Readme before you journey
Hello again from the "Let's Go" page. This trip, we'll take you on a budget-friendly backpacking adventure in Chiang Mai. With only 2,000 baht per person for the entire trip, here's a rough itinerary:
Day 1
- Motorcycle tours to Doi Suthep-Doi Pui and camping on Doi Inthanon.
Day 2
- Hike the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail - Ascend to the summit of Doi Inthanon - Visit Wachirathan Waterfall - Stroll through the Night Bazaar.
Day 3
- Mon Cham - Wat Umong
Let's embark on our journey together.
This trip was a spur-of-the-moment decision, with little time to prepare. We booked train tickets in advance, knowing that many people prefer to travel north by train during the winter. We also tried to reserve a tent at Doi Inthanon National Park online, but the reservation didn't go through. We hoped that the tents wouldn't be fully booked when we arrived. This trip was full of suspense from the start. Our journey began at Hua Lamphong Railway Station, a popular destination for many, but for us, it was the starting point of our adventure.
We traveled on the Special Express Train No. 13 from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. The train departed from Hua Lamphong Station at 7:30 p.m. We arrived a little early due to our excitement. 😁😁
The two girls did not forget to take a picture with the train sign ^^
We got a second-class sleeper with air conditioning. It's a pity we didn't get a fan-cooled sleeper because in the early morning, the fan-cooled cars offer a better view of the scenery along the railway. However, this train only has air-conditioned cars. Oh well.
This trip was made possible by the generous support of "Boost up"➡️➡️ https://www.facebook.com/boostupbydudeeclub/⬅️⬅️.
The bed is comfortable enough, and the air conditioning is nice and cool. However, if it were a Daewoo truck, it would be even more comfortable because the bed would be wider than the Isuzu truck.
Waking up to stunning views like this on both sides of the Northern Railway line. Hehe, we secretly sat in the pantry car to enjoy the view and casually ordered some food to eat to avoid feeling awkward.
A steaming cup of coffee and a slice of bread on a train winding through the mountains—pure heaven.
The scenery from the train is just as beautiful as the views outside. The train itself is a sight to behold! 🤣🤣
Lost in the beauty of the passing scenery, we sometimes forget the long hours of travel and the vast distances we have covered.
The train tracks were shrouded in a thick fog today. The irony is that the view here is much more beautiful in person than in pictures.
YouTube link of a train passing through Khun Tan Tunnel
7:40 a.m. The train arrived at Khun Tan Station on time.
9:00 AM: The train arrived at its final destination, Chiang Mai Station. The train was kind enough to give us an extra 20 minutes (originally scheduled to arrive at 8:40 AM).
Upon arriving at Chiang Mai Railway Station, we took a red taxi to the Arcade Bus Terminal to rent a motorbike at the Bigky Arcade branch. This shop does not require a deposit; you can rent a motorbike by simply presenting your ID card. Before leaving the shop, it is recommended to check and take pictures of the motorbike's condition. The amount of fuel in the tank when you rent the motorbike should be the same when you return it. The shop provides excellent service. If you are interested, you can call this number: 0846878809.
We picked up our friends at the train station after getting the car. We then went to pay our respects at Doi Suthep temple to gain strength for our journey, as we had a long way to go over the next three days.
Ready to go! It might be a bit hot.
According to Google Maps, the distance from Chiang Mai Railway Station to Doi Suthep is 23 kilometers. On the way, we were stopped by the police. We were stopped at two checkpoints and told the police that we were visiting from Bangkok. The police were kind and let us pass through both checkpoints.
To reach Doi Suthep, you can either climb the Naga Staircase or take the funicular railway to the top. The funicular railway costs 20 baht for a round trip.
Wow, it's so crowded! Even though we came on a weekday.
It may seem hot, but the wind is actually very cool and refreshing.
Believe it or not, the view took our fatigue away instantly. We highly recommend experiencing it for yourself.
We were so engrossed in taking photos and praying that we lost track of time. When we finally checked, an hour and a half had already passed. It was almost time for us to move on to our next destination.
On our way back, we walked down the Naga stairs.
The distance from Doi Suthep to Doi Pui is approximately 12 kilometers. However, the road is quite narrow and has some sharp curves, so please drive carefully.
It took us about 30 minutes to drive from Doi Suthep to Doi Pui. The road was full of potholes and very narrow, and in some places, cars could barely pass each other.
The Doi Pui area is experiencing low visitor numbers today, likely due to most tourists driving to see the blooming tiger lilies at Khun Chang Kian.
One of the members who came was very indie.
Brownie near the expressway is here ^^
The view is stunning.
The view also includes a Hmong village below.
On Doi Pui, there are also small souvenir shops.
Since we're already here, let's take a commemorative photo.
Fuel-efficient equipment, the main sponsor that brought us here.
The car will be a bit messy because we are backpacking. ^^
Ending with a video clip on youtube of the extraordinary atmosphere around Doi Pui.
We will be at Doi Pui for about an hour. After that, we will have to ride our motorbikes for a long time to reach the Doi Inthanon ranger station to set up our tents for the night at the summit. We aim to arrive before 4:00 PM. However, the checkpoint only opens for access to Doi Inthanon at 6:00 PM. Will we make it in time? Let's find out!
We arrived at the military checkpoint at 5:50 PM (the checkpoint closes at 6:00 PM), cutting it close. From the checkpoint, the drive was thrilling as the road up Doi Inthanon began to darken, with no streetlights and steep inclines in some sections. The air was cold. We reached the campsite on our motorcycles around 7:30 PM and rented a tent and bedding. We also ordered two large sets of moo kratha (Thai barbecue).
It's incredibly cold, but believe me, there's nothing better than enjoying a hot pot with friends on a chilly day like this.
...On the second day, we woke up at 4:00 am to ride our motorbikes to the Kew Mae Pan viewpoint. Hiking the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail requires an early morning start to avoid the heat. Let me tell you, it was freezing at 10 degrees Celsius! 🥶
A large crowd has gathered to watch the sunrise, even though it is only a little past 5 am.
The chilly weather and the stunning view make waking up at 4 am worthwhile.
The Mae Pan Nature Trail is a 4-kilometer roundtrip hike through dense, humid rainforest with towering trees.
After trekking through dense forest for about 30 minutes, we were greeted with a breathtaking view. The sight of a high hill with stunning scenery was truly awe-inspiring. Upon closer inspection, we could even see frost on the leaves.
The provided text is a hyperlink to a YouTube video. The URL is: https://youtu.be/3OSkakzqP_A.
Note: I have not translated the content of the video itself, as my purpose is to translate the text provided.
Video of a nature walk at Kew Mae Pan.
The atmosphere will be chilly with some dew, but let me tell you, it will be very, very cold.
If you didn't tell me, I wouldn't have known that this is Thailand. It feels like I'm in a foreign country.
The scene is breathtakingly cold, with strong winds and frost clinging to the leaves. If you're looking to experience this stunning view, the months of December and January are highly recommended. You're guaranteed to be mesmerized.
Our hike through the Mae Pan Nature Trail took approximately three hours. If you focus solely on walking, two hours should be sufficient. However, if you take time for photos, expect to spend a similar amount of time as we did. Just before the end of the trail, we encountered a guide offering commemorative photos, which was a thrilling (or perhaps memorable) experience. The guide was incredibly friendly and accommodating.
Since we're already here, let's take a motorbike ride to the highest point in Thailand, "Doi Inthanon." It's around 9 am now, and the temperature is still 6 degrees Celsius. Near the summit, there's also a short nature trail called Ang Ka, which is about 600 meters long.
After soaking up the atmosphere, we drove down to collect our belongings at the campsite so we could ride our motorbikes into town to rest.
To truly experience the local culture, you must explore on a motorbike like a true local. 🏍️
As we descended from Doi Inthanon, a sign for "Wachirathan Waterfall" appeared on the left-hand side. We decided to take a detour, and wow, it was breathtakingly beautiful!
It took us about 2.5 hours to drive from Doi Inthanon to the city center. Our accommodation for the second night was at "Basic Line @ Loykroh", located near Tha Pae Gate. The price starts from 600 baht/night, which we found reasonable.
Basic Line Hotel Loikroh Chiangmai
Here are some accommodation links that may be helpful for your travels.
The next day, we woke up at 4:30 AM to catch a motorbike to see the sunrise at Mon Cham.
The distance is quite far. From the city center, take the road to Mae Rim District. The first 30 kilometers or so are paved and flat. After that, it's a steep climb up the mountain with no streetlights except for your headlights. It was very cold when we drove up the mountain. We didn't make it to Mon Cham in time for sunrise. 55
We thought we arrived early, but there were already many people and it was very cold.
Dense fog today has severely limited visibility, making it difficult to appreciate the scenery.
On Mon Cham, there are pavilions where you can rest, eat, and drink hot milk, tea, and coffee. The prices are reasonable.
If you visit Mon Cham, don't forget to take a picture with the Formula Mhong car and the Mon Cham sign. Otherwise, people will think you haven't been to Mon Cham.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e7wO-DQSnc
A video of the atmosphere on Mon Cham.
On the way down from Mon Cham, we came across a restaurant on the right-hand side with a relaxing atmosphere by the waterfall. The food was average, but the view was spectacular. After lunch, we drove into Chiang Mai city to explore.
Check out of the hotel before you go sightseeing.
The distance to Wat Umong is not far. Take the road to Doi Inthanon and there will be a sign. The entrance to Wat Umong is a bit confusing because the sign is very small.
We have arrived. Today, there are quite a few people. If you come during the rainy season, the wall in front of the tunnel will be covered with green moss. However, if you come during the winter, you will not see any moss covering the wall.
The highlight of this temple is the tunnel. The picture shows the entrance to the tunnel.
The tunnel is humid and cool. There is also the smell of bat droppings.
The Tunnel Temple, also known as Wat Umong, was constructed during the reign of King Mangrai around 1839 CE. The tunnel is surmounted by a stupa, an ancient Lanna-style structure. Archaeologists estimate that the stupa was built around the beginning of the 20th Buddhist century.
The journey to Wat Umong is located on Suthep Road in Mueang District. If you are coming from Ton Payom Market, drive past the Khlong Chonlaprathan Intersection behind Chiang Mai University for about 500 meters. Turn left into the alley and continue for about 2 kilometers. Before returning, we returned the motorbike to the shop. But before returning it, we had to fill the tank with fuel.
At 3:00 PM, we arrived at Chiang Mai Railway Station. The express train we will take back to Bangkok is Train No. 52, Chiang Mai-Bangkok, departing Chiang Mai at 3:30 PM.
On the way back, we opted for a second-class sleeper train with fans. We chose the fan-equipped train for the view, as the air-conditioned train wouldn't allow us to stick our heads out to feel the breeze.
15:30 p.m. The train departed from Chiang Mai Station on time. As it pulled away, a wave of inexplicable melancholy washed over me. I know I will return, @ThisIsChiangMai.
Only from a train can you see such a view.
The train is entering the Khun Tan Tunnel.
Khun Tan Station boasts a unique atmosphere as the highest railway station in Thailand, offering a truly breathtaking experience.
At 6:30 PM, the train arrived at Nakhon Lampang Station. We arrived in Bangkok at 5:25 AM safely. This trip may have encountered some obstacles, but we believe that "the spice of life is being close to obstacles. Traveling is the same. Sometimes it's not as scary as you think. If you dare to go out, the world will change. Try traveling in Thailand. Thailand has many tourist attractions. "Traveling in Thailand, you won't know until you go." … Thank you for reading until the end. Or just looking at the pictures, we are happy. This review may be helpful as a guideline for those who love to travel, more or less.
Taeremix
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 7:45 PM
