A Visitors Guide to Sirithan Waterfall in Doi Inthanon
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Are you feeling overwhelmed planning your Doi Inthanon National Park itinerary?
This is the only guide you need to avoid wasting time while planning your visit to Sirithan Waterfall.
After spending five days exploring Doi Inthanon National Park and making many mistakes, we have compiled everything we learnt into detailed guides to simplify your trip planning.
Sirithan Waterfall is one of the many waterfalls in Doi Inthanon National Park.
Although it is not the most dramatic or prettiest, it is an easy stop-off point and worth checking out!
Nestled among the trees, the wooden viewpoint overlooks Sirithan’s flowing water.
And is perfectly framed by green trees and bushes!
If you love chasing waterfalls as much as we do, you should not miss a quick visit to Sirithan Waterfall when visiting Doi Inthanon.
However, when planning our trip to Doi Inthanon National Park, we struggled to find information about each waterfall.
The simplest of things were hard to determine.
Such as how much time we needed to visit Sirithan Waterfall.
How far the walk from the car park to Sirithan Waterfall would take us.
Was it easy to access?
Was it good for photography?
We had no idea.
This resulted in us just turning up and hoping for the best.
And it meant that we wasted a lot of time driving back and forth and arriving at attractions at the busiest times.
That’s where this guide comes in!
We will cover the main topics to help you plan your trip👇
- How to get there from Chiang Mai
- How easy is Sirithan to access from the car park?
- Entrance fees and ticket info
- How much time do you need to allocate to visiting Sirithan Waterfall
Whether you’re a nature lover always chasing waterfalls or simply keen to see as much of Doi Inthanon National Park as possible.
This guide will ensure a seamless trip!
Sirithan waterfall quick facts
👉Where? Doi Inthanon National Park in Northern Thailand, just two hours from Chiang Mai centre
👉Cost? 300 baht (£6.95 /8.83USD)
👉Distance from the entrance by foot? A five-minute walk from the car park (100 metres)
👉Best Time to Visit? Anytime
👉Height? 100 metres
👉Waterfall Type? Cascading
👉Can you swim? No, swimming is not allowed
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Where is Sirithan waterfall?
Sirithan Waterfall is located in Northern Thailand, within Doi Inthanon National Park. It is home to Thailand’s highest point and is just a 1.5-hour drive from bustling Chiang Mai.
This National Park is home to some of the best waterfalls and hiking trails in Thailand and is one of the most popular day trips from Chiang Mai.
Sirithan is very close to the most popular and most visited waterfall in Doi Inthanon, Wachirathan Waterfall.
Despite this, it remains much less visited and quieter than most other attractions within the park.
When is the Best time to Visit Sirithan Waterfall?
The best time to visit Sirithan Waterfall is during or just after the rainy season (June to October).
This is when the waterfalls are at their most spectacular.
We visited in November, at the start of the dry season, and the park’s waterfalls were still impressively powerful.
None of them is the turquoise blue colour that you see at Erawan National Park in Kanchanaburi, but they each have their own charm.
As this spot is not the most popular in the park and is not ideal for waterfall photography, you can visit it anytime that fits your itinerary.
What is the Sirithan Waterfall Entrance Fee?
Since Sirithan Waterfall is located within Doi Inthanon National Park, you must purchase a ticket for the entire park.
The Doi Inthanon Entrance fee is 300 baht (£6.95) and grants access for five consecutive days.
For Thai citizens, the entry fee is just 50 baht per person.
💡NOTE: Pricing for foreigners and locals is split, as is common in many national parks across Thailand. Some tourists have been known to try to negotiate this cost, but be aware that the rates are fixed, so it’s best to plan accordingly. We know many people view split pricing negatively; however, we completely understand why it’s done and have no issue paying a “tourist price”.
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What are the Opening Times for Sirithan Waterfall?
Doi Inthanon National Park, including Sirithan Waterfall, is open year-round daily from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Once inside the park, you can visit Sirithan Waterfall anytime during these hours to suit your itinerary.
How far is the walk to Sirithan Waterfall from the Car Park?
The walk from the car park to the viewing platform for Sirithan Waterfall takes around five minutes and is 100 metres in distance.
Before visiting Sirithan Falls, you should be aware that you must descend around 100 wooden steps to reach the platform.
This makes it the least easily accessible of the four main falls we visited in the park.
💡Visiting Tip: No need for hiking shoes as the steps are well paved, so even flip flops will do at this waterfall!
How long do I need to spend at Sirithan Waterfall?
The walk down to the falls is short, and the viewing platform is small, so 15-20 minutes is more than sufficient to allocate.
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What To Expect from Sirithan Waterfall – Our Experience
The first thing we noticed about Sirithan Waterfall is that, unlike the other falls, it is not clearly signposted.
We actually drove past it twice while looking for it, expecting to see a big sign!
But the sign is tiny and hidden, and the car park is poorly developed and easily mistaken for a lay-by.
Once parked up, you will make your way down the wooden steps to the viewing platform below.
The walk down is pretty, surrounded by flowers, trees, and bushes.
After a few minutes, we reached the wooden elevated viewing platform perched among the trees.
The 360-degree views surrounding the platform were beautiful, and we felt as if we were hidden away in a little open tree house.
The waterfall is some distance from the viewing platform, so we chose not to stay long to take photographs as we struggled to get a good composition.
But it is pretty to look at all the same!
We visited around 3 p.m in the afternoon, and there were only about 8 other visitors, so it didn’t feel busy.
Photographing Sirithan Waterfall
If you are a landscape photographer looking for beautiful falls to capture, we don’t consider Sirithan Waterfall a great option.
The waterfall is quite a distance from the viewing platform.
And many trees and bushes are blocking the partial view you do have.
The framing is pretty, but compared to the other waterfalls we photographed at Doi Inthanon National Park, this one did not impress us!
However, if you insist on photographing Sirithan Waterfall, we suggest using a wide-angle lens.
This will ensure you capture the surrounding foliage and make the most of the pretty framing.
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Can you Fly a Drone at Sirithan waterfall?
There are no rules prohibiting you from flying a drone at Sirithan Waterfall but flying a drone from here would be difficult.
Many trees are overhead without a clear space to take off and land, so you may struggle to get your drone in the air unless you find a spot further down the road.
Visiting Tips for Sirithan Waterfall
- Look carefully for the small sign and dusty car park when looking for Sirithan waterfall – it’s not easy to spot.
- Be aware of the steps down to the viewing platform. Although not steep, they could be problematic for anyone with mobility issues.
- This waterfall is very close to Wachirathan, so it is a good stop-off before or after visiting.
- Swimming is prohibited at Sirithan Waterfall as the water is inaccessible and quite dangerous.
How to get to Sirithan Waterfall from Chiang Mai?
Unlike Mae Klang or Mae Ya Waterfalls in Doi Inthanon National Park, which are worthy of dedicated photography trips from Chiang Mai, we felt that Sirithan Waterfall isn’t worth a dedicated visit.
It’s more of a pit stop to include alongside your National Park itinerary.
However, if you are still planning your trip to the Park and need guidance on how to get there from Chiang Mai, the best options are below!
There are two main ways to reach Sirithan Waterfall from Chiang Mai.
- Option One: Drive yourself. You can rent a car or motorbike (as long as you have a valid license).
- Option Two: Join a guided tour with transportation to and from Chiang Mai included.
For our trip, we hired a car from Chiang Mai and spent five nights in the area to fully explore everything Doi Inthanon National Park has to offer.
If you’re short on time, however, a one-day trip or a guided tour is a fantastic alternative.
We do not recommend public transportation as a viable option for getting from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon.
This is because the attractions in Doi Inthanon National Park are not within walking distance of one another.
Without private transportation, you could end up stuck in one spot!
Option One: Self Drive
Renting a Scooter
Renting a scooter is a convenient and affordable way to explore Thailand. However, be aware that most travel insurance won’t cover you in an accident unless you have a valid motorbike license from your home country.
If you have the proper license, scooters can be rented locally for less than £10 per day, making it an excellent budget-friendly option.
💡TIP: We use SafetyWing Nomad Insurance and have no hesitation in recommending them for your travels. We have had personal experience of filing a claim and dealing with them as an organisation. We found the claims process straightforward, and the payout was very quick!
Renting a Car
Since we do not a hold motorbike license and planned to explore for more than one day, we chose to rent a car instead.
This gave us the freedom to stay in local accommodations and fully enjoy Doi Inthanon National Park at our own pace.
Renting a car in Thailand is affordable and simple if you have an international driver’s permit (IDP).
An IDP is affordable and simple to apply for.
For example, a permit costs just £10, is valid for one year for UK residents, and is granted the same day as the application.
We rented a car through Booking.com for £18 ($23 USD) per day, which includes full damage waiver insurance.
This ensures that there are no excess costs in case of an accident.
Cheaper options start at $13 daily if you’re comfortable with an excess.
After spending almost a month driving in Thailand, we can confidently say that it is surprisingly easy.
With well-paved roads, good signage and sensible local drivers.
Some incredible places we visited included Phu Chi Fa and Doi Mae Salong. (which we highly recommend!)
Be sure to download an offline map on Google Maps before heading into the mountains to avoid losing signal.
During our 18 months of travel, we became reliant on various mobile travel apps that helped us plan and navigate each destination.
Option Two: Take a tour to Sirithan Waterfall
Doi Inthanon National Park is a popular day-trip destination from Chiang Mai.
And there are plenty of guided tours available for a stress-free experience.
If you’re short on time or prefer not to handle the logistics yourself, joining a tour is a fantastic option.
To make planning easier, we’ve highlighted the best one-day tour for visiting Sirithan Waterfall.
They also include other must-see attractions in Doi Inthanon National Park.
This tour includes the Royal Pagodas, the local Hmong Hill Tribe Village, as well as Sirithan waterfall and Wachirathan waterfall.
💡When booking a tour, we use Seek Sophie, Get Your Guide and Viator as they offer free cancellation making it easy to book activities with no pressure or problems if your plan changes!
Most tours include one or two hiking trails and Mae Ya Waterfall or Wachirathan Waterfall.
Or they focus more on less strenuous activities and include Sirithan Waterfall.
If you’re like us and want to see as much as humanely possible – we recommend a private tour from Chiang Mai.
This way, you can tailor it to your needs and include all four waterfalls, one or two hikes, and the Hmong Village.
However, the tour below is a great option if you are happy to exclude the hiking when visiting the National Park.
🏔️Doi Inthanon Day Tour with Waterfalls and Hilltribes
- Free cancellation – cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
- Reserve now and pay later
- 9.5 hours duration
- Pick up and drop off from Chiang Mai included
👉Itinerary and what you will see
- Visit the highest point in Thailand
- Visit the King & Queen’s Royal Pagodas and manicured gardens
- Explore Wachiratharn Waterfall and Sirithan Waterfall
- Ang Ga Nature Trail, the magical forest and nature walk
- Enjoy lunch
- Visit the White Karen Hmong village and enjoy a cup of locally grown coffee at Ban Mae Klang Luang.
🚂Are you still figuring out how to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai? If so, we highly recommend catching the overnight sleeper train! It is one of the most memorable things we experienced during our 18 months of travel! If you prefer to travel during the day, you can always opt for the day train, which is still a great way to travel sustainably.
Bonus Option: Stay Local
We stayed five nights in Chom Thong, using it as a base to explore Doi Inthanon National Park, including Sirithan Waterfall.
Chom Thong is the closest town to the park, just a 20- to 30-minute drive from most attractions, making it an ideal location for daily trips.
This approach allowed us to capture the best light for photography during early mornings and late afternoons for multiple attractions.
Which is nearly impossible with just one day to spend.
We also loved the slower pace of staying nearby, dining at small family-run restaurants, and shopping at local markets.
It allowed us to connect with the community and appreciate the area even more.
We stayed at the Sailom Resort in Chom Thong, just 30 minutes from Doi Inthanon National Park and 22 minutes by car to Sirithan Waterfall.
At only 600 baht (£13) per night, it was an incredible deal and one of our favourite stays during our Northern Thailand trip.
With free parking and local eateries within walking distance, Sailom Resort is a fantastic choice for a few nights in the area. We highly recommend it!
Frequently asked questions
Are there toilets at Sirithan Waterfall?
No, there are not. The closest toilets are at Wachirathan Waterfall, which is a few minutes away.
Is there food at Sirithan Waterfall?
No, there are no food options at Sirithan Waterfall. The closest place to get snacks and drinks is Wachirathan Waterfall.
Can you swim at Sirithan waterfall?
You cannot swim at Sirithan waterfall. The water is not accessible from the viewing platform. If swimming is important to you, then visit Mae Ya Waterfall or Mae Klang Waterfall instead.
Is there a car park at Sirithan waterfall?
Yes there is a small car park
Is Sirithan Waterfall worth visiting?
Sirithan Waterfall is absolutely worth a stop-off.
But only if you have time.
Of all of the waterfalls we saw in Doi Inthanon National Park, Sirithan was the most underwhelming.
It is pretty, and the viewing platform offers something different from the waterfalls in the park.
But it’s such a small area with a fairly limited view that we recommend skipping this waterfall if you are short on time.
Other things to see in Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon National Park is packed with beauty spots perfect for photography and connecting with nature. There are literally so many things to see and do.
If you have time then be sure to include these must-visit sights in your plans.
- Wachirathan waterfall: A Jurassic-sized waterfall! Although the busiest in Doi Inthanon waterfall, it has to be seen to be believed! Just bring a raincoat!
- Mae Klang waterfall: A picturesque waterfall perfect for photography and flying your drone. Our second favourite after Mae Ya Waterfall.
- Mae Ya Waterfall: A stunning cascading waterfall perfect for photography and flying your drone. Our ultimate favourite waterfall in Doi Inthanon National Park.
- Ang Ka Nature Trail: This is a magical forest walkway with mossy trees, tropical birds, and an interesting path. No guide is needed!
- Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail: This is the most popular hiking trail in Doi Inthanon. It offers a dramatic view of the whole area and the Royal Twin Pagodas. A guide is allocated at the entrance gate.
- Pha dok Seio Trail: A scenic and enjoyable hike that passes some incredible waterfalls, giant trees, and rice fields. Our favourite hike in Doi Inthanon National Park.
- Royal Twin Pagodas: Royal manicured gardens and two very large and ornate Pagodas. Built to honour the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit
where to go next in northern Thailand?
Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon are just the start!
Northern Thailand is packed with hidden gems ( and we mean REAL hidden gems that no one seems to have heard of!)
We spent 3 weeks exploring and found stunning views, unique culture and quiet spots where the locals hang out.
- Doi Mae Salong – Epic green mountain views, a rich Chinese history and sweeping tea plantations
- Phu Chi Fa – Breathtaking mountain views, the mysterious blanket of fog at sunrise and 360 views across into Laos.
- Lampang – A breathtaking temple perched on top of dramatic mountains! A real hidden gem perfect for mountain and photography lovers!
More Thailand Inspiration!
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- 2-Week Northern Thailand Itinerary for Photographers
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- Guide to Ang Ka Nature Trail in Doi Inthanon National Park
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- How to Visit Thailand’s Sky Temple in Lampang
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- Ultimate Guide to Wat Sam Phran Dragon Temple in Bangkok
- Visitors Guide To Sirithan Waterfall in Doi Inthanon
- Wachirathan Waterfall in Doi Inthanon – A Complete Guide
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