CHIANG MAI – The wild Himalayan cherry, often called Sakura in Northern Thailand, is now close to peak bloom on Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai. With the New Year holiday coming up, large visitor numbers are expected. Doi Suthep Pui National Park has also put tighter measures in place to help visitors and keep everyone safe.
As of 24 December 2568, the atmosphere on Doi Suthep in Mueang Chiang Mai remains lively as the flowers reach their best display. Around 90% of the trees are currently in bloom near the visitor service centre and the Doi Pui campsite, as well as in the Khun Chang Khian area. Soft pink blossoms are spreading across the forest, giving travellers a beautiful view along with cool, comfortable weather.
Park staff expect the sakura to stay at full bloom through next week, lining up with the New Year festival. The flowers should continue into mid-January, before falling naturally.
With daily visitor numbers likely to keep rising, Doi Suthep Pui National Park says it has prepared a full set of services. These include visitor help points, rest areas with free drinking water, and other basic facilities. The park has also increased security staff in higher-risk zones and key tourist spots, set up warning systems, and organised rescue teams on standby 24 hours a day. Visitors are asked to follow park rules closely while travelling and taking photos.
Doi Inthanon stays busy as temperatures drop to 6°C and frost returns
At the same time, tourists are still heading to Doi Inthanon to experience the cold. Temperatures have fallen to a low of 6°C, and frost has appeared for the third day in a row. Sakura is also blooming there, adding seasonal colour to the mountain views.
A report from Chiang Mai province on December 24th said tourism at Doi Inthanon National Park in Chom Thong remains strong despite it being a weekday. The lowest temperature recorded was 6°C at Kew Mae Pan. The summit area recorded a low of 8°C.
Frost covered wide patches of grass around the summit ranger station. Ground temperature dropped to just 0.6°C. This marked the 16th straight day of frost since the start of winter, and many visitors were excited to take photos and enjoy the rare sight.
Popular activities include walking the Kew Mae Pan nature trail and viewing the blooming sakura. On 23 December 2568, the park recorded 4,698 visitors (2,764 Thai visitors and 1,934 foreign visitors), along with 1,172 vehicles.
Park officials also reminded drivers to take extra care. The roads are steep, winding, and mountainous, and morning fog can make surfaces slippery.
