Why Doi Suthep is a must-see in 5 good reasons

Basically, everyone knows Doi Suthep, for the simple reason that it is the closest mountain next to the city of Chiang Mai (remember, "Doi" in Thai simply means "mountain"). But if you are not familiar with this name or even think that apart from the temple there is nothing else? Well here are 5 reasons to visit Doi Suthep, which I hope will encourage you to take a closer look.

Le Doi Suthep is 16 km northwest of Chiang Mai and peaks at 1676 m. Some brave souls go up by bike and some even walk! But most come either by public transport, using taxis (Song Taew), or by rented motorbike (my case and the solution that I recommend to you if you can drive such a machine).

Thais themselves love to come here, if only to get some fresh mountain air and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city (in general).

1- The view of Chiang Mai

So yes, it may seem quite obvious, because, who says mountain, potentially says, point of view. On Doi Suthep, you can admire the view of the entire valley and the city of Chiang Mai, sometimes even while sipping a coffee. Between the specific “point of view” stops, the view from the temple and other “hidden” corners, you will have the choice.

“Official” point of view.

Viewpoint from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

Viewpoint from an unknown point…

2- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

The legend and origin of the creation of this temple dates back to 1383. Established after a white elephant, carrying on its back a relic of Buddha, entrusted to the king of the Lanna kingdom by a monk from Sukhothai, came to die at this place.

To get there, you can either climb the 306 steps, bordered by the mythological serpent, the Naga and the surrounding forest, or for the laziest, take the funicular (Price: 20 ฿)

The temple complex is never empty, many visitors, mostly Thais, come to meditate and visit this very sacred temple.

Before or after visiting the temple, you can taste some local specialties and do some souvenir shopping of local handicrafts at the market located at the start of the stairs and along the road at the foot of the temple.

Note for those interested, there is a meditation center located within the temple grounds, hosting retreats for beginners to more advanced practitioners (see info in English on the dedicated site)

3- Royal Gardens of Buphing Palace

4 km further up after Doi Suthep Temple, Is the Buphing Royal Winter Palace (also spelled Phu Phing or even Bubhing). The main attraction of the site is the visit to the gardens, obviously superbly flowered all year round.

It takes a good hour to walk around it, between the flower terraces, the large century-old trees, the fruit trees and the impressive giant bamboo. It is a pleasant setting for a romantic stroll (or not).

4- Nature, waterfall and Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

Like any national park, there is an entrance fee (see info below). But it is not mandatory to enter to enjoy the nature and some of the waterfalls that Doi Suthep has to offer.

To do this, do not hesitate to follow certain signs discreetly indicating "Waterfalls", in the direction of the climb, there are some on the left, over the first few kilometers.

5- Doi Pui and the Hmong villages

Okay, I'm cheating a little, since it's a different "Doi", but in this case, it can easily be done in the continuity of Doi Suthep because it is part of the same mountain, Doi Pui only owes its name to its summit, different from Doi Suthep and culminating at 1685 m (less than 10 m higher than Doi Suthep itself).

It is the habitat of Hmong tribes, but also of a sometimes surprising nature. Indeed, there, in the middle of the forest is a place famous for observing the flowering of ornamental cherry trees, the sakuras (visible only in December and January). I talk about it in more detail in my article on Doi Pui 😉