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Uncover Chiang Mai's mystical side with a captivating night tour! Explore the ancient Wat Umong tunnel temple and be mesmerized by the golden splendor of Doi Suthep, all culminating in stunning city panoramas.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchawarawihan
Having only visited Bangkok before, my first trip to Chiang Mai meant diving straight into some tours. After all, if you're going to experience a new city, you want to see the must-visit spots in Chiang Mai, right? My first adventure was a half-day evening tour to Wat Doi Suthep and Wat Umong. This option felt perfect because it wasn't a grueling full-day trip, which usually runs from 7-7:30 AM until 6 PM (or even 9 PM). Starting with something less intense seemed like a smart move.
Wat Umong Temple
Our first stop was Wat Umong, and our guide started with a fun quiz. "Wat means temple," she explained. "But what does 'Umong' mean?" I cautiously guessed "cave," only to be corrected! While many refer to it as a 'cave temple,' Umong actually translates to 'tunnel.' A subtle but interesting distinction!
The temple features a central tunnel with additional passages branching off to the sides. It's truly a unique place, and we learned that some monks still reside here, using the tranquil tunnels for meditation and spiritual practice.
Our guide pointed out that these tunnels were once adorned with intricate paintings, but over time, they've faded and peeled away. You can still spot remnants of the original patterns and colors if you look closely, offering a glimpse into its past grandeur.
And yes, we weren't alone! There were bats hanging in each tunnel, seemingly joining in the temple's meditative atmosphere. Don't worry, they kept to themselves and didn't bother anyone!
Next up was Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a name I'd heard countless times as one of the top places to visit in Chiang Mai. This was definitely the highlight of our tour! While it's beautiful during the day, visiting at night transforms it into a dazzling, glittering spectacle that's truly breathtaking.
Upon arrival, you have two options to reach the main temple complex: a cable car or a set of stairs. The cable car costs about ~$1. I chose the cable car (definitely for the sake of this blog post, not because I was avoiding a climb!).
After grabbing my cable car and entrance tickets, I hopped on. It's not quite what you might imagine a traditional cable car to be; it's more like an elevator that ascends vertically, offering a swift and comfortable ride up to the temple grounds.
If you opted for the stairs, this is the path you'd take. It didn't look *too* daunting, and I saw a few fellow travelers making their way up, though some were definitely catching their breath! Interestingly, the time it takes to ascend by stairs or cable car seemed to be pretty similar.
Stepping into the main courtyard, the golden splendor of Chiang Mai's Doi Suthep immediately dazzles. Strategic lighting from the sides makes the central stupa shine even brighter. Our guide shared a fascinating detail: while the very top spire is 99% pure gold, the rest is a beautiful mix of materials, which, let's be honest, makes perfect sense!
Around the courtyard, you'll find a series of Buddha statues, each representing a day of the week, starting with Sunday on the left. It's a tradition to make a donation to the Buddha statue corresponding to your birth day, if you wish. Our guide humorously pointed out that the reclining Buddha, representing Tuesday, is associated with people who are a bit... shall we say, relaxed!
Even after walking around, the stupa continued to sparkle, truly living up to its reputation as a golden marvel.
While there's no rule against monks using cell phones, it was a slightly unexpected sight amidst such ancient spirituality!
After soaking in the sparkling beauty one last time, it was off to our final stop.
Chiang Mai City Night View
Our tour concluded with a panoramic view of Chiang Mai's city lights. Unlike the sprawling, glittering skylines of Tokyo or even Bangkok, Chiang Mai offers a more understated, charming nightscape. It's not about towering skyscrapers, but rather a gentle glow across the city, and it was fun trying to spot the Old Town Square from above!
Overall, this half-day Chiang Mai Doi Suthep night tour was a fantastic, low-key introduction to the city's evening charm. I booked it through Kkday, and the convenience of hotel pickup made it incredibly easy. It was a great way to hit some of the top Chiang Mai attractions without feeling overwhelmed. My next full-day tour, running from morning till night, might be more intense, but I'm definitely looking forward to it!
This tour is a half-day itinerary visiting Doi Suthep Temple and Wat Umong Cave Temple. It takes place at night, allowing you to explore Chiang Mai's attractions without much hassle.
While 'Umong' in Wat Umong Temple is commonly known to mean 'cave,' it actually means 'tunnel.' Inside the temple, there is a central tunnel and other tunnels connected to its sides.
If you use the cable car to go up to Chiang Mai Doi Suthep Temple, the cost is 20 baht. The time taken by cable car and stairs is almost the same.
Only the very top part of the golden structures at Chiang Mai Doi Suthep Temple is 99% pure gold. The remaining shining parts are mixed with other materials.
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