Doi Inthanon One-Day Tour
I had an opportunity to join a one-day trip to Doi Inthanon. This time, I went with the driver, Uncle Kaek, and the professional guide, P’Riw. Our guests were three women from France.
Early in the morning, I noticed that it was still raining from the night before. I thought this would make the trip a different experience for me. I arrived at the office around 6:30 AM, and we were scheduled to pick up our guests at around 7:00 AM. We drove from the office to their hotel, which took about five minutes. After meeting and greeting our guests, we introduced ourselves and started driving toward Doi Inthanon.
Along the way, P’Riw introduced some information about Doi Inthanon, and whenever I had something to add, I joined the conversation. We had a great discussion with our guests during the drive. About halfway to our destination, we stopped at a gas station so everyone could use the restroom or buy some snacks before continuing the journey.
It continued raining throughout the drive, and I thought that the weather at the top of the mountain would definitely be much colder than at the bottom. Our first plan was to visit the summit of Doi Inthanon and then walk along the Ang Ka Nature Trail, a short boardwalk near the highest point of Thailand.
As we drove higher up the mountain, we could only see thick fog and rain. The beautiful mountain views were completely hidden. When we finally arrived at the summit and opened the van door, I immediately felt the strong wind, heavy rain, and cold weather. I had not prepared a raincoat because I did not expect the weather to be this severe. It was a valuable lesson for me. Next time I join a tour, I will make sure to prepare for every possible weather condition.
Our guests had raincoats, and P’Riw wore one as well. Before we started walking, Uncle Kaek even warned me that I should wear a raincoat. However, I told him that I would be fine and did not need one. After only a few minutes of walking, I immediately regretted that decision. The weather became the biggest challenge for me on this trip, but I still tried my best to continue my responsibilities.
We showed our guests the pagoda of King Inthawichayanon, the last ruler of the independent Lanna Kingdom. P’Riw and I shared the history of this place with our guests, and everything went smoothly. After visiting the summit, we continued to the Ang Ka Nature Trail. The weather there was much more stable because the dense forest protected us from the wind and rain. We had a great time walking through the ancient cloud forest. Our guests were fascinated by the giant trees and the unique tropical ecosystem. P’Riw and I worked well together to explain the interesting facts about this area.
After finishing the Ang Ka Nature Trail, we drove down to our next destination, the Twin Royal Pagodas. From the parking area, we had to transfer to another vehicle, which is the normal procedure for visiting this site.
The Twin Pagodas were built by the Royal Thai Air Force to celebrate the 60th birthdays of the late King and Queen of Thailand. Unfortunately, the weather was even harsher here because there were very few trees to protect us from the strong wind and rain. The fog was so thick that we could only clearly see the pagodas when we were very close.
We visited the King’s Pagoda first. Inside, there are beautiful murals illustrating the four major stages of the Buddha’s life: birth, enlightenment, teaching the Dharma, and entering Nirvana. The artwork inside the pagoda was beautifully designed.
Next, we visited the Queen’s Pagoda. Inside, there are exhibitions about the Queen’s contributions and dedication to the Thai people. P’Riw also explained the story of how many mountain communities once grew opium as their main source of income. Later, the King introduced alternative crops and educated local people about the harmful effects of opium, helping them build a better and more sustainable way of life. This story is displayed throughout the Queen’s Pagoda.
After leaving the Twin Pagodas, we continued to the Hmong Market. The market allows local Hmong people to sell the fruits, vegetables, flowers, and handicrafts they produce themselves. Our guests bought several local products before we stopped for lunch.
We had lunch at a Thai restaurant with beautiful decorations surrounded by nature. The restaurant also displayed many photographs of wildlife that can be found in Doi Inthanon National Park. Our guests enjoyed every dish we recommended and told us that they loved all of the food.
After lunch, we headed to one of the highlights of the trip—the Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail. This is a beautiful hiking trail that takes around two hours to complete, passing through forests, waterfalls, and rice terraces. Every group must be accompanied by a local Hmong guide because the community built and maintains the trail. By hiring local guides, tourism also helps support their community and provides them with a sustainable income.
Our local guide was a Hmong woman, and we began our hike together. Because of the heavy rain earlier that day, the trail was quite slippery and more difficult than usual. After walking through the forest for a short time, we came across a green snake. It is quite normal to encounter snakes in this area because the forest has a healthy ecosystem where many wild animals still live.
We continued hiking until we reached a beautiful waterfall where our guests took many photos. A little farther along the trail, we arrived at a viewpoint overlooking the famous rice terraces grown by the mountain communities. The scenery was incredibly beautiful, and standing there made me feel very peaceful.
At the end of the trail, we stopped at a small coffee shop where the local people grow and serve their own coffee. I am not really a coffee person, but I wanted to try it because I do not often have this opportunity. It was black coffee. Our guests and P’Riw really enjoyed it, but for me, it was too bitter. We sat there for a while, talking about our guests’ travel plans in Thailand and many other topics. We all had a wonderful conversation together.
The final destination of the trip was Wachirathan Waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand. Our guests were very impressed by its size and power. This was my second visit to the waterfall, and I still found it just as amazing as the first time. Although visitors cannot swim there, they can feel the refreshing mist created by the powerful water crashing onto the rocks below.
After spending some time enjoying the waterfall, it was time to return to Chiang Mai. We drove our guests back to their hotel, bringing another memorable trip to an end.
This trip taught me an important lesson, especially about preparing for different weather conditions. I learned that as a tour guide, I must always be ready for any situation because unexpected weather can happen at any time. Proper preparation not only makes my work easier but also allows me to take better care of my guests and perform my responsibilities more smoothly.
