THAILAND'S TOP DESTINATIONS : WWW.BANGKOKPOST.COM/9DESTINATIONS
Besides being the highest peak in Thailand that's nourished by cool mountain breeze all year round, Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai is an exotic destination that lures nature lovers to return and enjoy its beauty time after time.
Standing 2,565 metres above sea level, the peak is blanketed in mist at most times of the year. The consistently cool and damp weather conditions make it fertile for the thick layers of moss you see growing on rocks and tree trunks as you proceed up the mountain slopes.
Doi Inthanon is also a paradise for bird lovers. The lush jungle around the park supports a diversity of animal and plant life, including 382 species of birds - the second highest in terms of bird species found in Thailand's national parks - and there are some rare ones found only here.
Tourist can enjoy exploring nature, trekking from one hilltribe village to another or roaming the valleys dotted with temperate-climate flowers, fruit and vegetable plantations. Attractions on Doi Inthanon include:
Ang Ka Luang
The nature trail leading to the summit allows visitors to explore and admire tree trunks covered by thick moss, birds and rare flora.
Kew Mae Pan
This cliff-hugging trail leads nature lovers to witness breathtaking view of misty mountains adorned with brightly coloured flora.
Mae Klang Waterfall
It is situated in the eastern part of the park. Tourist can take Highway 1009 and turn left at Km 8 marker. The fall is just a kilometre from the main road.
Mae Ya Waterfall
Situated in the southern part of the park and accessible via a sub-road off Highway 108, this fall is huge. Its stunning beauty is attributed to water from the Mae Ya stream cascading down a 260-metre-long path strewn with rocks.
Siriphume Waterfall
Named in honour of Their Majesties the King and the Queen, the fall is situated at Km 31 marker off Highway 1009.
Vachirathan WaterfallFor Muang Yong, where water plunges from a height of 70 metres, originates from the Mae Klang stream is situated at Km 22 marker off Highway 1009.
Bari Jinda Cave
Sitting in the eastern corner of the park, the cave houses beautiful stalagmite and stalactite formations.
Royal Project Inthanon
Located at Ban Khun Klang, around Km 31 marker on Highway 1009, it is a paradise for plant lovers, featuring beautiful flower plantations, temperate fruit and rainbow trout. Tourist accommodation is also available. For more information, call 053-268-567.
Royal Agricultural Research Centre, Khun Wang
Surrounded by towering mountains, it makes a perfect hideout for tourists who can enjoy picturesque views of the valley dotted with vast plantations that grow temperate fruit and vegetable. It is located 16km from Khun Klang on Highway 1284. Tourist accommodation is also available.
Royal Agricultural Research Centre, Mae Jon Luang
This remote farm research facility offers probably the most beautiful view of Doi Inthanon and surrounding mountains. Tourists can relax among brightly coloured flower and strawberry plantation.
The facilities in Khun Wang and Mae Jon Luang share common telephone: 053-114-133 to 6.
GETTING THERE: From downtown Chiang Mai take Highway 108 and turn right at Km 58 marker, just before Chom Thong district, and move on to Highway 1009. The headquarters of Doi Inthanon park is located at Km 31 marker. Alternatively, you can take the yellow "songthaew" at Chiang Mai Gate for Chom Thong, or the blue bus bound for Hot district and get off at Chom Thong. There is songthaew service leaving Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong to the park's headquarters.
Doi Inthanon National Park (053-286-730) has a restaurant and also provides tourist accommodation.
The shape of things to come
FINALLY IT'S TIME FOR ALL YOU READERS TO VOTE! Today marks the start of phase two in our Thailand's Top Destinations campaign. Out of the hundreds of nominations submitted via http://www.bangkokpost.com/9destinations, our panel of judges has drawn up a shortlist of 30 spots deemed worthy to remain in the race.
So, without further ado, let's name names:
- - Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai
- Doi Luang Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai - - Pai, Mae Hong Son
- - Mae Hong Son town, Mae Hong Son
- - Phu Soi Dao National Park, Uttaradit
- - Phra That Lampang Luang, Lampang
- - Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao, Lampang
- - Phu Hin Rongkla National Park, Phitsanulok
- - Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai
- - Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Sukhothai
- - Wat Phumin, Nan
- - Phu Kum Khao, Kalasin
- - Phanom Rung Historical Park, Buri Ram
- - Phu Kradueng National Park, Loei
- - Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima
- - Pha Taem National Park, Ubon Ratchathani
- - Lam Klong Ngu National Park, Kanchanaburi
- - Ayutthaya Historical Park, Ayutthaya
- - Muang Boran (Ancient City), Samut Prakan
- - Klong Suan (100-year market), Chachoengsao
- - Amphawa community, Samut Songkhram
- - Rattanakosin Island, Bangkok
- - Ananta Samakom Throne Hall, Bangkok
- - Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi
- - Moo Ko Tarutao Marine National Park, Satun
- - Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani
- - Phuket town, Phuket
- - Moo Ko Similan Marine National Park, Phangnga
- - Krabi (seascape and islands)
- - Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Narathiwat
We can already hear some of you protesting about our selections, but don't fret: there may yet be hope for favourite sites of yours that have been snubbed this time round. If you feel that one of the above spots has no business being on the list, or if you can't figure out why on earth certain destinations were left out in the cold, check out our webboard to find out how you can breathe new life (so to speak!) into those places.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DROPPING BY OUR SITE LATELY, well, shame on you! (Unless, of course, your excuse is that you've been too busy on the road, travelling the country, collecting photos and adventurous tales to share with the rest of us - in which case, we'll let you off this time.) For those of you who don't see the point in frequenting our webboard, let me give you three great reasons why you'd better start changing your ways.
In recent weeks, three lucky visitors netted some great prizes. Nakul Pornpiriyakulchai walked away with a voucher for a three-day/two-night stay at the Indigo Pearl Resort in Phuket. Jeeraporn Kaewsuksri picked up a copy of the 2008 Thailand's Best Restaurant Guide and Plernruthai Chaiyantnakornand won a snazzy tent that can be attached to the back of a pick-up truck (I very much doubt that you'll find one of those at the corner store!).
So, from today on, be sure to find a few minutes to check out our webboard. Better still, if you drop by first thing in the morning you might just be early enough to snap up a great prize. (Hmm, I wonder what we could possibly do with that brand-new Olympus digital camera that's been lying around the office?)
AND, WHILE WE'RE STILL ON THE SUBJECT OF PRIZES, congratulations to Dirk Weeber-Arayathumsompon, the winner of our Invite Friends competition who has won a 2GB Sony MP3 Player. Although that particular competition has ended, we've wiped the slate clean and started another tally. So keep on sending out those invitations and get your friends to visit http://www.9destinations.com, and we'll have a new prize for you at the end of each and every month until the campaign ends in January, 2009.
ONE LAST THING. THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK of our photo competition and we're only displaying the winning entry, which came from Simon Ingham, from England, who picks up a 20-inch X-Mask suitcase from Caggioni.
The rest of your submissions can still be seen, along with every other photo that's been sent in over the past couple of months, on our "pix from horizons" webboard.
Be sure to check back here every week for updates on what's been going on with our campaign and what to look out for in the near future. And, perhaps if I'm feeling extra generous, I might just drop some hints on when the next prizes will be going up for grabs.
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