Our friends from the USA made the long trek to visit us in Chiang Mai. We thought it would be a memorable experience to take them on a trip up the Doi Suthep mountain to the temple known as Wat Phra That Doi Suthep or Doi Suthep Temple.
Climbing Doi Suthep By Way of Motorbike
With the rainy season slowly beginning to move into Chiang Mai, the air has been able to clear itself of most of the dust that accumulated during the burning season. With that has come a clear skyline and a view of Chiang Mai’s famous Doi Suthep mountain on the west side of the city.
View of Doi Suthep from Suthep Rd
After squaring them away with a super sweet pink Honda Click motor scooter, we opted to test that bad boy out with the short, but very twisty ride up the picturesque Doi Suthep mountain.
Only a few vehicles were making the trek up the mountain as early evening approached, most of which were bicyclists who had waited for the hottest part of the day to pass to pursue the curvy climb.
As we guided our motorbikes around the bends and twists of the mountain road, we enjoyed the shade from the hugging trees and the gradually cooling air. About halfway up the mountainside we stopped at one of the overlook points to view the city from up high, a must see for any first time visitor.
View from Doi Suthep
Angela and her friend, Amanda, halfway up the Doi Suthep mountain on one of Chiang Mai’s overlooks.
Arriving at the Doi Suthep Temple
The four of us continued following the winding road until we reached the Doi Suthep Temple. It was quiet. Most shops had closed and covered up for the day, and many of the tourists were leaving as we were just beginning the climb of over 300 steps to the 630 year old temple occupying the top of Doi Suthep.
A dog local to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep naps at the bottom of the temple steps.
FUN FACT: The reason the temple is called Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and not simply Wat Doi Suthep is because Phra That means that the temple contains a Buddha relic. In fact, any temple in the world with a Buddha relic can proudly have this in its title.
We stopped a few times on the way to the top to snap a few pictures. The greenery lining the stairs was speckled with large red flowers. The railings on either side of the steps were sculpted into the bodies of a snakelike dragons with raised green and yellow scales.
Angela on the steps of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
Although it was a long steep climb, it was well worth it once we reached the top. The temple grounds were stunning. The dark swirling sky over the gold temple domes made for a beautiful sight. With almost no one else at the temple, it felt remarkably peaceful and serene. This being our second trip to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, we recommend visiting a bit later in the day to avoid the crowds of tourists.
As we quietly strolled around the grounds we admired the fine details that make this temple such an important place to Thai people living in Chiang Mai and the rest of Thailand. There are large bells lining both sides of the main temple that are there to bring good luck to those that ring them.
The grounds are also decorated with well manicured gardens and small shrines that add to its beauty. We didn’t understand the meaning some of the individual pieces in the gardens, but they were eye-catching nonetheless. Each item added a subtle touch that allowed us to use our imaginations a bit during our visit.
One of the temple gardens
We left the temple as the wind started picking up and the darker clouds rolled in. Although it did not end up raining that particular evening, we are cautious of these signs given some of the unpredictable storms we have been caught in since living here. Coming down the mountain at dusk as the city lights started blinking was a beautiful sight to see.
View from the top of the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep steps
We will definitely be sure to visit Doi Suthep and it’s temple when we need a short break from it all. We recommend that everyone pay a visit if ever they find themselves in the beautiful Thai province of Chiang Mai.
Looking forward to visit it!! Thank you for the tips :) We weren’t thinking about renting a motorbike, but take a songtaew instead. Is it easy to find them going up and down the mountain to the city center?
Yes, very easy to find a songthaew in the city center willing to go up the mountain to the temple. When you are finished exploring, there is a queue of songthaews at the bottom of the temple’s entrance offering a flat rate to go back to one of four drop-off points in the Old City. Have a great time!
Thanks for the tips! I’m headed to North Thailand in a week and am excited to spend a few days in Chiang Mai. My first time in the country was spent along the southern coasts, and with the overly touristy atmosphere there you feel like you could be in any of the Southeast Asian beaches. I hope the north will help me understand Thai culture and the people better!
The vibe in the north is much less touristy and there are very many memorable activities here that really touch on the Lanna culture. Have a great trip!
What a beautiful place. Can’t wait to visit Thailand!
We think it’s one of those must-visit places because it gives a great view of the city below, and the temple itself is gorgeous too.
Love this place. Have you visited Wat Suan Dok yet? They used to have “Thai Monk Chat,” where you can visit monks for conversation, and they can practice their English.
No, but we’ve heard there are several temples where you can speak English with monks. Thanks for suggesting that at Wat Suan Dok!