Nestling in the fertile valley hugged by the towering ranges of mountains, Chiang Mai offers the distinctively natural beauty with a wide variety of the striking landscape; green tapestry of forested mountains, waterfall, gorge, and so on. With its fertility and abundance of vegetations as well as animal, several National Parks were thus established around Chiang Mai Valley, allowing more charming attractions to the province.

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park sprawls on the total area of 262.50 square kilometers, covering the boundaries of Mae Rim, Hang Dong and Muang districts. The Park was established in 1981.The area of the Park is covered with the dense jungle and mountains which in turn give birth to several streams of the province. It is also a home to a wealth of bio-diversity: species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and numerous types of butterfly. Also of interests are the religious and historical sites such as chedi and small spirit's house which emphasize the strength of local animist beliefs. Apart from being the natural conservation, the people of Chiang Mai believe that Doi Suthep-Pui is the home of guardian spirits of the city.

To reach the Park's Office, take the Huay Kaew-Ching Mai University-Chiang Mai zoo route for 5 kilometers. When reaching Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, go ahead until a byroad on the right, you will find a sign indicating the way to the Park.

Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden is located in Mae Rim district, near the boundary of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. This is the first botanical garden of Thailand. The general topography is the plain alternates with the highlands. The garden is the collection of a wide variety of both indigenous plants to Chiang Mai and the foreign ones. Visitors can drive around to appreciate the garden and visit the farm of orchids of rare species as well as the herbal garden. It opens daily from 8.30-16.00.

Mae Sa Waterfall is the famous fall in Mae Rim district. The fall is divided into 8 tiers, covered with the surrounding dense jungle. The cool and fresh air as well as the shady atmosphere is great for recreation all year round.

San Kampaheng Hot Spring is the natural hot spring which arises from underground and reaches almost 30 meters of its height, the highest in Thailand. The spring was found in the area in 1987. This is the ideal destination for health and physical well-being; the water has high sulphur content and possesses curative and restorative properties. The surrounding area is decorated with beautifully flowering garden and spaces set for relaxation; camping sites and restaurants were also set up for visitors. Moreover, there are rooms for bathing in a pond of warm water. The spring is 34 kilometers away from town. To get there, take a bus from Chang Peuk bus terminal to San Kamphaeng district, and then rent a car to the spring. The rent costs about 200 Baht.

Doi Inthanon National Park houses Doi Inthanon, the highest peak in Thailand with its altitude of 2,599 meters, covering the areas of Chom Thong, Sanpatong and Mae Cham districts. The Park is covered with the lush and green jungle which is a home to various kinds of rare vegetations in Thailand. It is located about 106 kilometers from Chiang Mai town. By car, take the Highway No.108, Chiang Mai- Chomthong route, when reaching the kilometer 57, turn right into the route number 1009, Chomthong-Inthanon. Those who do not own a car can take a local bus at the front of Wat Phrathat Sri Chomthong or at Mae Klang waterfall. The entrance fee is 25 Baht for adults and 15 Baht for children; an entry charge of one vehicle is 30 Baht, individual charges for passengers are not claimed. You should keep the ticket in order to pass through other sites in the Park. The Park consists of several beautiful waterfalls scattering around together with other interesting sites:-

• Mae Yai Falls are at its best sight in the early period of the morning. The water drops 100 meters in a terraced cascade.
• Mae Klang Falls are the popular spot for holiday relaxation. Its sole huge cliff majestically stands and lets the white waters run through it abundantly all year round. The surrounding areas are teemed with dense forest, providing the relaxing atmosphere. You need a park ticket to take a footpath to the falls. The path continues up to the visitor center and pools of the falls.
• Borichinda Cave is a big cave, situated near Mae Klang waterfall. In side the cave is full with the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. The images of Buddha are also housed here. Also of interest is Tharn Hin, a plate of stone which provides a gleaming light when reflected by the light from exterior, looking like diamonds sprinkling on the floor. At the front of the cave, there is a huge sign describing a history of the cave's discovery.
• Siriphum waterfall flows down through the steep cliff; its water looks like a couple of lines of white cloth waving on the plate of rocks from the distance. The fall is situated at the kilometer 31 of the Highway No.1009; it cannot be reached by car, visitors have to walk to its base.
• Vachiratharn Fall has its old name as Tad Khong Yong fall. It is a big waterfall levitating 750 meters above sea level. Its waters plumb down from the sheer cliff toward a big bowl below. When the fall is at its high water, the mighty current will crash the rocks scattering around below, allowing the moist and mist that visitors can touch while crossing a bridge from where the most beautiful sight of the fall can be appreciate. The fall is a good point for a break on the way up to the mountain. There are food stalls located along the path that follows the fall.
• Mae Ya Waterfall is among the beautiful and very big falls in Chiang Mai. The waters flow from the 280-meter-cliff through the terraced rock, making it looks like a curtain of water, and then the flows merge altogether into the big bowl of which the water is clear, great for swimming. The falls are surrounded by the lush and green forest which provides the tranquil atmosphere. There is a visitor center giving the information in the area as well. The 14-kilometer- route to get to Mae Ya begins at Chom Thong village. Mini-buses labeled in English Doi Inthanon Park can be hired at either Chom Thong or Mae Klang for the trip to the summit; the cost is about 500 baht for the round trip.
• The Royal Chedis are the twin chedis standing on the summit of Doi Inthanon providing an excellent panorama. The southern Napamethaneedon Chedi commemorates the 60th birthday of His Majesty the King in 1987; the Napapolphumsiri Chedi that of Her Majesty the Queen in 1992. The two chedis enshrine the relic and Buddha images and are decorated with tiled murals.
• The summit of Doi Inthanon is the final destination of the steep way up. The summit is also called Doi Luang which means a huge mountain. Levitating at the altitude of 2,599 meters, the highest peak of Thailand, Doi Inthanon is often shrouded in mist, and the weather here is cold a whole year. Angka nature trail on the opposite side of the road leads into the abundant forest with trees covered in moss and other interesting species of vegetation. Above the visitor center, there stands a small chedi containing the remains of Chao Inthawichayanon who died in 1897, the last independent ruler of Chiang Mai before Lan Na was incorporated into Siam. This ruler was aware of the great importance of forest in Chiang Mai, especially at Doi Inthanon; he had a strong will to protect and conserve this area to be a natural heritage to the generations to come.
• Giw Mae Pan is a nature trail in the area of Doi Inthanon National Park. The whole distance is 3 kilometers; it is the best way for visitors to appreciate the natural beauty in the Park in close-up. Along the trail, you pass through the Hill Evergreen before meeting grassland which is the trace of deforestation. The area became a case study of the edge effect-a collision between the fertile forest and the destroyed land. While proceeding along the ridge of the precipice, you will see the steam of mist floating pass by; the "Thousand Year Rose" or the rhododendron can be found along the trail as well.

Mae Pan waterfall is a breaking spot on the trail. The falls are the longest waterfall in Chiang Mai with its long water course flowing through an over-100-meter-cliff. The long milky line of waters is backed up by the lavishly green trees, creating an impressive sight. Then the water plumbs down and scatters in sprinkles due to the crash with rock plate below before eventually trickling into several ponds.

• Inthanon Royal Development Project was initiated by His Majesty the King to implement the hill tribe people living in the area to exert the agricultural livelihood. The principle products from the project are flowers of winter like carnations, chrysanthemums, and stasis, for example. There are also beds of colorful flowers planted by the villagers at the entrance of the project site.

Ob Luang National Park covers parts of Mae Chaem Valley through which the Mae Chaem River flows, creating some of the most picturesque rural scenes near Chiang Mai. The highlighted interest of the Park is the Ob Luang Gorge which is composed with the towering cliffs through which the thunderous Mae Chaem rushes down; the stream which passes through the ravine is very violent, providing the boisterous sound of water rattling the rock. There is a bridge crossing the narrowest point of the gorge from which you get the picturesque viewpoint of the range of mountains in waves and the fertile valley below. The surrounding area is teemed with green and lush jungle, making it a good place for relaxation. Additionally, the Park is considered as a land of prehistoric human due to the remains discovered in the area together with an ancient drawing on the rock beneath an overhang higher up. However, all remains are kept in the National Museum in Chiang Mai.

The Park is about 105 kilometers away from Chiang Mai town, at the kilometer 17 along the Highway No.108, Hod-Mae Sarieng. There are also local buses commuting on this route.

Huai Nam Dang National Park is positioned within two districts of two provinces, Mae Taeng district of Chinag Mai province and Pai district of Mae Hong Son province, at kilometer 66 on the Highway No.1095- the main road which leads to the town of Pai from Ban Mae Malai via Chiang Mai town, 103 kilometers away. The Park covers the total area of 179.5 square kilometers, consisting of ranges of mountains wrapped with dense jungle which is the source of several streams. The Park offers the breathtaking viewpoints, especially at Doi Chang and Doi Giw Lom. Before your eyes, there appears the sea of mist from which of mountain's peaks spring up; meanwhile, the terrace upon terrace of shining wild flowers bring about the picturesquely colorful view. Other eye-catching features and points of interest include Pong Ron Hot Spring, Mae Ten waterfall and Lisu hill tribe families scattering around the Park. Camping in the Park can be done after prior permission from the Park Ranger Office.

Doi Luang Chiang Dao Mountain is located within the boundary of the Wildlife Sanctuary of Doi Chiang Dao, founded since 1978. This is the third-tallest peaks in Thailand, levitating at the altitude of 2,195 meters above the sea level. From a narrow plain on the top of the mountain, you get the spectacularly magnificent panorama of the mountain's pinnacles seemingly floating in the sea of mist. The limestone mountain shrouded by the lavishly green forest offers a unique habitat for different species of flowering plants, especially wild orchids. Entry to the sanctuary is restricted; permission form the sanctuary headquarters near Wat Pa Bong must be done two weeks before visiting there.

To climb up to Doi Chiang Dao, visitors often commence at Chiang Dao cave where they can find the transportation and porters. The facilities are not available at the top of the mountains; visitors must bring belongings, sleeping bag, water and necessary utensils on their own.

Before reaching the summit of the mountain, Chiang Dao Caves are the interesting spot that deserve visiting. The caves are located 72 kilometers north of Chiang Mai city along the way to Fang and Tha Ton and 5 kilometers west of route 107. The area is a complex of caves, each of which possesses the spectacular formations of stalactites and stalagmites. At present, there are, however, fives caves opened to the public: Maa cave, Phra Nawn cave, Seua Dao cave, Naam cave. A Thai legend has it that Chiang Dao Caves served as the home of a hermit sage and that the hermit convinced some "the-wadaa" or angels to create seven magic wonders inside the caverns: a stream flowing from the pedestal of a golden Buddha, a storehouse of divine textiles, a mystical lake, a city of nagas, a sacred immortal elephant and the hermit's own tomb. However, the locals say that all of those wonders are hidden very deep inside the mountain, thus they cannot be found.

Doi Ang Khang is a three-hour-drive from Chiang Mai, poised 1,300 meters above the Burmese border. Doi Ang Khang is praised for its breathtaking scenery, fresh climate as well as the peaceful and quiet atmosphere of the countryside. Also located on Doi Ang Khang Mountain is Royal Ang Khang Research Station. Originally, the site was full of opium cultivation by the hill tribe people. Upon the arrival of His Majesty the King, the opium fields had been changed into the agricultural station.

Sri Lanna National Park is considered as an important source of streams and tributaries in Chiang Mai, spreading its boundary over Mae Ngad, Mae Taeng, and Chiang Dao forests. The Park is covered with the unspoiled and abundant Evergreen Hill forest as well as rugged mountains in which several streams originate. The interesting spot in the Park are:

• Mon Hin Lai waterfall is located within the area of Mae Ngad forest in Prao district, about 85 kilometers from Chiang Mai. Then fork to a dirt road leading to the fall for about 14 kilometers; a four-wheel-drive car is needed. Although the difficult road, it is worth making an effort however. The falls consist of nines tiers of striking rock formations, and the waters are abundant all year round. At the top of the fall, there situates the village of Mon Hin Lai of which people exercise the tea cultivation. Once there, you get the idyllically magnificent scenery of Prao district below.
• Mae Ngad Dam offers the striking scenery of the green and lush mountains enclosing the water reservoir. The rafts made for accommodations are available in the area. Additionally, those who would like to appreciate the natural beauty in close-up can also take a nature walk on the arranged trail which passes along several beautiful waterfalls in the area.