Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
The golden chedi above the valley, at the top of three hundred and six naga-guarded steps.
Duration
1 hr – 2 hrs
Best time
Before 9am, or at sunset
Open
Every day
Entry price
30 THB
The temple sits at 1,073 metres on the mountain above Chiang Mai, and the legend says a white elephant carrying a relic stopped here before it died: the golden chedi was raised on that exact spot in 1383.
From the car park, three hundred and six steps climb between two mosaic nagas. A funicular avoids them for a supplement. At the top, the terrace circles the chedi and looks out over the whole valley — the view, as much as the temple, is what the climb is for.
Getting there
Red songthaew from Chang Phueak gate or the university, an hour each way. The driver waits at the top and comes back down with the same group: agree how long you have before you leave.
What the price covers
foreign visitor entry, in cash
What to bring
- Covering clothes
- Walking shoes
Rules on site
Shoulders and knees covered, shoes off on the chedi terrace. The dry-season haze in March and April wipes the view out entirely.
Checked on 28 August 2026 at Travel Triangle — Doi Suthep, entrance fees
