Located around 150km south of the city of Chiang Mai, the Mae Ping National Park covers an astounding 1,000 square kilometers and straddles the borders of Lamphun, Chiang Mai and Tak provinces.
It is rarely visited due to its remote location, but is a great place to enjoy a few days surrounded by nature and far from the maddening crowd.
The park includes a large section of the Kaeng Ko reservoir created by the Bhumibol Dam, and accommodation is on rafts floating near the banks of the reservoir. There are few places in Thailand as restful as these rafts, where the only sounds are of birdsong and the occasional fish jumping out of the water.
There are also several waterfalls in the park, of which the most impressive is Ko Luang Waterfall, about a 20-minute drive from park headquarters. Here limestone deposits have accumulated to create a beautiful flow that falls into an inviting pool at the fall’s base.
You can explore further afield if you contact a local boatman through the national park headquarters and arrange for a trip around the reservoir, where you can also visit a temple that sits on its banks.
Getting There
There’s no public transport to the park, so you’ll need a rented vehicle. From Chiang Mai, head south through Lamphun and Pa Sang, then follow H106 to Li, from where H1087 leads to the park headquarters. The nearest airport is in Chiang Mai.
Need to Know
- What is it? A national park that includes part of a large reservoir.
- When to go: The cool season (Nov-Feb) is best for cool weather.
- Nearest Town: Li, about 20km northeast of park headquarters.
- Opening hours: 06:00-18:00
- Entrance fees: Adults 100B, children 50B.