Doi Suthep by Scooter: Monk’s Trail, Wat Pha Lat and the Ride to the Top

Doi Suthep is the mountain you see from almost everywhere in Chiang Mai, and the temple on top, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, is the city’s most famous sight. Most people go straight up by songthaew. On a scooter you can do it better: park at the bottom of the Monk’s Trail, walk up to Wat Pha Lat, then ride the mountain road to the top at your own pace.

This is the half-day plan we give customers at the shop.

Parking at the Monk’s Trail

The Monk’s Trail starts at the far end of Suthep Road, past Chiang Mai University, where the city stops and the forest starts. You can park your scooter right at the bottom of the trail, so there’s no need to walk from town.

Lock the bike, take your helmet with you or lock it to the seat, and bring water. That’s all the preparation it needs.

Walking the Monk’s Trail to Wat Pha Lat

The walk up to Wat Pha Lat takes about half an hour, 30–40 minutes at an easy pace. It’s roughly 1.2 km, climbing through forest the whole way on a dirt path with roots and some rock steps. The path is easy to follow. You don’t need hiking boots, but trainers are better than flip-flops, especially after rain when the path gets slippery.

Wat Pha Lat is the reason to come. It’s a small, quiet temple built into the hillside, with water running over the rocks and moss-covered statues among the trees. Compared with Doi Suthep at the top, it feels calm, even a bit hidden. It’s still used for meditation, so keep your voice down and dress as you would for any temple (shoulders and knees covered).

My advice: avoid weekends and public holidays. The trail and the temple get busy then, and the peacefulness is most of the appeal. On a weekday morning you might have long stretches of the trail to yourself.

Walk on to Doi Suthep, or go back for the bike?

From Wat Pha Lat you have two choices.

The trail carries on up the mountain all the way to Doi Suthep. This section is a lot steeper than the first part: allow another 1–1.5 hours from Wat Pha Lat, so around two hours from the bottom, and take plenty of water. It’s a proper hike, and you’ll still need to get back down to your bike afterwards.

Most people, us included, stroll back down the way they came, get back on the scooter and ride up. That way you see both temples in a morning without wearing yourself out.

Riding the road up to Doi Suthep

The road up the mountain is a good ride: steady climbs and plenty of bends, with the air getting noticeably cooler as you go. Take the corners gently, stay in your lane, and watch for songthaews and cars cutting corners on the way down. The road is paved and in good condition, with some real switchbacks near the top.

Allow about an hour for the ride with a stop or two. There are plenty of places along the way to pull in for a coffee or something to eat, and a few spots with views back over the city. Stopping is half the fun on a scooter, so don’t rush it.

A standard automatic scooter handles this road fine with one rider. Two people on a small scooter will be slower on the steeper stretches but it’s done every day. If you’re riding two-up, a bigger scooter makes the climb more comfortable. See our scooters and rates for the options.

At the top: tickets, the lift and the stairs

At the top there’s a parking area and a row of stalls selling food, drinks and souvenirs.

To reach the temple you can either walk up the 306-step Naga staircase, lined with serpent-shaped railings, or take the lift for a small fee. The stairs take 10–15 minutes at an easy pace. Foreigners pay a small entrance fee to the temple. Thai visitors pay less or nothing, and prices change, so we haven’t listed a figure here. Bring some cash.

The temple itself is the golden chedi you’ve seen in every photo of Chiang Mai, and it’s even more striking up close. On a clear day the view over the city from the terrace is excellent. Walk around the chedi clockwise, take your shoes off where signs ask you to, and don’t point your feet at the Buddha images.

Before you ride back down, get a coffee at Bond Doi Coffee Doisuthep, a small coffee shop right by the temple area. I stopped there on my last trip up and the coffee is good, a proper reward after the stairs.

When to go

• Weekdays over weekends. Both temples get crowded on weekends and public holidays.
• Early rather than midday. Start the Monk’s Trail in the morning while it’s cool. At the top, the busiest time is roughly late morning to early afternoon.
• Cool season for the view. November to February usually gives the clearest views. From about March to May, burning-season haze can hide the city completely. If the mountain is in cloud when you look up from town, the view at the top will be too.

What to wear and bring

Temples in Thailand expect covered shoulders and knees, and both Wat Pha Lat and Doi Suthep follow that. If you turn up in shorts, you can rent a sarong at the Doi Suthep entrance. Wear something light for the walk and bring a layer for the top, where it can be a few degrees cooler than the city.

Bring water, cash for tickets and coffee, and a phone mount if you’re navigating. Park in the shade where you can, because seats get very hot in the sun.

FAQ

Can you ride a scooter up Doi Suthep?

Yes. The road is paved all the way to the temple and it’s one of the most popular rides from Chiang Mai. Take the bends slowly, especially coming back down.

How long does the Monk’s Trail take?

About 30–40 minutes up to Wat Pha Lat. Continuing to Doi Suthep on foot takes another 1–1.5 hours on a steeper path.

Do I need to pay to enter Doi Suthep?

Foreigners pay a small entrance fee, and there’s a separate charge for the lift if you don’t take the stairs. Thai visitors pay a different price. Fees change, so bring a little cash.

What should I wear?

Cover your shoulders and knees for both temples. Trainers are better than flip-flops for the Monk’s Trail.

More day rides from Chiang Mai: the Samoeng Loop, Doi Inthanon by scooter and Mae Kampong.

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Written by Anton from AA Scooter Rentals, from his own rides; drafted with AI help and fact-checked. Want to do this ride? Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll deliver a scooter to you anywhere in central Chiang Mai.