THAILAND – Chiang Mai – Merit Making and Temple Hike

Description

The day starts early with a visit to a local market where guests have the opportunity to participate in the merit making ceremony, locally known as tak bat. While Thailand may not be very famous for this rite, it still is an important part of the daily life of many local people. After offering alms to the monks, guests will have the chance to taste some truly local breakfast dishes at one of the restaurants near the market.

Then it is time to hike to a small temple surrounded by nature via a small nature trail. In the past the trail was used by monks to walk to the city, nowadays it offers the perfect opportunity for people to enjoy Chiang Mai’s green surroundings while getting in some morning exercise. After relaxing and enjoying some snacks and a coffee at the temple, guests have the choice to continue by minivan or continue hiking to the next temple, Wat Prathat Doi Suthep. This temple is one of Chiang Mai’s most famous landmarks and a must-see for anyone visiting the city. Learn about the cultural and historical significance of this temple and receive a blessing by a monk to end this morning on a spiritual note.

Can be combined with

Thematic Leisure

• Chiang Mai – A taste of Chiang Mai – Kaad Luang walking tour
• Chiang Mai – Introduction to Thai tea with a tea-inspired lunch with an expert
• Chiang Mai – Chiang Mai’s local food treats by E-tuktuk
• Chiang Mai – The city by night on a Vespa
• Chiang Mai – Experience the traditional Lanna Lifestyle with a local family
• Chiang Mai – Half day Pantawan cooking class

Selling points

• Not only alms giving but complete, local experience at a market, including a local breakfast
• Includes a visit to Doi Suthep temple (classic highlight), as well as a lesser-known temple
• The hike is accessible for everyone with basic fitness
• A good way to include add a “special” touch to a classic visit of Doi Suthep temple
• Includes some real local food at the market, as well as a picnic breakfast

Level Of The Excursion

The Impact Of This Excursion

Social/cultural Impact

Economic Impact

Additional Information

Positive Impacts

• Participation in the tak bat ceremony helps preserve a traditional Buddhist practice and fosters deeper cultural understanding.
• Guests contribute to the market economy by purchasing offerings and breakfast from local vendors.
• Hiking along nature trails encourages low-impact travel while allowing guests to enjoy the environment without motorized transport.
• Engaging with monks and locals provides a meaningful cultural exchange, promoting mutual respect.

Negative Impacts

• Temples like Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, being popular landmarks, may face overcrowding, which can strain resources and disrupt local spiritual practices.
• The vehicle used for transportation run on fossil fuel, contributing to CO2 emissions and negatively impacting the environment.

Conclusion

This activity promotes cultural immersion and environmental appreciation through participation in local rituals, hiking, and interaction with the community. However, managing visitor numbers, trail maintenance, and transportation choices will be important to mitigate environmental impact and preserve the authenticity of the experience.

Time And Transportation

Duration

• Approximately 5 hours (6:30 until 11:30, not including transfers)

Min pax

1

Max pax

15

How to sell it

• To have a “different” way of including a visit to Doi Suthep temple, suitable for people who like hiking
• For people who are interested in spirituality and wellness. Both the merit making and hiking can be considered as suitable to wellness
• To include a very classic highlight (Doi Suthep temple) with an active touch
• To offer a local experience for people who are a bit adventurous
• To have more products that are suitable to different thematics (wellness, spirituality, hiking, …)

Why this activity

• An active touch to very classic highlights
• To offer a visit of very classic highlight (Doi Suthep temple) with more authentic and lesser-known places and activities
• Visit a classic highlight combined with very local places and experiences
• The chance to have a local breakfast experience while still making use of the hotel’s breakfast that is included.

Good to combine with

• Chiang Mai – A taste of Chiang Mai – Kaad Luang walking tour
• Chiang Mai – Chiang Mai’s local food treats by E-tuktuk

Do not combine with

• Other alms giving activities
• Hiking in the footsteps of the Hmong
• Doi Suthep and White Hmong village (Khun Chang Khian) by car

Market suggestion

Competitor comparison

• It is a Signature product, currently no competitors offer the same product

Pros

• Operated by us directly. No use of a supplier
• Low operating cost, guide fee and transportation are the biggest costs

Cons

• Subject to weather conditions, can be affected during the rainy season and hot season
• The trail is known to locals and backpackers, so during the high season some other people could be on the trail
• As all places in the activity are public, we can’t avoid it being copied in the future

Information

Program with approximate timings:

• 06:30 – 07:00: Tak Bat at Ton Payom market
• 07:00 – 07:45: Local breakfast at the market
• 08:00 – 09:00: Hike the monk’s trail to Wat Pha Lad
• 09:00 – 10:00: Enjoy breakfast box and visit the temple
• 10:45 – 11:30: Visit Wat Prathat Doi Suthep

Alerts

• This activity is seasonal. The Doi Suthep-Pui National Park is usually closed during the burning season from February until April, and also sometimes during the rainy season in times of heavy rain.
• There are 2 possible hiking parts, but we will offer only 1:
  • Start of the trail to Wat Pha Lad: This is the nicest part and arriving at the temple is a nice moment. As it is relatively short, we can confirm this with FSG if booked 2 months or more in advance. This is the part included in the activity.
  • Wat Pha Lad to Wat Prathat Doi Suthep: This part is more monotonous and does not have real added value. We will not include this part of the hike into the program.
• Breakfast at the market is very local (โจ๊ก and ปาท่องโก๋), but they can enjoy a breakfast box later prepared by the hotel. Kindly clearly note this to Reservations team so they can inform the hotel upon booking.
• Clients need to dress appropriately for Tak Bat ceremony and temple visits (cover shoulders and knees)

Important information

Temple Hike

• Distance and duration: 1,35 kilometers, approximately 30 – 45 minutes hiking
• Level: 0
• Difference in elevation: 170 meters elevation gain
• Terrain: dirt track roads and forest trails, some parts on stairs passing rocky terrain

Price range

$

Quotation guideline

Main activity:

• Chiang Mai – Activity – Easia Signature Merit making and temple hike, per pax
• Chiang Mai – Activity – Compulsory Easia Supplement – No Report for Payment, per pax

Guide:

• Guide fee for full day trekking

Transportation:

• Transfer for Tak Bat at Ton Payom
• F/D City tour + Doi Suthep

Inclusion

• Offering set for Tak bat ceremony per person
• Local breakfast at the market
• Breakfast box (by hotel)
• Coffee or hot drink at Wat Phalad
• Entrance fee to Doi Suthep

Exclusion

• Transportation
• Guide fee
• Other purchases like drinks or souvenirs

Important notes

• Coordinate with hotel to make sure they can provide breakfast box
• Properly brief the guide about the concept and the routing

Special Guide notes

• Make sure to coordinate with the hotel to receive a breakfast box when departing in the morning, it should be kept in the minivan. Check if it needs to be cooled or not.
• There is a small coffee shop at the entrance of Wat Phalad, if it is open you have budget for 1 drink for clients.

Different Choice

There are no alternatives for this product

Contact

Operated by Easia Travel, in case of doubt contact the Operations team of Chiang Mai at 085 918 63 32

Special Information

Technical Details:

First hike from starting point to Wat Pha Lad

Distance and duration: 1,35 kilometers, approximately 30 – 45 minutes hiking
Level: 0
Difference in elevation: 170 meters elevation gain
Terrain: dirt track roads and forest trails, some parts on stairs passing rocky terrain
Transportation: by minivan

English

Merit Making and Temple Hike

Start the day early by making good merit. At a local market, 10 minutes from the center of Chiang Mai, the inhabitants busy themselves on the stalls to buy offerings for the monks. Tak Bat is a religious practice of profound generosity and a source of religious merit for the Buddhist faithful. This rite practiced in the morning by the Buddhists with fervor, concentration, seriousness probably constitutes the closest link between the laity and the monks. In exchange for food given to them, the monks bless the faithful. After this special moment, try a local breakfast at one of the shops near the market.
Next you will head to a nature trail that is best known as the “Monk’s Trail”. The trail thanks its name to the fact that in the past it was used by monks to go collecting alms in the city. While this is no longer the case today, the trail is a nice and fun for anyone who likes spending time in nature. From the starting point you will walk along a small trail that arrives at Wat Pha Lad, a quiet temple surrounded by nature. Spend some time to relax in these peaceful surroundings and enjoy some snacks and a coffee, before continuing to Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai’s must-see temple located on a hill overlooking the city.

French

Quête des bonzes à l’aube et randonnée au temple

Vous commencerez votre journée par une bonne action en vous rendant dans un marché local situé à 10 minutes du centre de Chiang Mai où les habitants s’activent autour des stands pour acheter des offrandes pour les moines. Le tak bat est une pratique religieuse de profonde générosité et une source de mérite religieux pour les Bouddhistes. Ce rite matinal, que les Bouddhistes pratiquent avec ferveur, concentration et sérieux est probablement le lien le plus étroit qui existe entre les laïcs et les moines. En échange de la nourriture qu’on leur donne, les moines bénissent les fidèles. Après ce moment particulier vous prendrez le petit-déjeuner dans une échoppe près du marché.

Vous vous mettrez ensuite en route pour votre randonnée sur le « Sentier des Moines ». Ce chemin tire son nom du fait que les moines empruntaient autrefois ce passage pour venir récolter les offrandes en ville. Même si ce n’est plus le cas aujourd’hui, ce sentier jusqu’au temple paisible de Wat Pha Lad est une occasion amusante et pittoresque de découvrir la nature autour de la ville. Vous pourrez vous détendre dans ce cadre tranquille et déguster quelques snacks ainsi que du café avant de continuer votre chemin vers le Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, le temple incontournable de Chiang Mai qui se situe sur une colline surplombant la ville.

Spanish

Búsqueda de monjes al amanecer y paseo por el templo

Comenzará el día con una buena acción visitando un mercado local situado a 10 minutos del centro de Chiang Mai, donde los lugareños bullen alrededor de los puestos para comprar ofrendas para los monjes. El tak bat es una práctica religiosa de profunda generosidad y fuente de méritos religiosos para los budistas. Este rito matutino, que los budistas practican con fervor, concentración y seriedad, es probablemente el vínculo más estrecho que existe entre los laicos y los monjes. A cambio de la comida que se les da, los monjes bendicen a los fieles. Tras este momento tan especial, desayunará en un puesto cercano al mercado.

A continuación, emprenderá la caminata por el «Sendero de los Monjes». Este camino debe su nombre al hecho de que los monjes solían utilizarlo para recoger ofrendas en la ciudad. Aunque ya no es así, este sendero hasta el apacible templo de Wat Pha Lad es una forma divertida y pintoresca de descubrir el entorno natural de la ciudad. Podrá relajarse en este tranquilo entorno y disfrutar de unos tentempiés y un café antes de continuar hasta Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, el templo de visita obligada de Chiang Mai, situado en una colina desde la que se domina la ciudad.

Italian

Ricerca dei monaci all’alba e passeggiata tra i templi

Inizierete la giornata con una buona azione visitando un mercato locale a 10 minuti dal centro di Chiang Mai, dove la gente del posto si affanna tra le bancarelle per comprare le offerte da lasciare ai monaci. Il tak bat è una pratica religiosa di profonda generosità e fonte di meriti religiosi per i buddisti. Questo rito mattutino, che i buddisti praticano con fervore, concentrazione e serietà, è probabilmente il legame più stretto che esiste tra laici e monaci. In cambio del cibo che viene loro offerto, i monaci benedicono i fedeli. Dopo questo momento speciale, farete colazione presso una bancarella vicino al mercato.

Partirete poi per l’escursione lungo il “Sentiero dei monaci” il cui nome deriva dall’utilizzo che i monaci ne facevano per raccogliere le offerte in città. Anche se non è più così, questo sentiero che porta al tempio di Wat Pha Lad è un modo divertente e pittoresco per scoprire la natura che circonda Chiang Mai. Potrete rilassarvi in questo ambiente tranquillo e gustare qualche snack e caffè prima di proseguire verso il Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, l’imperdibile tempio di Chiang Mai che si trova su una collina che domina la città.

German

Etwas Gutes tun und Tempelwanderung

Beginnen Sie den Tag früh, indem Sie etwas Gutes tun. Auf einem lokalen Markt, 10 Minuten vom Zentrum Chiang Mais entfernt, kaufen die Einwohner an den Ständen fleißig Opfergaben für die Mönche. Tak Bat ist ein religiöser Brauch von enormer Großzügigkeit und eine Quelle religiöser Verdienste für die buddhistischen Gläubigen. Dieser Ritus, der von den Buddhisten morgens mit Eifer, Konzentration und Ernsthaftigkeit praktiziert wird, stellt wahrscheinlich die engste Verbindung zwischen den Laien und den Mönchen dar. Die Mönche segnen die Gläubigen im Austausch für die ihnen gereichten Speisen. Nach diesem besonderen Erlebnis können Sie in einem der Geschäfte in der Nähe des Marktes ein lokales Frühstück genießen.
Anschließend begeben Sie sich auf einen Wanderpfad, der unter dem Namen „Mönchsweg“ bekannt ist. Der Pfad verdankt seinen Namen der Tatsache, dass er in der Vergangenheit von Mönchen benutzt wurde, um in der Stadt Opfergaben zu sammeln. Auch wenn dies heute nicht mehr der Fall ist, ist es ein schöner und spannender Weg für alle, die gerne Zeit in der Natur verbringen. Vom Startpunkt aus führt ein kleiner Pfad zum Wat Pha Lad, einem ruhigen Tempel inmitten der Natur. Nehmen Sie sich etwas Zeit, um sich in dieser friedlichen Umgebung zu entspannen und genießen Sie ein paar Snacks und einen Kaffee, bevor Sie zum Wat Prathat Doi Suthep weitergehen, dem Tempel, den man in Chiang Mai unbedingt gesehen haben muss und der auf einem Hügel mit Blick auf die Stadt liegt.

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