A Mountain Motorbike Ride to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

We were going to go climbing today. While 45 km away, the route to the Crazy Horse climbing area seems straightforward. We didn't want to pay 300 baht per person and take the uncomfortable red taxi bus there again, so we rented a motorbike last night. So many people use motorbikes here. We figure if they can do it, we can do it too. Plus, it seems like part of the Thailand experience. 

We have a motorbike!

Unfortunately, Brandon has been having some dental sensitivity and it peaked last night. This morning it was still bothering him, so we decided we needed to nix the climbing trip and use the motorbike to check out dentists instead. Thailand is well known for dental tourism, so at least we're in the right place to deal with a dental issue. But, due to dental tourism there are a ton of options, some better than others. We collected recommendations from the internet, our host, and a couple living here that we met through Brandon's aunt. Mid-morning, we took the motorbike out to find some places. 

We eventually secured Brandon an appointment. We were treated kindly by everyone we interacted with, but anything associated with dentists is no fun for Brandon. The appointment wasn't until 7:30 pm and the motorbike didn't have to be returned til 5:45 pm. So, we decided to make lemonade out of lemons and still enjoy the motorbike for the day. 

We had been wanting to check out Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a famous temple on top of Doi Suthep mountain (wat = temple). The most common way to reach the temple is one of the ubiquitous red taxis, which we prefer to avoid. So, we decided to take the motorbike up the mountain instead. 

Winding route up to Wat Doi Suthep from Chiang Mai University. You can also see part of the square, moat-surrounded old town in the right bottom corner. 

We started up but then realized we should probably get gas first, just in case. So, we returned to the busy city area. Brandon weaved in and out of the traffic amazingly, and I think I was a pretty good back seat navigator. The first place on the map that claimed to be a gas station was not (go figure), but we had success with the second. 

Then we had to figure out how to get gas and how much. There were servicemen running the pumps and the motorbike listed the petrol type. With some communication struggles we figured out to ask for either a full tank of gas or a certain baht amount. We went with 50 baht at first and then changed to 60 baht when we checked the gauge and saw the tank wasn't as full as we wanted. We didn't want a full tank, because we hadn't received the bike with a full tank; we just had to return it at the level of petrol we had received it at. 

With petrol successfully in the motorbike we made our way back to the base of the mountain and motored up. Brandon did an excellent job with the twisting road and even had a lot of fun with it. The more we drove, the more comfortable I got as a passenger. We were able to stop a couple times on the way up and enjoy and a great view of Chiang Mai far below and a beautiful waterfall. An added benefit was that the higher we went up the mountain, the cooler it became. So wonderful. 

View of Chiang Mai from a lookout on the mountain

Taking a break from the motorbike at the lookout

Waterfall just off the side of the road

It was pretty obvious we had made it to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep when we saw a gathering of food and souvenir stalls, red taxis, and throngs of people. We parked the motorbike and searched out some food first. After satisfying ourselves with a banana chocolate waffle we walked to the entrance of the wat. 

Our view while eating our waffle

One of many buddhas at the wat

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is known for the 300 step ascent to the expansive temple area. You can take a tram for about $1 USD or you can walk up the steps. I, of course, headed for the steps. Brandon counted as we climbed and concluded that the route we took there were actually 298 steps, not 300. Either way we made it easily. All those steps at Laketown Dune in Holland prepared us for this moment. 

The first section of stairs

Close up of the monk

Giant gong along the way. It was tempting, but we didn't touch it. 

The second set of stairs

Dragon and traditionally dressed child at the base of the stairs

The body of the dragon just kept going and going as we went up the stairs

We were technically supposed to pay 30 baht per person to enter the temple. But, we just wanted to explore the grounds and see the view down the mountain rather than actually enter the temple and associated buildings. We slipped in without question and had a look around for a few minutes. 

Part of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

A row of bells, not to be touched

Entrance to another section of the wat

View of the clouds and Chiang Mai from the wat

Golden steeple of the wat

After descending all 298 steps we treated ourselves to a banana shake before motorbiking down the mountain. Once again, Brandon demonstrated skill driving down the mountain, taking the curves with ease. It was a fun experience. 

Walking down the dragon steps

Market area in the temple courtyard

Another banana shake: A theme of our Chiang Mai trip

Riding down Doi Suthep 

Cruising along

At the base of the mountain, we decided to check out Chiang Mai University while we were in the area. Being at the base, the university has close ties to Doi Suthep. In May there is an 12 km walk up the mountain to the temple to honor the Buddha that many students participate in as well as Chiang Mai citizens. Our host said that she has done it, and local businesses provide free drinks and food all the way up. 

We drove into the campus, but were not allowed to go far before being re-directed to a parking lot. We weren't too enthused about exploring the university on foot, because we wanted to take advantage of the motorbike. But, we stayed long enough to see the ornate Sala Dham Hall and to appreciate the hundreds of elephant shaped bushes. It must be a full time job to give them all proper haircuts! 

Fancy fountains

Sala Dham Hall

Elephant shaped bushes

This isn't what we were expecting to do for the day, but it turned out to be a fun, memorable experience. We would say that visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on a motorbike is the way to do it!