Set on a mountain range that straddles both Lamphun and Lampang provinces, Doi Khun Tan National Park receives about 50,000 visitors per annum, mostly school groups or other groups of Thais who walk the trail to the summit and back on a day trip.
Few foreigners visit the park, though it is easily accessible from Chiang Mai and offers comfortable lodgings in park bungalows at a cool elevation.
The 255 square-kilometer park has an altitude of 1,373 meters at the summit of Doi Khun Tan. Passing beneath the mountain is Thailand’s longest railroad tunnel (1,352 meters) on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai railway line built in the early 20th century. The park features some restaurants and accommodation, including several attractive bungalows with expansive views. Camp sites are also available but you must bring your own tent and camping equipment.
The main trail, which is well worth walking, ascends from Khun Tan railway station to the mountain peak, passing the park headquarters along the way. Here you can get maps of further well-marked trails, which range from short walks within the vicinity to trails covering the four peaks of Doi Khun Tan. There is also a seven-kilometer loop trail to Nam Tok Tat Moei, though the waterfall isn’t actually worth the effort to get to outside the rainy season.
The park’s topography features mixed deciduous forest and abundant bamboo at the lowest levels, moist evergreen and large quantities of pine forest in the mid levels and hardwood trees at the higher elevations. Wildflowers include plentiful orchids, lilies and ginger, while mammals and birds are quite rare. Nonetheless, it is a pleasant spot for a day’s ramble, with only a moderate degree of fitness being required.
Getting There
Doi Khun Tan National Park can be accessed by rail or car. The easiest option is by train from Chiang Mai to Khun Tan Station (1 hour, 30 minutes). Cross the tracks and hike 1.3kms up a steep marked path to the park headquarters, and then on to the summit. The best train to take leaves Chiang Mai at 06:45 and arrives at Khun Tan just after 08:00. By car, take the Chiang Mai-Lampang superhighway (Highway 11) to the Mae Tha turnoff, and then follow the signs along a mostly unpaved, steep road for 18kms.
Need to Know
- What is it? A pleasant, non-touristy national park in northern Thailand.
- When to go? Between November and April, outside of the rainy season.
- Nearest town: Chiang Mai, around 45kms away.
- Trivia: underneath Doi Khun Tan is Thailand’s longest railroad tunnel at 1,352 meters.
- Entrance fee: Adults 100B, kids 50B.