Getting High in Thailand: A Journey to Doi Inthanon

There’s something special about setting out with no real plan beyond “let’s go for a drive.” That’s exactly how this trip began. Early on a Sunday morning, we loaded the dogs into the back of the truck and headed south toward Doi Inthanon National Park — home to the highest mountain in Thailand.

The drive itself is part of the experience. Northern Thailand’s winding mountain roads pass through small villages, forested hillsides, and stretches of farmland that slowly give way to cooler air and taller trees as you climb higher into the mountains.

A Hillside of Giant Sculptures

Before reaching Doi Inthanon, we spotted something unusual from the road below — enormous sculptures rising out of the hillside. Curiosity won, and we turned off the highway to investigate.

A narrow road wound upward through a quiet residential area until we reached what felt like a hidden sculpture garden. Thailand is full of beautiful statues and temple art, but this place was different.

Massive figures emerged from the trees in every direction, creating an atmosphere that felt surreal and unexpected.

Some of the sculptures towered above us, while others sat quietly among the vegetation, partially hidden by the hillside. It was one of those roadside detours that ends up becoming one of the most memorable parts of the day.

A Stop at Ob Luang

Continuing toward Doi Inthanon, we made another stop at Ob Luang National Park.

At first, I mistakenly thought this was our final destination. After checking with the ranger station, we learned the dogs were allowed on the trail as long as they stayed under control. We started down the path together, but when we reached the suspension bridge crossing the gorge, Sean and Pink decided it would be better not to bring the dogs across.

They turned back to walk the dogs elsewhere while I continued on alone.

The main feature of Ob Luang is a dramatic narrow gorge carved by the Mae Chaem River. At its narrowest point, a suspension bridge stretches across the canyon high above the rushing water below.

A sign at the entrance read: “5 People Only.”

That felt slightly reassuring… and slightly concerning at the same time.

Crossing the bridge was a little nerve-racking, especially while imagining what “5 People Only” actually meant in terms of weight limits. Still, the views were incredible. The rocky canyon walls, dry forest landscape, and wooden pathways gave the area a rugged beauty very different from the lush mountain forests higher up at Doi Inthanon.

I continued hiking uphill for a while before realizing the others were nowhere behind me. Eventually I turned back down the trail, slightly worried that something had happened. Instead, we discovered we had simply misunderstood each other. They thought I would return quickly, while I assumed the trail continued much farther through the park.

After regrouping, we grabbed lunch outside the park and continued toward our real destination.

Climbing Into the Clouds

By the time we reached the Royal Project gardens near the summit of Doi Inthanon, the air had changed completely. A cool wind swept across the hills, and for once in Thailand, I actually felt cold.

The gardens were beautifully maintained, filled with flowers, walking paths, and carefully landscaped terraces surrounding the large chedi near the top of the mountain.

From there we drove to the summit area and walked along a shaded forest boardwalk through moss-covered trees and dense mountain vegetation. The atmosphere felt almost prehistoric — quiet, damp, and wrapped in misty mountain air.

Eventually the trail ended at the sign marking the highest point in Thailand: 2,565 meters above sea level.

I can now officially say I’ve stood at the highest point in the country.

Sunset Over Northern Thailand

The timing worked out perfectly on the drive back down the mountain. As the sun began to set, layers of mountains faded into soft blue silhouettes while the sky turned shades of orange, pink, and purple.

Even with some haze in the air from seasonal burning, the views were still breathtaking.

I’ve heard Doi Inthanon is even greener and more dramatic during the rainy season, especially around the waterfalls, which we skipped on this trip. That just gives us another reason to come back.