Following My Passion : My First Hike of 2026 at Doi Ngum

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year! My name is Manow. I’m someone who is completely addicted to traveling, and I love nature and the sense of calm it brings. Every year I tell myself that I’ll stop traveling, but I never can. This year, I’ve decided to continue traveling because it’s a passion I can’t let go of. But I also want my travels to be more meaningful for others by sharing my experiences, focusing on exploring forests, connecting with nature, and finding moments of true calm.

I want to say upfront that I travel not only to find peace for myself but also to share that sense of calm with others. Whether or not people feel it depends on their openness, but my goal is to inspire others to experience nature and stillness in their own way.

This blog is about my first trip of 2026: a hike to Doi Ngum on January 4th, in Ban Thi, Lamphun, which is only one hour away from Chiang Mai. Even though I’ve hiked many mountains before, the views at Doi Ngum were just as beautiful as anywhere else I’ve been.

I went with my friends, starting our hike from the monk's residence at Doi Ngum Pagoda, which you can find on Google Maps as กุฏิสงฆ์ดอยงุ้ม (ทางขึ้นพระธาตุดอยง้ม). Because I wanted to catch the sunset, we set off a bit later, around 4:20 PM.

Before we started, we met a mother dog and her adorable puppy. I had brought some food for them, knowing that there are stray dogs along the trail. They were so cute. If you ever get the chance to visit, I recommend bringing some dog food with you, because I’m not sure what they get to eat here. They seemed so helpless and in need of care.

The hike itself is about 5 kilometers. The road is a narrow concrete road, tricky for cars to pass, though motorcycles with gears can manage. A 4x4 is recommended if you are driving.

We chose to walk and took our time, enjoying the trees and peaceful surroundings.

I really love these red flowers. They bring a sense of brightness to the green landscape, along with the tiny yellow flowers. They are so small that only those who truly love nature might notice them.

The hike gradually gets steeper, but it is not too difficult. Doi Ngum is not very well known, so we didn’t see anyone else on the trail. It felt like the forest was reserved just for us. As we continued walking, we came across two Buddha statues and a statue of Phra Rahu under a small roofed area, where you can sit and take a break.

We kept walking until we reached the third kilometer marker. This spot was incredibly beautiful, with stunning views, wildflowers, and sunlight shining through.

Not far from there, we found a shortcut through the forest. We followed the arrow on the sign, which said ‘Shortcut to the Pagoda – 1 kilometer.’ It was a dirt path. If you prefer an easier walk on a concrete path, you can just continue straight without turning left.

I preferred the shortcut because it offered beautiful views along the way, and we reached a perfect viewpoint just in time for the sunset. I could see the layers of mountains and a reservoir. The weather was cool, and the wind was strong. We paused there to watch the sun go down, then continued up to the pagoda, where the view was even more spectacular.

The scenery at the top was simply magical. I fell in love with this place. It is incredibly peaceful, exactly the kind of place I had been looking for. The sky was ablaze with orange hues, and we could see the city below, though I wasn’t entirely sure if it was Lamphun or Chiang Mai. I offered my respects at the pagoda, sat in meditation, and enjoyed the peacefulness, even with a few stray dogs barking nearby.

We stayed until around 7 PM before heading down. For the descent, we didn’t take the shortcut; instead, we chose another concrete path, which was safer, and it took about one hour to walk from the pagoda back to the starting point. One good thing about this place is that there is light at the top, so it doesn’t feel too scary, especially since we were in a group of three. However, on the way back, there are only a few spots with light; the rest of the trail is completely dark.

For anyone who loves calm and forest hiking, I highly recommend Doi Ngum. Bring a flashlight or use your phone for extra light, especially if you plan to come at the same time as I did, and avoid going alone at night if possible.

I really loved this trip. Wherever there is peace and nature, you will find me there. Nature and calmness have always been my therapy, and I hope you’ll try connecting with nature too. You’ll see that true happiness doesn’t require much, just a sense of inner peace.

Even though this trip, and every trip from now on, I may plan to make clips for YouTube, I always make sure to give myself quiet moments to enjoy nature and meditate. I try to meditate wherever I go, because it brings me a deep sense of calm. I don’t worry if people think I’m just filming videos and not truly enjoying nature. I know my own heart, and that’s enough for me. My happiness comes from within, and that’s what matters most.

I also want to encourage everyone to make this year a year of courage, courage to follow your passions. Focus on your intentions and don’t worry about what others think. If you want to make videos, just start. There’s no need to wait for perfect equipment or the perfect moment. Some people may not like your videos, and that’s perfectly fine. Focus on what you love, not what others expect. And one more thing, nothing is truly scary if your mind isn’t afraid, so if there’s something you want to do, just go for it. Don’t fear judgment, and don’t let anyone stop you.

This first hike of 2026 not only marked my return to filming after nearly six months but also the start of a year dedicated to sharing positive experiences. I hope this journey inspires you to explore, connect with nature, and find your own moments of calm.

Thank you for reading.

You can check out my video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if55fykl9ig