Chiang Mai: Trekking the Historic Opium Trail on Doi Suthep

Wat Doi Suthep, the Temple on the Mountain

Our guide and driver will meet you at the hotel at 0800 for your Doi Suthep trekking which we have labelled “Trekking the Historic Opium Trail”. Drive to Suthep Mountain. First, we will visit Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, arguably the most famous temple of Chiang Mai, before the crowds arrive. Walk up the 300 steps up to the temple from where you have a majestic view over Chiang Mai. We continue to Doi Pui Village, a Hmong community, close to the top of Doi Pui (Doi means mountain in Northern Thai language).

Your guide will tell you about the turbulent history of this community. In the past, the village was involved in opium cultivation. Nowadays the village is a significant tourist attraction on Doi Suthep. We walk around the village before we meet our local Hmong guide who will accompany us on our hike to the Hmong community Ban Mae Sa Mai in the Mae Sa Valley.

Trekking with Local Hmong Guide

This hike through Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National park will take about 5-6 hours, including many stops to take pictures and enjoy the forest and views. Our Hmong guide will share his knowledge of the woods with us and will tell stories of the past. After a walk uphill we will arrive at an open area with fantastic views on both sides of the mountain. We will stop briefly to look at a footprint of Buddha before enjoying a picnic lunch at a scenic spot. We will continue through the forest to the Hmong village Ban Mae Sa Mai.

This village is the largest Hmong community in Northern Thailand and gets very few visitors, a marked contrast with Doi Pui Hmong Village. You will learn about an exciting project of FORRU, the forest restoration unit of Chiang Mai University. Drive back to Chiang Mai. Your guide will drop you off at the hotel. Here your Doi Suthep trekking ends.

• English speaking guide
• Transportation by AC minibus
• Local Hmong guide
• Thai picnic lunch
• Drinking water during meals
• Entrance fees
• Limited medical insurance

• Other drinks except drinking water during meals
• Personal expenses
• Tips

• T-shirt and shorts (take a dry shirt with you as well)
• Hiking shoes with good grip
• Sunscreen
• Hat or cap
• Insect repellent (DEET medicated)
• Sunglasses
• Small backpack