Hike to Wat Pha Lat, the hidden forest temple on Doi Suthep. This secret temple is a beautiful haven of peace, in a garden with beautiful statues.
Then visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the Buddhist temple draped in gold. Overlooking the city from its mountain throne, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples, and a beautiful example of northern Thai architecture. From the temple you can enjoy a panoramic view over the city.
Pick up from hotels in the center of Chiang Mai by a typical ‘songtaew’ or ‘rot sii daeng’ (a converted pick-up truck with two rows of back benches).
The songtaew drops us at the starting point of the Monk’s Trail where we begin our hike to Wat Pha Lat.
Wat Pha Lat is the jungle temple of Chiang Mai and it is also the finishing point of the popular Monk's Trail, an ancient pilgrimage route.
This hike is along a trail that for many years has been used by monks to ascend Doi Suthep (Suthep Mountain) enroute to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple. It takes between 30 and 45 minutes to hike the Monk's Trail to Wat Pha Lat.
Wat Pha Lat, the secret jungle temple, was built in 1355 and with its old stone buildings, intricate carvings and statues, and plenty of breathtaking places to meditate, it’s clear why people claim Wat Pha Lat is a hidden gem in Chiang Mai.
From Wat Pha Lat we continue by songtaew to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, considered to be one of the most sacred pilgrimage spots in Thailand and a must-see for anyone visiting Chiang Mai. The temple can be reached via the so-called ‘dragon staircase’, a staircase with more than 300 steps flanked by a ‘Naga’: a mythical serpent with seven heads. Instead of walking to the top, you can also take the cable car (fee not included).
Once you are at the temple grounds you will see statues, pagodas, shrines, bells and Buddhist drawings inside. The original chedi (also called stupa or pagoda, a conical structure in which sacred relics are kept) covered with copper is the most sacred part of the temple. You will learn more about the history of this temple and the meaning of the paintings on the wall, depicting the life of Buddha.
Overlooking Chiang Mai from its lofty perch, 1053 meters above sea level, the temple is best visited on days free of cloud or heat haze; the view of the city, and the Ping valley beyond, is breathtaking.
Afterwards the ‘songtaew’ will bring you back to your hotel or the meeting point in the city.
Pick up/Meeting point:
- Pick up and drop off from hotels in our regular pick up area (the inner city or just outside).
- If your accommodation is outside our regular pick up area, you need to come to the meeting point: in front of the Burger King at Thapae Gate (Pratu Thapae).
Highlights
- Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of the most sacred pilgrimage spots in Thailand
- Enjoy the jaw-dropping view over Chiang Mai city
- Hike the Monk's Trail to Wat Pha Lat, the hidden forest temple
Note
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for the Monk's Trail Hike to Wat Pha Lat.
- The Monk’s Trail hike is not that strenuous and doable for anyone with a normal fitness level.
Guests who are not able to do the hike uphill/downhill, can go with the 'songtaew'.
- For the early morning slot (5:00 hrs in the morning) we start with a visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. After sunrise we continue by ‘songtaew’ to Wat Pha Lat from where we hike the Monk’s Trail downhill.
- Remember that temples are sacred places and visitors are required to dress appropriately. Shoulders and knees need to be covered.
No flip-flops/slippers, leggings, too tight clothes or revealing tops, otherwise you won't be allowed in.
- Entrance fee for Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (THB 30 per person) is not included and must be paid cash on day of the tour.
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157 Comments
5
Doi Suthep Temple tour and hike
Such a wonderful first time experience visiting the temples. Malee was so lovely and I enjoyed spending the day with her
5
Amazing trip with Malee
We had a very amazing trip with Malee!
Her english is very good and makes us very easy to understand.
We were lucky ones because we were the only members – so she was our private guide.
She explained all very well and answered all our questions. She took a lot of photos of us and she took a lot of time for us.
We had a lot of fun and learned a lot.
Also thank the driver to take care of us.
We would book another trip with her!
Thank you so much – Khop khun kaa
5
Great tour for understanding local traditional culture.
It’s a great tour for understanding local traditional culture.
Moreover, the tour guide was very professional and let us all to understand the traditional characteristics of Thailand.
Highly recommend you join it.
5
10/10 recommend!
Tik was an excellent guide! I loved all the information he provided and the sunrise was beautiful! It was a relaxed pace to walk down the monks trail. Great tour!
4.5
Beautiful morning sunrise
We did the morning session and saw the sunrise at doi suthep. The gold at that time of day is stunning. It was an amazing experience to be present for the monk’s morning chant as well as partake in the food offering. Historical Wat Pha Lat was beautiful as well and more engulfed in nature.
We were happy to be able to do the monks trail (~2km) on this trip as it was not offered on many other travel sites. For those with mobility concerns, the trail is uneven a lot of the way and if you are hiking up, there are some steep sections. Should be ok for people in fine physical health/ good balance. If you do the morning session, the hike will be downhill.
Our group was 7 people and our guide was Samyam. He was very kind and educated us on the differences between different culture’s buddhas. However, he is soft spoken which at times made it difficult to hear.
Overall, a wonderful time and a great way to spend the morning. What we learned provided a lot of context for what we saw in the rest of Chiang Mai.