Hotels near Monk's Trail to Wat Pha Lat and Doi Suthep

If you walk only one of the best hikes near Chiang Mai, walk this one. The Monk's Trail, or Pilgrim's Path, is the footpath monks cut between Chiang Mai and the mountain temples, and it climbs 7.5 km round trip with roughly 620 m of elevation gain from Sriwichai Road up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep at 1,055 m. Allow 3.5 to 4 hours moving, or 4 to 6 with proper stops at both temples. It is short but steep, so call it moderate rather than easy.

The first stage is the good bit. Orange cloth strips tied around the trees mark the path through dipterocarp forest, and 45 minutes of steady climbing brings you to Wat Pha Lat, a moss-covered forest monastery beside a seasonal stream that most Doi Suthep hiking traffic drives straight past. Above it the route steepens onto a rough, rooty section, crosses the paved road and finishes at the 306-step Naga staircase below the gilded chedi of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, founded in 1383.

Both temples are active places of worship, and the etiquette is not optional. Shoulders and knees must be covered at Wat Pha Lat and at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, which rules out the vest and running shorts most people climb in. Shoes come off before the inner terraces. Sarongs can be hired at the top temple, but arriving covered is better manners. Temple entry for foreign visitors is 30 THB (about EUR 0.80), and the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park gate on the road charges 100 THB for adults and 50 THB for children aged 3 to 14 (about EUR 2.60 and EUR 1.30).

Pro Tip: Carry a lightweight long-sleeve shirt and a wrap in your daypack rather than hiking in them. You will sweat through 620 m of climb in Chiang Mai humidity, and pulling on dry, respectful layers at the Wat Pha Lat gate is far more comfortable than a rented sarong over damp clothes. Start by 7am to beat both the heat and the tour minibuses.