We came to Chiang Rai in September for the Doi Chang Trail 2025, the final edition of this much-loved race. But honestly? For us, it wasn’t just about the running. It was about being out there, in the crisp mountain air, on trails that seemed to dissolve straight into the clouds.
Doi Chang is coffee country, but it’s also a place where the hills roll forever, where mist rises in the morning like smoke from the earth, and where every climb rewards you with views that stop you in your tracks. Running here didn’t feel like a race. It felt like moving through a landscape that demanded you to slow down, look around, and breathe it all in.
The Race
The event itself had four distances — 6 km, 15 km, 30 km, and a tough 50 km ultra. We picked ours not to chase a medal, but to enjoy the course. The trails wound through coffee estates, forest ridges, and quiet dirt tracks where the only sound was your breath and your shoes on the ground.
Start times began as early as 3 AM for the longest distance, which meant runners saw both sunrise and sunset on the move. Prices ranged from around 900 THB for the shortest loop to just over 3,000 THB for the ultra, but what you really got was access to an unforgettable piece of nature.
More Than a Finish Line
Crossing the finish at Doi Chang wasn’t the highlight — it was everything in between. The locals cheering in small villages, the smell of roasted coffee drifting across the trail, the moment when the fog lifted and the ridges of Chiang Rai stretched out endlessly.
It was humbling, and strangely grounding. You realize quickly that trail running here isn’t about competition. It’s about gratitude: for the mountain, for your body carrying you through, for the rare chance to see this side of Thailand in such a raw way.
If You Go
The Doi Chang Trail 2025 takes place on 21 September 2025, with registration opening on 25 July. Everything happens around Doi Chaang Coffee Estate, a perfect base camp for both the race and some of the best local coffee you’ll ever sip.
If you plan to run, train for steep climbs — the terrain is no joke. If you just plan to watch or travel, come anyway. Doi Chang is a destination in itself: cool mountain weather, panoramic viewpoints, and a community that welcomes visitors with genuine warmth.
Final Thoughts
For us, Doi Chang wasn’t about chasing time. It was about chasing moments: standing on a ridge with sweat running down your face, staring at the horizon and realizing how small you are compared to it all.
This was the last edition of the race, and in a way, it felt like a farewell. But as we left Doi Chang, we couldn’t help but think — maybe the mountain doesn’t need another race to bring people here. It’s already enough, on its own.
Deer is Travelling 