Hiking on the Monks Trail Chiang Mai to Temple Wat Pha Lat

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An inspiring hiking guide for the Monks Trail in Chiang Mai. Hike on a picturesque jungle path to the temple Wat Pha Lat, a quiet Buddhist monastery on the mountain slopes with a view of the busy streets of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

If you are in the mood for a quick morning adventure, then a hike on the Monks Trail Chiang Mai to Temple Wat Pha Lat is an incredible way to experience a piece of the natural beauty of Chiang Mai. This is a relatively short and easy hike, but it is worth escaping the masses of tourists and the hustle and bustle of city life.

Unfortunately, the process is no longer really visited by monks. Instead, they carved new routes through the mountain to avoid tourists. Nevertheless, the hike is far from a tourist trap, and a visit to the hidden forest temple in Chiang Mai was one of my favorite morning trips to the city.

How to come to the Monks Trail Trailhead

To get to the Monks Trail, you have to go to the starting point of the trail, which is located near the Chiang Mai zoo. Depending on the traffic, the journey from the old town in Chiang May lasts about 15 to 25 minutes.

There are different ways to get here:

  • with the motorcycle - the motorcycle rental in Chiang Mai costs 200 baht per day
  • by grave - can cost over 150 baht, easy trip from the old town
  • Songthaew-that costs about 70-100 baht

I think the best way to get here is just to rent a motorcycle for the day. Since this is only a short hike, it makes sense to have one for the rest of the day. If you turn off your bike at the foot of the mountain, you don't have to wait for another grave or Songthaew after the hike.

If you plan to hike around Doi Suthep all day, it is of course not the best choice to park your motorcycle near the starting point for the Monks Trail. In this case I would welcome a Songthaew.
Alt = “Hiking on the monk path Chiang Mai to Wat Pha lat“>
Tip: stay calm on the route. The path is used by many people as a morning meditation hike.

Hiking map of the monks

On the map of the monk path below you will find the starting point for the path and the temple itself, which is marked as "Pha Lat Temple", in the west. The hiking trail begins at the bend of this street, where you can enter the forest and start the hike.

Walking on the monk path in Chiang Mai

difficulty level: slight length: about 40 minutes in one direction away: 1.5 km in one direction

hiking on the Monks Trail in Chiang Mai is a great morning sunrise walk that everyone can do. The route gently climbs up the mountain slope, with several stops on the way that is worth a photo.

Cross lush jungle on the route and some elegantly flowing streams. When reaching the temple Wat Pha Lat, hikers find a small waterfall and a wonderful view of the city of Chiang Mai.
Alt = “Chiang Mai Mönchpfad”> Buddhist Robenbaum on the Monks Trail Chiang Mai.

Are there monks on the path?

Unfortunately, hiking on the Monks Trail Chiang Mai is no longer the mystical and enchanting experience that it once was. The trees once wrapped in Buddhist robes are now bare, and the monks seem to have found new ways to the Wat Pha Lat.

As already mentioned, there are a few unmarked side paths that are now wrapped with monks and which lead through the Doi Suthep Mountains. We were told that the monks now go on this new path every day so as not to be disturbed by tourists. So if you see some winding paths that go off the path, I would stay away from you out of respect for the monks.

In a way, this compromise has led to a good result. The monks still have paths for hiking and meditating, and tourists, emigrants and locals can still enjoy the monk path and the temple Wat Pha lat.
Alt = “Zoner Photo Studio X Review before and after monk portrait photography”>

When is the best travel time

hiking on the Monks Trail Chiang Mai can be undertaken in any season. The best time for the hike is early in the morning or at sunrise to avoid school and business transactions and enjoy a great gold view over the city of Chiang Mai.
Alt = "Monks Trail am Waldtempel Chiang Mai">
Tip for expats and locals: You can join the Facebook group of Doi Suthep Walker to get useful and current information about hiking around DOI Suthep and for Monks Trail Chiang Mai.

Wat Pha lat-Waldtempel Chiang Mai

The temple Wat Pha Lat is the main attraction and end point of the Monks Trail. Wat Pha Lat means "sloping rock monastery" in Thai. This little monastery was built to serve people and monks who hike after Doi Suthep as a stop and prayer. Since Doi Suthep has now been reached via a street, the monastery has turned into a monk residence and a meditation center.

If you reach Wat Pha Lat, the forest temple, you will find that you have to explore several areas. The first thing you may notice is the long dragon bridge that leads down the mountain to the edge of the flowing river. There are also several smaller temples and stupas as well as many statues and representations of Buddhist deities around the monastery that are worth a look.

  • Alt = "Buddhist carvings at the Waldtempel Chiang Mai, monastery Wat Pha lat">
  • alt = "forest temple chiang Mai, wat Pha lat">
  • Alt = "Walking on the Mönchtspfad Chiang Mai to Wat Pha lat">

Where from here?

What's next? After the Monks trail hike, you have three options. I sketched each of them below to help them better plan their hiking day in the Doi Suthep mountains above Chiang Mai.

Continuation of the hike to the Wat Doi Suthep

A popular option for people who are striving for a longer hike is the onward journey to the Wat Doi Suthep. This is a larger and much more popular temple. The hike here is a little longer, but also much steeper. Expect a Wat Pha lat.

at least 1.5 hours

From the forest monastery further following the river to the street. From here there is another narrower and non -marked path that leads to the Wat Doi Suthep.

Go back down the Monks Trail

If you have put your motorcycle off at the foot of the path, you can simply turn back and go back the way you have come to the Suthep Road.

Lazy option: Hitch a Songthaew from the street

This is for the laziest hikers. On the right side of the temple you can see the main road access to the forest temple. You can go down this street and wave down a passing Songthaew who brings you back to the beginning of the route or to Chiang Mai.

  • alt = "forest temple chiang Mai, wat Pha lat">
  • alt = "forest temple chiang Mai, wat Pha lat">
  • Alt = "Mönch statues in What Pa lat Tempel">

After hiking on the Mönchspfad Chiang Mai: Further adventure

I hope this guide to hike on the Monks Trail Chiang Mai was informative and inspires you to venture the adventure. If you are still in Chiang Mai for a few days, why don't you look at some of the other articles that I wrote for the region below?

If you have any questions or want to say hello, leave a comment below or contact me by email!

  • Alt = "Walking on the Mönchtspfad Chiang Mai-Wat Pha Lat Tempel">

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