Barely out of Chiang Mai, a landscape of rice fields unfolds ahead of you, merging into dense woodland as you head up into the thick forests covering the mountains. Follow Route 1096 into the national park as far as Samoeng. Along the way, you'll pass some wonderful viewpoints as well as tourist attractions, which, although lacking in authenticity, will delight children, such as snake farms, orchid nurseries, elephant camps etc.