Mae Ya Waterfall

Mae Ya Waterfall drops roughly 260 metres over a series of about 30 tiers inside Doi Inthanon National Park, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in Thailand — a long cascade rather than a single sheer plunge. It sits in Chom Thong district on a separate access road from the park’s main summit route, which keeps it quieter than Doi Inthanon’s better-known stops even in high season.

The tiers step down a broad rock face, wide enough that during the rainy season the water spreads to something close to 100 metres across. A short, mostly flat walk from the parking area brings you to the base, where mist off the falling water cools the air noticeably compared to the car park. The volume shifts a lot with the season — a heavy, wide curtain of water from June to October, thinning out through the dry months when more of the rock face and the individual tiers become visible. Forest closes in on both sides of the viewing area, and the roar of the water carries well before you can see it.

Insider Tip: Go on a weekday if you can — Mae Ya’s parking area is small, and it fills up fast on weekends and holidays once Chiang Mai day-trippers discover it’s a shorter walk than most of Doi Inthanon’s other falls.

Watch out: The pool at the base isn’t always safe to enter — currents get strong after rain, and park staff sometimes rope off access. Check on-site signage rather than assuming last year’s photos of people swimming still apply.

There’s no separate entrance fee for the waterfall — it’s covered by the Doi Inthanon National Park ticket, bought at the main gate. The drive from central Chiang Mai takes about 90 minutes through Chom Thong, with a winding final stretch, so allow extra time if you’re also planning to see the summit or other waterfalls the same day. Bring sturdy shoes for the walk from the car park and a light jacket, since temperatures drop noticeably in the mist near the falls.