Best Hike Near Chiang Mai City : Doi Nang Mo, Chiang Mai
- Pornwadee Bhacharoensuk
- Jan 20
- 7 min read
Quick Information
Location
Doi Nang Mo (ดอยนางเมาะ), San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai
Trail Distance
Approximately 8-9 km. (round trip)
Difficulty Level
Moderate
Quite dangerous
Starting Point
Mae Pha Haen Reservoir
Hiking Time
Uphill around 3 hours
Downhill around 1.5 hours
Best Time to Visit
November to early February
Entrance Fee
Free
What & Where is Doi Nang Mo?
Doi Nang Mo (also known as the “Fuji of Mueng On Tai”) is a hiking destination near Chiang Mai city.
The highlight of this mountain is the panoramic view of the reservoir from above and the Buddha statues at the summit.
It’s a place that makes you feel peaceful and deeply connected through faith.
Warning : This trail has some dangerous sections.
One wrong step could cause serious injury or even death.
Do not try this route if you are afraid of heights or not comfortable climbing on rocks.
How to Get There
There is no public transportation to the starting point.
You can get there by car or motorbike.
The road going up is well maintained, not steep, and easy to drive.
Any type of car can access it comfortably.
It takes about 50 minutes from the city center.
If you prefer to book a car with a driver, you can contact me for arrangements.
The starting point of the hike is อ่างเก็บน้ำแม่ผาแหน (Mae Pha Haen Reservoir).
There is no entrance fee and no parking fee.
There are two route options:
Go up one route and come down a different route, or
Go up and return via the same route.
Trails:
Starting Point 1: Near the parking lot. There is one dangerous spot where you have to climb over rocks with no safety protection.
Not safe to go down this way.
Starting Point 2: From the reservoir, walk about 300 meters on the paved road to the trailhead on the right. This trail is marked well and safer for both going up and down.
I chose to go up one way (Starting Point 1) and come down another way (Starting Point 2)
so I could try both trails.
Hiking Overview
Doi Nang Mo is a medium-difficulty hike near Chiang Mai.
The forest is mostly Dipterocarpus trees.
The first part is easy with a rocky dirt path,
but there are a few steep sections with big rocks to climb.
This hike is perfect for watching the sunset, with beautiful views of the reservoir and mountains, and a very peaceful feeling because there are Buddha statues along the way.
My Hike to Doi Nang Mo
Hi everyone! I went hiking again.
This time, I was at Doi Nang Mo.
I have to say, I really loved this place, and this was not my first time there.
I’ll tell you later why I liked it so much.
I started walking around 2:30 PM, because I planned to reach the top in time for the sunset.
Doi Nang Mo is not very famous. Most people don’t know it.
Some who know about this trail don’t come because it’s not easy, especially for beginners.
There are two trail options, and I chose to start from the one near the parking lot.
At first, it was easy and comfortable, with a dirt path. The forest felt similar to Doi Ngum, Pha Maan, and Pha Daeng, because they are close to each other.
The forest is mostly Dipterocarpus trees and open, so you can see the sky and sun along the way. The trees don’t give much shade.
The first rest point has a long log to sit on.
After this point, the trail becomes steep. There are almost no signs, and fallen leaves cover the path, so it’s easy to get lost.
I recommend taking any path as long as you head straight toward the top of the hill you are climbing.
Near the top of the hill, there is a big rock section where you have to climb.
This part is quite dangerous because there is no rope or safety protection.
You need to be very careful here.
After this point, the trail becomes easier.
There is another section with a rope, but this part is safer, and the mountain views are beautiful.
I decided not to go down the same way, because going down in the dark would have been very dangerous.
After the rope section, the trail was easier again, but I still crossed several mountain ridges, about 4 to 5 ridges, before reaching the end.
I passed the second rest point, where there was a Buddha statue and a few small statues.
This spot was a good place to take a break, and the view was beautiful.
I recommend bringing some food for a picnic , the atmosphere was amazing.
Every time I go there, it feels peaceful. There're hardly any people at all.
After reaching this point, it’s not a long walk to the Doi Nang Mo viewpoint.
I arrived just as the sun was about to set.
It took around three hours to hike from the starting point to reach the top.
What I Like About Doi Nang Mo
I can honestly say it was incredibly beautiful, with a wide panoramic view of layered mountains.
On the left, I could see endless mountains.
On the right, I could see villages and houses.
Straight ahead, there were mountains and a reservoir.
I personally loved looking straight ahead and to the left the most.
I was a bit tired of seeing houses and just wanted to be surrounded by trees instead.
At the top, there was a rock with Buddha statues and a monk statue on it.
The atmosphere up there was cool and calm, with a gentle breeze.
I sat down to meditate, fully intending to stay present in the calm and focus on my deep breathing.
I told my friend to let me know when ten minutes had passed, as I planned to meditate for ten minutes. Without me realizing it, my friend also started meditating,
and we both completely lost track of time. Suddenly, we heard the sound of a bell ring once. At first, I thought my friend had rung it to wake me up, but he was still meditating as well.
(If you’re wondering who took the photos while my friend and I were meditating,
I should clarify that these photos are not from my most recent trip).
About five seconds after that sound, the sun completely disappeared. I opened my eyes just in time to see the very last moment of the sunset. It felt unbelievable and perfectly timed. What made it even more mysterious was that I had no idea where the bell sound came from. The wind stayed the same, and the sound never came again.
That experience gave me a deep sense of faith in this place. I felt like someone was watching over me, whether it was a higher power, god, or the spirit of the forest. I think maybe they didn’t want me to miss the moment the sun went below the horizon.
I truly loved this place. Every time I went there, I felt calm and at peace. No matter how dangerous it might have been, I still felt that it was completely worth the risk to be there.
Being there made my mind feel peaceful.
I did not feel afraid at all, even though I knew the hike down would be dark and possibly scary. The presence of the Buddha helped ease my fear and made me feel safe.
Next to the Buddha statues, there were many ladybugs. They were so cute.
I sat and enjoyed the view until the sky started turning orange. As it was getting dark, I decided to head back.
On the way down, there were two dangerous spots. The first one was near the next viewpoint, which also has a Buddha statue on a rock. Be careful, because there is a deep hole about 2–3 meters wide. People used to believe it was an ancient volcanic vent, millions of years old. If you fall in, it could be very hard to get out. So you need to watch your step carefully, and it’s a good idea to bring a flashlight.
The second dangerous spot was a place where you had to climb down, but they had built handholds there this time. When I came here last year, they weren’t there yet. After that, the trail was just steep all the way down. If you wear the wrong shoes, it could get slippery because the soil isn’t very firm.
It took me about an hour and a half to go down. Along the way, I was very careful. I realized that when hiking, strength alone doesn’t keep you safe. What really keeps you safe is being mindful, paying attention to each step you take.
When you reach the end of the trail, turn left and follow the road. At the end, you will see the parking lot. Along the way, there were quite a few dogs. They might bark at you, but they don’t bite, so there’s no need to be afraid. The road can get quite dark, with only a few lights, but it’s not really dangerous, even though there’s usually no one around at night, because it’s a road that hardly anyone passes through after dark. While walking, don’t forget to look up at the stars. They’re beautiful.
For anyone who loves hiking and wants a peaceful place not too far from the city, I highly recommend Doi Nang Mo. It’s one of my favourite mountains, and no matter how many times I visit, I never get bored.
Weather and Best Time to Visit
I went hiking on January, which made the weather very comfortable.
I highly recommend visiting this trail between November and early February.
The weather during this time is much better for hiking and enjoying the views.
If you want to watch the sunset, I’d recommend going at the same time I did.
On the way back, you’ll hear monks chanting.
It’s coming from a temple in the village below.
Not really for anyone who’s scared of ghosts, haha!
Preparing
I recommend bringing enough water at least two small bottles.
Make sure to wear good hiking shoes that aren’t slippery.
As for a hiking stick, it’s optional, but the way down is very steep.
Having a stick will make it much easier to walk.
Do You Need a Guide?
You do not need a guide for this hike.
But you should start and end at Starting Point 2.
The trail is marked with the ribbons all the way, so it’s easy to follow.
However, if you would like to hike with a guide, you can contact me.
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