Mae Puem National Park

Mae Puem National Park covers about 356 square kilometres of mountain forest straddling Chiang Rai and Phayao provinces, with roughly 136 sq km of that falling on the Phayao side, where this entrance sits. Entry costs 100 THB for foreign visitors (50 THB for children) and 20 THB for Thai nationals (10 THB for children), and the gates run daily from 08:00 to 18:00 — this is a working national park with a staffed checkpoint, not a free-access forest.

Trails climb through mixed deciduous and evergreen forest to viewpoints over the surrounding valleys, and the park protects the watershed forest that feeds streams draining into the surrounding valleys. Waterfalls cascade down the rockier slopes, running strongest in the weeks after the rainy season tapers off around October, and several cave systems break up the longer hiking routes. Bird activity is heaviest at dawn and dusk — expect a mix of forest species rather than anything rare enough to plan a dedicated trip around.

What sets Mae Puem apart from northern Thailand’s better-known parks is how little traffic it gets. Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep-Pui pull crowds on weekends; this park mostly doesn’t. Trails run quiet on weekdays, facilities stay basic (a ranger station, a campground, marked but unpaved paths), and morning mist often sits in the valleys well into mid-morning during cool season. That undeveloped feel is the draw for hikers who’ve already done the marquee parks and want something without the tour buses.

Insider Tip: Call ahead (093 265 3035) before a cool-season weekend visit to confirm the campground has space — it’s small, and Thai domestic tourists know about it even if foreign visitors mostly don’t.

Watch out: Trail markings thin out past the main viewpoints. Stick to marked routes, carry a paper map or offline GPS track, and don’t push on to unmarked side trails without a park guide — mobile signal disappears quickly once you’re past the ranger station.

Reaching the park from Phayao town takes roughly an hour by car on paved roads, longer by shared transport since public routes don’t run directly to the gate. A private vehicle or arranged transfer makes the day easier, particularly if you’re heading in for sunrise or planning to stay the night at the campground. Pack insect repellent, sturdy footwear, and a layer for the cooler evening air at elevation — daytime heat in the lowlands doesn’t carry all the way up the trail.