Thailand’s Wat Chaloem Sky Pagodas
This post is all about how to visit Wat Chaloem sky pagodas near Chiang Mai in North Thailand.
Why Should I go?
If you are looking to get away from the run-of-the-mill tourist experiences of Northern Thailand, this is the place to go to. It’s also great if you like hiking and being in nature, as there are quite a few stairs on the way up to the pagodas. Not to mention of course the view from the top of the hike is absolutely gorgeous, not only the unique pagodas themselves but the views of the valley below (though they may be obscured by fire smoke and pollution depending on the time of year that you visit).
What will I see?
Beautiful white pagodas (from a distance), as well as some up close. A number of temples as well as a number of gongs. Beautiful soaring birds and views of the valley. A nice, strenuous, and somewhat sketchy hike up stairs to get to the top of the mountain.
How Will I get there?
The best way to get to Wat Chaloem is via a car that you either rent yourself or hire a driver for the day from either Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. A bit of warning that the roads heading up to the Wat are very scenic but can be very windy. What is great about this spot is that it’s not on the regular tourist route, but unfortunately that means there are no tourist buses you can hire to get there.
Once you get to the base, you have to pay to hitch a ride to the beginning of the hiking area on a songthaew, which is a type of Thai open air mini bus. It’s affordable enough and well worth it as hiking up would add at least another hour to the journey (if they let you, which they don’t as it’s a very steep, one car length road). If you are prone to motion sickness, I recommend taking some dramamine or chewing some ginger before the ride.
How much time should I spend there?
You should budget 2-3 hours at least each way from either Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai because of variable road conditions and traffic. Once you arrive, depending on your timing you may have to wait for the songthaew as they run on an interval. From the base of the hiking area to the top of the mountain might take you 30-45 minutes depending on how fast you go. Once you arrive at the main part of the mountain, I would recommend 1-1.5 hours to just enjoy exploring, taking in the sounds and sights, and meditating while enjoying the view. Budget another 30-45 minutes on the descent, time spent waiting for the shuttle, and the shuttle itself which takes about 10 minutes. All in all, this is really a full day adventure in order to not feel too rushed! There’s a nice little cafe where the shuttle drops you off by the hike where you can get a drink or snack (including restrooms), so if you are in a larger group and not everyone is fit enough to hike, you can wait there. There are also a few food stalls at the very bottom near the car park if you want lunch before or after your hike!
