mountain is located in the Chiang Rai province. It is known by locals as Thailand�s Switzerland. Doi Tung means "Flag Mountain" named for the prominant flag on the summit. At the top of the mountain is the Wat Phrathat Doi Tung. This temple was built one thousand years ago and is an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from Thailand and overseas. A scenic mountain road goes through these mountains offering spectacular views.

This place is home to the Doi Tung Development Project, an initiative of Her Royal Highness Srinakarindra the Princess Mother (mother of Thailand�s current monarch) who passed away in 1995. The purpose behind the project was to establish a way of overcoming the area�s social problems through education, training, and through �Sustainable Alternative Development� such as changes in agriculture. It encouraged people to grow crops such as coffee, tea, strawberries, and macadamia nuts, instead of opium. A Cottage Industry Center was set up to help residents develop their skills.

Doi Khun Tan

Elevation: (4,505 ft) - (1,373 m) -- This mountain is located in Doi Khun Tan National Park. It is in a mountain range that borders the Lampang and Lamphun provinces. There is a 1,362 meter railroad tunnel, the longest in Thailand, underneath the mountain. It was constructed in 1907 and completed in 1918. Doi Khun Tan consists of four seperate mountains that the route climbs over. Camping is allowed and houses known as a "yaw" are available for hikers. These yaws were actually military camps used as lookout points during WWII. Beautiful views can be seen from all four summits.

Doi Suthep

Elevation: (4,265 ft) - (1,300 m) -- Doi Suthep is the mountain that stands right above the city of Chiang Mai. It is located in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. It is considered a sacred mountain and is a symbolic landmark to the area. There is a windy mountain road that leads to the base of the Doi Suthep. There are 300 steps that lead to Wat Doi Suthep on the summit. It is made out of gold and is quite a site to see. It is a major destination for Buddhists and popular with foreigners. With all temples, you should dress accordingly, no shorts or sleeveless shirts. The highest mountain in the park in Doi Pui. To get there, just keep driving higher up the road. It becomes very narrow and steep in a few places. At the end of the paved road is a trail that climbs to the summit.

Doi Inthanon National Park

Northern Hill Tribes

Akha Hill Tribe

Over 100 years ago, hill tribe people migrated south from China into what are now Burma, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. There are six major tribes in Northern Thailand that include the Karen (Kariang, Yang), the Hmong (Meo), the Yao (Mien), the Akha (Ekaw), the Lisu (Lisaw), and the Lahu (Mussur). Each tribe is district, with its own culture, religion, language, art, and dress. The main profession of all these tribes is farming. In the Thai language they are not referred to as tribes but as Chao Khao, meaning "owners of the mountains." For such a hard way of life, they are good humored and friendly people who welcome visitors.

The largest group is the Karen, which make up half of the hill tribe population in Thailand. They live in the mountainous northern and northwestern regions bordering Myanmar. They are the most settled of the hill tribes and live in permanent villiages in well constructed houses. The Hmong are a well-known hill tribe and the second largest group. They are spread over a wide area of Northern Thailand but most are concentrated in the Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Petchabun and Tak provinces. The two main sub-groups are the Blue Hmong and White Hmong, named after differences in dress.

One of the main attractions in Northern Thailand is meeting some of the hill tribe people that live in these remote mountain areas. It is recommended that you have a tour guide while hiking and visiting these places. Proper etiquette is to dress modestly and to ask permission before taking any pictures of hill tribe people. There are numerous tour companies that visit hill tribes during treks.

More information on the Northern Thailand hill tribes can be found here and here.

Red Tape

Doi Inthanon

The currency of Thailand is called baht. 40 baht = 1 U.S. dollar. Almost all of these mountains are located in a national park. The current fee is $0.50 (20 baht) for Thai nationals and $5.00 (200 baht) for foreigners. This two tiered fee system is common in Southeast Asia.

Thailand is a safe country to visit, but it is a good idea to be a little cautious, particularly if you are travelling alone.

Since 1988, Myanmar has been under the military rule of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). The Thai-Myanmar border is the site of on-going conflicts between the Burmese Army and armed opposition groups as well as clashes between Thai security forces and armed drug traffickers. In addition, pirates, bandits and drug traffickers operate in these border areas. Travelers should use caution in the more remote areas. A guide is recommended for driving on secluded mountain roads. Your risks are much lower if you stay several miles away from the Thai-Myanmar border.

Laos was isolated from the rest of the world for almost two decades. In 1992, the country opened its doors to tourism. The Thai-Laos friendship bridge near Nong Khai in northeastern Thailand has increased relations between these two countrys. Travelers should be aware that there have been occasional incidents of violence on Thailand�s northern and eastern borders with Laos. So it is wise to exercise caution when travelling near the border.

Getting There

Thai Airways International operates flights from two cities in the United States: Los Angeles and New York City. Flights to Thailand operate two to three times a week. Most people will be flying to Bangkok International Airport. Here is how to get to Northern Thailand.

By Vehicle - Phahonyothin is the main highway from Bangkok connecting the central region with the North all the way to Chiang Rai, which is the uppermost province in the North. Branching out from Phahonyothin are secondary highways leading to all northern provinces and many other districts.

Passenger buses and coaches are available at the Mo Chit Bus Terminal on Kamhaeng Phet Road serving all provinces and major districts. For more information call this number 936-2852-66.

Provincial bus services run between the provincial seat and various districts. There are also inter-provincial services. In major cities such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phitsanulok are car rental services to go to tourist attractions. For more traditional mode of transport, try pedal tricycles which are available in all provinces. It is suggested that fares be negotiated beforehand.

By Train - There are daily train services starting from Hua Lumphong Station in Bangkok which run through Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Den Chai, Lampang, Khun Tan, Lamphun and terminate in Chiang Mai. Call 223-7010, 223-7020 for more information.

By Boat - Most of the boating routes in the North are designed for sightseeing purposes. Some major routing include cruising the Ping River by large tour boats from the Bhumiphil Dam in Tak Doi Tao in Chiang Mai. Or Travelling by boats or rafts from Tha Ton in Chiang Mai along the Kok River by long-tailed boats in Chiang Rai from Chiang Saen District of the Golden Triangle to Chiang Khong.

By Air - Thai Airways International operates frequent flights from Bangkok to Northern destinations -Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Nan, Mae Hong Son and Mae Sot. There are also inter-provincial services between Chiang Mai and other destinations such as Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sot, Nan, Phitsanulok and Phuket, as well as between Nan and Phitsanulok. For more information, Call Thai Airways at 1566 or 628-2000.

In additions, Bangkok Airways (Tel: 229-3456) operates flights between Bangkok-Sukhothai an Sukhothai-Chiang Mai. Angel Airlines (953-1111, 953-2260) flies Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Udon Thani.

For more information go to the website for Thai Airways.

Weather Conditions

Northern Thailand has three main seasons: hot from March to May, wet from June to November, and cool from December to February. However, up in the mountains "cool" can be very cold. Winter is the best time to visit the area.

Temperatures from mid-November to January are the coldest and average between 13 �C and 28 �C (56 �F and 83 �F). Temperatures begin rising in February and in the hot season which is (March to May) range between 17 �C and 36 �C (63 �F and 97 �F). In the rainy season (June to mid-November), the high temps may drop but the lows usually stay the same.

A jacket and long pants are a good thing to have in the winter. In the mountains, it should be cold in the morning and then warm up in the afternoon. During other seasons, you'll probably just be wearing a t-shirt and shorts.

Here is the local weather forecast for Chiang Mai and another one from the Weather Channel here.

Here is the local weather forecast for Chiang Rai and another one here.

Books and Maps

Lonely Planet Thailand

By Joe Cummings, Morgan Konn, China Williams, Becca Bond, and Matt Warren. This book has detailed descriptions of the whole country including northeastern Thailand and surrounding areas.

Lonely Planet Chiang Mai & Northern Thailand

By Joe Cummings. This book has a lot of detailed information and maps on Northern Thailand including the provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Insight Map of Thailand and Chiang Mai & Northern Thailand Travel Map

Maps of Thailand and Northern Thailand that are focused on the area near Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

External Links

Chiang Mai Travel Information

Information on traveling around Chiang Mai, the largest city in Northern Thailand.

Chiang Rai Travel Information

Information on Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand near the Golden Triangle and country of Myanmar.

Thailand National Parks List

Northern Thailand has the highest mountains in the country and over 20 National Parks.

Images