For those who love the wilderness and high altitudes, Doi Luang Chiang Dao in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, is a must-visit destination. This stunning mountain, part of the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, is renowned for its breathtaking beauty and ranks among the top scenic spots in the country. Standing as the third highest peak in Thailand after Doi Inthanon and Doi Pha Hom Pok, Doi Luang Chiang Dao is the highest limestone mountain in the country. It is also home to a diverse array of rare flora, including the critically endangered parrot's beak flower (Parrot's Beak Gesneriad), found exclusively in this region. With numerous other flowers in full bloom, Doi Luang Chiang Dao offers a captivating spectacle for nature enthusiasts. This trip marks our first ascent of Doi Luang Chiang Dao, coinciding with the official reopening of the mountain to tourists for the year.

2017, after years of anticipation, the opportunity finally presented itself.

**Trekking to the Summit of Doi Luang Chiang Dao:**
- Take a 4x4 pickup truck ride to the Khun Huay Mae Kok Ranger Station (approximately 2 hours).
- Hike 8.5 km from the starting point to the campsite (Ang Slung) via the Den Ya Khad Trail (the only permitted route this year).
- Descend via either the Pang Wa or Den Ya Khad Trail (the Pang Wa Trail is shorter, at 6.5 km).
- For those with remaining energy, hike 1 km (steep ascent) to the summit of Doi Luang Chiang Dao to witness the sunset. Bring a flashlight for the return hike as it gets dark.

Things to Know:

• No natural water source: You must carry your own water or hire porters to carry it for you. A large container costs 500 baht, a small container 250 baht.
• Limited access: This year, the mountain is only open to tourists on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (3 days per week).
• Multi-day trip recommended: First-time visitors should plan a 3-day, 2-night trip to reach all the peaks: Sankiww Lom Tai, Sankiww Lom Nuea, and Doi Luang Chiang Dao. Each peak is a significant distance from the others.
• Stay together: Before reaching the campsite, stay together as a group. Campsites are scattered throughout the forest and grassy areas. If you get separated, finding each other will be difficult. (We learned this the hard way!)

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Get your backpack ready.

After preparing the supplies for the porters, we set off on foot. The first part of the journey was relatively easy, with gentle ups and downs.

Along the way, you will encounter the beautiful blooming parrot's beak flower, which is at its peak in November.

Stay as a couple

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Upon reaching the Pang Wua intersection, the return journey must be made via this route. This year, only the Pang Wua route is available for descent.

After passing the Pang Wua intersection, the road becomes more challenging, with tall grasslands. However, there are still some flowers to admire along the way.

It took us 5.5 hours to walk from the starting point to the campsite. We were exhausted when we arrived, so we set up camp and decided to continue our journey the next day.

This morning, we woke up a little late. The temperature was 9 degrees, which is quite cold.

This morning, we had to hike up to the South Wind Ridge to watch the sunrise. The trail was quite steep and about 2 km from the camp.

The summit of Kiew Lom Tai boasts a diverse array of rare and vibrant wildflowers that adorn the rocky outcrops.

Looking down from the south wind ridge, our camp is clearly visible.

We descended from the southern ridge of the wind and returned to the camp. We had lunch and rested to regain our strength. At three o'clock in the afternoon, we set off to climb the summit of Doi Luang to watch the sunset.

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And we finally reached the summit of Doi Luang Chiang Dao.

This morning, we climbed up to watch the sunrise again before returning.

We descended from the summit to check the temperature gauge hanging below. At 8:00 AM, the temperature is still 10 degrees Celsius.

Take a picture of the pig before leaving.

On the way back, if you take the Pang Wua route, you might see some Bird's Nest Flowers, but not as many as on the Den Ya Krad route.

Before heading back, we had the opportunity to stop by Brother Uud's house for a meal. #BackpackTravel It's a lovely homestay called Chiang Dao Story Camp, located on the way up to the district office. For anyone visiting Chiang Dao and looking for affordable accommodation with a relaxed atmosphere, peaceful surroundings, and delicious food, this is the place to be. They offer both homestay-style accommodation and tent rentals.

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