Ive got a few hours after work on a weekday and wanted to go up to Doi Sutep. What's the quickest/cheapest way to get up there and back? If I grab a songthiaw will he do it or am I better finding someone with a car to pay them to drive me up there? How long should I plan to be up there? Is there a long neck village up there?

Negotiate a songtheaw or take one to the zoo area, where they fill up with passengers and go.There are no long neck Karen up there to my knowledge, I think you need to go to Mae Hong Son area, if slavery interests you.

Hire a motorbike.

Rental starts from as little as 100 baht per day.

Any idea how long it'll take to get up there and back to town and what a songthiaw will want for the trip? If it helps - my Thai is passable - if that'll help with the negotiations.

There's a big sign stating the prices where they depart from near the zoo. I think its 40 Baht per person to the temple, not 100% sure though.

I hired a songtheaw from outside the Central store, cost 300 TBaht for as long as I wanted, took us up, waited and we returned four hours later. No Problem

Walk up by the Pilgrim's Trail via Wat Palaad. Best in the morning when cooler. Choice of 40bt sangteaw down or walk back down the trail.

Rent a motorbike, the best part of Doi Suthep is at the view point past Phu Ping Palace...keep making right turns. I dont think the red trucks go that far.

Where should one look to flag a songtheaw that will stop off by the zoo?

After you buy your tuk tuk from a man on the street you should have no problems getting up there

Wait until January 11th... Visakha Bucha Day and walk up for free... And get free food along the way too

Walk up by the Pilgrim's Trail via Wat Palaad. Best in the morning when cooler. Choice of 40bt sangteaw down or walk back down the trail.

I agree. Did it yesterday. Just over an hour from the start of the trail just above Wat Fai Hin to the big bend just below Wat Doi Suthep. About a 4-5 km walk in the fresh air, compared with 12 kms (from the zoo area) on the exhaust-fumed road, sitting sideways with no view in the back of a songtaew.

CMMCB