What is Doi Suthep and How to Get There
Chiang Mai is a major destination within Thailand. It draws many visitors from abroad and domestic alike and one of the most popular destinations is the Wat Phra That Temple on Doi Suthep mountain. You can find it on the map here. Read our post detailing all you need to know about Wat Phra That Temple. The temple is so popular that if you say you are going to Doi Suthep it implies that you are going to the temple itself. However, there are some good hikes in the area surrounding the temple that are worth checking out.
If you are going by car, you will follow the 1004 highway out of the city, past the Chiang Mai Zoo and keep going up. You can also get to Doi Suthep by taking public transportation. First make you way to the road between the Chiang Mai University and Chiang Mai Zoo. They are about 100 to 200 meters from each other, and from there you will see many jeeps that shuttle people up to the temple and back down. Outside the zoo just look for the red jeeps, called songtaew (two bench) in Thai.
Beyond The Wat Phra That Temple: Hiking Doi Suthep
Phra Ruesi Cave
The first one is near just a little bit further up the road from the temple and it is called Phra Ruesi Cave. It is a good one to do if you have a vehicle of your own as it is maybe 3 minutes past the temple, which may seem far if you walk to the start of the hike. While the cave is not big and explorable; it houses a small little statue, it is a good little hike and a fun way to get out into nature and enjoy the fresh ‘cool’ air. It is not a difficult hike and a great one to do with smaller kids as it is rather tame.
Monks Trail
Another option for hiking Doi Suthep is a bigger and longer hike. For this hike you will skip the vehicle ride from Chiang Mai Zoo area up to the base of Wat Phra That Temple and hike up starting from the Monks Trail here. This trail is about 2 kilometers long and takes you to Pha Lad Temple about halfway up to Wat Phra That Temple. The trail loops back to the starting point so you can continue on and hike back to where you started for a nice hike. However, if you feel motivated to make it up to the Wat Phra That Temple you will need to get off this trail when it hits the main road and hop on the beginning of the next trail.
Pha Lad Temple Hike
So, if you have decided to continue on up you will join another hiking trail called Pha Lad Temple hike and it will take you up to the Wat Phra That Temple. This hike is about the same length. If you manage to make it all the way to the top you will have the option to either hike back down or take one of the red shuttle jeeps back down. Keep in mind that the jeeps will take you back to the Chiang Mai Zoo area and not the trailhead you started from.
Keep in mind that if there has been heavy rain the trails may be very slippery.
The hikes are open daily from:
6:00am – 6:00pm
Another option for a very unique hike check out the Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls. It is located about an hour and a half Northeast of Doi Suthep on the Northern side of Chiang Mai.