Doi Mon Jong, Chiang Mai

ดอยม่อนจอง จ.เชียงใหม่

Peak Height: 1,929 m. [MAP]
Trekking Distance: 4 km.
Registration Office: Muser Forest Ranger [085-708-7441], Om Goi Wildlife Sanctuary หน่วยพิทักษ์ป่ามูเซอ เขตรักษาพันธ์สัตว์ป่าอมก๋อย [MAP]

Length of Stay: 2 days, 1 night  [11-12 Dec 2017]

Expense: Entrance fee > 20 THB per adult and 10 THB per child [Thai] / 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child [Foreigner] / 4WD from the registration office to the trekking point 2,500 THB / A porter costs 600 THB [20 kg. max]
Note: extremely beautiful mountain texture / squat toilets available

From Chiang Mai Airport, we had been driving for 5 hours to Amphur Om Goi. The distance was just 250 km., but plenty of curves and up/down hills, so it took time.

We spent a night at Chalermphan Resort. A fan room cost 400 THB. A/C room was not necessary. The temperature went down to 15 C at night.

Chalermphan Resort, Amphur Om Goi

The next morning we stopped at Om Goi fresh market. We had breakfast and bought lunch and dinner to fill our meal boxes. We decided not to cook on the mountain to save time.

After driving for 1 hour [45km.] from the market we arrived at the registration office. The ranger gathered us with another group of 3, so there were 5 to share the 4WD.  The 4WD stopped at Muser village to pick up two porters. We let our porter carried the tent, sleeping bags, sleeping sheets, his food and water that we had bought for him. The 4WD continued and 2 hours later we arrived at the trekking point.

Muser Forest Ranger Office

The Way to the Trekking Point

Our Porter

There was only one trail to Doi Mon Jong and it was very noticeable, so the rangers let the visitors walk by themselves. On the day we visited, the weather was chilly and dry, so there was no slug.

The Trail

About halfway, there was a high rock named "Phu Hin Cho - ภูหินช่อ". There was a way to climb up to enjoy the view. This way was on the left of the trail, but almost fully covered by high dense grass, so look carefully. *The image below doesn't show the right way to get up on the rock. The right way is before the rock, if you are trekking up the mountain.

Phu Hin Cho - ภูหินช่อ

The last hill to climb before the campsite was very steep and required a lot of energy. This is how the hill was named "Doi Mah Hob (gasping dog) - ดอยหมาหอบ".

Climbing Doi Mah Hob - กำลังปีนดอยหมาหอบ.

After we had set up the tent and took an hour break, we continued to walk to Pha Hua Singha - ผาหัวสิงห์, the highest peak of Doi Mon Jong. It was 5 km from the campsite. The trail was very beautiful and we loved the texture of the mountain.

Pha Hua Singha is at the end of the trail.

Easy and Beautiful Trail

Mae Teun River - แม่น้ำแม่ตื่น

People Coming to Pha Hua Singha

A Golden Pagoda

The sunset is changing the color of the mountain.

Pha Hua Singha in the shadow of the cloud.

Rushing Back to the Campsite

The End of the Day

That night was a moonless night. The dark sky was filled with thousand stars. We could clearly see the Milky Way.

We woke up at 4 am and walked back to Pha Hua Singha to see the sunrise. Our pants and socks were wet with heavy dew. Light from our torches could not go far. It was blocked by the heavy fog. An hour later we arrived, no one was with us this time.

The Highest Point of Doi Mon Jong / 1929 M Above Sea Level

Sunrise

We were back at the campsite at 9 am, packed and started to trek down. The 4WD was waiting for us at the trekking point. We paid the 4WD driver and the porter when we arrived at Muser Tourist Center. Then the driver brought us to the registration office. We showered there before driving back to Chiang Mai.