Hiking Monk’s Trail? Take These 3 Things With You
December 20, 2025
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Chiang Mai is a city that exists on two levels. There is the horizontal city—the moat, the markets, the traffic, the endless spread of cafes and shophouses. Then, there is the vertical city—the mountain, Doi Suthep, that looms over everything like a green guardian.
For those of us living the Haze Buds lifestyle, the mountain isn’t just scenery; it’s a sanctuary. It is where we go to reset our internal clocks. It is where the air is cleaner, the temperature is cooler, and the vibes are decidedly higher.
While most tourists jump in a Red Truck (Songthaew) to drive up the winding road to the famous golden temple at the summit, the real initiates know that the journey is just as important as the destination. They choose to walk. They choose the Monk’s Trail (Wat Pha Lat Nature Trail).
This trail is historic. For centuries, before the asphalt road was built, this was the path monks used to ascend the mountain. It is a pilgrimage route, marked by strips of orange monk robes tied around the trees. It winds through bamboo groves, crosses streams, and eventually reveals one of Thailand’s most stunning hidden gems: Wat Pha Lat, the temple built into the waterfall.
The view at Wat Pha Lat is better with Haze Buds. There is no debating that. Enhancing your senses with a high-quality Sativa or a balanced Hybrid can turn a simple walk into a kaleidoscope of green textures and jungle sounds.
However, the jungle is unforgiving. We have seen too many enthusiastic hikers start this trail in flip-flops, dehydrated, with a squashed joint in their pocket that is un-smokable by the time they reach the top.
To ensure your pilgrimage is spiritual (and not a struggle), here is the Haze Buds guide to the 3 essential items you must pack.
Before we get to the gear, let’s talk about the mindset. Hiking while “enhanced” is a beautiful experience, but it requires a different approach than hiking sober.
When you consume cannabis, your heart rate might increase slightly. Your perception of time changes. You become hyper-aware of your body.
The Goal: Is not speed. It is immersion. You aren’t trying to set a Strava record. You are trying to see every shade of green on the moss.
The Risk: Discomfort. If you are thirsty, you feel extra thirsty. If a mosquito bites you, it feels like a major event. If your gear fails, it ruins the vibe.
This is why preparation is key. You want to eliminate the physical annoyances so your mind can float.
The Enemy: Cotton Mouth + Humidity.
This seems obvious. “Bring water on a hike.” But for the cannabis enthusiast, this is a matter of survival, not just hydration.
Chiang Mai’s humidity is deceptive. Even in the “Cool Season,” the jungle air is thick. You sweat, even if you don’t feel hot. Now, add cannabis to the equation. One of the most common side effects of THC is xerostomia, colloquially known as “Cotton Mouth.” THC binds to receptors in your submandibular glands, temporarily reducing saliva production.
Combine Humidity Sweat + THC Cotton Mouth, and you have a recipe for a miserable time. There is nothing that kills a high faster than a throat that feels like sandpaper. It induces anxiety. It makes you focus on your body’s distress rather than the beauty of the waterfall.
Quantity: Do not bring a tiny 300ml bottle. It’s not enough. For the Monk’s Trail (which takes about 45 minutes to an hour one way), you need at least 1 Liter of water per person.
Temperature: Invest in an insulated bottle. Drinking lukewarm water when you are high is underwhelming. Drinking ice-cold water when you are high is a sensory delight. It shocks the system and wakes you up.
Electrolytes: If you are smoking a heavy strain, throw an electrolyte powder packet into your water. It helps prevent the lightheadedness that sometimes comes with blood pressure changes from cannabis.
The Problem: Sweat, Lint, and Crushing. The Solution: The Haze Buds Teak Tube.
This is the item that separates the rookies from the pros. Imagine this scenario: You roll a beautiful, perfect joint of Super Lemon Haze at your hotel. You are excited to smoke it at the waterfall. You wrap it in a tissue and put it in your pocket. Or you slide it into your cigarette pack.
You hike for 45 minutes. You are sweating. You are climbing over roots. You are moving your legs. When you arrive at the designated rest spot near the stream (outside the temple grounds), you reach into your pocket. Disaster. The joint is bent. It’s damp from your sweat. It’s covered in pocket lint. Or worse, it has been crushed flat. You try to light it, and it runs (burns unevenly). It’s a tragic end to a great hike.
You might ask, “Why not a plastic tube?” Sure, plastic works. But we are in Chiang Mai. We are connecting with nature. A Wooden Joint Holder (specifically Thai Teak) offers distinct advantages:
Crush-Proof Protection: Teak is a hardwood. You can sit on this tube, drop it on a rock, or step on it, and your pre-roll remains pristine inside.
Moisture Control: Wood breathes slightly, but it insulates well. It protects the paper from the humidity of the jungle and the sweat of your body.
Odor Discretion: If you are hiking past families or monks, you don’t want to smell like a walking dispensary. A wooden holder with a tight stopper creates a seal. It keeps the “loud” smell contained until you are ready to spark up.
The Aesthetic Ritual: Pulling a crushed joint out of a plastic baggie feels cheap. Pulling a pristine joint out of a polished, hand-carved teak tube feels like a ceremony. It honors the plant. It matches the bamboo and the trees around you.
At Haze Buds, we carry handcrafted wooden holders that fit perfectly in a pocket or can be worn around the neck like a talisman.
The Enemy: The Tiger Mosquito.
The Monk’s Trail is a jungle. It follows a stream. This means it is the prime breeding ground for mosquitoes. If you are hiking sober, mosquitoes are annoying. If you are hiking high, mosquitoes are a psychological torment.
When your senses are heightened by cannabis, every itch feels magnified. The high-pitched whine of a mosquito buzzing near your ear can sound like a chainsaw. It breaks your immersion. Instead of meditating on the sound of the wind, you become paranoid, slapping your arms and legs every 30 seconds.
Apply BEFORE you hike: Don’t wait until you are bitten. Apply it at the trailhead (Base of Suthep).
Natural vs. Chemical:
DEET: Effective, but smells like chemicals and can melt plastic.
Lemongrass/Citronella: This is the local Thai way. It smells amazing (like a spa), which actually pairs well with citrusy terpene profiles (like Tangerine Dream or Amnesia Haze). It enhances the aromatherapy aspect of your hike rather than ruining it with chemical smells.
Don’t forget the ankles: This is where they get you while you are walking.
Now that you are packed (Water, Wooden Holder, Bug Spray), let’s walk through the experience.
The trail starts at the end of Suthep Road (behind Chiang Mai University). You’ll see a map and usually a few other hikers. The Haze Buds Tip: Do not smoke at the trailhead. There are often locals exercising and park rangers. Be discreet. This is where you apply your bug spray and take your first sip of water.
The path is clearly marked by strips of orange cloth tied around the trees. In Thai culture, this is called Buat Pa (ordaining the forest). By wrapping the trees in monk robes, they become sacred, protecting them from logging. As you walk, the city noise fades. This is a great time to be “lightly” buzzed. If you consumed a small edible or had a few puffs before leaving, the repetition of walking becomes meditative. Watch your step. The path is full of roots and rocks.
After about 40-50 minutes, the trees open up. You aren’t at the top of the mountain yet, but you are at the sanctuary. Wat Pha Lat is unlike any other temple in Chiang Mai. It is not gold and flashy. It is made of stone, overgrown with moss, and built directly into the rocks of the waterfall. It feels ancient, like a ruin discovered in the jungle.
This is crucial. Wat Pha Lat is an active temple.
DO NOT smoke inside the temple grounds, near the statues, or on the bridges where people are taking photos.
DO: Find a quiet spot before you cross the bridge into the main temple area, or hike slightly further up the stream away from the buildings.
Use your Wooden Joint Holder. Take out your pre-roll. Enjoy the view of the city below. The contrast between the silent jungle and the sprawling city is profound.
Once you are finished, ensure the ember is completely out. Put the roach back in your smell-proof wooden holder. Leave no trace.
You have the gear, but what strain should you put in that wooden holder? For a hike like this, you want Energy and Visuals. You do not want heavy sedation.
1. Green Crack (Sativa): Despite the aggressive name, this is pure energy. It focuses the mind. It makes your legs feel lighter. It’s perfect for the uphill climb.
2. Durban Poison (Landrace Sativa): This is the “espresso” of strains. It provides a clear-headed, uplifting high that enhances colors and sounds without making you confused or groggy.
3. Jack Herer (Sativa Hybrid): A classic for a reason. It offers a blissful, creative high. It’s perfect for when you reach the temple and want to sit for 20 minutes to sketch, write, or just contemplate existence.
Avoid: Granddaddy Purple or Northern Lights. If you smoke these, you will find a rock 10 minutes up the trail, sit down, and refuse to move. Save those for when you get back home.
You can either hike back down the way you came (easier) or continue hiking up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (much harder, steeper, takes another hour). Most people hike to Wat Pha Lat, chill, and hike down.
When you get back to the bottom, you will be hungry. The street food vendors near the university (Lang Mor) are legendary.
Reward yourself: A cold smoothie and a plate of Pad Kra Pao.
We write these guides because we believe cannabis is a tool to enhance life, not escape it. Chiang Mai is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Hiking the Monk’s Trail gives you a connection to the history and nature of this land.
Doing it with the right preparation—staying hydrated, keeping your supply safe in a beautiful wooden holder, and protecting your skin—turns a “sweaty walk” into a “transcendental journey.”
So, come by the shop. Grab a liter of water. Pick out a teak holder. Ask us for the best hiking Sativa. And go find some peace on the mountain.
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