Ob Luang National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Chiang Mai Province, partly because of its easy accessibility, and part for its unusual attractions.
The main attraction is Ob Luang Gorge, where the waters of the Chaem River thunder through a narrow gap between a couple of 20-meter high cliffs, a kind of Lilliputian Grand Canyon. The other big attraction is ‘The Land of Prehistoric Human’—an area of caves and overhangs where there are some paintings made by early inhabitants of the area.
The park also contains some pretty hot springs at Thep Phanom and several waterfalls, though there are few marked trails in the park, which covers around 550 square kilometers and was designated a national park in 1991. It sits just south of the better-known Doi Inthanon National Park, and shares part of the same range of mountains.
Some tour companies in Chiang Mai organize white-water rafting trips that begin further upstream and come flashing through Ob Luang Gorge. Most visitors though are content to stand on the bridge above the gorge and take a few souvenir photos of the site. There’s a good range of accommodation here, including tents, all in an idyllic setting, though it can get crowded at the turn of the year.
Getting There
By public transport, take a bus from Chiang Mai bound for Mae Sariang, and ask the driver to let you off in front of Ob Luang. By rented vehicle, drive south from Chiang Mai on Highway 108 through Chom Thong and Hot, where the route veers west into the mountains and shortly passes the entrance to the park.
Need to Know
- What is It? A national park with a range of striking landscapes
- When to Go: November to February is the best time for walking nature trails, while the rainy season is best for rafting trips.
- Where/Nearest Town: The entrance is on Highway 108, about half-way between Mae Sariang in Mae Hong Son Province and Chom Thong in Chiang Mai Province.
- Don’t Miss: The view of the gorge from the bridge and the prehistoric paintings.
- Trivia: Skeletons have been found here that are thought to be over 2,500 years old.
- Website: web3.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp
- Opening hours: 08:30-16:30
- Entrance fees: Adults 200B, children 100B