A useful stop-off on the way to Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon, Chom Thong is a bustling market town about an hour’s drive south of Chiang Mai with traditional values and a charm peculiar to hilltribe catchment towns.
Several hilltribe villages are located in the hills around, and it’s common to see colorfully dressed villagers wandering round the market.
Chom Thong is rarely considered a destination in itself, but it’s a convenient rest stop if you’re driving from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon National Park. The streets are lined with classic wooden houses and the main town market is the prefect spot to grab some local northern Thai food for a picnic in the park.
If you have time, be sure to walk around Wat Phra That Sri Chom Thong—one of the more impressive temples in the area. Its gleaming chedi attracts people in, but it’s a relic of the Buddha himself, known as the Holy Dakkhinamoli Buddha Relic, that draws pilgrims from far and near.
Travelers without their own transport and not on a tour to Doi Inthanon will have to get off the bus from Chiang Mai at Chom Thong and switch to a songthaew to continue up the mountain. All transport pulls up in front of the town’s famed temple and beside the market.
Where to Go
- Wat Phra That Sri Chom Thong: this centuries-old Buddhist temple is the main highlight of Chom Thong. Its main temple building has some lovely features and even a relic of The Buddha.
Getting There
The nearest airport is found in Chiang Mai and from the Chiang Mai Gate, on the south side of the old city, buses run to Chom Thong. Most tours to Doi Inthanon will include a brief stop in Chom Thong on the way to the national park, but the best way to see the town is to rent a car and drive yourself from Chiang Mai.
Need to Know
- Worth it? Yes, as a rest stop on the way to Doi Inthanon.
- What to do: check out the impressive main temple, then hit the town market and stock up on snacks such as grilled meat and sticky rice.
- Best time to go: the dry season from November to March provides the best weather.
- How long? A few hours is probably enough time to get the feel of Chom Thong.