Doi Suthep - Pui National Park

This Doi Suthep - Pui National Park majestic forest park covers a mountain that is situated a few miles from Chiang Mai, Thailand's second largest city. Despite its proximity to an urban center, Doi Suthep is is a wonderful place to encounter wildlife. Doi Suthep - Pui National Park also houses a royal palace, 2 Hmong hill tribe villages, and a 600 years old Buddhist monastery, Wat Prathat.

The lush evergreen forest can be found on the eastern slope of Doi Suthep and close to Wat Prathat. This distinct zone; which begins at about 1000 meters and ascends another 400, harbors a great number of lowland bird species. Above about 1,400 meters the vegetation dries up considerably, though there are rich, sporadic clusters of dense forest in ravines and shaded areas. In these isolated pockets of vegetation can be spotted more of Doi Suthep's many birds.

Let's relax on Doi Suthep - Pui National Park for fresh you day up!

Trip in Doi Suthep - Pui National Park

(1/2 to 1 Day. Round trip to summit 46 km. Go to market on Maninopharat Road at the Chang Phuak Gate intersection to catch a "2 rows" bus to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. Or go to the red minibuses on Huay Kaew Road by the front gate of Chiang Mai University. City Bus 3 terminates at the Huay Kaew waterfall.)

A trip up to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a pilgrimage for Thais who visit Chiang Mai. Beyond the temple the King's mountain retreat at Phuping and the Hmong village of Ban Doi Pui (Ban Maew) also attract many tourists.

The road to Doi Suthep - Pui National Park that snakes up the mountain has been widened as far as the royal palace to handle the increasingly heavy flow of visitors up the mountain.

Doi Suthep - Pui National Park offers some pleasant walking that is easy as long as you stay on the wide tracks. The upper part of the mountain will interest nature lovers. The car parks at the main sights have lots of stalls selling souvenirs, drinks and food.