Ob Luang National Park

Ob Luang is one of the most popular national parks in Chiang Mai Province, thanks partly to its easy access and partly to its unusual attractions. The main draw is Ob Luang Gorge, where the Chaem River thunders through a narrow gap between 20-metre cliffs, a kind of Lilliputian Grand Canyon. The other highlight is the ‘Land of Prehistoric Human’, an area of caves and overhangs bearing paintings made by the region’s early inhabitants.

The park also holds pretty hot springs at Thep Phanom and several waterfalls, though there are few marked trails across its roughly 550 square kilometres; it was designated a national park in 1991 and sits just south of the better-known Doi Inthanon National Park, sharing part of the same range. Some Chiang Mai operators run white-water rafting trips that begin upstream and come flashing through the gorge, though most visitors are content to photograph it from the bridge above. There’s a good range of accommodation, including tents, all in an idyllic setting, though it can get crowded around the turn of the year.

• Plan to arrive at the park gates early (before 8:30 a.m.) to enjoy the canyon in softer light, cooler temperatures and with far fewer visitors than midday.
• Use the park's main visitor centre/entrance to register and pick up a map; rangers can advise on which short trails and viewpoints are open that day.
• If you want quieter viewpoints, hike the lesser-used side trails indicated on the visitor-centre map rather than staying at the main picnic areas, and visit on a weekday or outside Thai public holidays.