Play video
Jani Published , 27 min 44 s long. The video is in Finnish; English subtitles are available on YouTube.
In short
The Monk's Trail is an easy loop of about two hours to the Wat Pha Lat jungle temple. The Doi Pui route is challenging: I measured 9.65 km, 530 m of ascent and 2 h 55 min. Both routes are in Doi Suthep–Pui National Park.
Places in the video
Route 1: Monk's Trail and Wat Pha Lat
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- about 2 h
-
Basecamp Coffee Club
I started walking from this café behind Chiang Mai University. The first half of the loop is uphill and the second half is downhill.
208 Su Thep, Chiang Mai 50200
-
Viewpoint on the Doi Suthep road
The climb of just over 2 km from the café ended here. This stop has no map link because the exact spot is only clear from the video.
-
Monk's Trail
From the viewpoint, I followed the road for a short way to reach the trail, then walked down it. That makes a loop, so you don't repeat the same path. The map goes to the trail's ticket booth.
Su Thep, Chiang Mai 50200
-
Wat Pha Lat
A peaceful jungle temple halfway along the trail. Ten years ago it was still fairly unknown. Today most visitors turn around here instead of continuing up to Doi Suthep.
101 Sriwichai Alley, Chiang Mai 50200
Route 2: Doi Pui, Chang Khian and Doi Hua Moo
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Time
- 2 h 55 min
- Distance
- 9.65 km
- Ascent
- 530 m
-
Doi Pui Camping Ground
We left the motorbikes here and started walking. The ride from central Chiang Mai took about 30 minutes, at a brisk pace.
Doi Suthep–Pui National Park, Su Thep, Chiang Mai 50200
-
Chang Khian village
The route crosses forest and mountains to this Hmong village, also known as Ban Khun Chang Khian. Many of the area's hiking routes pass through here, and the day's hard climb started from the village.
Mae Bua Mung Road, Don Kaeo, Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50300
-
Doi Hua Moo viewpoint
The steep, sweaty climb paid off with breathtaking views. According to the info board here, these mountains connect all the way to the Himalayas.
Don Kaeo, Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50200
Which route is easier?
The Monk's Trail is clearly easier. Doi Pui is for fitter hikers, and I'd suggest everyone else stick to smaller trips.
| Route | Monk's Trail | Doi Pui |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Challenging |
| Time | about 2 h | 2 h 55 min |
| Distance | climb from the café just over 2 km | 9.65 km |
| Ascent | not measured | 530 m |
| Start | Basecamp Coffee Club | Doi Pui Camping Ground |
Both routes are in Doi Suthep–Pui National Park.
What did I measure on the Doi Pui route?
My app finished at 9.65 km, 530 m of climbing and 2 hours 55 minutes (25:46). It estimated about 1,400 calories burned. The estimate at the start was about 7 km, so the route ran well over.
It was only about 25–26 °C, but a sweatband was still essential (19:34). The climb from the village was hard on the legs, and the way back to the bikes ran through a humid swamp and dense jungle full of blackflies.
How much does the Monk's Trail cost?
The Monk's Trail costs 100 baht for foreign adults and 20 baht for Thai adults (as of October 2026). The national park started charging in October 2025, and the ticket point appears in the video at 9:37. Check the amount on site. Almost all other trails in the area are still free.
When is the best time to hike in Chiang Mai?
October to January is the best time. After the rains, nature is at its greenest and the air cools down. The smoke season starts in February, when breathing hard on the slopes is a bad idea. In May the smoke gives way to the hot season, and after that the rainy season makes the trails difficult until September.
How do you find the trails?
The free basic version of the AllTrails app is enough. It shows almost all the trails in the area, plus distance and elevation gain. If you'd rather not go alone, Chiang Mai has several hiking groups, and travel agencies run guided hikes.
Are there dangerous animals on the trails?
Rarely. In hundreds of forest trips I've seen snakes only a few times, the last being a large king cobra more than ten years ago. You'll mostly meet birds, butterflies, small lizards and spiders.
What should you know before you go?
Bring a sweatband and something against blackflies. Some national park trails can close during the rainy season, so check before you go.
What should you eat after a hike?
Soup. Straight after the route, the talk turned to food, and Chiang Mai's best-known soup is khao soi. See what I found when I tested three khao soi restaurants in Chiang Mai.
Details checked on . Prices, opening hours and routes can change. See the disclaimer.
