National park · Thailand
Mae Ping National Parkอุทยานแห่งชาติแม่ปิง
Enter Mae Ping National Park for a day: pay the entry fee (≈200 THB), drive to the headquarters, then choose a short boat ride on Kaeng Ko (30 min) or a 2‑hour guided hike to Pha Daeng Luang; visit in Nov–Feb for drier trails, avoid the September flood risk.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
More
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,000 km² (386 sq mi)386 sq mi (1,000 km²)
approximate
Established
1981
Best months
Mar–Apr
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
At a glance
- Country
- Thailand
- Area
- 1,000 km² (386 sq mi)386 sq mi (1,000 km²)
- check
- Established
- 1981
- Best months
- Mar–Apr
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Lamphun
Mae Ping National Park protects mountainous forest, waterfalls and river valleys in Lamphun, offering wildlife spotting and short hikes accessible from the park headquarters.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1981.
Size and age
1,000 km² (386 sq mi)386 sq mi (1,000 km²) · national park since 1981
check
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Lamphun.
Why go
- Mountain scenery with waterfalls, caves and river valleys.
- Opportunity to see Asiatic bears, banteng and diverse birdlife.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepAvoid
- OctCaution
- NovGo
- DecGo
- Jandry, cool
- Febdry, cool
- Marearly dry season, flowers bloom
- Aprdry, warm
- Maystart of rains
- Junincreasing rain
- Julrainy, possible flooding
- Augrainy, trails muddy
- Sepwettest month, flood risk
- Octrain easing
- Novdry, cooler
- Decdry, cool
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asiatic bear, banteng, gaurAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Woodpeckers, other forest birdsMar–Dec | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Malayan pit viper (highly venomous)May–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Tilapia, striped catfish, gobyAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Chiang Mai
Drive Route 106 to Li town, then Route 1087 to the park gate.
2–3 h
Open the page →
From Lampang Airport
Take Route 1, then turn onto Route 1274 and follow signs to the park.
1.5 h
Open the page →
From Tak (boat)
Boat departs Bhumibol Dam, stops at Kaeng Ko, continues to Doi Tao district.
≈4 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Visitor centre, ticket office, restaurant, cabins. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Kaeng Ko | Scenic river stretch of Bhumibol Dam; boat rentals. | Open; boats hireable on site. |
| Pha Daeng Luang | Viewpoint after a 2‑km hike; guide required. | Guided access only. |
| Thung Kik area | Campsite and field of dry dipterocarp forest. | Camping allowed with permit. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
4 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates based on park centre and major attractions; approximate for orientation.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | THB 200–300 (≈ US$7–10) | person | check |
| Pha Daeng Luang guide fee | THB 3,500 (≈ US$110) | person | source lists 3,500 baht |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Guided hike to Pha Daeng Luang permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ฿200–300≈ US$7–10
- ฿3,500≈ US$110
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Check with the park or your operator before you go.
Park rules
- Fires
- No open fires; use designated cooking stoves only.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; bins are limited.
- Guides
- Required for Pha Daeng Luang hike and any off‑trail activity.
- Camping
- Only at designated campsite near Thung Kik; backcountry camping prohibited.
- Alcohol
- Banned inside park boundaries.
Where to stay
In the park
Park cabins
Simple rooms, book online via park website.
Near the park
Campsite near Thung Kik
Tent sites with basic facilities; permit required.
Near the park
Lamphun town
Hotels and guesthouses, ~30 km (19 mi) from gate.Hotels and guesthouses, ~19 mi (30 km) from gate.
Safety
Flooding medium
Wild animal encounters low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Headquarters and Kaeng Ko reachable by car; short walks from parking.
- Pha Daeng Luang trail includes steep sections; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Use park‑approved boat operators that follow the permitted routes.
- Carry out all waste; avoid single‑use plastics.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mae Ping National Park?
Entry is about 200–300 THB per adult; children pay half. (Check official fee schedule.)
What are the best hikes in Mae Ping National Park?
Pha Daeng Luang (2‑km guided hike to a viewpoint) and the short trail to Ko Luang Waterfall are popular. Both are reachable from the headquarters.
When is the best time to visit Mae Ping National Park?
Visit November to February for dry, cooler conditions; avoid September, the wettest month, due to flood risk.
Can I camp anywhere in the park?
Camping is allowed only at the designated site near Thung Kik; backcountry camping is prohibited.
Is a guide required for all activities?
A guide is mandatory for the Pha Daeng Luang hike and any off‑trail trekking; boat rides and short walks at the headquarters are self‑guided.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Mae Ping National Park
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