Visiting Mae Ping National Park

In direct contrast to the extremely popular Doi Inthanon NP, Mae Ping is well off the beaten track. I was drawn here to see Grey-headed Parakeets and there are a few other bird species that attract birders. After spending 2 mornings and one evening we saw very few people there and most were Thais in their own cars. There was one group there, hence the Forest Cabins were fully booked when I inquired a few months in advance. This is why we spent the first night in Baan Pailyn in Li. The second night we left open and found a room at the hostel/camp in Thung Kik which I will review separately.

Here’s the entrance where you drive in and pay the 100 Baht entry fee.

Visitor’s Centre (which was closed when we entered at 6am). You may be able to book a Forest Cabin if they are available here.

Snack bar ( I didn’t know this was here or I wouldn’t have bought so much food to bring in)

Turn off to Thung Kik, it was shortly after we turned down this road that I saw a small flock of Grey-headed Parakeets fly swiftly overhead and disappear into the bush. We couldn’t find them after that.

There is just this one road so you basically drive up and down this road looking for birds or pull into a designated parking bay if you want to walk.

White-bellied Woodpecker

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Here you can see how the tall trees close in above the road making visibility very difficult. You will hear a lot more birds than you can see, let alone photograph. I did the best I could with those that were perched near the road!