Tranquil Sunrise & Buddhist Rituals at Doi Suthep

• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

This experience is worth the early morning wake up call! Ascend the beautiful Doi Suthep Mountain at sunrise and experience the majestic temple when it is most serene. Get a glimpse into the lives and rituals of Buddhist monks and offer them alms.

Destination

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Category

Off The Beaten Track

Duration

4 hours

Transport mode

Car

Available languages

English, ไทย

Included

• Entrance tickets
• Private guide
• Driver
• A/C Car
• Food to offer to the monk
• Pick-up Included

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with Kit.

1. Meeting point

   You will be picked up anywhere in Chiang Mai. Your local host will contact you regarding the exact pickup point.

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Mountain Views

   Enjoy breathtaking scenery as we drive to a mountain top temple

4. Sunrise

   Watch the sunrise over Chaing Mai from an ancient balcony

5. Golden Temple

   Observe the rituals of Buddhist monks

6. Alms Offering

   Participate in a local ritual by offering food to monks

7. Coffee break!

   Step into a charming old village cafe and enjoy a delicious local coffee

8. Back to Chaing Mai

   Relax, enjoy the view and feel free to ask me questions on our way back to Chaing Mai!

9. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Lisa🇩🇪 Germany

7 March 2025

Wir hatten einen wundervollen Morgen mit Kit. Eine tolle Stimmung am Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Kit hat uns viel über sein Leben als Mönch erzählt und wie es dazu gekommen ist, was wir super spannend fanden. Alles in allem eine toll durchdachte Tour vom Anfang bis zum Schluss, die ich jedem ans Herz legen kann.Was soll ich sagen 🥰

Christopher

5 March 2025

Kit was so fun!! My parents and I had an amazing morning with Kit visiting temples. He’s so funny and personable and taught us about his own experiences with Buddhism. He also had a comfortable SUV to bring us around. If you’re considering booking a tour, book with Kit! Book Kit!!!

Elena

25 February 2025

1

We had a great tour with Kit today who was super punctual at our hotel for the pickup. He explained about the history of Buddhism and was telling us his stories of becoming a monk and you could feel how much he loves to share all his knowledge and the stories with you. Visiting the Doi Suthep Temple in the morning with only very few other visitors around is very special. And of course offering the food to the monks and listening to them singing is also a great experience. Great tour for a tranquil morning

Shannon

22 February 2025

My husband and I had an amazing morning with Kit. He is so knowledgeable and we learned so much about the history of Chiang Mai and Buddhism in general. Cannot recommend this tour enough as a great way to see some beautiful temples and an incredible sunrise before the crowds! Sunrise tempoe

Laura

15 February 2025

What made this experience so special was spending time with Kit. We learned so much about history and culture. A big thank you to Kit!Amazing & Infomative Experience

Sarah🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 February 2025

Worth the early morning start... a temple visit guided by Kit is a must do in Chiang Mai - He has excellent English and gives his personal insights into the Buddhist way of life. Early morning ensures the temple isn't busy, and the coffee and visit to the jungle temple makes a great morning trip.Best way to visit Doi Suthep

Carole

6 February 2025

Kit was recommended to me by a friend whose judgment I trust, so I had no hesitation in contacting him for the first tour we took in Chiang Mai. He was professional in every way and answered all our questions about the beautiful and spiritual experience we had. He was very experienced and knew just where to take us to provide an outstanding morning. We wished we could have asked him to guide us on other days but he was hired for a week by a previous customer who uses him every year. That sums it up!Kit - exceptional guide, a fine person

Unknown

4 February 2025

Kit was absolutely amazing. Kit is an ex-monk who is full of wonderful stories. My husband and I could not have been happier with Kit and his tour. Do go if you are in Chiang Mai!!!Absolutely Make sure you do this tour!!!

Mary🇺🇸 United States

2 February 2025

My morning with Kit was really wonderful. He shared a lot about his life as a monk and I talked about what was going on in my life too. At the temple, I loved the giving food to the monks ceremony. Seeing the care that Kit took to make sure each monk got the food that would please them really made an impact on me (the kids got chicken wings). And sharing the sunrise with him was special. I mostly appreciated his asking me questions we could both equally weigh in on like what's most important in life, gives most satisfaction, parenting things, etc. It made for the kind of conversation I wanted to be having on this trip. Thanks Kit, you're a Sweetie!The Perfect Day for Me

Jan🇩🇪 Germany

21 January 2025

Our trip with Kit was perfect. We met early in the morning and enjoyed a very special and inspiring time. He is very very knowledgeable about buddhist tradition and monk life and shared a lot of wisdom with us! Super organised and very accommodating to our wishes (we came with our own car for example). We can only recommend doing this trip with Kit! Just awesome!

Gerhard🇦🇹 Austria

16 January 2025

It’s tough to depart at 5 am, but our 4 hours with Kit were really worth it! Due to his times as a monk and at university Kit is a very knowledgeable guide! Apart from that he has a friendly nature and explains with great empathy. We can recommend him warmly!An unforgettable morning

Inga🇦🇺 Australia

16 January 2025

We shared a wonderful morning with Kit visiting Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat with our 3 children. Kit is a lovely guy, great with kinds, very kind and friendly and easy to talk to. He was kind enough to share his experiences as a monk amongst other things, and we all enjoy talking and spending time with him. Doi Suthep itself is spectacular, especially at sunrise, seeing the monks chanting and their food gathering ritual was great, and seeing the hidden temple of Wat Pha Lat was also really good. Would highly recommend the tour and particularly Kit himself to anyone interested!Fantastic Experience

Dana🇵🇭 Philippines

12 January 2025

While all the temples in the city proper are beautiful and worth visiting, Wat Doi Suthep at sunrise, then followed by Wat Phalat, are truly exceptional and unforgettable. Kit is the perfect host who makes sure you have plenty of time to see and ask about the places he takes you, while keeping you on track so that you don’t miss out on the sunrise and the monks’ rituals. With Kit’s personal history as a monk of 6 years during his adolescence, he gives a very unique perspective on the monk’s life inside and outside the temple. We learned so much from Kit, we really appreciated his gentle ways, his sharing of how he lives out the Buddhist philosophy daily, and we were just absolutely awe-struck at the beauty of the temples, but especially the one in the forest. Kit’s tour is best reserved for the later part of your Chiang Mai visit. We highly recommend this special tour. Thank you, Kit!Save this tour for the end of your trip!

Elizabeth🇺🇸 United States

8 January 2025

My husband and I had many tour guides while visiting Thailand and Kit was one of the best. His English was fantastic and his experience as a monk meant he really knew what he was talking about. Getting up that early wasn’t easy, but the sunrise definitely raised the whole spiritual experience to another level. Kit was on time and very organized. He knew the best places to stand for optimal photo shots. We were blessed by a monk as an added treat. Highly recommend this tour if you’re interested in learning more about Buddhism and its history with Thailand. Fun and worthwhile rxperience!

Joe

4 January 2025

We did two tours with Kit and both were AMAZING. He is easy to understand, flexible with changes, kind, taught us about local culture as well as Thai history at length. He was instrumental to a great trip in Chiang Mai. I am recommending him to any of our friends and family who visit Thailand! Kit made our trip AMAZING!

Alona🇺🇸 United States

2 January 2025

Our tour with Kit was a highlight of our 3 night Chiang Mai stay. It was a really informative, but well-paced way to discover Doi Suthep without the hassle or crowds. We also learned about local life, and he was able to keep my 10 year old engaged. Lastly, he was very communicative from the time of booking through to the end of the tour.A great tour

Payman🇺🇸 United States

28 December 2024

The sunrise tour with Kit was very nice and well organized. Kit being an ex-monk provided a lot of information about monks lives and the principles of Buddhism. Ask him about the interesting stories from his grandfather. I’m sure you’d enjoy them. He was very prompt in communication and clear in answering questions. He also does not rush the tour which was good. I highly recommend Kit. Well organized sunrise tour

Angie🇺🇸 United States

26 December 2024

I went with Kit to do the sunrise tour at Doi Suthep, followed by a visit to the Forest Monastery nearby. It was an amazing, forever-memorable experience. Kit had great communication and was on time for pick-up. His personal experience as a monk for 6 years provided a knowledge and first-hand experience I valued. He also is a wonderful storyteller. It isn't just a tour; it is an experience. I highly recommend Kit and am so grateful for the time we had together. Incredible Experience with Kit

susan🇺🇸 United States

20 December 2024

Kit created an excellent tour experience from start to finish. His communication was clear, prompt and professional for our entire experience. We enjoyed Kit’s storytelling and learned much about the Thai culture and life as a monk. So much fun!! Highly recommend!!Best tour of our trip!

Madison🇺🇸 United States

15 December 2024

I would highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to understand the Buddhist culture more. Kit was really well informed and we had such a great time. He has such a warm welcoming energy to him and we learned so much! Thank you Kit!An incredible experience!

Henrike🇳🇱 Netherlands

7 December 2024

Wow! From the second you are picked up Kit is an amazing host. He tells all about his history and the history of his grandfather. You’ll get to experience everything from the lighting of the candle and the flower offering. Kit tells you all what it means. At the temple it is so quiet and wonderful. The sunrise is amazing. And how wonderful to experience the chanting of the monks. And we got to offer them food. The next temple you visit is like a fairy tale. We had an amazing day and Kit is definitely an amazing guide. Tells you everything and you can ask him anything. Would really recommend this tour!!!Amazing experience

Cristian

7 December 2024

We really appreciated Kit’s services. He has an immense source of knowledge of the buddhist way of living thanks to his personal anecdotes. The experience and activities proposed are unique and enriching, and connected us to the local customs and spirituality. We high recommend his tours! Very immersive experience

Alana🇺🇸 United States

23 November 2024

Kit was very responsive and organized — he had the timing down perfect throughout the tour and the experience felt very curated. Worth the warly morning wake up!

Linus🇩🇪 Germany

21 November 2024

We booked the tour for a family of five with a baby. Kit explained to us thai culture and buddhism and really brought the culture to us. We were amazed by his calmness and it was a wonderful and pleasant experience. Thank you very much for the amazing tour!Amazing

Michael🇺🇸 United States

21 November 2024

Mr. K treated me to the most spectacular sunrise I’ve ever experienced. It was all enhanced by his understanding of where to be. A great morning with Mr. K

Nicolette🇺🇸 United States

19 November 2024

We had an incredible sunrise temple tour in Chiang Mai with Kit as our guide. From start to finish, Kit was exceptionally knowledgeable, prepared, and friendly, making the entire experience seamless and enjoyable. Starting early allowed us to explore the highlights of Chiang Mai before the crowds arrived, giving us a peaceful and serene atmosphere at each temple. One of the most memorable moments was the monk offering, which felt deeply personal and spiritual. Kit also went above and beyond to customize the tour to our interests, ensuring we had a unique and meaningful experience. We highly recommend this tour with Kit—it was a perfect blend of culture, history, and tranquility, all led by a fantastic guide. A must-do in Chiang Mai!Incredible sunrise temple tour

Sacha🇳🇱 Netherlands

18 November 2024

We would love to thank Kit again for the great experience we had during sunrise at Doi Suthep. The information he shared with us were very interesting and gave us an impression of his way of live before as a monk. Thanks again for the great tips on places to go to as well. Lovely greetings, Sacha Great experience

Maryjose

10 November 2024

We had an amazing time with Kit! Not only did we get to see some of the most beautiful and unique temples of our entire trip, but Kit was very knowledgeable and provided us with a very interesting insight into the Buddhist philosophy and way of life. We started the day very early, which allowed us to enjoy the temples without big crowds, and Kit was super accommodating working around what we wanted to see and even helping us to take pictures. He also took us to a lovely local place to eat right on top of a lake with a great view of the mountains. We highly recommend him!The best tour we had in all of Thailand

Remus

1 November 2024

Learnt a lot from Kit, of life, Buddhism, the amazing and surrealistic sunrise was priceless. Very thoughtful of Kit to advise us to start really early too, where the environment was cool, not too crowded, etc. Unforgettable!Surrealistic experience!

Katrin

17 October 2024

Absolute Empfehlung für die "Tranquil Sunrise & Buddhist Rituals at Doi Suthep" mit Kit! Kit ist ein super angenehmer, geduldiger und lustiger Guide bei dem ich mich sofort super wohl gefühlt habe. Dazu hat er mir einen der schönsten Orte (Tempel) gezeigt, die ich auf meiner Rundreise durch Thailand sehen durfte. Das frühe Aufstehen hat sich absolut gelohnt - es war fantastisch! Unglaublich tolle Tour mit Kit!

Rick🇺🇸 United States

15 October 2024

This is one of the best tours I have been on in long time. Kit was an amazing guide, super knowledgeable and engaging. He also customized the tour to include an addition two temples and the Royal Pavilion. If you want to experience all that the temples have to offer, including the history and belief systems of the unique Thai version of Buddhism definitely take this tour!Early morning bliss

Wendy🇧🇲 Bermuda

27 September 2024

Definitely recommend this morning tour with Kit! We went in September which is rainy season and the view was just foggy. Even without the view, the mountain temple was majestic and the mist made everything peaceful. Kit is a natural story teller and very warm and welcoming. We learned a lot about Thai culture and its history. This was a lovely way to start a day in Chiang Mai!Kit is a delight!

Susanna🇺🇸 United States

15 September 2024

What an incredible experience—starting the day at Doi Suthep for sunrise with the monks was both beautiful and magical. Kit is an exceptional guide; his deep knowledge and passion for sharing his culture made the experience unforgettable. I 100% recommend this tour with Kit. Thank you, Kit!Amazing experience with a great guide!

Rachel🇺🇸 United States

31 August 2024

What a great experience. Kit is natural! He is knowledgeable, full of stories, friendly, and made us feel so comfortable. We got to visit Doi Suthep Temple early in the morning before the crowds (trust me, it’s worth it) which was quiet and peaceful. It was an honor to experience and witness the monks in the morning and participate. It was a special time for us and you’ll be done early— so you’ll have the rest of the day to continue exploring and enjoying! Highly recommend this private tour with Kit.

Claudia🇫🇷 France

4 August 2024

This will be one of our trip highlights. Kit provided us with history, personal anecdotes which i know will stay with my two teenage girls. listening to the monks chant, learning about the Buddha’s life, having a private meditation mini course. I really really recommend. It is well worth it! A magical experience

Erin🇺🇸 United States

1 August 2024

Kit is a friendly, knowledgeable guide. We learned a lot about and had plenty of time to explore the temples without a crowd. Highly recommended this tour! Fantastic morning tour!

Johan🇧🇪 Belgium

23 July 2024

Fantastic is the only correct word to describe this experience. Not just what you see and what you do but also the host, Kit. Easy to communicate with to arrange everything prior to the trip and also during the trip. It was a bit painful to get up so early, especially for the teenagers, but is was quickly forgotten after meeting Kit and driving off to Doi Suthep. Everything on time and as described, safe and with the Thai smile we like so much. What an experience!

Aaron🇺🇸 United States

17 July 2024

Kit was an excellent and knowledgeable guide. We learned so much and had a blast! Fantastic Experience

Erin🇺🇸 United States

23 June 2024

My husband, 7 year old and I had a great time with Kit! We loved his stories about Chiang Mai and the local culture, he was great to chat with. The tour itself was a wonderful, it was nice to be the temple with just a few other people and while the weather was not as hot. It was very interesting to see the monks as they begin their day. Highly recommend!Perfect morning tour!

Sharyn 🇦🇺 Australia

9 June 2024

Kevin

30 May 2024

I am an author working on a novel primarily set in Northern Thailand. I needed a custom tour. I also needed someone who could help me understand Buddhism and its role in Thai society. Kit designed a tour around my needs. His depth of knowledge of the area and the temples was just what I needed. I also realized early in the tour that it felt like I was hanging out with a friend. If you want to know Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand, Kit is your best choice.When you need the best.

Diane🇨🇦 Canada

13 April 2024

Kit was wonderful. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Learned lots about Buddhism. Seeing the sunrise and taking part of the food offering was very special. Kit had everything timed perfectly. It was wonderful to see the temple at such a quiet time was magical. The second temple was very unique and cool on its own. Kit was great and allowed us to walk the Monk trail down which was beautiful. Would recommend!!Great tour

Sam🇺🇸 United States

10 April 2024

Kit was a fantastic tour guide, and what made the trip special was his combination of first-hand experiences as a monk and knowledge of the material being presented. We were initially concerned about the early wake up call with two small kids, but Kit’s storytelling kept them interested throughout the morning. Cannot recommend highly enough!!Unbelievably Unqiue Experience

Deborah🇺🇸 United States

7 April 2024

I’ve been traveling through out SE Asia for several months so I’ve been on many tours of temples. Touring with Kip, a former Monk, was so instructive. He patiently answered the questions that no one else answered for me. It was amazing to listen to chanting at dawn, and to be able to give alms to the monks. Visiting a forest monks’ temple was also different from the more ornate ones in cities. This tour is well worth getting up for.The best tour of temples!

Cinzia🇩🇪 Germany

1 April 2024

Kit is a really nice and knowledgeable person, I learned many new things about the life of monks, their habits and Buddhism as a way of living. It was a very interesting tour, I spent a pleasant unusual morning with him ;) I learned many new info

Rosie 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

15 March 2024

If the start time is putting you off - don't let it! This tour is beyond worth the early morning start, is value for money and Kit is so lovely and friendly, you'll have the best time! Kit's knowledge and storytelling will keep you engaged and well informed, and his warmth and happiness is a delight to be around. This tour is carefully curated and his insight will tell you more than any Wikipedia page will! Kit picked us up promptly from our hotel and as we headed to the temple, he gave us a little history of ChiangMai as we drove through the nice quiet streets. We first stopped at the bottom of the mountain where we gave an offering to the shrine placed there, and Kit explained why we offer each of our gifts. It was lovely and peaceful with nothing but bird sounds. We then drove up to the viewpoint where Kit showed us the city lights of ChiangMai and a little bit of history. It was then on up to the temple, we chose to walk up the 316 steps but the stairs were completely empty other than some sweepers, and at that time of day it wasn't too hot, but I can only imagine what it gets like at peak times! The temple itself was lovely and peaceful with only the monks chanting and bird song to be heard. Witnessing the monks morning ritual felt a privilege and we enjoyed learning more about their culture and their way of life. Kit swiftly then took us over to the ancient balcony to watch the sun rise and offered to take photos for us (not just here but along the way too, he'd often suggest if we'd want a photo in certain spots which we appreciated!). Again, the sunrise was something magical and so peaceful to witness. Not long after that we then went and gave food offerings to the monks and received a blessing from them. We also got a friendly welcome from one of the temple dogs who came to say hello! Whilst at the temple, Kit asked us if we knew much about Buddha's story, and admitting we didn't know much, he delighted in sharing it, and again, was really engaging and interesting - if I'd had a teacher like him at school I'd definitely have learnt more! After our visit to the temple we went down to a local coffee stop and tried the delicious coffee. Around this time the market stalls at the base were beginning to open and the coaches starting to arrive, and we began to appreciate our early morning visit as it got busy around us! It was then onto the forest temple, and as many reviews have said before, this was a lovely tranquil visit, with beautiful greenery and waterfalls. Whilst Wat Phra That Doi Suthep had been elegant and covered in gold and riches, Wat Pha Lat was more at one with nature, keeping it simple with wooden structures and natural designs. Again, the early morning meant it wasn't busy and we enjoyed visiting the grounds and learning about the temple and it's background. After our lovely tour with Kit, he kindly dropped us back to our hotel. We were still in awe from our morning and both agreed it was very much worth it. It was an honour to be in Kit's company and learn about his own background as a monk as well as get to know him as a person. If you're only ever in ChiangMai once then make sure this tour is on your list! Thank you again, kindly Kit, we'll be talking about this for years to come 💖The early wake up call is beyond worth it!

Sharifa🇺🇸 United States

9 March 2024

Kit was full of stories and knowledge. There’s no substitution for real experience and Kit, being a former monk, had a lot to share which added to our wonderful day. We saw the sun rise, listened to the monks’ morning chats, gave offerings, had a delicious coffee, and then visited the most fabulous forest temple. There was such variety in our day and we loved every minute. Book this tour!Peaceful, memorable morning

Wendy🇺🇸 United States

1 March 2024

We had a great tour—early morning Doi Suthep—with Kit. He is very knowledgeable, helpful, and it was a pleasure to spend the morning with him. He picked us up at our hotel at 5 sharp and itinerary was exactly as described. Very interesting and beautiful experience. Great experience with Kit

Janice🇬🇧 United Kingdom

27 February 2024

We were picked up on time by Kit who was a pleasure from the start. He was very courteous, knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Thank you Kit.Wonderful Experience

Frank 🇩🇪 Germany

20 February 2024

Kit hat uns einiges beigebracht über Chiang Mai und seine Umgebung, über das Leben als Mönch und vieles vieles mehr … Wir hatten einen wunderschönen halben Tag ab dem Morgengrauen, den wir nicht missen möchten! Vielen Dank!Eine ganz tolle & individuelle Erfahrung,