City Guide: Chom Thong

Chom Thong is located in the southern outskirts of Chiang Mai. It is home to Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand!

By | Fri 1 May 2015

Name: Kamonchanok Kunkaew
Age: 24
Nationality: Thai
Occupation: Freelancer
Neighbourhood: Chom Thong – Doi Inthanon

What makes your neighbourhood special or unique?
Chom Thong is located in the southern outskirts of Chiang Mai. It is home to Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand!

What do you like least about it?
It takes around an hour and a half to two hours to get there from Chiang Mai, so travelling there isn’t fun, but once you are there, it’s great of course.



Who lives here?

Mostly Thai people and hill tribes.

Best special occasion restaurant:
Pizza Tonmai (086 0227471), a small restaurant with a classic style owned by the former singer, Rong “Ae” Suparat. The restaurant is located just behind Wat Phra That Sri Chom Thong and serves up pizza made out of deliciously golden and crispy thin crusts.

Best cheap eat:
I love the small food stalls at Mae Klang Waterfall at the foot of Doi Inthanon. Enjoy the scenery while snacking on the Thai classic set of grilled chicken, papaya salad and sticky rice.

Best drinks:
Young Folk (088-3426299), decorated in a vintage country or ‘Look Tung’ style, it serves good coffee and drinks, my favourite being their refreshing Italian soda. Also lovely cakes.
Facebook: YoungfolkcafeChiangmai

Best daytime activity:
I like going up Doi Inthanon Mountain. There is always something beautiful to discover.

Best place to shop:
The Royal Agricultural Station (royal-inthanon.com) is great for buying fruits and veggies that are all super fresh.

Best attraction:
The Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail is surrounded by an evergreen tropical forest and grassy mountain ridges, there is no better place to escape it all.

Best secret:
Pa Chor in Mae Wang National Park of Doi Lor District has only recently opened to the public and is a series of cliffs and rocky structures eroded through time. It is a like a mini Grand Canyon.

Best tip:
If you do take time to travel to Doi Inthanon, I recommend renting or bringing your own tent and pitching up at Ban Khun Klang. The weather is cool year round (and freezing in winter!)