5 national parks around Chiang Mai

Northern Thailand is known for its misty, jungle-covered hills, refreshing waterfalls, mysterious caves and natural beauty. Outside of the city of Chiang Mai you’ll soon come across bright green rice fields, glittering temples perched on high cliffs, and plenty of trails and rivers just waiting to be explored. There are also a number of large national parks in the region that offer a variety of unique destinations, including the highest peak in the country, and exciting activities, such as camping, hiking, rafting and more. Not far from town, the parks are an excellent way to get out of the city, reconnect with nature, discover a different side of Thailand and mingle with the locals. While they are great to visit anytime, the parks are often busier on the weekends and public holidays when Thai families will go on a special day out. Hop on a motorbike to check out the following national parks on your own two wheels or hire a driver for the day to take you anywhere you want to go―just be sure to bring lots of water, sunscreen and, of course, your camera to capture some of the most stunning scenes in all the country!