Den Ya Kat - Doi Luang Chiang Dao - Kew Lom Tai - Pang Wua
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 11.67 mi
- Elevation gain
- 4,469 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 4,974 ft
- Max elevation
- 7,079 ft
- TrailRank
- 62
- Min elevation
- 3,553 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Coordinates
- 1642
- Uploaded
- January 23, 2016
- Recorded
- January 2016
near Ban Fa Suai, เชียงใหม่ (ไทย)
Viewed 9364 times, downloaded 107 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Hike up Doi Luang Chiang Dao, Thailand's 3rd highest mountain, north of Chiang Mai.
We stayed at the Chiang Dao national park headquarters, camping on the floor of their meeting room. We were driven to Den Ya Kat by 4WD and we had to hire a porter via the national park office. On the first day we hiked up to the huge campsite, "Ao Salung" below the summit. We set up camp there then hiked up to the summit of Doi Luang Chiang Dao for the sunrise.
This is a very popular "bucket list" hike for a lot of Thais. We did it on a weekend in January and there were about 300 people up the mountain, even though I've heard it's supposed to be limited to 150. Many of the hikers seemed ill-prepared and in inappropriate footwear. The summit was a photo-frenzy, the "money shot" being holding the Thai flag. Nevertheless it was fun, and a good community spirit, but go mid-week if you want to avoid the crowds.
The following morning we hiked in the dark up to Kew Lom Tai for the sunrise. Then we packed up camp, hiked down to Pang Wua where we were picked up and driven back to the national park office.
We wanted to do this independently but it would be very difficult to do so. The national park and commercial trekking companies have it tied up. There are checkpoints on the the roads to the start. However it was nice to go along with it and have a porter to carry some of our gear.
Open my YouTube video of the trip from the "View more" link below.
We stayed at the Chiang Dao national park headquarters, camping on the floor of their meeting room. We were driven to Den Ya Kat by 4WD and we had to hire a porter via the national park office. On the first day we hiked up to the huge campsite, "Ao Salung" below the summit. We set up camp there then hiked up to the summit of Doi Luang Chiang Dao for the sunrise.
This is a very popular "bucket list" hike for a lot of Thais. We did it on a weekend in January and there were about 300 people up the mountain, even though I've heard it's supposed to be limited to 150. Many of the hikers seemed ill-prepared and in inappropriate footwear. The summit was a photo-frenzy, the "money shot" being holding the Thai flag. Nevertheless it was fun, and a good community spirit, but go mid-week if you want to avoid the crowds.
The following morning we hiked in the dark up to Kew Lom Tai for the sunrise. Then we packed up camp, hiked down to Pang Wua where we were picked up and driven back to the national park office.
We wanted to do this independently but it would be very difficult to do so. The national park and commercial trekking companies have it tied up. There are checkpoints on the the roads to the start. However it was nice to go along with it and have a porter to carry some of our gear.
Open my YouTube video of the trip from the "View more" link below.
Waypoints
Intersection
5,145 ft
Sam Yaek
Sam Yaek ("three ways") where the paths from Den Ya Kat and Pang Wua meet.
Campsite
5,461 ft
Dong Noi camp
Dong Noi camp. I don't think it's used much now. Everyone seems to camp further up at Ang Salung.
Campsite
6,505 ft
Ang Salung camp
Ang Salung camp. The main campsite below the summit. It's very large and busy during peak season at weekends.
Campsite
6,571 ft
Our camp 16th January 2016
Our camping spot in the middle of Ang Salung on 16th January 2016
Summit
Information point
Intersection
6,514 ft
Ang Salung - Kew Lom intersection
Intersection between the paths to Ang Salung and Kew Lom
Photo
4,618 ft
Rest before descent
Resting spot before descent to Pang Wua
Intersection
4,031 ft
Above Pang Wua
Intersection of paths above Pang Wua
Door
Car park
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