Doi Inthanon, Elephant Sanctuary & Trek: 3-in-1 Chiang Mai Tour
One day covers Thailand's highest mountain, a 5-star elephant sanctuary, and a waterfall trek.
A guided day tour from Chiang Mai combining three distinct experiences: the Living Green Elephant Sanctuary (a 5-star rated ethical facility with no riding), Doi Inthanon National Park at 2,565 meters with the King and Queen pagodas, and the Pha Dok Saew trekking trail ending at a waterfall. The tour runs 10 to 12 hours with an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, lunch and bottled water included; entry fees are either bundled or paid on the day at checkout.
10h–12h
Step-by-step itinerary
Elephants, Doi Inthanon, and Trekking
- Meet elephants at Living Green Sanctuary
- Visit Doi Inthanon National Park
- See King and Queen pagodas
- Explore Hmong Market and have lunch
- Visit Ban Mae Klang Luang village
- Trek Phak Dok Seaw trail
- Relax at Pha Dok Seaw Waterfall
The Experience
The day starts at the Living Green Elephant Sanctuary, where you spend time with elephants in a facility rated 5-star on TripAdvisor. No riding, no hooks—just close observation of well-cared-for animals in their natural setting. From there the route climbs into Doi Inthanon National Park, the highest mountain in Thailand, where the landscape shifts through rainforest, mixed forest and pine. The weather stays cool year-round, and in the cool season fog blankets the peak almost constantly, with frost flowers visible in early morning.
At the summit you visit the Phra Maha Dhatu Nabha Metaneedol and Phra Maha Dhatu Nabhapol Bhumisiri pagodas—built to honor the 50th birthdays of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit—both offering unobstructed views across the mountain. The Hmong Market follows, where you can buy local fresh fruits and flowers before lunch. Dress code applies at the pagodas: casual attire or better, closed shoes required, no tank tops or shorts.
The afternoon brings a trek along the Pha Dok Saew trail with a local guide, passing through rice terraces and forest to spot local wildlife and plants. The route can shift to Kew Mae Pan or other trails depending on weather and official announcements. The trek ends at Pha Dok Saew Waterfall, where you can rest. After, you visit Ban Mae Klang Luang, a hill tribe village, and sample locally grown and roasted coffee.
What’s included
- Bottled water and lunch.
- air-conditioned vehicle with pickup.
- English-speaking tour guide and insurance.
- Pha Dok Saew trekking trail with a local guide.
- entry to the Living Green Elephant Sanctuary and (depending on your option) entry to Doi Inthanon National Park and the King and Queen pagodas.
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Is this one for you?Book this to combine elephant sanctuary time with Thailand's highest peak and a forest trail walk, all in one day.
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Top questions
What's the dress code at the King and Queen pagodas?
The pagodas require casual attire or better: closed shoes (sneakers or sports shoes are fine, flip-flops are not), long pants or jeans, and T-shirts or better (no tank tops). The dress code applies because these are royal monuments.
Can I ride the elephants at the sanctuary?
No. The Living Green Elephant Sanctuary is an ethical facility with no riding and no use of hooks. You observe and interact with the elephants in their natural habitat instead.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The tour proceeds as long as it is safe to do the activities. The trekking route can be changed to Kew Mae Pan or other trails depending on weather and government announcements, so the day adapts rather than cancels.
What should I bring for the trek?
Bring extra clothes you don't mind getting wet and dirty, sandals, trekking shoes, a towel, insect spray and a jacket—it's cooler at Doi Inthanon than in Chiang Mai city. The tour provides bottled water.
Are entry fees included?
You choose at checkout: one option bundles all entry fees for Doi Inthanon National Park and the King and Queen pagodas; the other option lets you pay 400 baht in entry fees on the day of the tour.
How long does the whole tour take?
The tour runs 10 to 12 hours from start to finish, covering the sanctuary, the mountain, the pagodas, the trek and the hill tribe village in one day.
Doi Inthanon, Elephant Sanctuary & Trek: 3-in-1 Chiang Mai Tour
10h–12h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 46 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.781,159 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider
