Doi Inthanon

Over the Lunar New Year – we took a short trip to Chiangmai to spend time with family, soak up the cooling weather, hunt for the best khao sois, hiked up one of the highest Dois in Thailand – amongst the many quaint Chiangmai offerings we manage to squeeze in within the few days we had there.

Do Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand and one of the most popular national park with charming trails, waterfalls with the nearby villages belonging to the Hmong tribes. The most notable trail within Dou Inthanon National Park is is Kew Mae Pan Nature trail – the trail sits at 2,200 meters above sea level and due to the delicate, thick forest – it is compulsory to hire a guide from the local Hmong tribe people. Kew Mae Pan is a circular hiking trail which is divided into 3 stages with a total of 21 stations – the first stage is a cloud forest walk filled with moss and fern, the second stage is a walk through an open grassland. According to our Hmong guide, one should close their eyes and slowly enter the path leading to the grassland – if you wish to see vision of your past or future lives. Did I do so? Yes, I did – and let’s say I hope the belief is true. And last but not least, the last stage leads us back into the forest with the temperature being few degrees lower than outside.

Now the true beauty lies in between stage 2 and 3 – depending on the weather you may find yourself immerse in a sea of clouds or be presented with a magnificent mountain view, plunging valleys merging into one, seasonal floras and the King and Queen’s chedis.

The hike took about 2.5-3 hours and one of the most pleasant experience we had. Refreshing, reinvigorating and reminding me once again – how much this world has to offer, if we’re willing to allow it to enfold for us. We bumped into a monk at the peak, engaged in a casual exchange and as we bid farewell – he bowed and in a profound manner said to the both of us with us ‘I wish you happiness and peace’.

The calmness in his voice still brings a certain warmth to my heart as I reenact the memory, which I trust will be etched for a long time to come.