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View all Chiang Mai toursChiang Mai : Pa Bong Piang Rice Terraces & Doi Inthanon
Trek beyond the postcard views to Pa Bong Piang's terraced hillsides, then summit Doi Inthanon for royal pagodas, cloud forest and a thundering waterfall — all in one full day from Chiang Mai.
Highlights
- See the iconic Pa Bong Piang rice terraces up close
- Visit the twin royal pagodas atop Doi Inthanon
- Walk the misty Ang Ka cloud forest boardwalk trail
- Explore Mae Klang Luang, a traditional Karen village
- Cool off at powerful Wachirathan Waterfall
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Pa Bong Piang Rice Terraces & Doi Inthanon
Full description
Northern Thailand's most striking landscape isn't a temple or a beach — it's a hillside carved into hundreds of curling green steps by generations of Karen hill tribe farmers. This full-day journey from Chiang Mai takes you deep into the mountains to see the Pa Bong Piang rice terraces up close, their emerald or golden hues shifting with the season, wrapped around the slopes in a pattern that looks almost hand-painted from above.
From there, the route climbs toward Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak, where cooler air and thicker forest replace the valley's heat almost immediately. At the summit area you'll visit the twin royal pagodas, Phra Mahathat Naphapholphumisiri and Naphamethanidon, built in honor of the King and Queen and framed by manicured gardens with sweeping mountain views on clear days.
A walk along the Ang Ka nature trail follows, a boardwalk path through misty cloud forest thick with moss, ferns and birdlife found nowhere else in the country. The day continues down to Mae Klang Luang, a quiet Karen village tucked among more rice terraces, before finishing at Wachirathan Waterfall, one of Doi Inthanon's most powerful cascades, where cool spray and forest sounds make for a refreshing final stop before the drive back to Chiang Mai.
Between the terraces, the pagodas, the cloud forest and the waterfall, this tour packs an outsized range of Northern Thailand's natural beauty into a single, well-paced day.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Hotel pickup in Chiang Mai
Your guide meets you at your hotel in central Chiang Mai for a warm welcome before setting off toward the mountains.
Scenic drive to Pa Bong Piang
Ride comfortably by van through winding mountain roads, watching the scenery shift from city to countryside to highlands.
Pa Bong Piang Rice Terraces
Walk among the famed layered rice terraces carved into the hillside by local Karen farmers, one of the most photographed views in Thailand.
Lunch at Pa Bong Piang
Enjoy a local Northern Thai lunch with terrace views before continuing on to Doi Inthanon.
Ang Ka Nature Trail
Stroll a raised boardwalk through cool, moss-draped cloud forest near the summit of Doi Inthanon.
Twin Royal Pagodas
Visit Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon and its sister pagoda, set among manicured gardens near the summit with panoramic mountain views.
Mae Klang Luang Village
Explore this quiet Karen hill tribe village surrounded by yet more rice terraces and mountain scenery.
Wachirathan Waterfall
Stop at one of Doi Inthanon's most powerful waterfalls for photos and a refreshing burst of cool mist.
Return to Chiang Mai
Relax on the drive back as the mountains give way to city, arriving back at your hotel by early evening.
Detailed Itinerary
The day begins early with pickup at your hotel in central Chiang Mai, where your guide and driver greet you for the roughly two-hour journey up into the mountains of Chom Thong district. The drive itself is part of the experience, as the flat city streets gradually give way to winding roads, forested slopes and glimpses of terraced farmland cut into the hills.
The first major stop is Pa Bong Piang, home to some of the most photographed rice terraces in Thailand. Farmed by local Karen hill tribe communities for generations, the terraces ripple across the hillside in tight, curling bands that shift color with the season, lush green after the rains, golden and ready for harvest later in the year. You'll have time to walk among the paths overlooking the terraces and take in views that rarely make it into typical Chiang Mai itineraries. A local lunch follows nearby, giving you a chance to rest and refuel with Northern Thai flavors before the higher-altitude portion of the day.
From Pa Bong Piang, the route continues toward Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain, where the air turns noticeably cooler the higher you climb. Near the summit, a boardwalk trail through the Ang Ka cloud forest offers an easy walk through moss-covered trees, ferns and mist, a habitat unlike anywhere else in the country. Close by stand the twin royal pagodas, built to honor the King and Queen of Thailand, set within landscaped gardens that on clear days open up to sweeping views across the surrounding peaks.
The afternoon brings a change of pace at Mae Klang Luang, a traditional Karen village woven into its own set of rice terraces, offering a quieter, more local counterpoint to the more visited summit area. The final stop is Wachirathan Waterfall, where a short walk leads to a wide, thundering cascade and a cooling mist that makes for a memorable last impression of the park. From there, it's a scenic two-hour drive back down the mountain, arriving back in Chiang Mai by early evening, tired, refreshed and full of photos.
Includes
- English-speaking guide
- Round-trip transport from Chiang Mai
- Lunch
- All park entrance fees
- Ang Ka nature trail walk
Excludes
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Drinks and snacks beyond lunch
- Doi Inthanon National Park foreigner entrance fee, if charged separately by park authorities on the day
Important information
Meeting point
Hotel pickup in central Chiang Mai (exact point confirmed after booking)
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
Went during the golden season and the Pa Bong Piang terraces were absolutely stunning, worth the early start. It got surprisingly cold at the summit near the twin pagodas so I was glad I brought a jacket. Our guide knew so much about the Karen village and local farming methods.
The rice terraces were bright green and gorgeous when we visited in August. Wachirathan Waterfall was a great stop to cool off after the chilly summit. Guide was punctual, spoke excellent English, and lunch was better than expected for a tour package.
Beautiful day trip overall. The Ang Ka cloud forest trail near the pagodas was misty and cool, quite different from the heat in Chiang Mai city. Only downside was the summit area got a bit crowded around midday, but our guide timed most other stops well.
Perfect timing for the golden rice terraces, the views from the viewpoint were incredible. Bring warm clothes, it was genuinely cold at the top of Doi Inthanon early in the morning. Our driver-guide was friendly and very knowledgeable about the royal pagodas' history.
Full day but never felt rushed. The Mae Klang Luang Karen village visit was a highlight alongside the terraces. Waterfall and nature trail were both lovely, and the guide made sure everyone, including my parents, could keep up comfortably.
Green season terraces were lush and photogenic even without the golden color. Cold at the summit compared to the city, definitely pack a layer. Good value for the price given transport, lunch, and all the entrance fees were covered.
Our guide's knowledge of the pagodas and the national park made this trip. The rice terrace viewpoint was breathtaking and the waterfall stop was refreshing. Highly recommend for older travelers too, my mother had no trouble with the walking involved.