Hello, have we met before? (Not related)
/// This is my first official post, haha. This is my first time going to Chiang Mai, taking a train, and writing a review.
There were some changes in the plan, but please read it anyway. | The budget is a bit out of control O.o

Let me preface this by saying that this trip is not about eating or exploring the city. This trip is about going into the mountains!


- Doi Luang Chiang Dao ( Baan Rabeang Dao )

  • Mon Cham Mon Thawan

- Blabla Waterfall (with a stop at Maengat Dam)

- Doi Inthanon and surrounding areas

- The entire trip covered almost 700 kilometers by motorbike.

- Summary of expenses for a 5-day, 4-night trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand; P



The trip started when I was sitting at a milk shake shop near my dorm with my friend. Suddenly, I asked her, "Do you want to go to Chiang Mai?" (But I didn't expect her to go with me.) In a split second, she replied, "Let's go!" Wow! Really? Why was it so easy? It was so fast, so sudden, and we were actually going, no kidding.

The next day, we immediately started planning and finished everything. The auspicious date was set for **July 9th - 14th**. We didn't care about the weather or the season for this trip, we just wanted to go. // On the day of the trip, we had a lot of activities to do throughout the day, so we didn't have time to prepare anything or pack our bags.

In summary, we were supposed to take the 7:35 PM train (on July 9th), but the activity that day didn't finish until 6:00 PM. It took almost an hour to get back to our room and pack our things, so we left the room at 7:05 PM. We were in a hurry, running and walking, only to find that the train was full. Oh! (The train was full) We just looked at each other and said, "Even the train is full." We had been dumped before, so we were very upset. Both of us felt awkward, so it became the name of this trip.

But in the end, the name was not auspicious for life, so it was changed to # Pai Phae A Chiang Mai, new and easy, 3,000 baht.

After missing the 7:35 PM train, we had no choice but to endure the cold at Hua Lamphong Station and wait for the 10:00 PM train.

During that time, we went to find something to eat.

(Don't forget to stock up on breakfast, just in case you get hungry) Then come back and wait for the 10:00 PM train, which will arrive at its destination at noon tomorrow, 17 hours, huh?


Just sit and soak it in! Chill, chill, and then I remembered that tomorrow's planned trip is also ruined. Oh! ** Okay, then.

We haven't even left the station yet, and disaster is already waiting for us.



The wait is over, the train is here, I'm so happy.

+++This is the car+++



But the joy was short-lived. The train had barely left Bangkok when my friend burst into tears again.

Throughout the journey, most of our fellow travelers were foreigners. There were only two of us Thai people among the five people on this train. Haha.

{ Day 1 } : I was dead asleep and woke up at 6:00 AM.

The chugging train is still running and has just reached Lampang, my friend. It will probably reach Chiang Mai in another lifetime. But let me tell you, there is good hidden in the midst of this crisis. As the train runs and my eyes begin to see the surroundings, wow!


The view from the mountain is truly magnificent and awe-inspiring (I love it because it's so beautiful). Especially when the train runs across the bridge over the chasm below, it's even more exciting. My heart was pounding! However, if I had taken a plane or a sleeper train, I probably wouldn't have seen it. I feel so lucky.





| Cut to Chiang Mai, 12.15 p.m. Arrived at the destination (thanks a lot). Finally arrived. The first thing I did after getting off the car was to take a picture.

After a quick bathroom break, I walked to find a ride to Bikky Bike shop at the Akhet Transport Station. Luckily, a kind tuk-tuk driver named Lung took me there for 70 baht.

; (Okay, go ahead. You'll waste time exploring Chiang Mai.) When I arrived at the shop, they told me they were out of cars, except for 2. They asked me which one I wanted. In the end, I got the Filano 125CC (highly recommended for going uphill, especially to E-Baan Rabeang Dao. I don't want to describe it. If you're curious, come see for yourself.) I got it for 300 baht per day, but I rented it for 4 days, so it was 1200 baht in total. But I signed up for a special membership (check the website for details) that gave me a 25 baht discount per day, so I got a 100 baht discount. The final price was 1100 baht for the car rental, with a full tank of gas (I had to return it with the same amount of gas). As soon as I got the car, I zoomed straight to the Grand Canyon in Hang Dong. When I arrived, yay! I was so happy. But when I went inside, wow! There were so many foreigners, people, people, people, people everywhere. In the end, I only managed to take a few pictures of the chickens.


(The area for taking pictures is) where people go to play in the water. It's hot, but I can't swim, so I missed out. For those who want to take pictures and want to get a chance, I recommend going around 4-5 pm, but it closes at 5:30 pm. The entrance fee is 50 baht.

(Honestly, there's nothing there and the entrance fee is a bit expensive. If you're not going to play in the water, it's not worth it / IMHO)


And since there wasn't much to do, I decided to head to Doi Luang Chiang Dao, as I had to spend the night there. I rode my motorbike for 103 kilometers, which was quite enjoyable.

Along with the welcome of the rain clouds, the rain came. I wondered if I would make it to the accommodation. Even though it was raining, I was afraid that the trip would be ruined, so I went on (I was very determined to go). I left the Grand Canyon at 3:30 p.m. and drove steadily with rain at intervals. I arrived at Baan Rabeang Dao at 6:10 p.m. It took a long time because of the rain. The accommodation was very good. They called to check on me like a panda bear (sometimes). I had to call because the way up was quite difficult and dangerous. If you miss a curve, you will fall into a ravine (please honk at every curve, this is important for small and large cars). Finally, I arrived at the accommodation.


After packing his belongings, he was called to have dinner. The menu consisted of omelet, tofu and winter melon soup, boiled vegetables with chili paste, and stir-fried vegetables.


(It was delicious, I ate it all) While we were eating, it started raining again, soaking us through. I forgot to mention that the entrance fee to Doi Luang Chiang Dao National Park is 20 baht per person. After lunch, we showered and went to bed. The weather was nice, so we didn't need a fan or air conditioning, just a blanket and mosquito repellent.


{ Day 2, } ; The alarm clock went off at 5:00 AM. I quickly woke up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I looked out the window and saw the fog rolling in over the mountains. The fog was only visible for a short time in the morning, so I hurried to take some pictures before it dissipated. (It was really beautiful!)


Those who woke up late, I'm sorry. You missed the peak of the Baan Rabeang Dao. It's so beautiful that words can't describe it. Both the mountains in front of you and the fog are amazing! Oh, breakfast is Ovaltine coffee with hot pork porridge and a cup of tea.

After indulging until it was time to leave, it was already 9:30 pm. We rushed to Mon Cham, our destination for the day, using Highway 107. We went straight down and turned right, but before reaching Mon Cham, we happened to see a sign for the Mae Ngad Dam. We turned left and drove 10 kilometers. We stopped without hesitation. It was beautiful. If anyone has time and likes dams and water, come here. There are also floating houses to stay in on the dam.

From there, head to Mon Cham. The road up is quite steep, so please be careful. If you miss a curve, you could fall into a ravine. Before reaching Mon Cham, there are many other mountains, but I recommend going to Mon Cham first, because it lives up to its name. It's the best.

/ / The fog is so gloomy. The good fog is clearly visible. It floats towards us at intervals. It's like being in Silent Hill 5555555

(The fog is really thick, but there's more to it, read on) After walking around there for a while taking pictures of chickens and crows, I started to get hungry, so I ordered a dry suki with vegetables from the Nong Hoi Royal Project (which means no meat, very sour and very spicy). It cost 80 baht. There are other food items as well. There are also side dishes.

\ \ Meanwhile, the rain poured down, poured down, poured down. Plus, my phone battery was about to die, so I sat down to charge it for a bit. Until 3:20 p.m., I decided to move to another mountain. The other mountain is Mon Tawan, but that mountain is under construction and renovation. It's not really working (but I still want to see it with my own eyes). But before you reach Mon Tawan, there is a viewpoint that I don't know the name of. I guess it's just called a viewpoint. It's next to the pavilion with a view. There is a True signal pole, so the True signal is full and very fast. You can easily live stream on Facebook and show off to your friends. (The viewpoint is the peak and I would like to give it another thumbs up) After that, there wasn't much to see, and the other mountains were just so-so for me (IMHO).

**Let me tell you about Baan Rabien Dao. It's a lovely place with a warm, family-like atmosphere. It feels like they're taking care of you like one of their own (maybe I'm exaggerating, but that's how it felt). Speaking of which, I miss those moments of waking up early to watch the moving mist. The cool air, combined with the smell of coffee in the morning, was just amazing. It filled me with a sense of contentment that I can't quite describe. I feel so connected to the place and envy the people who live there. Their life seems so peaceful, without the hustle and bustle of city life.**

Continuing on / In the end, I didn't know where to go. I was afraid it would get dark before I got back to the city, so I decided to head back. On the way down the mountain, there was a botanical garden on the right-hand side. It closed at 4:30 p.m. I was in a hurry, so I didn't take any pictures (a little sad). The entrance fee for students is 40 baht, 50% off, and 50 baht for senior citizens. Driving down a little further, there were Masanoy Waterfall and Mae Sa Waterfall, but the waterfall area also closed at 4:30 p.m. So, I couldn't go in. I had to go back to the city. Tonight (the second night), we stayed at Your Space Hostel. The price is reasonable, starting at 150 baht (find out more information). It's a fan room, but we slept in an air-conditioned room for 200 baht/night. It's even better! There's also a 100 baht key card deposit.

(Hey, I just want to mention that Your Space is really good. Even though it's a hostel, it's very clean and comfortable.

Both the cleaning lady, P'Num, and the other older siblings are very lovely. I especially like it when they speak in the northern dialect, it makes them even more adorable.)

And here is the accommodation for tonight *******/ For food on this trip, we didn't focus on anything. We came on a budget, focusing on going everywhere and sightseeing as much as possible. ******

{ Day 3, }


Today! Our destination is Doi Inthanon, Kew Mae Pan, and other nearby areas. We will stay there for 1 night.


  • We set the alarm for 7:00 AM and planned to leave at 8:00 AM. However, due to the comfortable bed and our laziness, we actually left around 9:20 AM. We packed only the essentials and left some of our belongings at Your Space since we would be staying there again on the last night.

| Bonus The last picture is a view from the end of the bed. It's so cool to wake up with a view of Doi Suthep and the cool air in the room.

It was really amazing, I want to sleep more.


/ / The distance from the city to Doi Inthanon is 130 kilometers, which is a breeze. It only takes 2 hours to drive there. But we stopped for lunch on the way, here! This is our breakfast and lunch.

After driving for a while, passing through San Pa Tong District, blah blah blah, until reaching Chom Thong District, there is Mae Klang Waterfall located right at the intersection leading to Doi Inthanon.
It was so close that we couldn't miss stopping by to take a few pictures.


< Mae Khlang Waterfall is currently in its low season, so there are no people because they are afraid of flash floods. It's the same feeling as Mae Ya Waterfall at the end, which is now deserted. >

At around 13.00, we continued our journey. Along the way, there was another mini-staircase with a mountain view.


As you drive up, you will encounter a checkpoint manned by park officials. The entrance fee is 50 baht per person, so for two people it will be 100 baht. If you are bringing a car, there is an additional 20 baht fee for motorcycles, bringing the total to 120 baht. You will receive a ticket. Continue driving for another 30 kilometers or so. There will be another checkpoint along the way; simply show them your ticket. (The checkpoint is located just past the accommodation service point.) Continue driving until you reach the accommodation contact point on the right-hand side. We had planned to rent a tent for 250 baht, but due to the rainy season, the park was not offering tent rentals. The only option was to stay in a cabin, which ranged in price from 1,000 to 3,500 baht. (This increased our budget by more than 200 baht per person.)


- The accommodation is located 400 meters away in an area with a lot of pine trees. It's a great place to take pictures. And this is our accommodation for tonight. We've got a place to stay.


Let's continue, another 13 or 16 kilometers, this is the most brutal endurance in my life. The road is very steep, plus the rain makes the road very slippery. Along the way, there is some fog, but the fog is thickest at the Phra Maha Chedi (Naphornmethinidon and Phra Maha Chedi Naphornphumisiri).

Not far from Kiw Mae Pan, we couldn't see the path, we couldn't see anything at all. We decided to stop by the pagoda first. The entrance fee was 20 baht per person. At that time, the fog was very thick, so thick that it was completely white. We couldn't see the beauty of the flower garden or the two pagodas. After a while, it started to rain, really rain, seriously rain. I just deeply understood the saying "the higher you go, the colder it gets". The rain came, the wind came, the fog came, it was really the ultimate. We had to take shelter from the rain for a while and went to pray at the pagoda for permission to continue, because we wanted to reach the top of the mountain. After a long while, it started to subside.

So I continued driving, but the real bad luck came. Not only was it raining and foggy, but the car was running out of gas. The last line started blinking, warning me. I felt even more depressed and discouraged. I didn't think the rainy season on the mountain would be this bad. I drove and honked all the way because I could only see about 3 meters ahead. When I reached the left side of the Mae Pan Cliff, oh my god! It was all white again, and I couldn't see anything. And I was disappointed again. For those who want to see the sunrise, it has to be in the winter season at the end of the year. During the rainy season, the fog is like this all the time. (Very dangerous for small cars because you can't see the road at all)


Five kilometers from the Mae Pan Ridge, the real destination, the rain, fog, and wetness made me feel cold, stiff hands, and every part of my body. The car's oil was running out, and my feelings were sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss all the time. Imagine this: it was cold, wet, and I was wearing only shorts and a T-shirt, no long sleeves. I was lucky to survive and reach the top of the mountain. I arrived at the top at 3:30 p.m. The fog and rain did a great job of blending together! (It was too violent, too much for the human heart to bear.) So I went to take shelter from the rain at the air force officer's post. I was cold, shivering, and wet. My mother would have fainted if she had known, because this time I ran away from home to go on a trip.
They were kind enough to let me in. They had good faces and were kind too. After a while, we asked them which way the pagoda was, and they told us. But we hesitated to go because the rain was getting heavier. The wind was blowing the fog against our bodies, and we were almost blown away. Luckily or not, a car drove up, and we pretended to walk with them. We went to take pictures with the sign, the pin at the highest point, and the ashes of the Chiang Mai city lord. We prayed for the rain to stop, but it didn't work. 555555555

/ / In the end, I walked back to the fort, where the beautiful stupa and the beautiful flower garden are located (I missed it this time). And at 4:46 p.m., the fog was so thick that the officers told me that if I stayed any longer, I wouldn't be able to go down. The fog would be even thicker. So I went back. In short, I missed it. On the way back, I kept praying that the car wouldn't stall. Please, I beg you. Please let me get back to the service point. 15-16 kilometers. I kept sliding the car down and honking the horn all the way. No cars were coming up. I was so lonely.


This means that the car in question is the last one to descend from the mountain peak. Wow, it feels incredibly special to be alone in this moment.

I just slammed on the brakes, holding them down as hard as I could, but the car still skidded down the road like it was on a jet engine. Passing through the Mae Pan Pass felt like it had been abandoned for ages, devoid of any sign of human life. Wow, that was a close call. After passing the Phra That, there was still no one around. I kept going until I reached the accommodation service point, and I started to feel a little relieved. By chance, there was a self-service fuel dispenser on the side of the road. Haha, even in my bad luck, there was still some good luck. After filling up the tank, I felt much better. I found some food to eat, and then I went back to my accommodation to take a shower and go to sleep (I was seriously exhausted, I've never been this tough before).

{ Day 4, }

| Having read this far, I want to say that the situation at that time was much more extreme than this, but I tried my best to write it in a way that captures the feeling of that moment. But I would rather you try it yourself, it's a life experience 555555555555 * / / Let's continue, it's the last day I'll be able to travel. Honestly, I don't want to go back to the capital. Life here is so good, I love Chiang Mai. Today, I actually don't have any plans, it's a free day.

I set the alarm for 7:00 AM, woke up at 8:00 AM, and left at 9:30 AM. Today, with no plans, I'm just going wherever I feel like it. At first, my friend suggested going to Mae Kampong, but no way! 180 kilometers in this strong sun, no way. I gave up. So I went to a Royal Project near my accommodation. The entrance fee is 20 baht, you can take pictures, and there are many black swans and one white swan.

Which is very arrogant, playing the role to the fullest.

When we went, they were planting trees.

The fern house in the garden is quite interesting. It's full of ferns, which are very green and pleasing to the eye.

Around 12.00 p.m., it's better to head back. On the way down, there's a waterfall called "Sirithar" which was given its name by the Queen. You can admire its beauty and take photos, but that's all.

Then drive down further, there is a waterfall "Vachiratharn" on the left (a waterfall of my memories, but I won't tell you what happened there). The waterfall is 800 meters away. You can play in the water. The waterfall is very strong. Standing close to the water spray, it splashes all over your body. >//////<

We really went back then. Until the intersection of Chom Thong District, there was a sign saying Mae Ya Waterfall 14 kilometers. Oh! Let's go (time left) Driving quite a distance, there are ups and downs. There is a checkpoint. Show them the Doi Inthanon National Park ticket. From the checkpoint to another 6 kilometers to the waterfall. But when I got there, oh my god! Abandoned! That's the only word to describe it. No people. It must not be a tourist season, so it's closed, but it's really scary. I stopped by the bathroom there and turned on the tap, and it was muddy. I was really scared, so we hurried back. I was scared because it was so deep. If something happened, no one would know because there was no mobile signal. There is also a hydroelectric power plant at Mae Ya Waterfall. / Arrived back in town at 3:30 pm. I was sunburned to ashes.


After a good night's rest at your space, we'll head back to the capital city on the free train (6:30 AM departure, arriving around 9:10 PM).

However, the only certainty is uncertainty. *On the morning of our return*, getting out of bed was the hardest thing in the world. We set the alarm for 5:30 AM, planning to leave by 6:00 AM to return our beloved motorbike and catch the free train. But everything turned into leaving at 8:30 AM and having to go to the Arcade Transport Station before coming to the train station. When we arrived, we were shocked to see that the train was a Sprinter, and the tickets were 641 baht each (another budget blowout). But the train was leaving in 2 minutes, and we didn't want to wait, so we decided to think of it as buying a scenic train ticket from Chiang Mai to Bangkok (the train included 1 meal and 2 snacks).

Arriving in the capital at 7:40 PM. "That concludes our trip this time."


Let's quickly summarize the expenses, excluding the hassle of food costs.

Summary of expenses per person (for 2 people)

1. Train to destination 271 baht per person from Hua Lamphong at 10:00 PM (recommended because you will wake up early to see the scenery along the way as a pre-trip)

2. Taxi fare from Chiang Mai Railway Station to Arcade Bus Terminal: 35 baht for 2 people, total 70 baht.

3. Bikky bike rental for 4 days at 300 baht per day, totaling 1200 baht. However, with a special membership, there is a discount of 25 baht per day, resulting in a net cost of 1100 baht for the bike rental. The cost is split between two people, so each person pays 550 baht. (Fuel cost for approximately 700 kilometers is 330 baht, split between two people, so each person pays 165 baht.)

4. Accommodation fee for the first night at Baan Rabeang Dao (Doi Luang Chiang Dao) 500 baht/person (including dinner and breakfast)

Nights 2 and 4: Stay at Your Space Hostel (air-conditioned room, 200 baht per night) Total cost: 400 baht per person

The third night, we stayed on Doi Inthanon (we planned to book a tent but it was wrong). We stayed in a park house for 1000 baht (30% discount during the rainy season), which was 700 baht for 2 people, 350 baht per person.

4.Entrance fee to Doi Luang Chiang Dao is 205 baht per person. Entrance fee to the botanical garden is 40 baht per person (students 20 baht).

6. Grand Canyon entrance fee is 50 per person.

7. The entrance fee to Doi Inthanon National Park is 50 baht per person. Motorcycles are charged an additional 20 baht per bike, bringing the total to 60 baht per person.

8. The entrance fee to the Royal Project is 20 baht per person.

9.Entrance fee to Naphamethinidon Pagoda (on Doi Inthanon) is 40 baht per person.

10. The fare from the Arcade Bus Terminal to the train station is 40 baht per person.

= 2,521 baht / This price does not include the return Sprinter train ticket. Hehe, actually you have to take the free train ^^


(Excluding food, which is very cheap, you can eat whatever you want) 5 days 4 nights, this kind of trip is so good, you have to come to Chiang Mai, mountain lovers can't miss it. Just kidding, the budget of 3500 that we came with is enough / That is, we survived, the accommodation is comfortable and not difficult

*** The main expenses are around this much. If you plan well and don't adjust anything, you should be able to save according to your target. But since you're going on a trip, invest a little.
As much as you can afford, consider it an experience. It's worth it (I can't stress this enough).



*Thank you all for following us from the beginning to this point. Thank you for everything throughout this journey. Thank you for making it a smooth ride.
See you again in the future. Goodbye.


#P.S. Actually, there are many more pictures that I would like to share with you, but I'm afraid it will be too cluttered ^^'

For accommodation and transportation, you can find information on Google. Or you can ask me. I'm happy to answer any questions. ( :

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