Doi Saket is a district located to the east of Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand, roughly 20 kilometers from Chiang Mai city. I wanted a challenging trek and hike tour and was recommended the full day hiking in Doi Saket by Wild Adventure.
We started the adventure from my hotel, a smiling guide, Troy, picked me up from my hotel in his comfortable Airconditioned Van. We headed to a quiet mountain village some 75 – 90 minutes drive from the old city. We arrived at a traditional Thai mountain house where we parked and were welcomed by enthusiastic dogs who would follow us all along.
There we had a brief and some preparations and the trail began. As we strolled through the village, Troy, our guide shared interesting insights about the local way of life, pointing out herbs along the way that we picked, and smelled, and tasted. After a few minutes when we left the habited area of the village, the real trek began!
We hiked through a pristine, dense jungle with ancient trees towering above us and the sounds of wildlife surrounding us. The path was challenging at times, requiring balance and steady footing, it has to be pointed out that proper shoes and trekking experience are a must.
Along the way, we stopped to admire 100-year-old trees, breathe in the pure mountain air, listen to birds, and take in breathtaking views.
Midway, we crossed a rocky stream to reach a wonderful spot for lunch. The package included a nice rice with chicken and some Thai deserts. Some of us were vegetarians and had their Veg lunch.
After a restful lunch, we climbed up a sturdy wooden ladder leading us to a hidden waterfall. It was incredible—you could hear the water’s roar echoing through the trees minutes before reaching it. As we drew closer, the rocky trail unfolded in a spectacular way, guiding us forward as the waterfall gradually revealed itself before us, its beauty mesmerizing.
There, we took a waterfall shower under its cool spray while some of us simply sat back to soak in the beautiful sounds and lush scenery.
After the refreshing stop at the waterfalls we’ve crossed the stream again, this time balancing over a few natural bridges formed by fallen trees and by purposely laid trunks. At times I felt like the walking on the trunks was particularly challenging but how exciting it was.
The trail then leads us through serene bamboo groves and fruit trees, immersing us in the peacefulness of the jungle. Exhausted but happy, we ended our hike back in the village. When we reached the house where we started our journey, we tasted some exotic fruits, had herbal tea, and we tasted fresh local coffee that we ground the beans in a manual machine! what an experience!
We visited the house’s back garden to discover more fruits and lots of herbs that the Thai people use in their cooking. The we took some group pictures with the amazing dog hikers 🙂
Finally, after this incredible day, we were taken back to our hotel with memories of an unforgettable adventure. I strongly recommend the hiking and trekking amateurs to book this tour with Wild Adventure. You can view their offer and tour booking here.
This is a challenging hiking trail, requiring good physical fitness, and a strong spirit of adventure, but it’s well worth it.