5 Beautiful National Parks in North Thailand (First-hand Info)

Discover five beautiful national parks in North Thailand—a nature paradise that I explored and want to share with you.  Thailand is a country blessed with stunning natural beauty, and there are so many national parks, you might not even know where or how to start. Here, you can learn about the national parks of North Thailand, which will inspire you with their natural beauty and provide you with valuable information based on personal experience.

There are uncountable breathtaking places in North Thailand worth visiting. I will introduce you to the places I personally visited and believe are truly worthy of mention. You can visit them on a day trip, but for a more profound experience, I recommend delaying your visit for a few days. about Thailand’s national parks is that in many of them you can find accommodation and, for more adventurous spirits, nice camping grounds. Nobody is perfect, but please never leave a negative trace in these precious, rare, still preserved areas, and if you choose a guided tour, try finding a company with an eco-conscious philosophy that gives back to local communities.

Doi Luang National Park

Compared to some other places in Thailand, the sightseeing here is less dramatic, but sometimes one can find beauty in the smallest things. Hidden from the crowds, the park boasts immense size, ranking among the largest in North Thailand (situated just south of Chang Rai), offering ample opportunities for exploration. You can start in the northern part, which I visited, where there is an official park headquarters that is easily accessible by asphalt roads. Once you pay a small entrance fee, you are free to enter. You can set up your camp equipment or rent one of the many cosy tents, charmingly placed on a bamboo platform, at one of the park’s nicest designated official camping areas. From the camping area, a walking path leads you along a forest stream, passing numerous small waterfalls and pools. Surrounded by lush green vegetation, flowing clear water, and numerous birds making beautiful sounds, all of this is truly breathtaking. Here I met a Thai man tHere I met a Thai man traveling the country with his motorcycle who told me he came here to camp and relax, as there are not many other people visiting (compared to someThe park also offers a wealth of adventurous trekking opportunities. There are paths that lead you to one of the mountain peaks, which you should officially arrange with the park authorities. On the way, it is also worth visiting the “Phayao” lake and a town east of the park.

Entrance fee: Yes
Camping grounds: Yes
Public transport: No
People visiting: Low
Closest big town: Phayao, Chiang Rai
Wildlife (some rarely seen): Common Muntjak. Common Wild Boar, Palm Civet, Civet, Malayan Flying Lemur, Bear, Siamese Hare. Macaques, different birds such as Vernal Hanging Parrot, Partridge, Richard’s Pipit, Sooty headed Bulbul and Blue-winged Pitta
More about: https://mychiangmaitour.com/doiluang_national_park/

Doi Inthanon

The highest mountain in Thailand boasts a cloud forest and numerous waterfalls. This is actually one of the most visited and crowded parks in Thailand, but it is still worth a visit. It has an insanely high number of waterfalls, and many of them are absolutely majestic. On the top, you will also find a cloud forest, which is really unique but can be visited only with a guided group. Most of the sights are easily accessible. On the downside, there is a big road going through the park towards the peak, which can get very busy, and you almost lose the feeling you are in a protected area. It is definitely worth visiting this unique place, but be prepared to meet large crowds and have everything more tightly controlled. With that said, there are still some peaceful places a person can be found here, where the majority of visitors don’t go. For example, look for Mae Ya waterfall.

Entrance fee: Yes
Accommodation: No
Camping grounds: Yes
Public transport: Yes
Closest big town: Chiang Mai
People visiting: High
Wildlife (some rarely seen): Common Muntjak. Common Wild Boar, Palm Civet, Civet, Malayan Flying Lemur, Bear, Siamese Hare. Macaques, different birds such as Vernal Hanging Parrot, Partridge, Richard’s Pipit, Sooty headed Bulbul and Blue-winged Pitta

Pha Daeng National Park (Chiang Dao)

Another less-known yet amazing park that is full of diverse natural beauty. It’s composed of steep mountain slopes covered by lush forests. Near the park forest office (ที่ทำการเขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าดอยเชียงดาว), you can find a nice and easy walking path to the monastery of Wat Tham Pha Plong, which is hidden in the middle of the forest. Very suitable for birdwatching. There are also amazing trekking opportunities with an asphalt road leading towards the peaks, but this needs to be arranged with the park authorities office. The Chiang Dao nature trail starting at the park entrance (forestry office) is really worth going to without any entrance fee.

Entrance fee: Yes (not everywhere)
Accommodation: Yes
Camping grounds: Yes (not official)
Public transport: Yes (to nearest town)
Closest big town:
People visiting: Low
Wildlife (some rarely seen): Goral, wild boar, barking deer, banteng, guar, porcupine, langur, palm civet, squirrel, chipmunk, many kinds of birds.
More about: https://mychiangmaitour.com/pha_daeng_national_park/

Mae Surin Waterfall (Nam Tok Mae Surin)

This park in North Thailand is my absolute favorite, boasting one of the tallest waterfalls in the country. It is a bit out of the way, but once you reach the area, you will never regret it. You can already enjoy wonderful scenery on the way to the park, with numerous intriguing points to stop at. The park itself is huge and very diverse. The park boasts a plethora of rich, jungle-like vegetation near a lake, a breathtaking waterfall, and breathtaking views of the hills stretching towards Myanmar. It is a good place for listening to and watching birds. I initially ventured to the northern region, which houses the park headquarters. There you can find a lake nestled amongst the forest with walking paths and excellent camping grounds near the river. After that, I traveled about 20 km south to reach the lower part of the park, which is home to the stunning Mae Surin waterfall. Also here you will find a park ranger headquarters (bamboo hut) and maybe some house accommodations, but surely a bare camping ground. A nice, easy walking path leads to the edge of the cliff, offering a scenic view of the majestic waterfall and distant landscape. The real, authentic countryside of Thailand.

Entrance fee: Yes
Accommodation: No (Maybe)
Camping grounds: Yes
Public transport: Yes (to Mae Hong Son) near the park North HQ
Closest big town: ​Mae Hong Son
People visiting: Low
Wildlife (some rarely seen): Malayan sun bear, Asiatic black bear, serow, barking deer, lar gibbon, wild boar, python and cobra. Birdlife includes drongo and hornbill.
More about: https://mychiangmaitour.com/namtokmaesurin_national_park/

Khao Yai

Famous UNESCO national park close to Bangkok. Although the park is located in Central Thailand, it still merits mention. The unique nature of this park undoubtedly contributes to its popularity. Surprisingly, there is a lot of wildlife roaming around the forests and main asphalt roads that lead through the park. You can regularly spot a variety of animals roaming around the park. Given its southern location, it already exhibits signs of lush tropical rainforest vegetation. Locals, who have a peculiar passion for camping, make it a popular destination. During my visit, one of the camping grounds was crowded with Thai locals setting up tents, BBQs, and even TVs, creating a somewhat messy atmosphere. There are many walking paths and interest points to explore. Your experience really depends on which area of the park you find yourself in. There are many locations where you can find peace, feel alone in the wild, and even observe animals. One great hiking trail goes from Lam Ta Khong camping ground towards the famous Haew Su Wat waterfall, passing over Pha Kluai Mai Waterfall, where you follow a river through a beautiful, lush forest. ​

Entrance fee: Yes
Accommodation: No
Camping grounds: Yes, few
Public transport: No
Closest big town: Bangkok​
People visiting: High
Wildlife (some rarely seen): More than 70 mammal species have been recorded in Khao Yai. These include larger species like elephants, sambar deer, barking deer, gaur, civets, porcupines, wild boars, gibbons, macaques, wild dogs and tigers. Khao Yai has the largest population of wild elephants in all of Thailand.
More about: https://www.alexinwanderland.com/the-complete-guide-to-khao-yai-national-park/

Happy and safe travel

Those are 5 of the parks I visited and can tell you about. There are so many other amazing parks in Thailand waiting to be discovered and worth a visit; each one unique in its own way and with its own magic. If you feel a bit more adventurous and want to experience and immerse yourself into these natural places in a more profound, deeper way, I suggest you check out my previous article on “CAMPING GUIDE TO SOUTHEAST ASIA” where you can find information about multiple days staying in these beautiful places by camping.

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