Doi Inthanon summit records 9°C as visitors flock to morning mist

The summit of Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai recorded a low of 9°C on October 20, 2026, as visitors headed up the mountain for chilly weather, sunrise and sweeping views of morning mist.

The national park’s morning report, reported by Nation Thailand, put the temperature at Kew Mae Pan at 12°C. Visitors gathered at its viewpoint to watch the first light spread over the mountain landscape.

Daily visitor numbers at Doi Inthanon have risen to more than 2,700, according to the park, as the transition from the rainy season towards the cool season draws tourists to the area’s forests and mountains.

Cool mornings draw mountain visitors

The summit reading and the temperature at Kew Mae Pan show the cool conditions greeting early arrivals at two of the park’s visitor destinations. At the viewpoint, tourists watched mist spread across the surrounding mountains as daylight broke.

The increase in visitors comes as northern Thailand’s weather begins to change, with declining rainfall and cooler mornings forecast across the region. The mountain temperatures, however, are distinct from the broader regional forecast and should not be treated as readings for Chiang Mai city or northern Thailand as a whole.

Kew Mae Pan trail reopening set for November 1

For visitors planning a trip, the key date is November 1, when the Kew Mae Pan nature trail is scheduled to reopen following its rainy-season closure.

The trail was closed to allow the natural environment to recover. It is one of Doi Inthanon’s main attractions, with visitors awaiting its reopening for the cool season.

The trail and viewpoint should not be confused: tourists are already gathering at the Kew Mae Pan viewpoint for sunrise and mist, while the nature trail’s reopening remains scheduled for next month. The October 20 visitor activity does not mean the trail has reopened early.

Less rain forecast across the North

The Northern Meteorological Center forecasts declining rainfall across both the upper and lower North, with rain expected over 10% of the region and cooler conditions in the mornings.

The centre attributed the changing weather to a high-pressure system, or cold air mass, covering the upper North, upper Northeast and South China Sea, bringing easterly winds over upper Thailand.

Temperatures in the upper North could fall by a further 1–2°C, the centre said. Its regional report separately forecast morning lows of 20–21°C; those figures are not the summit forecast. For prospective park visitors, the immediate distinction remains between the mountain’s already chilly viewing spots and the nature trail’s planned November reopening.