If you’re heading to Doi Inthanon to go trekking or traveling the famous Mae Hong Son Loop, Suan Sook Homestay can provide you with accommodation that’s more comfortable than average Doi Inthanon guesthouses.

Much of the local accommodation is geared towards large groups who don’t mind all bunking down together in one room. If you are looking for something more private, for one or two people or a group, we’re the right place for you.

Our bed and breakfast homestay is a short distance from the main (1009) road that will take you up the mountain through Doi Inthanon National Park. Here you are welcome to check in any time between 2 pm and 9 pm.

We have two king size rooms which are part of the main house. We also have two more king rooms in a separate bungalow. Each room has its own private bathroom with a hot shower. Rooms are air-conditioned, perfect during the hot season.

You can request meals to eat during your stay with us. We don’t run a regular restaurant but can often provide a select of pizza and Thai meals. We can also suggest some good restaurants in Chom Tong. A delicious Thai breakfast is included in the room rate and will be served to you between 7 am and 9 am.

Up On The Mountain

– Doi Inthanon Weather

Doi Inthanon weather is unpredictable. Here at Suan Sook the temperatures are often ten degrees Celsius warmer than they are at the summit. If you are planning to ride a motorcycle from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon, or as part of the Mae Hong Son Loop, it pays to have some wet weather gear with you between May and the end of October. Even during the dry season the mountain can get rain at times.

December and January can be very cold, especially in the mornings. The coldest days the mercury drops below zero. During the day in the cool season the sky is clear but strong winds can mean chilly temperatures in exposed places.

– Doi Inthanon Hiking

Hiking the mountain is a wonderful experience. There are numerous agents in Chiang Mai you can book treks with or we can link you with an experienced local Karen guide. This experience will take you through tropical forest still inhabited by Asiatic black bear, some rare and not so rare monkeys and Indian civets. There are also over 400 varieties of birds making their homes in Doi Inthanon National Park.

The mountain, Thailand’s highest peak at 2565 meters, is part of the Himalayan range. It’s one of the most popular destinations in Thailand for locals to visit. During the cool season, particularly around the new year, accommodation is scarce. People will travel from Bangkok to experience the cold weather and beautiful sunrise over a sea of cloud. The best vantage point for this view is overcrowded during the new year period.

The Kew Mae Pan trail is the most popular on the mountain. The car park here is a great location to view the sunrise before beginning your 3km walk. This takes you through tropical forest and into open “alpine-meadow”. The trail then follows the ridge back to a view of the twin royal pagodas before winding its way back the car park. The Kew Mae Pan trail closes during the rainy season, from 1st June to 31st October. You will need to hire a local guide (200 Baht) who will lead your group along the trail and provided background information about the forest. The guides are people from the nearby Hmong hill tribe village.

Near the summit, opposite the small coffee shop, (they make a good brew!) is a shorter walk. There’s a reasonably steep set of steps down to the Ang Ka boardwalk, but it’s worth it. Plunging into this tranquil rainforest is delightful. It’s not often busy, except peak high season days, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet. Be still and watch for native birds, listen to the breeze in the leaves of towering trees and drink in the beauty of the soft dappled light finding its way through to the forest floor.

Heading Back to Suan Sook Homestay

If you’re like us you’ll take your time and have a peaceful day before heading back down the mountain to your comfortable lodgings at Suan Sook Homestay. Before heading back here you might like to stop off in Chom Thong for a meal. We can recommend great Thai food restaurants.

Contact us directly to make a booking or book rooms through Air BnB or Booking.com if you prefer.