Mae Chaem District split off to form the new district, Galyani Vadhana. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Galyani Vadhana, Samoeng, Mae Wang, Chom Thong and Hot of Chiang Mai Province, and Mae Sariang, Mae La Noi, Khun Yuam, Mueang Mae Hong Son and Pai of Mae Hong Son Province. Thailand's highest mountain, high Doi Inthanon, in the Thanon Thong Chai Range, is in Mae Chaem District. The district is divided into seven sub-districts ("tambon"), which are further subdivided into 85 villages ("muban"). Mae Chaem also has sub-district municipality ("thesaban tambon") status and covers parts of "tambon" Chang Khoeng. There are a
Doi Inthanon ecological areas regions, the park supports a range of animal species, including over 360 bird species. On the lower slopes of Doi Inthanon, near the Karen hill tribe village, Ban Sop Had, are the Wachirathan waterfalls (), where the Wachirathan (lit. "Diamond Creek") tumbles over a granite escarpment. The climate is typically tropical and fairly cool on the summit of Doi Inthanon. In winter the average temperature is 6 °C (43 °F) in January and temperatures can sometimes drop below 0 °C (32 °F). On 21 December 2017, an all-time low temperature of minus-5 °C was recorded at 06:30 at