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Trip Duration: 2 Days, 1 Night
Day 1 Running Distance: 19km (1050m gain, 960m loss)
Day 2 Running Distance: 25km (960m gain, 1200m loss)
Group size: 4-15 runners
Single supplement: Yes
What to expect?
If you want to run trails in remote mountain areas of Chiang Mai but also have some off-time to unwind and relax in comfort, look no further! This 2-day boutique trail running experience, organized with the support of Easia Active, strikes the perfect balance between exhilarating trail routes and discovering local history and hill-tribe culture.
It is not a race or a competition, the goal is not to be first or the fastest. The objective is to go out and explore beautiful trails with like-minded people. We will stay overnight in a charming mountain lodge with comfortable rooms and a swimming pool. The perfect place to unwind and recharge your batteries after an invigorating run.
Day 1
We will leave Chiang Mai city and head to a remote temple hidden in the mountains North of Chiang Mai. You will be surprised to find such a big and opulent temple in such a remote area. After taking in the sights it is time to head onto the trails, starting right away with a fairly challenging climb. It is the perfect way to warm up our muscles as we make our way deeper in the forest. After we reach the the highest point we run along a fire break before diving down into a dense forest for a more technical downhill section. At the edge of the forest the terrain flattens, and soon we will have amazing views over a valley dotted with local hill tribe villages inhabited by the Lawa, Hmong and Karen tribes. We make our way through rice fields and agricultural lands to one of these villages where we will have a nutritious lunch prepared by the locals. Our transportation will also be on stand-by here for water fuels or other support if needed.
After lunch we head onto the trails again for our 2nd section of running. In the afternoon we will be running mainly along wider double-track roads through the forest, with scenic views towards the end of the run. We will end up at a concrete road, close to the charming mountain lodge where we will spend the night.
There will be some time to freshen up, relax, or enjoy the pool before it is dinner time. A poolside BBQ dinner is the perfect way to end the day and to recover from the running.
Day 2
We wake up early as we have another nice stage of running ahead. After a quick breakfast we drive to the trailhead located about 5km away from the lodge. We immediately start climbing and as we continue the sun will start to rise and views over Chiang Mai valley open up. The highlight of the day is Doi Mon Long peak, one of the region's most scenic viewpoints. Thanks to our early departure we will arrive there when the light is at its best, and with a bit of luck we can admire a sea of clouds in the valley below. This is the highest point of the day, and the rest of the run will be mainly downhill with a good mix of single-tracks and double tracks.
When we end up in the valley we will run on the road for a couple of kilometers to a local restaurant where we can refuel with a nice lunch. After that it is time to head back to Chiang Mai city where we will arrive in the course of the afternoon with great memories of a unique trail running experience!
Questions?
Make sure to read the FAQ section, if you still need more assistance do not hesitate to reach out!
The below timings are approximate, they may be adjusted depending on the group's requirements or the conditions on the day of running.
Itineraries
Day 1
Date : December 18, 2021
Time : 8:00 am
Departure from Chiang Mai city
Leave Chiang Mai by minivan and head out to a remote mountain temple about 1,5 hours north of the city.
Day 1
Date : December 18, 2021
Time : 9:30 am
Mountain temple visit & Warming up
Upon arrival we will take some time to explore the temple grounds a bit. While this temple is tucked away deep in the mountains, it is actually a highly venerated place of worship, and a popular pilgrimage site for locals. The main attraction for devotees is the rock with markings, which are said to be 4 footprints of the Lord Buddha.
After taking in the atmosphere of the temple, it is time to warm up the muscles and get ready for the trails.
Day 1
Date : December 18, 2021
Time : 10:30 am
Trail time!
Time to hit the trails! Right away we will head onto some nice single track trails making our way through the forest. We will cover most of the elevation of the day in this first section, so prepare to climb.
Day 1
Date : December 18, 2021
Time : 12:00 pm
Lunch at a local village
We will arrive in a local village surrounded by rice fields. This will be our fuel stop for the day and the place where we enjoy a simple lunch, prepared by the villagers.
Day 1
Date : December 18, 2021
Time : 1:00 pm
More trails!
We continue running on the trails and start the second climbing section of the route. We pass orchards and agricultural lands. When we reach the other side of the mountain we are very close to the mountain lodge where we will spend the night.
OVERNIGHT
Date : December 18, 2021
Time : 3:00 pm
Mountain lodge
In the course of the afternoon we will check in at a charming mountain lodge, located in lush green surroundings. With comfortable rooms and swimming pool, it is the perfect place to relax and recover from the run. In the evening we have a poolside BBQ dinner to conclude the day.
Day 2
Date : December 19, 2021
Time : 6:30 am
Rise early & onto the trails!
We will check out early and head onto the trails. The route starts climbing right away, and as the sun rises, the views open up.
Day 2
Date : December 19, 2021
Time : 9:30 am
Doi Mon Long
The highlight of the day is Doi Mon Long, one of the most scenic viewpoints of the region. The views are amazing, and with some luck we can admire a sea of clouds in the valley below.
Day 2
Date : December 19, 2021
Time : 10:15 am
Down to the valley
After taking in the views it is time to make our way down to the valley. This final section of trails has a nice mix of single- and double-track and it will bring us to the end of our running route.
Day 2
Date : December 19, 2021
Time : 12:00 pm
Lunch at a local restaurant
Before heading back to Chiang Mai city we will enjoy a nutritious lunch at a local restaurant.
END OF THE TRIP
Date : December 19, 2021
Time : 2:30 pm
Return to Chiang Mai city
We will be back in Chiang Mai city in the afternoon, tired but fulfilled and with lots of memories to take home.
What's included?
- Return transfer from/to Chiang Mai city
- Two trail runs with an experienced run leader
- Support by licensed English-speaking tour guide
- Overnight at boutique mountain lodge
- Half board meals (2x lunch, 1x breakfast, 1 BBQ dinner)
- Trail snacks for each day (500Kcal per day)
- Water refill at the start of each run
- Accident insurance as per legal minimum
What's not included?
- Drinks during meals
- Any trail running equipment
- Tips and gratuities
Add a review
No. Because we will cover considerable distances running on trails with fairly challenging elevation profiles, this tour is definitely not for beginners. Do also keep in mind that perceived effort may be higher if you are not used to heat and humidity. On the other hand, we do keep the tempo leisurely with time to rest and take photos along the way as necessary. So the tour is more accessible than a competitive trail race.
We suggest that any participant has at least successfully finished a half marathon (21km) trail race.
You can book via this website, by clicking on the "Book now" button on the right hand side of the page (if you are on a computer), or on the bottom of the page (if you are on a mobile device).
During the check out process you have to fill out your contact details. We will then contact you back with payment instructions.
Your booking will only be final when we received your payment in our account.
Yes. On each day there is a refuel stop where the van is on stand-by. At those points you can refill with water if needed, or cut the run short if you really don't want to continue.
- You can cancel without any charge up to 8 days before the departure date. If you already made the payment we will reimburse it to you. - If you would like to cancel within 7 days or less from the departure date, we will keep 50% of the paid amount to cover the preparation expenses.
- In case of cancellation of less than 48 hours we will keep the full amount.
In such a case we will reimburse you 100%. In case there are not enough participants we will inform you about this not less than 3 days before the date of departure.
If you are a single traveler you may have to share the room with another single travelers of the same sex.
If you do not wish to share the room with anyone, you have the option to pay a supplement for a private room.
This single supplement is 900THB/person
This trip is organized by Chiang Mai Trail Running, with the support of Easia Active, a fully TAT licensed tour operator.
For the runs, you will have to prepare your own trail running gear as you would for any regular run (shoes, clothing, hydration vest, hat, ...).
However, there is no need to pack super light as you will not be running with all of your luggage. The transportation will bring luggage to the fuel stops and the mountain lodge, giving you the opportunity to change into dry, comfortable clothes as needed.
We provide a water refill along the way and some trail snacks on each day. You will however have to carry these yourself.
Yes. You are covered by the minimum required insurance which covers hospitalization up to 500.000THB and 1.000.000THB for death or permanent disability.
However, we strongly suggest to take out a comprehensive travel or accident insurance that covers hiking and trail running.
For the running:
- Trail running shoes
- comfortable clothes for running
- Rain jacket (also useful for cold mornings)
- Hydration vest or flasks (2 liters of total capacity recommended)
- A buff, hat or cap for sun protection
For the overnight and general:
- A change of fresh clothes
- Personal items like toothbrush, soap, etc.
- Some cash to cover small expenses
Optional but useful:
- Smartphone or watch with GPS function
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito Repellent
There are of course more things you could bring, but you should be good with the above.
Paul– :
I was lucky to have discovered the Chiang Mai Trail Running YouTube channel and make contact with Bram in early 2022. I was especially drawn to the excellent trail running videos he & his partner Gijs made about their experiences in the Chiang Mai mountains. I finally got to meet Bram in person and learned that he is a very experienced tour guide. When he told me that he was planning a 2-day trail tour through mountain farms and the Hmong hill tribe villages, I knew I wanted to join the adventure. On the first day, we started out at the beautiful and hidden Wat Phra Putthabat Si Roi, where we visited Buddha’s giant foot print. From there we began our first ascent and ran through beautiful mountain terraced rice paddies, small coffee farms, orange tree groves, and even farms filled with cultivated roses. We crossed cold streams and met families and children en route, living in the cool mountains above Chiang Mai. Bram’s fluency in the Thai language (among others) made the connections with the people we met along the way much more meaningful. Every clearing we came to had spectacular views. Our first day ended at a really lovely resort with an excellent BBQ dinner and an evening performance of traditional Hmong dances and songs. Because it was actually quite cold in the mountains, we capped the evening off around a fire pit built into the center of our private cabin. The next day was just as spectacular, but I don’t want to spoil the experience for anyone planning on joining the next trail adventure. The pace was easy and the group of people I met were all friendly, welcoming, & extremely helpful. We all had a wonderful time making each other laugh along the trail & telling stories. A huge special thanks to Nick who stuck with me throughout the entire tour, Alex & Miranda for being so positive and friendly (I hope to see you on the trails in Italy soon), and Rasmus for sharing his own wonderful experiences living in Chiang Mai. And a big thanks to everyone who made this the best birthday ever (The entire group all sang happy birthday to me at the highest point on the trip!). My advice…..JOIN THE NEXT ADVENTURE WHEN IT GETS POSTED!!
bvdbossc– :
Hello Paul, thanks a lot for your review and kind words. It was great to have you here in our lovely mountains, and definitely enjoyed the trip as much as you did! Very motivating and we are already planning on doing more amazing trips like this one!