The 7 Biggest Hiking Trail in Chiang Mai

Thailand, renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, offers a plethora of captivating hiking trails that range from leisurely strolls to challenging treks. These trails traverse diverse terrains, from lush rainforests and towering mountains to serene beaches and tranquil waterfalls. Whether you seek adventure, breathtaking vistas, or a connection with nature, Thailand’s hiking trails have something to offer every outdoor enthusiast.

• Pha Taem National Park:
• Nestled in the heart of Ubon Ratchathani province, Pha Taem National Park boasts a network of trails that cater to hikers of all levels. The park’s main attraction is Pha Taem itself, a sandstone cliff formation with sheer drops and stunning views. Hike through dense forests, ascend rocky cliffs, and marvel at the panoramic vistas from various viewpoints.
• Doi Inthanon National Park:
• As Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon National Park offers a challenging yet rewarding hiking experience. Trek through lush rainforests, explore waterfalls, and admire the diverse flora and fauna. The highlight of the park is the summit of Doi Inthanon, which rewards hikers with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes.
• Khao Yai National Park:
• Khao Yai National Park, located northeast of Bangkok, is Thailand’s oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park encompasses a vast area of diverse habitats, including rainforests, grasslands, and waterfalls. Hike through verdant forests, encounter wildlife such as elephants, gibbons, and hornbills, and marvel at the park’s scenic beauty.
• Phu Kradueng National Park:
• Situated in Loei province, Phu Kradueng National Park is renowned for its unique rock formations and panoramic views. Hike through rugged terrain, ascend steep cliffs, and explore hidden caves. The park’s highlight is Phu Kradueng Peak, which offers breathtaking vistas of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
• Tham Lod National Park:
• Located in Mae Hong Son province, Tham Lod National Park showcases a combination of natural wonders and cultural heritage. Hike through dense forests, navigate limestone caves, and admire the park’s scenic waterfalls. The highlight of the park is Tham Lod Cave, a vast cave system with underground rivers, stalactites, and stalagmites.

The 7 Biggest Hiking Trail near Chiang Mai

Doi Suthep Hiking Trail (Wat Pha Lat)

• Address: QWXJ+JM4, Tambon Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.1 (87)
• Opening hours:
  
  Monday: Open 24 hours

  Tuesday: Open 24 hours

  Wednesday: Open 24 hours

  Thursday: Open 24 hours

  Friday: Open 24 hours

  Saturday: Open 24 hours

  Sunday: Open 24 hours
• Reviews:
  
  Raphaël B✭✭✭

  6 months ago

  Not the best hike if you’ve just done the monk’s trail. It’s very hard to access it from the pha lang temple (the start is next the main road so you have to go over a road fence to rejoin it). The hike is quite hard, and the viewpoint can easily be reached with a car. Lots of electric cables which you will avoid.

  Karl Tschopp Navarat (KTN)✭✭✭✭✭

  a year ago

  I give this a high rating not because it was easy to hike but it was a real challenge.

  It is a real survival trail, like in the movie predator.

  Bring your machete to cut through the forest.

  Otherwise you will not make it through.

  I tried with a stick but that didn’t work.

  In fact my wife and I only made it half way and returned to the beginning of the trail.

  My wife fell three times in the slippery river.

  We could not find the actual trail to the top.

  It was all grown shut and packed with spider webs.

  This trail is not a walk in the park.

  There are no signs and there is no real path way to follow.

  Regardless it was a real jungle mountain adventure, perhaps even dangerous.

  I recommend this to survival freaks ?

  Konrad Lipiec✭✭✭

  10 months ago

  I went there by the end of the dry season so the paths were very solid. Despite that fact, the climb was intense. Taking about an hour to complete, the inclines and the size of some steps were up to my belt (im 184cm tall!). By the ¾ mark i had to make several stops because I couldn’t go on at a solid pace anymore. Be prepared when you go here, take a large bottle of water because you might just need it, as well as grippy shoes.

  Would i recommend it though? Honestly? not really.

  It was hard to see the valley from the path as most of it was covered by trees and in the end there wasn’t any payoff to climbing for an hour besides a headache from exhaustion.

  J M✭✭✭✭✭

  2 months ago

  Challenging walk but good sense of achievement at the end. Someone of average fitness should be able to complete this but be prepared to climb and get a sweat on. Took us 45 mins to complete with a few very brief stops. The entrance may not be obvious, but follow the path on google maps and you won’t go far wrong.

  L Nguyen✭✭✭✭✭

  2 years ago

  The trail head wasn’t clearly marked but I found it after reading several blogs online. I drew a map from wat pha lat below.

  After you get up the first bit of dirt stairs to the rock with the view, there‘s a split: one path that goes into the trees and the other path was open but under the power lines. We followed a random man to the left, under the power lines, which led to more natural dirt steps.

  I thought I was athletic until I did this hike. I was sweating like crazy and paused several times to catch my breath. The hike was steep and unmarked but still fairly easy to follow. Took us about 1.5 hours to get to the temple.

  The trail doesn’t lead straight to the temple. When the jungle trail ended, we walked on the main road up to the temple. The hike was a challenge but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The stairs to the temple was the cherry on top 😉 There were loads of people at the top of the temple and red trucks (song taew) which we paid to take us back down.

Wat Pha Lat Hike (Monk’s trail)

• Address: Unnamed Rd Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (1135)
• Reviews:
  
  LJ✭✭✭✭

  a month ago

  Was not expecting such a difficult hike in all fairness, it’s pretty steep so take water although if you go from the bottom of the loop and park the bike at the entrance you can hike up there and there is places to buy drinks. There is no signs at the bottom but it is VERY STRICT on clothes. Men are okay in shorts and t shirt but women MUST be covered so make sure to bring something with you or dress appropriately. You can buy a scarf which will cover you at the top for 200baht like I did( but the man has to go get it so if you’re on your own as a female you’re out of luck!). Beautiful temples, scenery, monks or acting meditation & not too busy. There should definitely be a sign regarding clothing at the bottom entrance though.

  Tereza Kratochvílová✭✭✭✭✭

  2 months ago

  Great trail. We walked from the city to Wat Pha Lat temple and it was quite easy trail. Yes, you have to walk up the hill, but nothing extreme. The temple is gorgeous, it’s located in the middle of the forest and it’s so calm and quiet. Great place to meditate. After that you can continue to walk to the second more famous temple but it’s more steep than first part and in my opinion the temple isn’t worth it. On the way down you can catch the red truck (public transport) – it costs 50-100 THB/person to the city center.

  Alice Evans✭✭✭✭✭

  2 weeks ago

  Really enjoyed this walk up to Wat Pha Lat. Took around 35 minutes and was fairly easy with just a few tricky places to clamber up. Absolutely worth it when you reach the temples. So beautiful.

  Tyler Diedrick✭✭✭✭✭

  a month ago

  Awesome hike! I did the out and back option, combining with the Doi Suthep Hike (2-3 hours total between the two with a little time for sightseeing). The total distance is right at 10K in total (starting from the Basecamp Cafe just up the road).

  If you’d like a video summary of the entire hike, check out the 1-min highlight footage on my YouTube page: https://youtu.be/tUfboRo13pQ?si=Yh_6D1FEcNf7IOY8

  Brittony Girton✭✭✭✭

  3 months ago

  I really enjoyed this trail. It’s an easy to medium hike up to the first temple. You will want proper walking shoes, and if it’s raining be careful as it can be slippery. I am at a decent fitness level and did it without problems in 40 minutes.

  If you want to go up to the next big temple be warned, that second trail is much steeper and definitely give yourself more time and bring water.

  If you don’t want to hike the second part there are the red tuk tuk taxis to take you up.

Crying Dog Waterfall

• Address: QWC4+2G6, Tambon Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50230, Thailand
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.3 (20)

Thailand Mountain Trail

• Address: 22 Rachadamnoen Rd Soi 1, Tambon Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (85)

Doi Pui Nature Trail

• Address: RVFQ+7XM Unnamed Road Tambon Chang Phueak, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (43)

Mindfulness Hill

• Address: Wat Pha Lat Hike (Monk’s trail, Unnamed Rd, Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (2)

ผาเงิบ Pha Ngoep

• Address: RW7Q+4G, Tambon Chang Phueak, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.3 (12)

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Top Hiking Trail Alternatives in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, located in the mountainous and picturesque northern region of Thailand, offers a variety of wonderful hiking trails for outdoor enthusiasts to explore. In addition to the well-known Doi Suthep and Doi Pui trails, there are several alternative hiking options that are equally popular and provide unique experiences.

• 1. Monk’s Trail to Wat Pha Lat:

  The Monk’s Trail is a hidden gem that starts from the base of Doi Suthep mountain and leads to the stunning Wat Pha Lat temple. This trail is less crowded compared to the Doi Suthep trail, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a more peaceful and serene hike. Along the way, hikers can enjoy lush greenery, tranquil streams, and breathtaking views of Chiang Mai city. The trail is relatively easy and takes about 1-2 hours to complete, depending on your pace.

• 2. Huay Kaew Waterfall Hike:

  The Huay Kaew Waterfall is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, offering a refreshing respite from the city heat. The hiking trail starts from the car park near the Chiang Mai Zoo and winds through a lush forest, leading to the waterfall. The hike is relatively easy and takes around 30-40 minutes each way. Along the trail, hikers can enjoy the sounds of nature, spot various bird species, and marvel at the beauty of the waterfall. There are also picnic spots near the waterfall for a relaxing break.

• 3. Sticky Waterfall (Bua Tong Waterfall) Hike:

  The Sticky Waterfall, also known as Bua Tong Waterfall, is a unique and spectacular natural attraction located about an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai city. What sets this waterfall apart is its limestone formations, covered in mineral deposits that make them surprisingly grippy and easy to climb. Hikers can ascend the waterfall, enjoying the cool waters cascading down, and reach the top for stunning views of the surrounding area. The hike is relatively easy, and no special climbing skills are required. It’s a fun and memorable experience for hikers of all levels.

Thank you for taking the time to read our article. For more in-depth reviews and comprehensive ratings on the Hiking Trail spots, please explore the recommended articles listed below.