HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB®
HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB® – INTHANON 20
Doi Inthanon National Park Headquarters
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The INTHANON 20 is the short-distance race of HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB, a 20 km loop that starts and finishes at Doi Inthanon National Park Headquarters. With 771 m of climbing and a high point of 1453 m, it is the most accessible entry into the Chiang Mai weekend, run entirely on the high forested slopes of Thailand's tallest mountain massif. What sets the INTHANON 20 apart is its altitude: everything happens up high, starting and finishing at 1246 m rather than down in the valley. That means cooler air and a genuine mountain feel over a distance that first-time trail racers and speed-focused runners alike can take on in a single morning. The generous 15:00 Sunday finish cut-off makes it a realistic goal for a wide range of runners while still delivering real climbing and technical terrain.
The Course and Terrain
The loop leaves Doi Inthanon National Park Headquarters at 1246 m and works its way through the park's high forest to Pha Mon Village at 9.8 km (1193 m), holding roughly the same elevation band for the first half. From there it descends to Mae Klang Luang Village at 15.9 km (1067 m), the low point among the named checkpoints, before climbing back to the Headquarters finish at 20 km (1248 m). With 771 m of gain across just 20 km and a high point of 1453 m, the course carries meaningful vertical for its length, but the checkpoint elevations show that much of the climbing sits between the listed points rather than in one wall. Expect the classic Doi Inthanon mix of shaded forest singletrack and park trail, with the terrain undulating up toward the 1453 m ceiling in the first section and then giving that height back on the run down to Mae Klang Luang and home.
Where the Race Is Won and Lost
For a race this short the decisive terrain is front-loaded: the climb from the 1246 m start up toward the 1453 m high point in the opening kilometres is where you either build a rhythm or blow your legs. Because the whole loop is only 20 km, going out too hard on that early rise leaves little room to recover, and the effort you bank or waste here largely sets your finishing time. The second key moment is the descent from Pha Mon Village (9.8 km, 1193 m) down to Mae Klang Luang Village at 15.9 km (1067 m). This is the most sustained downhill of the loop, dropping over 100 m, and it rewards runners who can descend fast and controlled on tired quads. After Mae Klang Luang you face a final climb back up to the 1248 m finish, so save a little for that closing rise rather than emptying the tank on the descent.
Pacing and Fueling to the Cut-offs
There are two time checks to note: Mae Klang Luang Village at 15.9 km closes Sun 13:30, and the finish at 20 km closes Sun 15:00. For a 20 km race these are generous, so the priority is not scraping past gates but simply pacing the early climb sensibly and keeping moving through the descent. If you reach Mae Klang Luang comfortably inside 13:30, the short final climb to the finish is very manageable within the remaining window. Aid spacing is straightforward over this distance, with support points at Pha Mon Village (9.8 km) and Mae Klang Luang Village (15.9 km) breaking the loop into manageable segments. The longest carry is essentially the first 9.8 km out of the Headquarters, which includes the main climb toward the high point — start adequately hydrated and carry enough for that opening effort. After Mae Klang Luang it is only a few kilometres home, so you can run the finish light.
Conditions to Expect
Because the entire course sits high on the Doi Inthanon massif, between roughly 1067 m and 1453 m, conditions here are cooler and often mistier than in the Chiang Mai lowlands. Runners should be ready for damp, humid forest air and the possibility of cloud clinging to the higher ground around the 1453 m point, which can make footing on the trail slick even as it keeps temperatures pleasant for running. The start and finish share the same base at the National Park Headquarters (1246 m), which makes logistics and crew access simple for this short event. Underfoot, expect shaded singletrack and park trails that can hold moisture, so a shoe with reliable grip helps on the descent to Mae Klang Luang. Overall this is a cool-forest mountain morning rather than a heat-battle — dress for the altitude and the mist rather than for lowland tropical sun.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 1246 m · —
9.8 km · 1193 m · —
15.9 km · 1067 m · Sun 13:30
20 km · 1248 m · Sun 15:00
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