One of the things I love about living in Chiang Mai is that you don't really have to go very far to get away from it all. You barely have to leave town really. While just twenty minutes away Doi Pui offers some great opportunities to explore that rarely see much traffic. The first part of the ride up to Doi Suthep is packed with people making the drive/walk/bike up to the temple, and while the temple is beautiful, it is most often packed with people. A bit farther up the mountain however and the people thin out. And for those that seek something off the beaten track the fire roads that wind their way up and bypass the peak of Doi Pui offer some very rewarding riding in their own right.
Only twenty minutes away, these trails that wind their way up the mountain, offer a respite from the congestion that plagues daily life in Chiang Mai. I have ridden these trails a number of times and have yet to see a single other person up there. Perhaps it is the lack of any obvious tourist attractions. Perhaps people just don't know about them. (I didn't for a long time). Whatever the reason, the summit of Doi Pui warrants some serious exploration.
Even the view point looking over Doi Inthanon in the distance, a place that is on most tourist maps, rarely sees many people. It offers a great place to just sit and watch the sun go down. A place to breath in the cool air and relax before heading down the mountain back into the chaos of city life.
No comments:
Post a Comment