We left early in the morning for a long unpleasant commute into the mountains. There were so many turns and switchbacks that we couldn’t really gain any momentum in the van and the driver was continuously speeding up, braking, switching gears etc. Needless to say we were excited to finally step on solid ground at our first stop- the highest point in Thailand.
Our tour group for the day 
Entrance to the highest point of Thailand
It was just a short drive to our next destination- The Kew Mae Pan Trail, a moderate to challenging 3.2 kilometer hike gaining 2,200 meters above sea level. The trail topped off with incredible panoramic views of the lush green fields of Doi Inthanon National Park. We were standing in the clouds!
From the trail you can see two enchanting chedi’s: Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri. They are named after one of Chiang Mai’s King and Queen who dedicated a lot of their time ensuring the northern forests would be preserved. This gave us some inspiration as we finished the tough hike back to the van. We were going to see the Chedi’s up close.
I’ve never seen a place so magical. Although both chedi’s have gold-spired tops, they do differ in color. The purple one is for the Queen and the brown for the King. From the far corner you’re able to see the wooden-arched bridge with both Chedi’s lost in the clouds. Moments like this are when it hits me hard that I’m across the world in another country. Alllll the way across our planet.. Whoa.
Our tour included a buffet style lunch. It wasn’t anything special but we were so hungry it didn’t matter. We also stopped at a market down the street where I bought more clothes- Surprise!
Our next destination was a farm where ONE woman hand-made several shawls and shirts. It was fascinating to watch this woman weave these elegant pieces on a loom. Hand crafted items are more personal and often of much higher quality. The craftsmanship makes these things the greatest keepsakes from my travels. They are imbued with the cultural memory of the places I’ve been and transport me back every time I interact with them. They do this for me in a way mass produced souvenir trinkets just can’t. Find one or two items on your travels that can do this for you and support local tradespeople. Hannah did!
The same farm also produces home grown coffee! They had some for sale in bean and ground form which I brought home for my co-workers. Slapping myself for not buying more than one bag.
I was anticipating our final stop at Wachirathan Waterfall. I have high expectations after visiting Iguazu Falls and this did not disappoint. You’ll feel the mist before reaching the viewpoint. I followed the trail away from the falls where I ended up twisting my ankle after a poor attempt of rock jumping. My second injury of the trip, haha.
We made our commute back to Chiang Mai after spending a fun-filled day in Doi Inthanon National Park. This is just another reason why Chiang Mai was our favorite destination of the trip. Don’t miss this!