Thi Lo Su Waterfall

Thi  Lo  Su  Waterfall

The hidden giant

           TAK  PROVINCE  A weekend at Thi Lo Su may make you come home drained of energy, but with piles of spectacular photos and fun memories.  Visitors must steel themselves right from the start. The ‘Sky Highway 1090 winds from Mae Sot to Umphang through a mountainous region inhabited by hill tribes. Its 1219 sharp curves, zigzagging through lush, forested landscapes, have churned many stomachs. After four hours, visitors arrive in Umphang, the biggest district in Thailand, sharing a 180 km border with Myanmar. It used to be inhabited solely by the Karen people, prior to Thais moving in from the North. Now, it is a hub of accommodation and tour operators organizing trips to the majestic Thi Lo Su Waterfall.

            Thi Lo Su is beautiful in her many guises. During the rainy season, visitors will be awed by the sight of an endless line of mighty water crashing down 300 m onto the rocks below. In the dry season, the gigantic waterfall spanning 500 m turns into numerous small cascades separated by mossed rocks and trees, making it appear as a patchwork of verdant gardens.

            Thi Lo Su is the star of the Wildlife Sanctuary, but its sister waterfall, Thi Lo Cho, should not be missed. A typical programed will combine ratting on the Mae Klong River; visit to Thi Lo Su and Thi Lo Cho Falls. Some trekking; and upon request, stays in Karen villages, and total forest immersion via elephant back. However, it should be noted that the likelihood of seeing large animals during any of these activities is low. Also, trekkers should bring mosquito repellant and antimalarial medication.

Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon The rooftop of Thailand

 

       Chiang mai province. Here are a few of the many reasons why one should visit Doi Inthanon National Park: the eponymous peak is the highest in Thailand; the park includes 1,274 plant species, 90 of which are orchids; and the area is home to 466 animal species, 385 of those being birds (including the Green-tailed Sunbird)  Besides being rich in floral and faunal life, the Park is dotted with a number of waterfalls of various sizes.

Doi Inthanon has something for everyone, whether day-trippers or those planning to thoroughly explore the Park. The day might be filled with a visit to the highest point in Thailand, with can be reached by car, and is clouded with mist all year round, the temperature never exceeding 17◦

        This may be followed with a 30-minute walk along the nearby Ang Ka nature trail . The neat, elevated wooden platform with railings leads through the moss covered forest, mixed plant-societies on single trees can be observed. Toward the end of the trail, there is a path of leading to the shrine of Chao Krom Kiat. The small spirit pavilion is built on a piece of helicopter wreckage as a memorial to Air Chief Marshal Kiat Mangkhlapruek and the late national park director who died on duty in a crash at that spot in May 1971. The rest of the day might be spent touring the waterfalls. The most enchanting are Wachirathan, Mae Klang, and Mae Ya. These falls are easy to access by car, with trails leading up to different levels. Picnic areas and restaurants are available. The first two falls are on the same road after the first checkpoint; only Mae Ya stand alone south of the main national park area, on the 14 Km road that branches off highway 1009 and meanders through a residential area.

A Whole Day Trekking

Ray-Ban

        Doi Inthanon also offers an array of treks. Most treks run all year round, and only a few routes require a ranger or local guide. One of the most interesting routes is the Kio Mae Pan trail, which is only from 1 June to 31 October, as its fragile ecosystem needs more time to recover than most. The distance of this circular trek is only 3 km, but discerning trekkers may take a whole day to complete it. Bird lover should not forget to pack binoculars, and should try to visit between October and March. If and English speaking guide is required, just cross the street from the Park Headquarters to the Inthanon Bird Centre. The Centre has been there since 1962; its customer service attested to buy walls lined with name cards from satisfied clients.

Doi Chiang Dao

Doi Chiang Dao

The guardian spirits of Chiang Mai

CHAING MAI PROVINCE.  Chiang Dao was in the media limelight during 2003, when the government came up with a plan to build a cable car to the peak to boost tourism. The proposal met with unprecedented and widespread protest from both locals and environmental activists. Fortunately, the plan was not carried out.

Doi Chiang Dao is the third highest peak, and the only place where a sub-alpine ecosystem can be found in Thailand. Its height is 2,225 m  above sea level, making a dramatic rise on the horizon when viewed on entering the district by Highway 107. The horseshoe-shaped mountain range of which it forms a part is home to more than 340 species of wildlife, of which some 206 are birds, including the near-extinct Hume’s Pheasant ( Symaticus humiae, found only here and in Pai). It is also the only home in the world to the newly discovered orchid Sirindhormia pulchella, as well as approximately 110 other orchid species. Doi Chiang Dao also holds spiritual significance for the people of Chiang Mai. The mountain is believed to be the abode of Chao Luang Kham Daeng, the spirit revered by all spirits and ghosts. There are two routes to get to the peak of Doi Luang Chiang Dao-the Pang Wua trail and the Den Ya Khat trail.

The mountain of the Gods

The starting points of the two trails are about 30 minute and 1 hour away from the headquarters, respectively. There are camping sites on both trails, but the second one is longer, steeper and thus more adventurous. The two trails converge mid-hill, and four more hours of walking will lead to Mae Salung, the last comping site before the top. From the Mae Salung camping site, a final 45-minute climb(225 m of rocky, limestone trail) is required to get to the windy top, where there is no water source but plenty of wildflowers. Trekkers mormally spend two nights before following the downward trail back to the headquarters, and must provide their own tents, food, and water for the whole trip. It must be emphasized that Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary is devoted strictly to conservation; tourism is second on the agenda. That is why the Sanctuary is open for trekking only from 1^st  November to 31^st March, and is suitable only for highly-devoted nature enthusiasts. For others still wanting to get a glimpse of its glory, there is a 2-km nature trail, at the foot of the mountain, accessible all year round. No guide is needed, but during the rainy season, the path is often concealed by tall grass.