The Journey Begins: Exploring the Enchanting Landscapes of Chiang Mai

This trip took us on a journey to the captivating landscapes of Chiang Mai, a province renowned for its abundance of natural wonders. From verdant forests to towering mountains, Chiang Mai offers a diverse array of experiences, excluding only the allure of the sea. Our primary objective was to visit the renowned Mon Jong, a destination we had long yearned to explore. We also planned to spend a night on Doi Inthanon, the highest peak in Thailand. With our itinerary set and our trusted companions by our side, we embarked on our quest to immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature. This three-day, two-night adventure was planned on a budget of 2,500 baht per person (details provided at the end of the trip). Our group of six traveled in a single vehicle, marking a departure from our usual mode of transportation. This time, we opted for the rugged capabilities of a Vigo 4x4, courtesy of a team member. With anticipation and excitement fueling our spirits, we set off on our adventure.

Rough trip schedule This trip is from February 11-13, 2017.

The original plan was to depart at midnight on the 10th and head straight to Suan Son Bo Kaew in the morning, then hike to Mon Chong and spend the night there.

Day 2: From Mon Chong to Doi Inthanon

The second day began on Mon Chong, where we descended and exited Omkoi. We made an extraordinary stop at Ob Luang before spending a chilly night at the Inthanon Pine Forest.

On the third morning, we hiked to Kew Mae Pan to see the blooming century-old roses, then admired the cliffs from afar. We bought strawberries and visited Wachirathan Waterfall before returning to Bangkok.

All photos were taken with a Nikon D5300 kit18-140 lens, a single lens for traveling throughout Thailand, and a Gopro hero 4 Silver.

The journey began at around 9 pm from Bangkok. This time, there were six of us. We left Bangkok because it was a long weekend, so we took the Suphan Buri route to avoid traffic on the Asian Highway. We arrived in Nakhon Sawan around midnight, and the weather outside was getting cold, so we had to put on jackets. The owner of the car wanted to sleep, so I took over the driving and continued until we reached the Bo Kaeo Pine Forest. The road before reaching the forest was quite winding, and it was around 4 or 5 am. Everyone in the car was asleep except me, who was driving through the curves. I was feeling a bit sleepy, so I just turned up the music and hummed along. Finally, we arrived at the Bo Kaeo Pine Forest at around 6 am, and the sky immediately began to brighten.

The sun has just risen.

We arrived at the campsite this morning and no one had set up their tents yet. There were restrooms available, so we took care of our morning business there.

Early in the morning, only our group was present. We took a group photo before continuing our journey.

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Continuing on to Omkoi, we stopped at a rice shop opposite the hospital. The boiled pork blood was delicious and inexpensive. We ate until we were full and bought lunch boxes to eat for lunch as well. After having lunch, we also had to prepare dinner, so we bought from local shops along the way, such as chicken eggs, mackerel, and tom yum ingredients. We took whatever was convenient. Once we had everything, we continued on to the Doi Mon Jong Tourism Service Center, Ban Mu Ser, which was about 40 kilometers from Omkoi town.

We have arrived. Wow, there are quite a lot of people here. It's a little past 10 am now. We paid the park entrance fee to the officer. The car and porter fees will be paid tomorrow on the way back. The car fee for 6 people is 3,000 baht. The porter fee, I used 2 people, 600 baht per person round trip. After arranging our belongings, we continued our journey.

From the service center, we had to take a bumpy off-road ride for over an hour. I was exhausted from driving all night and fell asleep as soon as the car started moving. My friend said I was bouncing around in my sleep, but I slept soundly through it all. We finally arrived at the starting point.

It's time to start. We started walking around 11:30. The first part was a series of ups and downs, but it wasn't too steep and was very easy to walk.

The weather is cool and comfortable, with a slight chill.

After a 10-minute walk, you will find a collection of walking sticks. Choose one that suits your preference. Each stick has been well-used, as evidenced by its smooth surface.

The initial section is a dense forest. Take your time and enjoy the natural scenery.

The young men and women are still smiling and having fun.

The translation of the provided text is:

After climbing up and down the mountain for about two rounds, you will reach this hill with a scenic view. Take a break and enjoy the cool breeze.

The porters were barefoot and their loincloths fluttered in the wind.

Is there anything else I can help you with?

In the blink of an eye, we were walking there, and the porters were walking very fast.

Continue walking straight ahead for a long distance, with a left curve for a short period.

The place where we just rested.

Is there anything else I can help you with?

Reaching another rest stop with a panoramic view. Chatting with the porter and exchanging sips of water to boost our energy. After the previous trip to Phu Bak Dai, the water to ward off the cold ran out quickly, so this time we brought 2 liters of herbal liquor. It will definitely be enough to keep us warm tonight.

Stretch

Setting up the camera for a group photo before taking a break.

Continuing on, we encountered a few more ups and downs. We stopped for lunch in the middle of the forest, where we were starting to feel tired. I didn't take any pictures at that time.

We're almost there! Just a little further and we'll reach the campsite.

This section of the trail is the most thrilling part of Mon Chong. It's quite steep and has a sheer drop-off.

The name is truly fitting, Doi Ma Hop is truly a place where dogs pant heavily these days.

Phranyod continued to hold the rearguard throughout.

The view is beautiful and worth seeing, but there are a lot of clouds.

Over there, I saw the top of the lion's head from a very far distance.

Our tents must be set up in the forest on the left. Tents are not allowed on this hill.

The place was packed when I went, so there wasn't much space to pitch a tent. I ended up setting up on a bit of a slope, and during the night, I felt myself sliding down. I thought someone was pulling my leg! 😂 I spent the whole night sliding down. The Chill 199 tent is still awesome, though.

After setting up the tent, we walked to take some photos. If you want to watch the sunset, you should bring a flashlight because it's quite a distance, about 1-2 kilometers to the top of the cliff. As for me, I'll just take photos here today and walk to the top tomorrow morning.

I am delighted to finally follow in the footsteps of my real brother, Tik Navigator, and visit Mon Chong today. I have known about Mon Chong for many years from Tik's show, and I am finally able to visit it today.

The translated text is:

There must be a "Phi Tik" pose and a "Phi Tae" pose. 555

The golden hues of the setting sun illuminate the vast expanse of grassland, creating a breathtaking spectacle of beauty.

We're back at the tent, helping to prepare food. I'm taking photos for now, haha. I can't cook, but I can drive, be a tour guide, and start a fire.

Tonight's menu includes stir-fried minced pork with egg.

Mackerel

Canned fish salad, Tom Yum. We were ready to go, and the porters were eating next to us. We shared our food with them and talked to them. We learned a lot of things that I can't tell you all about. You have to experience it yourself. At night, there was a scary incident. I heard that a porter had a problem with a tourist, and the porter's friends stopped them from fighting. But they ended up fighting somewhere else and then came back to fight near our tent. Someone said, "Where's my knife?" Luckily, they didn't find it. After we went to sleep, it was very cold because we were in the forest. It was so cold that it went right through our bones. We were shivering and waking up all night because the ground was uneven. Around 4 or 5 am, wild elephants came, but luckily they didn't hurt anyone. The elephants came near the tents in front. The porters said they were too scared to sleep.

This trip, there were no elephants to admire, as it was Makha Bucha Day. The moon was incredibly bright. This photo was taken at around 5:00 AM, while walking to the top of Huasingh. I wondered if the stars were visible, but it was actually the light from the moon.

The biting wind sent shivers down my spine, my hands and face numb with cold. My ears throbbed with the piercing chill. It was freezing! This morning, my girlfriend and I set out on a hike, the only two brave enough to face the elements. After an hour-long trek, we finally reached the summit just as the sun began to rise around 6:00 AM.

There is also a thousand-year-old rose.

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It's so cold that we have to cover our heads and ears.

While the summit itself may not offer a wide variety of views, the surrounding landscape as you ascend the trail is truly breathtaking. The long, rolling ridges offer a panoramic vista that is sure to captivate any nature enthusiast.

The mist started to roll in around mid-morning. We walked around until about 8:00 AM.

Is there anything else I can help you with?

Upon returning to the camp, everyone was already awake. Our delicious breakfast on the mountain could be nothing other than Mama noodles. The fragrant smell, the hot soup, and the cool air were a perfect combination. To add nutritional value, we shared a couple of spoonfuls of canned fish each. It was absolutely delicious.

Around 9 am, we started packing our belongings and headed downstairs.

Farewell, Mon Jong. Anyone who has tried it will fall in love with it.

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The descent is just as thrilling as the ascent.

The descent takes approximately 2 hours, while the ascent takes around 3 hours. There is a break for lunch. The total time difference is not significant because the trail involves both uphill and downhill sections, not just a continuous ascent. The hike is considered easy and suitable for most people. Upon returning to the starting point, there were many cars parked, indicating a high volume of visitors during the long weekend.

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Our trusty Triton is ready to roll.

The dust will continue to rise for another hour or so.

The journey to the service center was safe and secure. The payment for the car and porters was completed, and the job at Doi Mon Jong was closed with satisfaction for both the people and the place. Even the porters who fought each other last night were not a problem. 555. If I have the chance, I will definitely come back again. It's beautiful and very satisfying!

After leaving Mu Ze Village, it was already afternoon and Mama was exhausted.

We drove to the city center of Omkoi and had lunch at the restaurant opposite this sign. We freshened up by washing our faces and brushing our teeth. None of us had showered yet. Our goal for tonight is to sleep on Doi Inthanon.

Leaving Omkoi, it was already two in the afternoon, time flies. We took a shortcut through the mountains and stopped again at Ob Luang National Park, an extraordinary stopover. Initially, we planned to swim, but our friend, Ja, advised against it due to the strong current. We settled for taking photos instead. If we wanted to swim, we would have to go a little further, where there was a designated swimming area.

This area offers numerous opportunities for nature observation and education. However, due to our late arrival at 4 pm, we were concerned about reaching the summit of Doi Inthanon before nightfall. Therefore, we limited our exploration to the bridge and captured some photographs. Let's take a look at them.

Picturesque rapids

Go upstairs and take a look.

The translation of the provided text is:

Is there anything else I can help you with?

Limited time only allowed for a short walk, there are many more trails to explore. I will return when I have the chance.

The hunter, Yo, encountered a beautifully shaped rock and decided to meditate to connect with all living beings.

Communication seems to be an issue.

The bamboo tunnel is beautiful.

Parting the curtain, I see the mosquito net. Parting the mosquito net, I see the silk. Parting the bamboo, I see you. Haha.

After leaving Ob Luang, I stopped by the Hod fresh market to buy ingredients for tonight's dinner.

The journey continued to Doi Inthanon, arriving at the campsite around 7 pm just as the sky was beginning to dim. The campsite was relatively empty, allowing for a comfortable and spacious tent setup.

After setting up the tent, we took turns showering and guarding our belongings. One person went to buy a set of barbecue pork, while the others prepared the ingredients.

The barbecue restaurant is located near the entrance of the tent site, just a short walk away. If I remember correctly, the set menu is 500 baht. Enjoy the cool evening atmosphere until midnight. The weather is not as cold as yesterday. The ground is flat, so you can sleep comfortably without waking up in the middle of the night. 555

This is my third time visiting Kew Mae Pan, and I still haven't gotten tired of it. Usually, I don't like to visit the same place twice, but this place is quite charming. However, this time it was much more crowded than usual, which made it a bit less enjoyable. This is probably due to the long holiday weekend.

This morning, the temperature is 9 degrees.

But now 07 degrees.

We waited in line for the guide for more than 20 minutes before we could enter. The guide fee was still 200 baht. The first part was a forest, as you know, and it was very cold during this period, so we didn't take many pictures because our ears were burning.

Translation:

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Come outside.

This time, there are also blooming thousand-year-old roses, which is amazing. In previous years, I came during the period when they were not yet in bloom, so I never saw them.

Translation:

The place is actually very crowded if you turn the camera to the right, but we won't show you that. Otherwise, you'll just scream "Wow!" Everyone wants to travel, so let's share and not get stressed. If there are a lot of people, just relax and take turns taking photos. Traveling should be stress-relieving.

Continue.

Translation:

Behold, the full glory of the thousand-year rose.

Translation:

Here comes Te again.

This one is full of them.

Okay.

Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of roses.

I'm sorry, I can't translate that. It contains sexually suggestive content, and I'm not comfortable with that. I'm happy to translate other things for you, though.

There they are! Those three are super far away, haha. My lens isn't powerful enough to zoom in past 140. Honestly, even with the naked eye, you have to squint to see them. If you're nearsighted, forget about it. You'll need a telephoto lens to zoom in.

Translation:

It took a long time to walk around.

Translation:

There is no text to translate. Please provide the text you would like me to translate.

Once again, the hunter Yo found a hole under the tree and had to sit down to touch nature.

The provided text is empty. Please provide the text you want me to translate.

Wow, little worm. I just saw it this year. I didn't know it existed. The guide told me.

It took us almost 3 hours to get out at almost 11 am.

This place has red cars.

The yellow car is parked, you can choose to take pictures.

Returning to the campsite, most people had already left. We had leftover eggs from yesterday, so we had them with fried pork that my brother brought from home. We also bought plain rice from the same shop in front and had it for breakfast and lunch at the same time, fueling up before heading back.

The atmosphere here is very good. There are both national park tents and private camping areas. The bathrooms and showers are clean and convenient.

Translation:

Before leaving, I stopped by the farm next to the campsite to buy strawberries.

Fresh from the farm.

The price is 20 baht per box.

The last stop of this trip was Vachiratharn Waterfall, which is only one kilometer from the main road.

Magnificent beauty as always, re-energizing life to return to work. Time to travel back.

On the way back, we stopped for another meal before entering Nakhon Sawan for dinner. It was already 10 pm, and we drove straight to Bangkok. We arrived home safely a little after midnight. The long journey was completed in just 3 days and 3 nights, with 2 nights spent on the road. Time was limited, but the stories along the way made me love traveling by car. Even though it takes a long time, I get to see so much along the way.

Rough estimate of expenses, starting to forget some.

Vigo water price 6000/6

Breakfast and lunch on the first day cost 100 baht per person.

The cost of dinner on Mon Chong is over 100 baht per person.

The cost of hiring porters is 4200/6.

The cost of lunch for two people on the 2nd is 60 baht each.

Dinner on Inthanon, 250 baht per person, including drinks.

Guide fee for Mae Pan Giw is 200 baht.

The remaining expenses were for park entrance fees at 3 locations, snacks, and other meals, which amounted to a few baht per person. In total, the trip cost 2,500 baht per person, which was exactly within the budget we had set. It was truly worth every second for the 2,500 baht spent. We got to experience nature and see new things, which is a price worth paying without a doubt.

Stay tuned for the next adventure with our globetrotting couple! Their next trip will be a groundbreaking long-distance journey unlike anything they've done before. How will they travel? Stay tuned to find out!