Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep Temple & Monk's Trail Hike
Two temples, one mountain: the hike that monks have walked for centuries
You hike the historic Monk's Trail through forest to the hidden temple of Wat Pha Lat, spend time in its quiet grounds, then climb to Doi Suthep at the mountain's peak for the view and the gold-covered chedi. Your guide is English-speaking, transport is by authentic red songthaew, and you get drinking water included. The entrance fee to the trail is paid separately in cash on the day.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Hike and visit Doi Suthep temples
- 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 view from temple
- Return to hotel
What’s included
- Your day includes hotel pickup via red songthaew, English-speaking guide, transport to and from both temples, a bottle of drinking water, and time at Wat Pha Lat and Doi Suthep.
- The entrance fee to the Monk's Trail (100 baht per person, cash only) is paid separately on the day.
- Cable car access at Doi Suthep, if you choose it, costs extra.
Times
- Every day 05:00 13:30 16:00
Before you book
Operated by WanderSiam Chiang Mai
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The experience
A red songthaew pulls up to the trailhead on the slopes of Doi Suthep, and you step out into the forest. The Monk's Trail begins here: a path worn smooth over centuries by Buddhist monks walking between the temples and the city before roads existed. The hike takes 30 to 45 minutes through jungle thick enough to muffle the city below, uneven in places, sometimes slippery after rain, but nothing that stops most people in normal shape. Your guide walks ahead, and the only sound is your footsteps and the small stream that runs through the temple grounds when you arrive.
Wat Pha Lat appears suddenly through the trees: moss-covered stone buildings, Buddha statues half-hidden in the undergrowth, shrines tucked into corners, a stream flowing between stone bridges. Built in 1355, it feels less like a tourist stop and more like a place that forgot the world moved on. You spend time here, moving slowly between the quiet corners, before heading back down or continuing up the mountain depending on which tour time you chose. The entrance fee to the Monk's Trail is 100 baht per person, paid in cash on the day.
Then comes Doi Suthep itself: the temple draped in gold that sits 1,053 meters above sea level. You can climb the dragon staircase, more than 300 steps flanked by a seven-headed Naga serpent carved in stone, or take the cable car if your legs need a break (cable car costs extra). At the top, the temple complex spreads across the mountain: statues, pagodas, shrines, bells, the original copper-covered chedi at the center. On a clear day, the view drops all the way across Chiang Mai and the Ping valley beyond. Your guide explains the paintings inside, the history of the temple, what each part means. Then the songthaew brings you back down to your hotel, the open sides of the truck letting the mountain air through as the city comes back into view.
The whole day runs with groups kept under 12 people, which means the temples don't feel like a crowd. You travel the way locals do (in that red truck with two benches, no air-conditioning, open to the road), and that's part of why it works. Pickups start up to 45 minutes before your scheduled time, so plan for that window. The tour runs rain or shine. Tropical showers usually pass fast, but bring a raincoat during the rainy season just in case.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see both temples without arranging transport or figuring out timing yourself, and you're comfortable with the uneven forest path and the open-sided truck. That's what makes the morning feel like you're traveling the way Chiang Mai actually does.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): 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 Monk's Trail hike?
30 to 45 minutes. The path is uneven in places and can be steep or slippery after rain, but is generally considered easy for people in normal physical condition.
What's a songthaew?
A converted pick-up truck with two benches in the back, open sides, and no air-conditioning. It's how locals travel around Chiang Mai and is part of the authentic experience.
Do I have to climb the 300 steps at Doi Suthep?
No. You can take the cable car instead, though that cost is not included in the tour price.
What's included in the tour price?
English-speaking guide, songthaew transport, and a bottle of drinking water. The entrance fee to the Monk's Trail (100 baht per person) is paid separately in cash on the day.
What time do pickups start?
Pickups begin up to 45 minutes before your scheduled tour start time, so plan for that window.
What should I wear?
Proper walking shoes for the hike, no flip-flops. At the temples, shoulders and knees must be covered as they are sacred places.
Is there a sunrise option?
Yes. The sunrise program starts at 5:00 AM and visits Doi Suthep first, then hikes down the Monk's Trail instead of up.
What's the maximum group size?
12 people per group.
Is this suitable for people with mobility issues?
The tour is not recommended for guests with mobility issues due to the uneven terrain of the Monk's Trail.
Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep Temple & Monk's Trail Hike
4h · EN
from US$ 24 per person
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