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Destination Thailand, trails, mountains and hiking

In Thailand, hiking, trail running and outdoor activities are becoming increasingly popular thanks to enthusiasts who strive to help tourists discover magnificent spots. This is the case ofThailand Mountain Trail, which offers a range of hikes and trails in one of the most beautiful mountain regions in the Kingdom of Smiles.

Thailand Mountain Trail Agency

Its director, Sébastien Bertrand, is originally from the Alps. He has been living in Thailand for many years, and has set himself the task of marking out hiking trails to help visitors discover all the riches this Asian country has to offer. He offers real hikes over several days in places that are isolated from tourists. These are truly exotic itineraries that allow you to discover an atypical Thailand, far removed from the clichés seen elsewhere.

More than 180km have been cleared, marked out and mapped by the Savoyard!

The agency is located in the heart of Chiang Mai's old town, just a stone's throw from the Taphae gate.

The hikes and trails on offer here have nothing in common with other excursions. These are unique trails, carved out by machete or 'rediscovered' by Sébastien and his team. In fact, many of the routes retrace the old paths that linked the villages together. The modernisation of transport and changes in villagers' lifestyles have led to a loss of these routes.

Thailand Mountain Trail works in close collaboration with mountain dwellers, and with several Lahu, Lisu and Hmong villages. Sébastien has even built traditional houses on the edge of the rice fields to accommodate his clients during his"The Lahu High Country" tour.

The Chiang Dao mountain range is part of the French agency's trail and trekking playground. It offers 2 to 5-day trips in this magnificent mountain range, which is so different from our European mountains. It is around 1 hour from Chiang Mai's old town (when traffic is good).

However, what's striking about Chiang Mai is the proximity of its mountains, so Sébastien also offers day trips close to the Rose du Nord.

The Sacred Jungle Trail

The Sacred Jungle Trail is a hiking trail just outside the city of Chiang Mai. It features the Wat Palaat temple, Monthatan waterfalls and thick, colourful jungle. The path to get there is not very technical, but does require you to be in good physical condition.

The starting point is to the north of the city, close to Chiang Mai Zoo. This area is very busy with tourists, so don't stay too long, as beautiful scenery awaits you further on, with far fewer people.

Halfway to the summit, you'll pass through a Hmong village with many cafés. We recommend stopping here for a refreshment. Many of them have terraces with beautiful panoramic views over the valley. After a few kilometres, it climbs straight up to the summit of Doi Pui Peak! From here, the view of the Chiang Mai mountains and Northern Thailand is breathtaking. It's a real postcard setting.

After the summit, the path takes you back down through the dense, humid Chiang Mai jungle. Keep your eyes peeled for insects and snakes. They are of course frightened by the noise and should not cross your path, but caution is advised.

A little further down, stop at the signs indicating "Monthatan Waterfalls". These are magnificent waterfalls in the middle of nature, 25m high, in a unique location. Here, time seems to stand still. It's a place on the outskirts of the city, yet one that seems so far away from it all.

This will be your last stop before the final straight. All you have to do is follow the narrow path back down towards the city of Chiang Mai. There are plenty of taxis in the area to take tourists back to the city centre.

The jungle is a very hostile environment for humans. Make sure you go when it's still sunny, and go well equipped. The best way to make the most of these trails is to use an agency like Sébastien's: Thailand Mountain Trail.