#13: The Monk's Trail

28/01/2020

Day 3 in Chiang Mai and Day 13 in Thailand: The first hike is on! It turns out that we didn't carry our hiking shoes around for nothing.

After extensive research, we find a nice hiking trail that is accessible from where we are and also leads to the landmark of Chiang Mai, the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. At the same time, we discover that Thailand's jungle is home not only to monkeys and elephants, but also tigers, bears, venomous snakes, as well as huge spiders, scorpions, and centipedes.

These pieces of information lead us to also research what to do and what not to do when encountering venomous snakes. We also find out that the likelihood of encountering a tiger is very low and that most bears are vegetarians. In addition, we talk to a local at the hostel about our plan, who assures us that we can confidently do the hike on our own without a guide. However, she also asks us again if we really want to climb a very steep mountain in the jungle for several hours at 30 °C, as it is much easier to ride a scooter up there.

However, we stick to our plan and take the Songthaew (also known as Red Truck) to the starting point. The hiking trail is located in the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park and follows the Monk's Trail, the path that the monks used to climb up the mountain to their temple. The trail is very narrow, steep, and rarely marked. However, since it is well-trodden and there are very few intersections, it is impossible to miss. It leads to Wat Pha Lat and then to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, with a distance of approximately 6 km and an elevation gain of about 750 meters, along a creek with several small waterfalls.

The hike and the nature are impressive from the first to the last step. Although we only see insects, dogs, and cats, we can hear a lot of wildlife in the forest. After the hustle and bustle of the city, the atmosphere in the jungle is very calming. We particularly like the rather smaller and lesser-known temple Wat Pha Lat, as it blends perfectly into the jungle and has a very mystical vibe.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is visited by many tourists, mainly Chinese, and is also accessible by tour buses. From here, you have a beautiful view of the forest and the city. The temple is mostly one thing: golden, no matter where you look. Here we obediently explore everything, but then we start our descent after a waffle and water break. We hike back to Wat Pha Lat, where we take a Red Truck because we are afraid that we won't find a ride at the relatively deserted endpoint of the hike and would have to walk several kilometers through the suburbs.

We really enjoyed the hike through the jungle. The forest is different from our local forest in terms of density, flora, and fauna. The next hike will surely come soon! However, for today, it's time to call it a day. After a yellow and red curry, it's off to bed for us.