If you’re looking for the best hikes in Chiang Mai that are accessible to all fitness levels, you’ve come to the right place.
Chiang Mai’s mountainous landscape means that there are plenty of hiking opportunities.
From panoramic viewpoints to hidden forest temples and waterfalls, the hiking trails in Chiang Mai definitely didn’t disappoint.
If you’re looking for some easy hikes in Chiang Mai, this guide will show you the 5 best hiking trails, including information on how to get there, opening hours, entrance fees, and other helpful tips.
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Best time for hiking in Chiang Mai
The best time to hike in Chiang Mai is from November to February when the weather is cool and dry.
June to October is the rainy season and although it won’t rain all day long, the trails can sometimes be slippery.
The only time I wouldn’t recommend hiking in Chiang Mai is during the burning season which happens in March and April, although it can sometimes begin in late January or February and last until mid-May).
The air quality can be pretty bad at this time, plus the visibility won’t be great. I recommend using this website to check the air quality before planning your hike.
5 Easy Hiking Trails in Chiang Mai
Below are 5 easy hikes in Chiang Mai that I recommend. Most of them can be done without a guide except for the Kew Mae Pan trail.
Although the hiking trails are well-beaten and easy to follow, you might consider downloading the free maps.me app to ensure you don’t get lost.
Once you download the app along with the relevant maps, you can use it offline which is super convenient.
Kew Mae Pan Trail Doi Inthanon National Park
- Distance: 2.8 km round trip
- Total duration: 1-2 hours
- Entrance fee: 200 baht per group of up to 10 people
- Opening hours: 6 a.m to 4 p.m, between November 1st and May 31st
- Click here for the trailhead location
Kew Mae Pan is one of the best hikes in Chiang Mai especially for beginners.
Located in the Doi Inthanon National Park, this 2.8-km loop trail takes you through a verdant forest with lots of interesting fauna and flora, a waterfall, and incredible views over the valley.
The temperature there is much cooler and can even drop to zero degrees Celsius during the winter months (December to February). When I did the hike in May (hot season), it was 17°C, so be sure to wear warm clothes no matter when you’re visiting.
During my visit, the view was almost completely covered by a sea of mist but my guide told me that the visibility does get better in winter, so plan accordingly.
Overall the hike was very easy with the occasional ups and downs but nothing too strenuous, so even children can do the hike.
Note that it’s compulsory to be accompanied by a local Hmong guide to hike the Kew Mae Pan trail. This will cost 200 baht for a group of up to 10 people in addition to the Doi Inthanaon National Park fee of 300 baht for adults or 150 baht for children.
The best way to do the Kew Mae Pan hiking trail in Chiang Mai is to join a guided tour.
This particular tour includes a guided hike of Kew Mae Pan and Angkha Nature Trail along with visits to Wachirathan Waterfall, the King and Queen Pagodas, and a local hill tribe village.
The tour price also includes all entrance fees, hotel transfers, lunch, drinks, and an English-speaking guide.
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Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall
- Total duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Entrance fee: Free
- Opening hours: 8 a.m to 5 p.m, daily
- Click here for the trailhead location
Another easy Chiang Mai hike is Bua Tong Waterfall, commonly known as the Sticky Waterfall.
It got its name thanks to the sticky surface of the rocks which makes climbing up and down the waterfall super easy. But if you’re still worried about slipping, there are handrails and ropes to hold on to.
Just make sure to avoid stepping on the green algae as they can be slippery. Other than that, it’s one of the easiest hikes in Chiang Mai for adults and kids alike.
Also near the waterfall is a short boardwalk trail leading to a sacred spring with crystal-clear blue water.
The Sticky Waterfall is located about 60 km from Chiang Mai Old Town. You can get there by hiring a private songthaew, renting a motorbike, or joining a guided tour.
Since I was traveling solo, I decided to book this guided tour which also included a visit to Doi Suthep Temple.
The tour price included the temple entrance fee, lunch, water, and a local guide which turned out cheaper than hiring a private songthaew.
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Monk’s Trail to Wat Pha Lat
- Distance: 1.4 km one way
- Total duration: 25-45 minutes
- Entrance fee: Free
- Opening hours: The temple is open daily from 6 a.m to 6 p.m
- Click here for the trailhead location
If you’re planning on hiking in Chiang Mai without a guide, I highly recommend the Monk’s Trail.
It’s easily accessible from the Old Town by a short taxi ride which should cost you less than USD 2.
Back in the day, monks used to hike these trails to get to Wat Pha Lat, a small Buddhist temple set in the middle of the Chiang Mai forest.
The trees also used to be wrapped with orange robes to show the way but I didn’t see any during my visit in 2023.
Still, the path is well-beaten and easy to follow and it took me only about 25 minutes to reach the temple. There is a slight incline though but it’s still accessible to everyone.
Wat Pha Lat is one of my favorite temples in Chiang Mai as it’s very peaceful and quiet, plus it provides a panoramic view over Chiang Mai city. There’s also a small stream with a shallow pool where you dip your feet in.
If you’d like, you can also continue all the way to Doi Suthep Temple. Keep in mind that the trail becomes slightly more challenging, so be sure to download the maps.me app to avoid getting lost.
Note: Before entering the temple grounds, be sure to cover your shoulders and knees.
Montha Than Waterfall
- Distance: 1.6 km round trip
- Total duration: 45 minutes
- Entrance fee: 100 baht + parking fee of 20 baht for motorbikes or 30 baht for cars
- Opening hours: 9 a.m to 4 p.m, daily
- Click here for the trailhead location
Looking for an easy hike in Chiang Mai? Montha Than Waterfall is made up of not one but two waterfalls!
Located about 10 km from the Old Town, you can get there by taxi or songthaew.
Since the waterfalls aren’t that popular, I recommend asking your driver to wait for you as it would be hard to find another one on your way back. Alternatively, you can rent a motorbike for about 250 baht per day and drive yourself.
The first waterfall is found just a few meters from the parking lot but to get to the second waterfall, you’ll have to climb up a long flight of stairs which luckily aren’t too steep.
The next section of the trail involves hiking along an uneven and rather steep terrain, so be sure to wear appropriate shoes if you intend to do the whole 1.6-km loop.
Huai Kaeo Waterfall
- Total duration: 30 minutes
- Entrance fee: Free
- Opening hours: 8 a.m to 4.30 p.m, daily
- Click here for the trailhead location
Huai Kaeo Waterfall is located about 5 km from the Old Town and can be reached by songthaew, taxi, or motorbike.
Although there’s no actual hike required to visit the waterfall itself, there’s a short nature trail nearby leading to the top section where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Chiang Mai.
Just follow the signs to Pha Ngoep Cliff and it should take about 5-10 minutes to get there. The trail is a bit steep and slippery but still doable.
There’s also another trail near the viewpoint that takes you deeper into the forest. Just make sure to download maps.me app as there aren’t many signs showing the way.
I hope you found this Chiang Mai hiking guide helpful. If you have any questions about any of the hikes, just ask in the comments below.
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