Doi Inthanon Hike & Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip Chiang Mai

The no-riding elephant sanctuary

The day starts at an elephant sanctuary about an hour and a half from Chiang Mai, reached on a scenic drive past rivers, rice fields and banana plantations. The elephants here were rescued; there is no riding, no chains and no shows, and the caretakers make sure the animals are never forced into any activity.

You change into a traditional indigo-dyed northern shirt, hear each elephant's story and then hand-feed them before walking with them through the forest. If they want to, the elephants cool off in the mud and the river while you watch. Bring a change of clothes and a towel, as it can get muddy. Lunch, an authentic Pad Thai, is served at the sanctuary.

Doi Inthanon, the roof of Thailand

About 30 minutes from the sanctuary, Doi Inthanon rises to 2,565 metres, the highest mountain in Thailand and the heart of a national park created in 1972. The road climbs through changing forests to the summit area, where cool cloud forest, moss-draped trees and fresh air feel a world away from the heat of the plains. In the cool season temperatures near the top can drop close to freezing.

A Doi Inthanon day trip from Chiang Mai is one of the most popular excursions in the north, and combining it with the elephant sanctuary makes the most of the long drive. The national park entrance fee is paid on the day, and a warm jacket is recommended because the weather on the mountain changes quickly.

The Twin Pagodas and gardens

Below the summit stand the Twin Pagodas, two elegant chedis built in the late 1980s and early 1990s to honour the 60th birthdays of the late King and Queen of Thailand. Their tiered forms, mosaic panels and Buddha images look out over the mountains, and on clear days the view from their terraces is one of the finest in the country.

Around them, landscaped gardens bloom with flowers that thrive in the cool climate, making it a favourite place for photos. You have time to walk up to both pagodas and through the gardens; the entrance fee for the pagodas is paid on the day. Take your time between the gardens and the pagodas: the air is thinner and cooler at this height, and the steps add up.

The Pha Dok Siew nature trail

In the afternoon your guide leads a hike on the Pha Dok Siew nature trail, a forest path in the national park that follows a stream past a series of waterfalls, the tallest being Pha Dok Siew itself. The trail passes bamboo groves, wooden bridges and viewpoints over the valley, with plenty of birds and butterflies along the way.

The path then opens onto the rice terraces of a Karen hill-tribe village, bright green in the rainy season and golden around harvest time. This is a moderate hike with some steps and uneven ground, so good hiking shoes are important, and it is the reason the trip is not suitable for young children or people with back or heart problems.

An organic Karen coffee farm

The Karen people have farmed these mountain valleys for generations, and many families now grow arabica coffee in the shade of the forest. At the end of the trail you visit an organic Karen coffee farm to see how the beans are grown, picked and roasted, and to taste a cup of mountain coffee.

It is a relaxed final stop and a good chance to learn about hill-tribe life in Doi Inthanon. Afterwards the group heads back to Chiang Mai, a drive of about 1.5 hours, arriving around 19:00 depending on traffic. Coffee grown at this altitude ripens slowly, which gives the beans a mild, bright flavour. The visit also supports the families who keep these farming traditions alive.