Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

After being picked up in the morning from your hotel in Chiang Mai city, you will head towards your local hiking adventure. 2 hours after beginning your ascent, you will reach Wat Doi Suthep at the 1,100 meter mark. Here you will start to traverse through highland jungle and the old Hmong Hill Tribe Village near the summit of Doi Pui which you will reach after your 3rd hour. After a hearty lunch at the village and an approximate 1-hour climb, you will tackle the summit of Doi Pui peak. Here we get to enjoy 180 degrees views of the Mae Ping Valley. The trip will be completed by a climb with a 30-minute downhill stroll to the Doi Pui Camp grounds ,where your ride back awaits you. Refreshed with cold drinks and snacks, you will then head back to the comfort of Chiang Mai, but not before making a stop at Wat Suthep to marvel at this rich temple which was built centuries ago in 1383.

At 9:00 AM, begin the day with a hotel pick-up and ride to the base. Once arrived, you'll have your safety briefing and be kitted out in safety gear. Then you can begin the hike up to the old Hmong Hill Tribe Village at the summit of Doi Pui National Park. The trek takes you through a stunning highland jungle, filled with huge indigenous Mai Yai trees. After about 3 hours of steady walking, you'll reach your destination: the summit of the National Park, reaching an elevation of 1400m. At the peak, your bikes and gear will be waiting for you in the nearby village. After a well-earned lunch break, begin your descent through the National Park on your mountain bike toward Lake Huay Tung Tao, an approximately 2-hour ride away. In contrast to the hike up, gravity rewards you now with a cool ride downhill with views of the beautiful Mae Ping Valley.  Awaiting you lakeside is a proper late lunch with cool drinks. Take a dip before it’s time to jump back in the truck and head out of the National Park. After a fun day out, you will be delivered back to your hotel around 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM.

This tour offers the most scenic and popular downhill mountain bike ride in Chiang Mai. Your day kicks off with transfer from your hotel at 9:30 AM and a comprehensive safety and bike fit-out briefing. After a 45-minute drive to the top of Doi Pui Mountain, you’ll take a short test ride to get comfortable with the equipment.   Finally ready, you’ll head off towards Hill Top Coffee Plantation along a small jeep track. If you’re a beginner, your guide will help you with your downhill riding techniques. Follow the track covered by spectacularly large tree canopies to enjoy the cooler temperatures before arriving at the first resting point. Take a break and maybe try a cup of local coffee as you soak in the mountain air and views! Home to the friendly Hmong Hill Tribe People, you will witness the rural living and farming in Northern Thailand’s mountains.   The second route you will take requires your full attention, as the wild growth of the forest hugs the track. For advanced riders, there are single tracks paralleling the moderately challenging jeep route to get their technical single-track fix (advanced riders know what I'm talking about!). There will be plenty of fantastic viewpoints for rest stops and lightly mixed terrain to challenge you as your ride continues down towards Lake Huay Tueng Tao at the base of the mountain. Arriving at the lake, you’ll enjoy a dip if you like, a well-deserved meal and amazing views of the mountain that just gave you an awesome 3+ hour mountain bike descent adventure. Then it’s time to head back to Chiang Mai, the lazy way: by truck, which will have you back around 3:30 PM.

Get picked up from your hotel or accommodation in Chiang Mai and drive up the curvy mountain roads to Doi Suthep - Pui National Park. You will visit the most important temple here. Walk up 306 steps (or, if you prefer an easier method, take a funicular ride) to the temple, which sits at 1,100 meters above sea level. The famous golden pagoda is stunning and the temple contains the relic of the Lord Buddha. Here, you'll also have the chance to get a holy blessing from a Buddhist monk and participate in a wrist tiding ceremony. From the balcony, enjoy a panoramic view of Chiang Mai. Next, you'll continue to Bua Tong waterfalls. Swim around the clear water or climb the "sticky" limestone and enjoy the gorgeous natural scenery.

Benefit from pickup at your hotel in Chiang Mai, and then depart for Doi Suthep and Pui Mountain. Arrive at Doi Suthep Temple to transfer to a small truck that will take you into the mountains to a remote Hmong Hill Tribe village. Learn how the locals still live connected to nature, and get some free time to explore the village on your own, including the primary school and its compound. Relax with an afternoon coffee or tea before heading back to Doi Suthep Temple. Follow your guide through the historic complex, and get lots of information about the ideals and beliefs behind Buddhism. Attend an evening service at the temple to get better acquainted with the beliefs, bathed in golden light.

Embark on a one-hour drive to the top of Doi Suthep National Park. Our first stop at Monthatan waterfalls gives us a glimpse into the diversity of flora in this National Park. Hike through the beautiful Northern Thai highlands to a forgotten Hill Tribe village. Take in the viewpoints to the east and to the north of the Mae Ping valley, where lunch will be had. After a good rest, start the ride down Suthep National Park on a smooth road. After a stop at the Queen Summer Palace and amazing views, continue to the famous Wat Suthep. The magnificent temple grounds reach 3600 feet in altitude. Continue cruising downhill on comfortable mountain bikes to the ancient Wat Pha Lat.

You'll begin by driving to the starting point, located approximately 1,500 meters above sea level inside the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. From there you will hike through thick evergreen forests before reaching the highest point in the national park at 1,640 meters above sea level. From the summit you will hike along a narrow ridge with spectacular views of Doi Suthep Pui and beyond, and if you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of Chiang Dao, the 3rd-highest peak in Thailand. The tour continues along a mountain ridge before descending through small fruit farms, and depending on the season, you can try some lychee or other fruits growing on the side of the trails. After approximately 8 kilometers the tour finishes in the village of Baan Khun Chang Kian, a small Hmong tribe village with a population of approximately 200 people. You can relax with a delicious coffee and enjoy the complimentary lunch before being taken back to Chiang Mai city and completing the tour.