Doi Inthanon

The Doi Inthanon is a col with a length of 26.7 kilometer. This is a highest category (HC) col. It is located in Ban Luang, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The average grade of this col is 6.4% with a maximum of 13.4%. The Doi Inthanon ascents from 675 meter at the start, to 2.426 meter at the top, with a total of 1.750 ascending meters.

Description

Every year more thenk 5,600 riders lined up to battle with the road to the highest point in Thailand, Doi Inthanon.

The event is called the Doi Inthanon Challenge (47km), an uphill race from the small northern Thai town of Chom Tong to the summit of Doi Inthanon, which at 2.595 meters tall is the highest point in all of Thailand. The road goes to just a couple of metres beneath the very top.

The climb starts off gently enough, but with a couple of short ramps early on things soon shatter in the field, leaving only the serious contenders at the head of affairs. Much of the route is tree shaded and runs through a canyon, which is part of the designated Doi Inthanon National Park, and this makes for a scenic sufferfest. Given the distance and altitude gain, it's easy to assume the gradient stays steady and friendly. But that's not entirely accurate as a couple of short downhills are thrown in, and numerous steep stretches too. As with so many big climbs the best, or worse, is saved for last, in the form of a killer few kilometres at grades touching 23 per cent. These pitches are positively brutal, especially at such a late stage of the ride, and at over 2,000 metres altitude.

The event takes place mid February each year, around 60km to the south of Chiang Mai, so be sure to add this one to your bucket list.

Nearby Cols