Doi Samer Dao

888m (2,913ft)

The only hike you will need to do on this mountain is when you’re already at the top! There’s a well-paved road that allows you to drive the 3km from Si Nan National Park Headquarters to the campsite of Doi Samer Dao.
There is parking near the campsites. Tourists will just need to walk a short way with their belongings from the car park to the tents.

Once you’ve driven to the parking near the top, there are terraces carved into the earth where the tents are positioned. These are easy to walk along, with short grass on the ridge where people camp and park.

Doi Samer Dao has a tropical savanna climate.

The hottest time of year is between February and May when the highs range from 34˚C to 37˚C (93˚F to 98.6˚F) and the lows range from 18˚C to 26˚C (64˚F to 79˚F). The rest of the year has a steady warm temperature. From June to January the highs range from 30˚C to 32˚C (86˚F to 89.6˚F) and the lows range from 16˚C to 25˚C (61˚F to 77˚F).

The rainy months are from May to September, with up to 590mm of rain in a month. It rains almost every day in this period. The drier months are from October to April, with the most amount of rain being 160mm of rain in a month, usually in October or April. December, January, and February are particularly dry months.
The mountain is open for visits year-round, but only open for camping between the dry months of October and February.

The best time of year to see the main attraction, (the stars) is from November to January.

Since most tourists drive to the top of Doi Samer Dao, this is a hike where you don’t even need to wear shoes if you don’t want to. Just remember to get some socks in case you’re expecting the night to get a little chilly.

Camping equipment can be rented at the top, though you can bring your own if you want to.

The top of the mountain is equipped with tents, ablutions, a handicapped toilet, a coffee shop, and make-shift restaurants.

Being a simple drive to the top, and a campsite that is easy to navigate, this is not a trip that would need a guide.

Doi Samer Dao is located within Si Nan National Park in Nan Province, Thailand. It is 9-10 hours (640km / 398 mi) by car from Bangkok.

The closest big city is Nan City, the capital of the province. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive from Nan City to the park.

If you’re coming from Bangkok, there are two options.

The first is to use public transport. First, catch a bus to the Wiang District, and then get connecting busses to Sai Wiang Sa, then Na Noi, and finally Na Muen. You will arrive at Ban Mai Junction where you should get off and catch a taxi or minibus to the park.

The second option is to get another flight from Bangkok to Nan City and then either rent a car or use the last leg of the bus route to get to the park.

There is little need for safety concerns at Doi Samer Dao. There are usually people around and it is not a challenging route with risk of injury.