Most&nbsp;visitors&nbsp;to&nbsp;Doi&nbsp;Suthep&nbsp;skip&nbsp;straight&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;top&nbsp;by&nbsp;van.&nbsp;You&#39;ll&nbsp;take&nbsp;the&nbsp;long&nbsp;way,&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&#39;s&nbsp;the&nbsp;better&nbsp;one.&nbsp;Your&nbsp;morning&nbsp;starts&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;ride&nbsp;out&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&nbsp;in&nbsp;an&nbsp;open-sided&nbsp;red&nbsp;truck,&nbsp;the&nbsp;songthaew&nbsp;that&#39;s&nbsp;carried&nbsp;Chiang&nbsp;Mai&nbsp;locals&nbsp;for&nbsp;generations,&nbsp;before&nbsp;you&nbsp;step&nbsp;off&nbsp;at&nbsp;Channel&nbsp;7&nbsp;Gate&nbsp;and&nbsp;start&nbsp;climbing.The&nbsp;path&nbsp;underfoot&nbsp;is&nbsp;the&nbsp;Monk&#39;s&nbsp;Trail,&nbsp;a&nbsp;route&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;hills&nbsp;that&nbsp;monks&nbsp;have&nbsp;walked&nbsp;between&nbsp;temples&nbsp;for&nbsp;decades.&nbsp;It&#39;s&nbsp;a&nbsp;moderate&nbsp;climb,&nbsp;wide&nbsp;and&nbsp;clearly&nbsp;marked,&nbsp;shaded&nbsp;most&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;way&nbsp;by&nbsp;tall&nbsp;trees,&nbsp;so&nbsp;it&nbsp;suits&nbsp;most&nbsp;fitness&nbsp;levels&nbsp;without&nbsp;turning&nbsp;into&nbsp;an&nbsp;expedition.&nbsp;About&nbsp;an&nbsp;hour&nbsp;in,&nbsp;the&nbsp;forest&nbsp;opens&nbsp;onto&nbsp;Wat&nbsp;Pha&nbsp;Lat,&nbsp;a&nbsp;small&nbsp;temple&nbsp;built&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;rock&nbsp;and&nbsp;moss,&nbsp;quiet&nbsp;at&nbsp;this&nbsp;hour,&nbsp;with&nbsp;morning&nbsp;mist&nbsp;sometimes&nbsp;clinging&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;stone&nbsp;Buddhas&nbsp;and&nbsp;stupas.From&nbsp;there,&nbsp;you&#39;ll&nbsp;continue&nbsp;up&nbsp;to&nbsp;Doi&nbsp;Suthep,&nbsp;Chiang&nbsp;Mai&#39;s&nbsp;most&nbsp;recognizable&nbsp;temple,&nbsp;its&nbsp;golden&nbsp;chedi&nbsp;visible&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;city&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;clear&nbsp;day.&nbsp;You&#39;ll&nbsp;have&nbsp;time&nbsp;to&nbsp;explore&nbsp;the&nbsp;temple&nbsp;grounds&nbsp;and&nbsp;take&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;panoramic&nbsp;views&nbsp;before&nbsp;heading&nbsp;back&nbsp;down&nbsp;mid-morning,&nbsp;well&nbsp;ahead&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;midday&nbsp;heat&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;tour&nbsp;bus&nbsp;crowds.Your&nbsp;guide&nbsp;walks&nbsp;the&nbsp;route&nbsp;with&nbsp;you&nbsp;start&nbsp;to&nbsp;finish,&nbsp;sharing&nbsp;the&nbsp;history&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;trail&nbsp;and&nbsp;both&nbsp;temples&nbsp;along&nbsp;the&nbsp;way.&nbsp;It&#39;s&nbsp;a&nbsp;half-day&nbsp;tour&nbsp;built&nbsp;around&nbsp;one&nbsp;simple&nbsp;idea:&nbsp;see&nbsp;more&nbsp;of&nbsp;Chiang&nbsp;Mai&nbsp;on&nbsp;foot,&nbsp;before&nbsp;most&nbsp;people&nbsp;are&nbsp;even&nbsp;awake&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;it.

Thailand

Hike&nbsp;the&nbsp;historic&nbsp;Monk&#39;s&nbsp;Trail&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;hidden&nbsp;jungle&nbsp;temple&nbsp;of&nbsp;Wat&nbsp;Pha&nbsp;Lat,&nbsp;then&nbsp;continue&nbsp;on&nbsp;to&nbsp;Doi&nbsp;Suthep&nbsp;for&nbsp;sweeping&nbsp;views&nbsp;over&nbsp;Chiang&nbsp;Mai,&nbsp;all&nbsp;before&nbsp;the&nbsp;midday&nbsp;crowds&nbsp;arrive.