Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep & Monk's Trail Hike with Songthaew
Riding a Songthaew Up Doi Suthep to Two Temples Most Tourists Miss
You hike the historic Monk's Trail through forest to the peaceful, moss-covered Wat Pha Lat, then ride the songthaew up to the gold temple at Doi Suthep with views over the city. The tour includes your guide, water, and transport in an open-sided pickup truck: the way locals travel. You pay temple entrance fees in cash on the day (THB 150 total for both temples).
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Hike to Wat Pha Lat and visit Doi Suthep
- Travel by songthaew to hike start
- Hike Monk’s Trail to Wat Pha Lat
- Explore Wat Pha Lat temple grounds
- Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple
- Enjoy panoramic city views
- Return to hotel
What’s included
Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off inside the old city (or meeting point at Tha Pae Gate), transport in the songthaew, an English-speaking guide, and a bottle of drinking water. Temple entrance fees are paid separately in cash on the day of the tour.
Times
- Every day 05:00 13:30 16:00
Before you book
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The experience
You climb into the back of a songthaew (a converted pickup truck with two wooden benches and open sides), and the driver winds up the mountain road toward Doi Suthep. No air-conditioning, no doors, just the sound of the engine and the slope getting steeper. This is how locals move around Chiang Mai, and the moment you're in one, you stop being a tourist watching Thailand and start being part of how the city actually works. The songthaew drops you at the trailhead for the Monk's Trail, a forest path that Buddhist monks have walked for centuries between the temples and the city below.
The hike to Wat Pha Lat takes about 30 to 45 minutes through jungle thick enough that you lose sight of the city almost immediately. The path is uneven in places, a bit steep, and after rain it gets slippery. Nothing dangerous if you're wearing proper walking shoes, but it's real hiking, not a stroll. Wat Pha Lat itself sits hidden in that forest, built in 1355, and it feels like you've stumbled onto something that wasn't meant for crowds. Moss covers the old stone staircases. Buddha statues sit half-buried in vegetation. A stream runs through the temple grounds with small stone bridges, and the whole place has this quiet, almost forgotten quality that the bigger temples in town don't have anymore. You spend time here, not rushing through.
After the hike, the songthaew brings you up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the gold-draped temple that sits 1,053 meters above the city. You can walk the dragon staircase (more than 300 steps with a seven-headed serpent carved along the railings), or take the cable car if your legs need a break. The temple itself is packed with pilgrims and visitors, but the view from the top reaches across Chiang Mai and the Ping valley beyond, and on a clear day it's the kind of view that makes the climb worth it. Your guide walks you through the sacred chedi, explains the Buddha paintings on the walls, points out the shrines and bells. Then the songthaew takes you back down to your hotel.
Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see the temples most visitors skip and don't mind an open-sided truck and a real forest hike: the songthaew and the Monk's Trail are what make this different from the standard temple tour.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long is the hike to Wat Pha Lat?
About 30 to 45 minutes. The path is generally easy for people in normal fitness, but it's uneven and can be slippery after rain. Wear proper walking shoes.
What's a songthaew?
A converted pickup truck with two benches in the back, open sides, and no air-conditioning. It's the most common way locals get around Chiang Mai and is part of the authentic experience.
Are entrance fees included?
No. You pay THB 100 cash for the Monk's Trail at Wat Pha Lat and THB 50 for Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on the day of the tour.
What time does pickup start?
Pickups begin up to 45 minutes before the scheduled tour start time from hotels in the old walled city, or at the Burger King near Tha Pae Gate if you're not staying at a listed hotel.
Can I skip the hike and just visit the temples?
Yes. If you can't do the hike, you can travel with the songthaew to both temples instead.
What should I wear?
Comfortable walking shoes for the trail. Shoulders and knees must be covered at the temples. This is a requirement, not a suggestion.
Is there a sunrise option?
Yes. The sunrise program starts at 5:00 a.m., visits Wat Phra That Doi Suthep first, then hikes down the Monk's Trail from Wat Pha Lat instead of up.
Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep & Monk's Trail Hike with Songthaew
4h · EN
from US$ 24 per person
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