4 Beautiful Doi Inthanon waterfalls You Shouldn’t Miss

Wondering which Doi Inthanon waterfalls are actually worth your time?

We totally get it. We had the exact same dilemma when we were planning our trip.

Planning a photography trip to Northern Thailand, only to find that solid, practical info on the waterfalls in Doi Inthanon National Park was frustratingly hard to come by. 

Which ones are seasonal? 

How much time do you need at each? 

Is it worth seeing all of them in a day? 

Most guides we found were super vague or totally out of date.

So we decided to spend multiple days exploring and photographing four of the park’s most impressive waterfalls – Mae Ya, Wachirathan, Sirithan, and Mae Klang. 

Each one offers something completely different from wide, curtain-like cascades to dramatic, powerful falls that soak you through!

Whether you’re chasing the perfect waterfall photo or you just love getting out there into nature, these are the falls we recommend including in your Northern Thailand itinerary. Plus loads of helpful tips to make your trip super easy to plan.

We’ll also share our favourite gear for shooting in spray-heavy areas and the one waterfall we’d skip if you’re short on time.

Map Of Doi Inthanon Waterfalls

Doi Inthanon National Park covers a huge area and the main waterfalls aren’t all located in the same place.

Some are near the entrance to the national park and others are closer to the summit of Doi Inthanon mountain. If you’re planning to visit multiple waterfalls in one day, it’s worth mapping out your route in advance.

We’ve added the four Doi Inthanon waterfalls featured in this guide to the map below so you can see how they’re spaced out.

1. Mae Ya Waterfall
2. Mae Klang Waterfall
3. Wachirathan Waterfall
4. Sirithan Waterfall

It’ll help you decide the best order to visit them. Especially if you’re coming from Chiang Mai or including them in a wider Northern Thailand itinerary.

When To Visit the Waterfalls in Doi Inthanon

If you’re planning a trip to see the Doi Inthanon waterfalls, we’d recommend visiting November – January.

This is just after the rainy season, when the waterfalls are still powerful and flowing beautifully but the weather has cleared up.  

The skies are often blue and the trails are much easier to navigate. It’s also cooler, which makes walking and photography much more enjoyable.

We visited in November and had glorious weather every single day, which made for great conditions for photography and no need to worry about rain or mud.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect in each season:👇

☂️Rainy season (June to October): Waterfalls are at their most dramatic but brown in colour. Also, trails can be slippery and the weather is unpredictable.

☀️Dry season (November to February): Clear skies, the flow may not be as dramatic, but due to their elevation and proximity to the summit of Doi Inthanon, they don’t dry up. But November gives you the best mix of power and clear conditions.

🔥Burning season (March to April): Air quality across Northern Thailand drops significantly due to agricultural fires. It’s not the best time for hiking, views or photography.

🕓 Best time of day?

Mornings or later in the afternoons are best for a softer light and quieter waterfalls. Especially if you’re hoping to shoot without people in frame and have the waterfall all to yourselves (Yes, it is possible if you time it just right!)

What are the Doi Inthanon National Park Opening Hours?

Doi Inthanon National Park is open every day, all year round from 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM.

How much time do you really need at each waterfall?

If you’re planning to see all four waterfalls in Doi Inthanon National Park, you’ll want to allow a full day or even better, multiple days. 

The waterfalls are spread out across the park and each one offers a different kind of experience from short viewing platforms to longer walks and forest trails.

We’re huge fans of slow travel.

So instead of rushing, we stayed in the nearby town of Chom Thong and explored the park over five days.

But if you’re short on time or just love travelling fast, you can see them all in one day if you have your own transportation.  

Driving time between waterfalls ranges from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the route. Your own car or private driver gives you the flexibility to time your visits around lighting conditions and crowds.

Here’s how much time we’d recommend allocating to each waterfall:

Waterfall	Suggested visit time
Mae Ya	2-3 hours
Mae klang	1-2 hours
Wachirathan	30-45 minutes
Sirithan	20-30 minutes

Entry Fees for Doi Inthanon Waterfalls

All waterfalls are included in the Doi Inthanon National Park entry fee, which is currently:

• 300 THB per person for foreign visitors (7 GBP or 9 USD)
• 50 THB for Thai nationals
• Valid for five days, so you can explore other parts of the park without paying again

There’s no extra charge to access the waterfalls if you have a national park ticket.

1. Mae Ya Waterfall

Often described as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand, Mae Ya is a 280-metre cascading curtain fall hidden in the southern section of the Park. 

The water isn’t as blue as Erawan Falls in Kanchanaburi but its sheer size makes up for it!

Unlike the other Doi Inthanon waterfalls, it sits outside the main park entrance but it’s well worth the detour and was our personal favourite. 

Arriving at 7.30am on a Saturday, we had the whole place to ourselves for at least an hour. Just perfect. 

Mae Ya easily tops our list of the best North Thailand waterfalls. It’s a simply stunning cascade that ticks every box for photographers.

2. Mae Klang Waterfall

Located just inside the main gates of Doi Inthanon National Park, Mae Klang Waterfall is a peaceful and photogenic spot, surrounded by lush greenery and accessed via an easy, shaded trail. 

It’s not the tallest waterfall in the park, but it’s one of the most picturesque, complete with a cute  wooden bridge and places to sit and soak in the view.

This was our second favourite waterfall in the park (after Mae Ya) and we had the place to ourselves during the afternoon golden hour.

3. Wachirathan Waterfall

Easily the most popular waterfall in Doi Inthanon National Park, Wachirathan is big, bold and dramatic.

The sheer volume of water and the roar of the cascade make it a real spectacle but it’s also the busiest. 

Nearly every tour stops here, so don’t expect any peaceful moments here. 

That said, we still thought it was well worth visiting. 

The waterfall crashes down a wide rock face and creates an impressive mist that you’ll feel from the viewing platforms, so bring a poncho and protect your camera gear!

4. Sirithan Waterfall

Sirithan Waterfall is one of the quieter stops in Doi Inthanon National Park. 

A gentle cascade framed by lush jungle, viewed from a small wooden platform tucked into the trees. While it’s not as dramatic or photogenic as some of the others, it makes for an easy stop if you’re nearby, especially as it’s just a short drive from Wachirathan.

Access involves descending around 100 wooden steps, but it’s not a difficult walk. The view from the platform is pretty, though partially obscured by trees and the falls are at a distance.

It was our least favourite waterfall as it was hard to photograph and wasn’t quite so picture perfect. But we’ve included it for you guys out there that want a quick easy stop off without the 15-10 minute walk!

Essential Tips for Exploring the Waterfalls in Doi Inthanon National Park

Visiting the waterfalls in Doi Inthanon is a ton of fun, but there are a few things we wish we had known before exploring!

These tips will ensure you are more prepared than we were.

👚What To Wear

• Comfy walking sandals or trainers are ideal. All the trails are paved and well maintained, but can be slippery if it has rained.

• Bring a light jacket or fleece if you’re heading out early. It can be cooler in the mornings, especially near the summit.  And after experiencing the usual Thailand heat, it can be a shock!

• Pack quick-dry clothes, or something to change into if you plan to swim.

• A poncho is a good idea for Wachirathan if you don’t want to get wet. Yes, the spray really is that intense!

🎒What To Bring

• A reusable water bottle – we recommend Water-to-Go filter bottles, as they can be used almost anywhere and filter out viruses and bacteria. Keeping you hydrated, safe and reducing single-use plastics!

• A daypack – Just enough for your essentials, camera kit, and a towel if you fancy a dip.

• Water and snacks – You’ll find food stalls near some car parks, but there’s nothing once you’re walking and arrive at the base of the falls, with Wachirathan being the only exception.

• Small change – Handy for toilets or local snacks at food stalls.

• Toilet tissue – As with most of Asia, toilets generally won’t have tissue so bring your own

☀️Other Essentials

• Cash – for snacks and souvenirs. There are no ATMs in Doi Inthanon National Park, so be sure to bring enough cash with you.

• Insect repellent – insects do love water and there will be plenty of that!

• Sunscreen – the sun is strong even in the mornings or afternoons, so be sure to pack some cream or cover up.

Photography Tips for doi inthanon waterfalls

Photographing waterfalls in Doi Inthanon is a ton of fun and perfect for landscape photography. Here are our best tips to help you get the shot, without the stress.👇

⏰Timing is Everything

Light and timing can make or break a waterfall photo.

Here’s when we’d recommend visiting each fall:

• Mae Ya is perfect just after sunrise, soft, directional light and very few people. We arrived at 7:30am and had it all to ourselves.

• Mae Klang catches beautiful golden light in the late afternoon. It’s ideal for drone shots too, as it’s quiet and open.

• Wachirathan is busiest, so early or late in the day helps avoid harsh light and tour groups. Be ready for spray!

• Sirithan is best on a cloudy day, the falls are partially hidden by trees, so a wide-angle helps frame the scene. Not the best for photography, in all honesty.

🌥️ Cloudy days? Don’t worry.  They’re actually great for waterfall photography, giving you soft shadows and even exposure without harsh contrasts.

📷 What to Pack

A few key bits of photography kit will make all the difference, especially if you want those dreamy long exposures.

• Tripod – Essential for longer shutter speeds.

• ND filter – Helps slow your shutter speed in daylight, giving that silky water effect.

• Lens cloths – Especially important at Wachirathan, where spray is unavoidable.

• Wide-angle lens – Great for capturing the full cascade with the surrounding forest or rocks.

🧭 Composition & Light

There’s no single way to shoot a waterfall, but a few techniques can elevate your shots.

• Look for natural frames and compositions like overhanging branches or rocks to guide the eye.

• Use leading lines from footpaths, rivers or rocks to draw into the scene.

• Watch your shutter speed – aim for 0.5 to 2 seconds with an ND filter to get smooth flow.

• For midday visits (if you can’t avoid them), focus on tighter details like textures, rock formations or spray.

How to Get to Doi Inthanon National Park from Chiang Mai

If you’re visiting Chiang Mai and looking for the most photogenic Chiang Mai waterfalls, Doi Inthanon is a brilliant day trip or overnight option.

The park is located around two hours southwest of Chiang Mai and while it’s one of the most popular national parks in Thailand, getting around it can be a bit tricky without your own transport.

Here are your main options to get from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon:

🚗 Hire a car (best option for photographers!)

This is by far the best option for most people, especially those of you that love Travel Photography as much as we do!

Renting a car gives you the flexibility to visit all four of the Doi Inthanon waterfalls, chase the light for photography and stop whenever you like.

Roads are well-paved, well-signed and easy to navigate, even for first-timers in Thailand.

If you don’t have a motorbike licence in your home country (and therefore not medically covered by your travel insurance), we’d recommend renting a car over a scooter.

• Allow 2 hours from Chiang Mai Old Town to Mae Klang (the first waterfall near the park entrance)

• Download offline Google Maps before heading into the mountains

• Be sure to get your park ticket first before visiting Mae Ya Waterfall, which is located outside the main park gates. This way, you’ll have access to everything for five days and not just Mae Ya.

We hired a car through Booking.com for almost three weeks to explore Northern Thailand and had a great experience!

The booking process was simple and the pickup was straightforward and really fast. If you’re thinking of doing the same, make sure you bring an International Driver’s Licence, which you’ll need to rent and drive legally in Thailand. You can apply for this in your home country before your trip.

🚌Public Transport (Too difficult!)

Although you can technically reach the park using local songthaews, it’s really not ideal if you’re planning to see more than one thing or take photos.

The services are pretty unreliable, they don’t start early enough for sunrise shoots or morning visits, and once you’re actually in the park, there’s no public transport at all.

Getting between waterfalls like Mae Klang and Wachirathan? You’d be relying on hitchhiking. We saw a few people giving it a go… and let’s just say, they didn’t look like they were having the best time.

Yes, it might be a cheaper option, but honestly? It’s not one we’d recommend.

✅Our Recommendation

If you’re serious about travel photography or enjoy slow travel, stay overnight near Chom Thong and hire a car (like we did). It’s close to the park entrance and makes sunrise missions to Mae Ya or afternoon golden hour at Mae Klang totally doable without rushing.

Where to Go Next After Visiting Doi Inthanon Waterfalls

If you’re spending the day (or more) here, there are loads of things to do in Doi Inthanon National Park beyond just the waterfalls.

• Visit the Royal Twin Pagodas, surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens, beautiful fountains and tons of relics and art work

• Walk the Ang Ka Nature Trail – a short, misty boardwalk through mossy forest near the summit

• Join a local guide on the Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail, one of our favourite hikes in Northern Thailand

• Hike Kew Mae Pan, the most popular trek in the whole park with epic mountains views and a glimpse of the Royal Pagodas.

• Head to the summit – Thailand’s highest point is just a short walk from the car park and the famous sign displays how cold it actually is up there! (10c when we visited…… brrrr!)

Where to go next in northern thailand

If you are exploring the sights around Chiang Mai, then Doi Inthanon National Park is just the beginning. 

Northern Thailand is packed with places that are perfect for photographers, hikers and travellers who love quiet nature and local culture.

We spent three weeks exploring further north and here are a few of our favourites:

• Doi Mae Salong – Mountain views, sweeping tea plantations and rich Chinese heritage

• Phu Chi Fa Forest Park – One of the best sunrise spots we’ve ever experienced, with misty cliffs overlooking Laos and a magical sea of clouds every single morning (in dry season!)

• Lampang and the Sky Temple – A lesser-known province with a dramatic sky temple known as the floating pagodas. A true hidden gem.