Chiang Mai - Doi Suthep Temple & Wat Pha Lat Hike
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Chiang Mai, Thailand
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Those looking for an experience that combines nature with culture can enjoy this small-group tour to the Doi Suthep Temple and Wat Pha Lat in Chiang Mai. Hike to Wat Pha Lat, nestled within a lush forest, and discover its serene ambience and captivating statues. Then, make a trip to see the splendor of Doi Suthep Temple, adorned in shimmering gold. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience, though entrance fees are extra.
- Discover the hidden forest temple on Dou Suthep in a garden with statues
- Hike through the monk’s trails to Wat Pha Lat until you get to the temple
- Walk on the 300-step dragon staircases; capture the staircases
- Learn about the history of the temple through the paintings on the walls
What's Included
- Signature Chiangmai Red Car (songthaew)
- Bottle of drinking water
- English speaking guide
- Entrance fee Phra That Doi SuthepTHB50.00 per person
- Personal Expenses
- Gratuities for driver and guide (optional)
- Entrance fee for Wat Pha Lat/Monk’s TrailTHB100.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
1
Wat Pha Lat Monk's Trail
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Wat Pha Lat
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Wear proper walking shoes.
- Remember that temples are sacred places and visitors are required to dress appropriately. Shoulders and knees need to be covered.
- The Monk’s Trail to/from Wat Pha Lat is generally considered an easy hike (approx. 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. We therefore recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes. This tour may not be suitable for guests with mobility issues. If you are unable to do the hike, you can go with the songthaew (pick up truck).
- For the sunrise program (start 5:00 hrs in the morning) we visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep first. After sunrise we continue to Wat Pha Lat from where we start the Monk’s Trail and hike down the mountain instead of up.
- This tour is operated with a typical Thai “songthaew”. A songthaew is a converted pick-up truck with two benches in the back, open sides, and no air-conditioning. It’s an authentic way locals travel around Chiang Mai.
- Free pick up and drop off inside the old (walled) city of Chiang Mai. If you are not an actual guest at one of the hotels in our pick-up area, the designated meeting point will be in front of the Burger King at the Tha Pae Gate. Do NOT pick a random hotel from the list if you're not a guest in that hotel.
- Participants should be aware that pickups will begin up to 45 minutes before the scheduled tour start time.
- Entrance fee for Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (THB 50 per person) and for Wat Pha Lat/Monk’s Trail (THB 100 per person) are NOT included and must be paid in cash on the day of the tour.
- As our tours run on a group basis, we can wait a maximum of 10 minutes after the scheduled meeting time. After this grace period, the guide will begin the tour. If you cannot make it on time, please let us know before the tour starts. If possible, we’ll do our best to reschedule you for the next available time slot or day, though a rescheduling fee will apply. No refund will be provided in case of late arrival.
- Cancellations made at least 24 hours before the tour start time are eligible for a full refund. For cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance or in case of no-show, no refund will be issued.
- Our tours operate rain or shine, as tropical rain showers in Thailand usually don’t last long. If it rains heavily, we try to seek shelter and will continue as soon as the weather improves. During the rainy season, it’s a good idea to bring a raincoat or poncho. Please note cancellations due to weather are not eligible for a refund.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 687 reviews
Katharine_M, Apr 2026
Our guide Saman was wonderful. He was very informative, and took time to explain rituals and temple grounds.
We had 2 young children with us-and they were entertained and looked after. The hike was interesting and enjoyable.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you very much for your review. We are pleased to hear that the tour met your expectations and that you enjoyed the experience.
Marine_O, Apr 2026
We went with Saman, who was super lovely & explained everything about Buddhism to us. Really recommand going at this time, as you avoid all the tourists and get to enjoy the sunrise.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us and we would love to see you back.
Jacob_I, Mar 2026
We had a fun experience with our guide which helped us understand the culture. It was a fun experience.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Sawadee kha Jacob,
We really appreciate your fantastic review and are glad to hear you had a wonderful tour!
David_T, Mar 2026
Take the vecular train as the steps to the top are steep. The hike is slightly challenging if you are unsteady on your feet
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Sawadee kha David,
We greatly appreciate your 5-star rating and we are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience with us!
Chandra_C, Mar 2026
The tour guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable with a good sense of humor. The hike was beautiful.
However, the red truck experience was awful-the exhaust fumes were overwhelming and filled the back of the truck for the entire ride up the mountain. The driver was kind and the guide gave up her spot in the cab on the ride back
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 4-star review. We’re glad to know that you had a positive experience with us. Your feedback is valuable, and we’re always striving to improve.
TinOo_M, Mar 2026
We did the afternoon 1.30pm tour. It's a bit hot however red signature chiangmai taxi was an experience. It was a bit hot but still a fun ride. Our tour guide (Ching? I believe) explained in detail on how the temple/pagoda was built and it was great. All in all, it was a great.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your 5-star review. We are delighted to hear that you had a positive experience with us and hope to see you again!
Mary_O, Mar 2026
This was for sure a hike and we were all glad we wore hiking/walking shoes. Gorgeous views even when it is cloudy.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this amazing review. Glad to hear you had an enjoyable experience with us!
Eliot_L, Mar 2026
What a magnificent temple! We were treated to a beatiful sunrise, morning chants, and circumambulation (Pradakshina) around the central golden chedi. The group was not too big and our guide was extremly helpful.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Sawadee kha Eliot,
Thank you for your review and 5-star rating. We’re thrilled to hear that you are satisfied with our tour. Your feedback is really appreciated and we hope to see you back on our tours!
Lynda_H, Mar 2026
You will be traveling with a red open air tuk tuk with no AC to both of the templs. I would give this tour a 5 stars had we are traveling by a regular car with AC. I was not aware of the type of transportation because the description only stated that a traditional red car was included for the hotel pickup. Saman, our tour guide was great, he is very attentive and very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Sawadee kha Lynda,
Thank you for joining our tour and for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review.
We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the experience overall and that Saman made a positive impression.
Regarding the transportation, we do mention on the Viator tour page: "This tour is operated with a typical Thai “songthaew”. A songthaew is a converted pick-up truck with two benches in the back, open sides, and no air-conditioning. It’s an authentic way locals travel around Chiang Mai."
Of course, it’s always possible this detail was overlooked.
We hope you had a wonderful time in Thailand and appreciate your feedback.
Lynn_M, Mar 2026
Saman was really knowledgable and made the experience truly meaningful. Seeing the Buddhist monks going about their daily rituals was special. Getting up at 4:15 was worth it to see the beautiful sunrise over Chiang Mai
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for taking the time to write a review, very much appreciated. Glad to hear you had an enjoyable experience with us and we hope to see you again!
Dhiraj_T, Mar 2026
This experience is very relaxing and really informative. I recommend doing this over just going by alone. We had Margaret as our tour guide and she was great and very kind.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We really appreciate your positive review and it was great to have you on our tour. We look forward to welcoming you again!
Sacha_F, Feb 2026
Interesting and fun. Jean was a great tour guide and explained all the relics and artefacts. A really enjoyable day out
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Sawadee kha Sacha,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We really appreciate your positive review and it was great to have you on our tour. We look forward to welcoming you again!
Lewis_W, Feb 2026
Lovely afternoon tour with Maggie, great to see two temples and have a light hike down the monks walkway. Would recommend. Thanks Maggie and team.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Khob khun kha, thank you for your review. We are really delighted to hear you had a wonderful experience with us and we hope to see you again!
Dominic_S, Feb 2026
This is a good combination of learning about the mountain temples and having fun and exercise with the hike.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your kind review and for joining our tour. We truly appreciate your feedback and are happy to hear that you had a pleasant experience.
Arpy_D, Feb 2026
Excessive hiking down the hill in the forest. Very intense suitable only for pro hikers and not for everyone.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Dear Arpy,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We’re sorry to hear that the hike felt excessive for you. Physical activity can be experienced very differently from person to person, and we fully understand that what feels manageable to some may feel challenging to others.
The Monk’s Trail is generally regarded as an easy, well-maintained forest path and is suitable for most people in normal physical condition. To give some context, members of our team have walked this trail multiple times, including very young children, which is why it is classified as an easy hike. That said, the path does involve walking downhill on uneven terrain, and factors such as weather, footwear, and personal fitness can greatly affect the experience.
Thank you again for your feedback. It helps future guests better decide whether this tour is the right fit for them.
Jennifer_F, Jan 2026
The early morning wake-up was totally worth it for the spectacular sunrise at Doi Suthep Temple. Our guide, Saman, did an excellent job of explaining the life of monks and teaching us more about Buddhism.
The Wat Pha Lat hike was really nice. It was wonderful to walk amongst the trees and have a break from the bustling city. The hike itself was not difficult but the ground is very uneven and sneakers/trainers are recommended as footwear.
The traditional red truck taxi transported us to and from the sites. We recommend that you bring a mask as the fumes can be quite strong.
The best part of the excursion was the interaction we had with others from France, Netherlands and the USA.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Sawadee kha Jennifer,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a great experience and that Saman made your tour so memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
WILLIAM_R, Jan 2026
Jane made our Tour a fun and memorable one. The knowledge she shared with us and ease of understanding her. Would definitely do another tour with her. Mahalo Jane for a Great time. Nancy Racoma
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Sawadee kha Nancy,
Thank you for joining our tour and for your kind feedback. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience and hope you made many wonderful memories in Thailand.
Krystal_C, Jan 2026
The tour was great. Our guide, Saman, was very passionate and we appreciated his humour. We chose to do this trail because we wanted to walk the monk’s trail, but were worried about the feral dogs. We did the 4pm tour and hiked up the trail, we encountered a few dogs, but the guide knew how to mange them. Beautiful temple and great views.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Khob khun kha, thank you for your review. We are really delighted to hear you had a wonderful experience with us and we hope to see you again!
Starrla_D, Jan 2026
Beautiful sunrise experience at the Wat upon Doi Suthep! Added plus during the sunrise tour was you get to walk down the Monk’s Trail instead of up, which was helpful from the early morning wake-up time. K. Jane was our guide and she was so helpful and respectful, funny too! A woman felt faint after the staircase walk, and K. Jane was confident in safely helping her out until she felt better.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for joining our tour and for your kind feedback. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience and hope you made many wonderful memories in Thailand.
Paul_R, Jan 2026
Excellent tour and our guide was very knowledgeable & accommodating.
Well worth the price - would definitely do this again, or another tour, with same provider.
Just one word of warning - check the tour start time at meeting point! I understood it was 16.00, but got a text at 15.30 asking where we were. One other passenger also had the same experience. Luckily we were only a 5 minute walk away so no real drama - be warned!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Sawadee kha Paul,
Thank you very much for your review. We are pleased to hear that the tour met your expectations and that you enjoyed the experience.
Joao_B, Jan 2026
Our tour guide was assigned to this tour for the first time (apparently by mistake). They didn’t know the route and had to call the office constantly. Not a smooth tour. Low values for money.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Sawadee kha Joao,
Thank you for your honest feedback.
On the morning of your tour, our originally assigned guide unfortunately called in sick. Rather than cancelling the tour at the last minute and disrupting everyone’s plans, we arranged a substitute guide so the tour could still operate.
We sincerely regret that this affected the smoothness of your experience. It is clear that the level of route familiarity did not meet our usual standards.
Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience, and thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Nyki_B, Jan 2026
This was an excellent tour and great value for the price. Visiting Doi Suthep Temple (via cable car) and hiking to Wat Pha Lat made for a really well-balanced experience.
I did find the hike a bit of a trek at times, but our guide (Amy) paced it really well with frequent stops, which made it manageable. Plus, reaching Wat Pha Lat at the end made it absolutely worth it. The temple is beautiful, serene, and feels like a hidden gem tucked into the forest (great views of the city below too).
Amy was incredibly knowledgeable and did a wonderful job keeping everything organized and running smoothly. She shared helpful context, answered questions thoughtfully, and made sure everyone was comfortable and having fun throughout the tour. Highly recommend if you want a mix of culture, nature, and expert guidance in Chiang Mai!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We really appreciate your positive review and it was great to have you on our tour. We look forward to welcoming you again!
Charlotte_R, Jan 2026
This tour was a ‘must do’ when visiting Chiang Mai and it was exactly what we were hoping for. The tour guide Saman was so kind and told us a lot about Buddhist tradition and the monks.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Khob khun kha, thank you for your review. We are really delighted to hear you had a wonderful experience with us and we hope to see you again!
charlotte_f, Jan 2026
The red taxi that took us up the hill was hot and the exhaust extremely irritating despite the fan & open windows. A van with AC should be provided not the cheap city taxis.
On a positive note the temples were very impressive and the monks trail down the mountain challenging in sandals but very good.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Sawadee kha Charlotte,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the temples and found the Monk’s Trail a rewarding experience.
For this tour, which is offered at a very low price, we use a songthaew, the red taxi you mentioned. This is a very local and commonly used form of transportation in Thailand and is clearly stated on the tour page, so that participants know what to expect before they make a booking. We understand that it can feel hot and less comfortable than a van with airconditioning, especially on warmer days, and we appreciate you sharing how this felt for you.
Thank you again for your honest review, and we hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Chiang Mai.
Jim_O, Dec 2025
Katie was great fun and very informative!! I
recommend this tour. The temple was beautiful as was the hike. Bring good shoes though, the terrain is a bit rough.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Khob khun kha, thank you for your review. We are really delighted to hear you had a wonderful experience with us and we hope to see you again, Jim!
yusuf_t, Dec 2025
amazing and best experience in thailand . highly recommend and worth go with easily and super service
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Sawadee kha Yusuf,
We really appreciate you taking the time to leave us your 5-star review. It means a lot to the whole team, and we’d love to see you again on our tours!
Bryan_D, Dec 2025
Wonderful tour to Doi Suthep Temple, and a fun easy hike at Wat Pha Lat. our tour guide was Jane and she gave a lot of great information about the history of the temple. Weather was perfect in the morning, slightly cooler. We also got a perfect view of the sunrise.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Sawadee kha Bryan,
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words and for awarding us a 5-star rating! We’re thrilled to hear about your fantastic experience with us.
Paul_B, Dec 2025
Best part of my vacation,
With the best tour guide ever!!
She shared Lots of historical information that was interesting and so pleasant.
Exhaust fumes from the truck and lots of curves made for some motion sickness for a couple of us. But the hike up the stairs cleared that up 👍.
Beautiful temple, well worth the visit! And the walk down was very peaceful and relaxing.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Sawadee kha Paul,
Thank you very much for sharing your review and for joining our Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat tour.
We are delighted to hear that this was one of the highlights of your vacation! Your kind words about guide Bum and the information she shared are greatly appreciated and will certainly be passed on to her.
Thank you again for traveling with us, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future.
Erica_H, Dec 2025
The tour itself was great. We went to the temple for sunrise which was gorgeous and learned a lot about the temples and monks. Our guide Bright did a great job answering our questions and was a lovely host. However, the driver was late to pick us up (by 30 min) and made us wait at the temple for another 30 min while being unable to be reached. We still got to do everything on the tour including the hike but we are lucky we don’t have anything right after. Would recommend Bright highly but this company should consider hiring different drivers or sharing contact details among tourists, guide, and driver.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for joining our Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat tour, Erica.
We’re very pleased to hear that you enjoyed the sunrise experience with our guide Bright. At the same time, we sincerely apologize for the delay caused by the driver and for the inconvenience this created. This is certainly not the standard we aim for, and we understand how frustrating this must have been.
Your comments regarding communication and coordination are taken seriously and will be discussed with our team to help prevent similar situations in the future. Thank you again for your honest review, and we appreciate your recommendation of Bright.
Joemier_P, Nov 2025
The trip overall was great, but it could have been done at a faster pace. Some of the comments were unnecessary.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your feedback and 4-star rating! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the trip overall. We’ll also take your comments about pacing and guide commentary into consideration to improve future tours.
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