Mae Ping National Park

Mae Ping National Park protects just over 1,000 square kilometres of monsoon forest along the Ping River in Lamphun province’s Li district, with the Ping running roughly 140 km through the park past cliffs, small islands, and caves. It’s one of the less-visited parks in the north, and the main reason to make the trip is a specific stretch of river rather than a single trail or viewpoint.

That stretch is Kaeng Ko: a short boat ride from the park’s pier through a rapids section of the river, past forested cliffs, to a point where the submerged ruins of a temple — Wat Ban Kao, flooded when the Bhumibol Dam was built in 1955 — resurface during the low-water months and become visible from the boat. A shared boat runs about 150 THB per person, a private charter for up to ten people around 1,000 THB, with life jackets renting separately; boats operate roughly 6am to 6pm. Away from the river, trails lead through deciduous and evergreen forest to a scattering of waterfalls, and Thung Kik — a grass field about 15 km from park headquarters — is a reliable spot for birdwatchers, with barking deer reported in the same area.

Insider Tip: Go early. The Kaeng Ko boats get busiest with Thai day-trippers on weekends, and the submerged temple ruins are only visible when the reservoir level is down — check with park headquarters before the trip if seeing them is the point.

Watch out: Wild elephants have been reported in the park’s more remote sections, but sightings are uncommon and shouldn’t be the reason you visit — treat any wildlife encounter as a bonus, not an expectation, and keep a respectful distance if it happens.

The park is reached by car or motorbike from Lamphun town, with the final stretch on rural roads — there’s no public transport directly to the entrance. Camping is possible at a few designated sites with basic facilities; bring your own gear or confirm what’s available with the park office in advance. Pack insect repellent, sturdy shoes for the trails, and cash, since card payment isn’t reliable this far out.