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 at Doi Luang, which was then renamed in his honour. Today, the summit of Doi Inthanon is a popular tourist destination for both foreign and Thai tourists, with a peak of 12,000 visitors visiting the summit on New Year's Day. In addition to a range of tourist facilities on the summit, there is also a Royal Thai Air Force weather radar station at the summit and the Thai National Observatory (TNO) at km44. Doi Inthanon is the highest peak of the Inthanon Range () of the Thanon Thong Chai Range, a subrange of the Shan Hills in the Thai highlands