Walking trails on Doi Suthep.

[BonnieandClyde]

Are there any maps available for the trails on Doi Suthep/Doi Pui?

That, and any other information about hiking the area would be appreciated.

Happy New Year!

[eyecatcher]

The maps for the area are always out of print, besides that most of the dozens of old trails are overgrown so its not advisable to venture off alone without gps or someone who knows the routes.

There are certainly 3 or 4 well trodden routes but I suggest you start with the group walks first.

Www.chiangmaihiking.wordpress.com

Great hikes all over the area, not just doi suthep.

If you are fit enough and wish to do the pilgrims trail upto the temple, 8 30 monday,weds,friday at the channel 7 station suthep road...

[nalmal]

There is a book on all the walking trails on Doi Suthep. Try Backstreet Books on Ratchawithi Road.

[eyecatcher]

You can also download the app "everytrail"

There are quite a few local hike routes that have been gps mapped by the chiangmai hiking group, so very useful if you have on your phone.

[BonnieandClyde]

You can also download the app "everytrail"

There are quite a few local hike routes that have been gps mapped by the chiangmai hiking group, so very useful if you have on your phone.

Thanks for that. It's more likely to be up to date... but probably the best resource would be a person who really knows the area. Although we would rather not go with a professional guide.

Choke dee in 2014!

[CMMCB]

There is a book on all the walking trails on Doi Suthep. Try Backstreet Books on Ratchawithi Road.

But it's not a very good book at all. Self-published, no editor, most walks along vehicle tracks. Not recommended.

[FiftyTwo]

You can also download the app "everytrail"

There are quite a few local hike routes that have been gps mapped by the chiangmai hiking group, so very useful if you have on your phone.

Thanks for that. It's more likely to be up to date... but probably the best resource would be a person who really knows the area. Although we would rather not go with a professional guide.

Choke dee in 2014!

You can come with me.

Tomorrow 8:30 start of Pilgrims Trail (starts by the channel 7 mast just beyond top of Suthep road) up to Wat Palaat then onto Wat Doi Suthep.

Later in the week, or next week, 2 waterfalls walk from the Exercise park parking area top of Huay Keow road, past two waterfalls and back. Someone else already asked me to take them on that one.

If you are really, really fit .... Wat Doi Suthep, through the Park Authority enclave, up to Chang Kian Village, over Doi Pui, then back to Doi Pui tourist village ..... but that's a mega walk.

Many of the everytrail GPS tracks were uploaded by me.

Edited December 31, 2013 by FiftyTwo

[nalmal]

Sorry. The name of the bookshop is On the Road.

[BonnieandClyde]

Sorry. The name of the bookshop is On the Road.

Thanks, we will check out whatever is available. There seem to be several groups hiking on a fairly regular basis, and going with them, you certainly would never get lost. But it would be nice to have maps for an overview of the whole area.

Thanks again for your help.

[Duvidl]

This might be of interest to you:

http://jetsetcitizen.com/cheap-travel/doi-suthep-hike/

[FiftyTwo]

This might be of interest to you:

http://jetsetcitizen.com/cheap-travel/doi-suthep-hike/

They nicked that info from me, but I didn't tell them about the top, so they went the wrong way.

[BonnieandClyde]

This might be of interest to you:

http://jetsetcitizen.com/cheap-travel/doi-suthep-hike/

Thanks for that link.

Even if, as FiftyTwo says, it's the wrong way to the top, it's an interesting byway.

Great photos.

[FiftyTwo]

This might be of interest to you:

http://jetsetcitizen.com/cheap-travel/doi-suthep-hike/

Thanks for that link.

Even if, as FiftyTwo says, it's the wrong way to the top, it's an interesting byway.

Great photos.

ran up there this morning 47mins up, 1hr 15mins for the return trip.

passed the 'jetset team' in both directions.

its a great trip.

[CMHomeboy78]

Doi Suthep is mentioned several times in the Chiang Mai Chronicle [Wyatt/Wichienkeeo trans. Silkworm Books 1995], but always in a religious or ceremonial context, and doesn't give much practical information.

Reginald le May, a British consular official posted to Chiang Mai early in the 20th century tells us that Doi Suthep was used as a hill-station by the foreign community during the hot weather. He goes on to say that "...many bungalows are dotted all over it, at heights ranging from 1200 feet right up to the top."

In the late 19th century the missionaries built a sanatorium on the east slope. The site chosen was not sufficiently high, as the malarial region rises to an elevation of 4000 feet, and the building was abandoned. Also mentioned by le May are extensive tea-gardens on the west slope.

Holt Hallett, the British civil-engineer who made several visits to Chiang Mai in connection with the railway surveys he was conducting in the 1880s, records an excursion he and his party made on elephants:

"The ascent of the hill as far as the waterfall, which lies about a mile and a half from the foot of the hill, was easy, and from thence onwards the slope became rather steep. The aqueduct takes its water from the Huay Kao just above where the stream plunges over a ledge forming the crest of the fall, and a shelter for many small images that have been placed under it by pious pilgrims. A small temple containing a solitary image of Gaudama has been erected near the head of the fall.

Continuing the ascent along the bank of the torrent, which rushed, glistening and foaming, down its channel of bare granite rock, at eleven o'clock we reached the rest-houses at the foot of the knoll on whose crest the Mya Sapeet chedi, or pagoda of the Emerald Rice-bowl [Wat Pra-Taht Doi Suthep] is erected. The journey from the east end of the bridge had taken us four and a half hours, the distance being a little over eight miles.

The enclosure on the summit of the knoll is square, and surrounded by a roofed shed which faces inwards, and has an entrance-gate in the centre of each side. The pagoda is about fifty feet high, covered with copper plates heavily gilded, and surrouned by a copper-sheathed iron railing. The pedestals at the four corners of the base of the pagoda are coated with a glass mosaic of various colours, and facing each side of the pagoda is a temple containing an image of Gaudama. The walls and posts of the temples are richly decorated with designs in gold and vermilion. The platform of the enclosure is 1993 feet above the plain, and 3001 feet above mean sea level. The summit of Loi Soo Tayp [Doi Suthep] appeared to be about 3000 feet higher than the crest of the knoll.

From the entrances facing the plain, on a clear day the view must be magnificent; but at the time of our visit the hills on the other side of the plain were shrouded in haze, and we could only see the country for two or three miles beyond the town. The whole area as far as we could see looked one great orchard of palm and fruit trees, with here and there a narrow strip of rice-plain."

Photographs from around the turn of the 19th century show the main naga stairway leading to the wat as very impressive, haunting, almost eerie looking. Albeit in a state of disrepair. One naga without a head, and the serpentine railing collapsed in some places.

When I first saw it in 1978, it had been completely reconstructed and transformed into something you might see at a carnival or some cheezy Tiger Balm Garden type of sculpture. So it goes.

Happy trails!

[nivram4491]

This might be of interest to you:

http://jetsetcitizen.com/cheap-travel/doi-suthep-hike/

Great link! Thank you very much. Makes it easy to do on your own not having to enter a competition as to who is the fastest. There are many sights and sounds to enjoy whilst doing a leisurely walk.

[BonnieandClyde]

This might be of interest to you:

http://jetsetcitizen.com/cheap-travel/doi-suthep-hike/

Great link! Thank you very much. Makes it easy to do on your own not having to enter a competition as to who is the fastest. There are many sights and sounds to enjoy whilst doing a leisurely walk.

Good point.

There are times when you want fast company, and there are times when you don't.