The songthaew (pick up truck) drops us at the starting point of the hike from where we start walking to Wat Pha Lat. The Monk’s Trail is a historic forest path on the slopes of Doi Suthep near Chiang Mai. The trail leads through the jungle to the peaceful temple Wat Pha Lat. The name comes from the Buddhist monks who traditionally used this path to walk between the temples and the city before modern roads existed. NOTES: The Monk’s Trail is generally considered an easy hike (30-45 minutes) for people in normal physical condition. However, parts of the path are uneven and may be slightly steep or slippery, especially after rain. While most participants complete the hike without difficulty, some guests may find it a bit more strenuous. This tour is not suitable for guests with mobility issues. Entrance fee for Wat Pha Lat Monk’s Trail is not included and must be paid cash on day of the tour (THB 100 per person).
Hidden in the lush forest on the slopes of Doi Suthep lies one of the most peaceful temples in northern Thailand: Wat Pha Lat. Often referred to as the ‘jungle temple’ of Chiang Mai, it is also the finishing point of the well known Monk’s Trail. Constructed in 1355, Wat Pha Lat has a very different atmosphere from the more crowded temples in the region. Surrounded by dense jungle, the temple complex blends beautifully into its natural surroundings. Old stone buildings, moss covered stairways, intricate carvings, Buddha statues and small shrines are scattered throughout the grounds, creating a serene and almost mystical setting. A small stream flows through the temple area, with stone bridges and quiet corners that invite visitors to pause and reflect. With its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful forest setting, it is easy to understand why many visitors describe Wat Pha Lat as one of the true hidden gems of Chiang Mai.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is considered to be one of the most sacred pilgrimage spots in Thailand. 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 (costs not included). Once you are at the temple grounds you will see statues, pagodas, shrines, bells and Buddhist drawings inside. The original chedi 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 you will be brought back to your hotel. Total time includes travel time to Chiang Mai.
I can absolutely recommend this trip. The temples were both beautiful in very different ways and the nature around the monk‘s trail was really stunning. Maggie was a great guide and told us a lot about Chiang Mai, the temples and Buddhism. If you‘r looking for an afternoon of culture and light activity, this is for you!
We really enjoyed this hike/visit...we chose the 5 AM tour, and we were a little skeptical since it was pitch black out when we started. But we drove up the mountain and climbed the steps to Doi Suthep just as the monks had begun their morning chanting. Maggie, our tour guide, was outstanding, and did a great job explaining the Buddhist beliefs around Doi Suthep and about Buddhist practices in general. She was also great at shepharding us around so that we were at the golden pagoda while it was still lit at night and then getting us to the perfect spot to watch the sunrise. The hike down in the morning light was easy, and we were back at the hotel a little after 9 AM.
This half-day tour was excellent value for money! The two temples we visited were beautiful, and our guide was wonderful—friendly, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and spoke excellent English. A thoroughly enjoyable experience!
Amazing guide... I usually don't do guiding tools cuz we went but this one was really good. Nancy was great
Nancy is an amazing guide. She was very warm and friendly from the moment we first met, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Nancy is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the Chiang Mai history and she was readily answering any question I had about the temples. Nancy also made sure that the driver took me back to the hotel after the tour instead of dropping me off at the meeting point. I would highly recommend her to the first time travelers and solo travelers to Chiang Mai.
The tour was great and Nancy was the best guide we could have. Good timing, good explanations, and very kind. The temples are the most beautiful and special I've seen so far. Monks were chanting and praying, you could breathe peace everywhere, and a beautiful energy. Love the forests and the hike.thank you Nancy!!!!
Nancy was an amazing guide! She was extremely knowledgeable, informative, and friendly throughout the entire experience. She was always helpful, approachable, and happy to answer questions. Her warm personality and enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable. I truly appreciated her hospitality and would highly recommend Nancy to anyone looking for a wonderful and memorable tour experience!
Wonderful guide. Should be sitting in back of red truck for nausea and look at horizon or bring anti nausea meds. Many got motion sickness as truck goes winding roads. But guide was excellent
Amazing guide Sanam was funny, patient, knowledgeable!!! He offered to take our picture, taught us Thai, couldn’t have asked for better. Beautiful views and an excellent learning experience
The walk is all down hill. Carefully with your knees. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the wat and of Chiang Mai. The Wat is beautiful. We recommend the early morning tour.
Great experience - tour combines nature, Thai culture and introduction to Buddhism. Exceptional tour guide tell me your name Eikzy-who showed great enthusiasm and energy. I highly recommend this experience.
This was one of our favorite things we did in Thailand. We booked and evening tour to see sunset and wound up being able to join in a ceremony for the full moon with our tour guide, locals and the monks. Our guide Sirlluk was so informative and grateful to be able to share her culture with us. I would not recommend this particular tour though for anyone with mobility issues as there is some hiking involved, otherwise amazing
The hike is great, you requiere a minimum phisical condition to do it. Suzy was a great guide, she is very attentive and has lots of knowledge of the cultural sites we visited.
很棒的體驗，下次來會想再來參加local tour The local tour guid is really kind to us and help us to learn a lot of culture
Nancy was amazing guide!! She was my culture teacher. I definitely recommend this trip. 굉장히 친절하시고 영어 발음도 좋으셔서 알아듣기 편해요! 추천합니다 :) 인생샷도 많이 찍어주심
I had a great time on this tour. My guide Sanam was very kind and a great guide, he explained everything we saw and the history. The hike was a bit grueling but I felt accomplished afterwards. Definitely worth it!
It was the best experience I ever had!
Our guide, Emmy, was great and answered all our questions. The temples and views were beautiful, the monks trail was a light downhill hike. Would recommend.
This 3 hour tour fit my schedule perfectly. Was picked up promptly, picked up other members and guide and we were off. KUNGNANG, our guide, was personable and knowledgeable. We lucked out as the weather was perfect and there were few people there on an early Sunday morning. 306 steps up to the temple, or, lift if you need. Kungnang gave us history and knew all the great picture locations. She even took pictures that she shared after the tour.
A very good choice if you visit Chiang Mai.
Jane is very knowledgable and patient guide, enjoyable experience. Highly recommended!
fantastic great morning worth getting up early for
The trip was very very nice, but Jane the guide, was amazing. She is very funny, smart, explains everything so you can learn about the Thai culture, and is a good photographer (she made is nice pics). We absolutely love the trip. Highly recommended.
We had a wonderful your with our guide Jane, she was really clear and kind and also took really nice photos! We are really thankful and would definitely recommend
I was the only participant, but my guide Jane did a great job to make me feel at ease and she explained a lot about the temples and Buddhism. The hike and the red bus were fun as well. It was worth getting up this early..
Our guide Amy was wonderful and informative, the hike was a nice length, and the temples were stunning
Nancy was so informative and helpful. She constantly checked in and asked how I wanted the pace to be and took lots of photos. The temples were beautiful! It was a great trip!
A great place to visit with other temples. A little crowded/noisy at times. Good views of Chiang Mai.
I had a great time with our guide, Jane. She was super informative and was very patient. The temples and hikes were scenic and I highly recommend it!
This was an excellent tour of the Doi Suthep Temple & Wat Pha Lat. Both of these temples are special, unique and different from the temples in the Old City. Wat Pha Lat is a complex of temples and buildings in the jungle. We then hiked down the Monk's trail which was very scenic. I am glad we hiked down the mountain instead of some tours that hike up the mountain. Our tour guide was very informative and friendly. My only recommendation is to be transported in an air conditioned van and not in the back of the red truck (taxi). It was hot, muggy, noisy and the smell of the exhaust.
Jane met us on time at the hotel with a famous red taxi driver. We then travelled all the way to the highest temple. She was very knowledgeable and friendly. She helped us understand a lot of the history and religions behind the temples. We had a fantastic time and would thoroughly recommend Jane as a guide. She often does city guiding too.
This tour was amazing!! Our tour guide, Mr. Saman Duangkham, was very knowledgeable, helpful, and courteous. He made the tour and hike fun! I had a wonderful time and highly recommend to anyone coming to Chiang Mai. ❤️
We had an amazing experience on this tour in Chiang Mai. Everything was very well organized, and every stop was interesting and enjoyable. We visited the fascinating Long Neck Tribe and beautiful temples, each with its own unique history and architecture. It was a great mix of culture, history, and local traditions. Our guide, Susie, was outstanding. She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing information about the places we visited. She answered all our questions and made the entire tour both fun and educational. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Chiang Mai. Thank you, Susie, for making our day so memorable!
Zuzy , the guide, was informative and punctual. The pick up in the morning went smoothly. Trip is enjoyable.
Our guide Mr. Saman was wonderful and really knowledgeable! He was actually a former monk himself so had lots of insight into the monk's lifestyle and the boudust religion. The temples and views were breathtaking! I would highly recommend this tour!
It is amazing. Very authentic! Going early might seem unworthy but it provides you the time to enjoy.
My girlfriend and I had an amazing time on this temple tour and hike. Even though the names of the temples were a bit difficult for us to remember, the experience itself was unforgettable. We hiked through a beautiful piece of the jungle where we spotted some unique animals and insects, which was a fantastic bonus. Our guide was wonderful—very calm, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He taught us so much about the history of the temples and shared interesting insights about Buddha and local traditions. We truly learned a lot. As a delightful surprise, two friendly dogs joined us at the top of the mountain, which made the experience even more special! We highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a perfect blend of nature, culture, and great guidance.
Great experience, even after a rain.
A fun and well organised afternoon. Saman was very knowledgeable and from what I could gather was once a monk. He really cared about making sure we had a lovely experience :)
I had a wonderful experience with Nancy on the Doi Suthep Temple and Wat Pha Lat hiking tour. As it turned out, I was the only person who booked the tour that day, so I ended up having a private tour experience, which was fantastic! Nancy was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to. She shared fascinating information about the temples, local culture, and history, making the visit much more meaningful. The hike to Wat Pha Lat was beautiful and peaceful, and she made sure I felt comfortable throughout the tour. What made this experience truly special was that Nancy also shared beautiful Buddhist teachings along the way. These insights added a deeper spiritual dimension to the tour and invited me to reflect on life in a meaningful way. Several times, I found myself with tears in my eyes because her words were so moving and inspiring. It was much more than a sightseeing tour—it was a genuinely touching and memorable experience. I really appreciated her warmth, wisdom, and willingness to answer all my questions. Visiting Doi Suthep with Nancy was one of the highlights of my time in Chiang Mai. Thank you!!!
Nancy was warm, friendly, and very knowledgeable. She shared plenty of interesting background about Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat, helping me appreciate the history and significance of both temples. It was a great experience that I would highly recommend
Nancy was warm, friendly and very knowledgeable. She shared plenty of interesting background about Doi suthep and Wat Pha Lat, helping me appreciate the history and significance of both temples. It was a great experience that I would highly recommend.
Wonderful way to learn more about buddhism and to have someone explain the significance of the beautiful things you see at temples all over Thialand. Recommend going early to beat the heat and the crowds and if your lucky, catch a sunrise from a spectacular viewpoint.
This was a great tour combining a short hike with sightseeing at two temples on Doi Suthep. Maggie was an outstanding tour guide who provided lots of information on the different sites and Buddhist traditions. Highly recommend.
Beer was a great guide! Very personable.
Jane was an excellent guide, she explained everything about the temple, it was one of my best experiences. I wanted to make an offering to the monks and she guided me through the whole process, it was truly incredible. I highly recommend her.
Very detailed tour learned about the history of the city and the temples
Fantastic experience, our guide Nancy was very knowledgeable and was very welcoming. She gave us a great insight into all of the Thai culture. The trip was a great price and Nancy allowed us to stop frequently for breaks and for photo opportunities. Overall I highly encourage you to try this if you are in chiang mai
Our tour guide Saman was so sweet and knowledgeable! The driver bought water for us on the way and the 30 minute hike down from a different temple was a highlight!
Our tour guide was Sama and he was excellent. He was personal and very knowledgeable. We did the early sunrise tour. We got lucky and went on the Buddha’s birthday and there were 800 monks there. We like hiking and the hike down to the next temple was fun. I would highly recommend this tour.
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