Rating: 4.2/5 (5 votes)

Open Days: By appointment only / prior permission required (recommended at least 10 days in advance)

Opening Hours: Recommended 08.00–17.00 (subject to approval and station operations)

 

Pa Kia Highland Agricultural Research Station, Doi Luang Chiang Dao is a place for rest and learning in Chiang Mai that feels distinctly different from typical tourist attractions. This site functions as a field unit of the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University. It is neither a resort nor a commercial tourist destination, but a genuine highland working area that allows visitors to experience nature, local ways of life, and the atmosphere of Doi Luang Chiang Dao up close.

 

What draws many visitors to stay overnight is the location itself, offering clear and beautiful views of the Doi Luang Chiang Dao mountain range. In winter mornings, thick seas of mist often blanket the valleys, while at night the sky opens up to reveal countless stars, along with the distant shimmering lights of Chiang Dao town. Altogether, this setting makes a stay at Pa Kia a true retreat—one that effectively cuts off the noise of the city.

 

The area surrounding the station is also ideal for birdwatching and nature observation. Many bird species can be seen throughout the year, including the Orange-bellied Leafbird, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Great Tit, White-cheeked Barbet, and other seasonal native species. Birdwatching here should follow a low-impact approach: walk slowly, keep voices low, and avoid playing music or making loud noises, in order to preserve the environment as both a working research area and wildlife habitat.

 

Accommodation within the station consists of simple houses normally used by Faculty of Agriculture students from Chiang Mai University during field training. The houses include bathrooms and a kitchen with basic cooking equipment, allowing guests to prepare their own meals. Visitors must bring their own food, and a site maintenance fee of 50 baht per person per night applies. This style of accommodation is best suited to those who understand the research context of the area and are prepared to take care of themselves in terms of food, warm clothing, and essential supplies.

 

Additional preparation includes bringing garbage bags to carry all waste back down the mountain. Musical instruments and noisy equipment should be avoided to prevent disturbance to researchers, other guests, and the surrounding natural environment. Another reflection of the community-based setting is Ban San Pa Kia School, where children often lack books to read. If visitors are able to bring books to donate, it can be a small but meaningful gesture for this remote area.

 

Anyone wishing to visit or stay overnight should contact the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, at least 10 days in advance to request permission. This ensures that site management remains appropriate, as the station is an academic facility rather than an open-access tourist attraction.

 

Getting There Take Highway 107 from Chiang Mai, passing Mae Rim and Mae Malai (where supplies can be purchased at Mae Malai Market). Continue through Mae Taeng until reaching Ban Mae Na, then turn left following the sign for “Mae Taman Watershed Management Unit.” Drive approximately 21 kilometers to reach a junction where you turn right; this section becomes a steep dirt road. Pass through Ban Pang Hong and Ban Pang Hang villages, continue to the checkpoint junction for Den Ya Khat Forest Protection Unit, and go straight ahead. After passing Ban San Pa Kia School and the Mae Taman Watershed Management Unit, continue for about 500 meters uphill to reach the Pa Kia Highland Agricultural Research Station, Doi Luang Chiang Dao.

 

For the return journey, you can exit to Highway 107 at Ban Kaeng Pan Tao. About 12 kilometers from the station, you will reach a junction leading to Ban Pak Iak (note that the use of tire chains is prohibited during the rainy season, with a fine of 500 baht for violations). Turning either left or right will eventually connect to the main road. The route passing through Ban Pak Iak is fully paved with concrete but features steep downhill sections, requiring careful driving.

 

 

A: Yes. Permission must be requested from the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, at least 10 days in advance.

 

A: Some sections are steep dirt roads, especially challenging during the rainy season. Caution and road condition checks are recommended.

 

A: Winter is the best season for misty mornings and stargazing, but weather conditions should always be checked before traveling.

 

A: Signal can be weak or unavailable in some areas. Inform someone in advance before heading up.