Mae Charim National Park

Mae Charim national park cover an area of 270,000 rai or 432 square kilometres. Geographically, they are undulating mountain ranges, an origin of a tributary flowing into the Nan River at Wiang Sa district. It comprises hill evergreen forest, deciduous dipterocarp forest, and mixed deciduous forest, as well as, various kinds of wildlife.
Interesting Activities in the National Park are as follows:
Rafting along Wa River: There are 2 routes.
-Sailing route by inflatable rubber dinghy: It starts from Ban Nam Pu, Nam Phang sub-district, Mae Charim district, and ends at Ban Hat Rai, San Na Nong sub-district, Wiang Sa district, being a total distance of 19.2 kilometres or takes 4 hours. However, if visitors start in front of the Office of the National Park, the total distance will be only 15 kilometres.
-Bamboo rafting route: It starts from Ban Nam Wa up to Ban Nam Pu for a distance of 4 kilometres or takes approximately 4 hours.
Contact the Nan Pang Chang Company, Tel. 0 5478 1316, the River Raft Company, Tel. 0 5471 0940, 08 9835 1506, and the Inter Tour, Tel. 0 5471 0195 for information of the Wa River Tour and elephant riding.
Mountain Bike – Trekking along the Paeng River – White-water Rafting along the Wa River The trip starts at the Mae Charim National Park Ranger Station (Ban Mai) in the area of Ban Nam Phang. Cycle along Highway No. 1259 to Ban Rom Klao for 2 hours and walk along the Paeng River to the Wa River in the area of Kaeng Luang, taking 4 hours. Then, take a raft from Kaeng Luang to Ban Hat Rai for a distance of 15 kilometres or 2 hours. The total trip can take 1 day or visitors can stay overnight at Ban Rom Klao and start trekking along the Paeng River early in the morning and do white-water rafting along the Wa River in the afternoon.
Sightseeing – Trekking along the Paeng River – White-water Rafting along the Wa River The starting point is at the Mae Charim National Park Ranger Station (Ban Mai) within the area of Ban Nam Phang. A sightseeing tour can be done along Highway 1259 to Ban Rom Klao for 1 hour. Then, walk along the Paeng River to the Wa River in the Kaeng Luang area. The total time is 4 hours. Then take a raft from Kaeng Luang to Ban Hat Rai for15 kilometres or 2 hours. The total time estimated for this trip is 7 hours.
Trekking from Ban Nam Phang to Ban Rom Klao – Trekking along the Paeng River – White-water Rafting along the Wa River
The starting point is at the Mae Charim National Park Ranger Station ( Ban Mai) in the area of Ban Nam Phang. Take Highway 1259 to Ban Rom Klao for a distance of 3.8 kilometres or 5 hours. Then, walk along the Paeng River to the Wa River in the Kaeng Luang area, which takes 4 hours. Then, continue by rafting from Kaeng Luang to Ban Hat Rai for 2 hours. The total time estimated for the trip is 11 hours. This activity takes 2 days and 1 night.
Climbing at Pha No – Admiring the Rock Paintings – White-water Rafting along the Wa River
The starting point is at Ban Nam Pu to the No Cliff. Then, walk to the Kaeng Luang for 8 hours and do rafting along Kaeng Nam Wa to Ban Hat Rai, which takes 2 hours. The total time might be 1 day or visitors can stay overnight in the forest area of Ban Huai Hat Khom at the foot of the No Cliff.
Accommodation and Facilities: Contact Mae Charim National Park, 35 Mu 5, Ban Huai Sai Mun, Nam Pai Sub-district, Mae Charim District, Nan 55170, Tel. 0 5473 0040 www.dnp.go.th
To get there: The national park is 60 kilometres from Mueang Nan along Highway 1168 and 1243. Or catch a public bus Nan-Mae Charim route in front of Dhevaraj Hotel during 6.30 a.m.-6.30 p.m.