We'll begin from San Sai market northeast of downtown Chiang Mai and travel along Highway 118 which connects Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. No, we're not going the entire stretch. Our final destination, Khun Jae National Park , is less than half way between the two northern cities.
Today's Point A, Wat Doi Saket, is 13 kilometres from San Sai. The smaller road that leads to Mae Kuang Dam is just a few minutes drive down the highway. A few kilometres from that point, the 118 starts to wind uphill and soon you'll see signs leading to the Huai Hong Krai Royal Development Study Centre which is about four kilometres off the highway.
From the centre, get back to the 118, continue for three kilometres to Ban Pong Din where you'll see, on the right-hand side, a minor road to a hotspring at Ban Pong Samakkee and the nearby Dong Yen Park of Ban Pong Kum.
Now back to the 118, continue along the highway past Pang Fan where your road meets with the 1252, a back road to Jae Son National Park which was featured in this column a year ago. From Pang Fan, Khun Jae National Park is just a short drive. Before you reach the park, the road becomes pretty steep and twisty, so drive carefully.
Oh, I almost forgot, to enjoy this trip to the utmost, you should be prepared to hike the Doi Lanka trail in Khun Jae National Park - that normally takes three days and two nights. Contact the park in advance so they can arrange a forest ranger to accompany you. The phone number is 053-609-262.
Bangkok Post October 2005 www.bangkokpost.com
