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Thailand Mountain Trail has spent several years to find the most beautiful mountain trails around Chiang Mai. At the beginning of our research in 2013, we investigated the whole Doi Pui Suthep national park located just at the doorstep of the city. We were immediately seduced by the beauty and wildness of those areas which was still little known at this time.
This trip will start directly from the beautiful Wat Doi Suthep temple at 1000m high. It takes an old path created by the Hmong tribes when they arrived in the area from Laos in the middle of the last century, fleeing the war. They used to settle high in the mountains to grow poppy crops and use this trail to trade at the temple market. The route was relieved by TMT and now lead us through deep jungle to their villages located in the pine trees at the foothill of Doi Pui summit.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRIP
2'400
PICK UP AT YOUR HOTEL (8.00-8.30 AM)
WAT DOI SUTHEP (30 MIN TRANSFER FROM TMT)
HMOMG VILLAGES, JUNGLE,
PINE FOREST, VIEWS
BAN DOI PUI (45 MIN TRANSFER TO TMT)
DROP OFF AT YOUR HOTEL (4.00-5.00 PM)
ALL INCLUSIVE
SEE DETAILS (LINK)
5-6 HOURS TREKKING DAILY
90% SINGLE TRACK / 10% DOUBLE TRACK
AVAILABLE ALL YEAR
SUBJECT TO THE PARK’S OPENING
Just behind the temple, we take a hidden path and plunge headlong into a first stretch of jungle. For many it comes as a shock. We have to find our bearings very quickly in these long green tunnels whose very density is impressive. The undulating paths are almost free of obstacles but in many places, they are punctuated by fallen branches and tree trunks which we have to step over.
We will carry water and food as we will hike almost 10k in tropical forests without crossing any village. After the jungle flat and wild, the route begins to rise. It’s not steep but it is a constant way up until the 1st Hmong village. As we hike up, the forest is clearing out and pine trees are replacing banana trees. When we arrive in the village close to the summit, it’s a complete change of atmosphere and climate.
Hmong people are experts for farming. Many years ago, helped by the Royal Project, they abandoned poppy crops for substitution crops. This village is famous for growing tasty Arabica that we could taste directly from the producer. After a delicious lunch break and a cup of coffee, we continue our hike on a beautiful open ridge surrounded by pine trees. The view overlooking the fields and the valleys is steep and wild.
For the last part of our hike, we plunge again into the jungle and the atmosphere becomes wilder. First, it’s a beautiful mix between pine forests and tropical forests then the jungle again. We can enjoy a comfortable route that is slightly downhill until the last Hmong village. Arriving in Ban Doi Pui the horizon opens up on the next mountains. It’s time to relax in this lovely village and take a break before going back to Chiang Mai by taxi.
