Bas Narathip on Basecamp's culture around improvement and supporting others

For many in Chiang Mai, Basecamp Coffee Club is more than just a coffee shop.

It’s a starting point.

A meeting point.

And often, the finish line after a run.

Basecamp is a place where runners gather before heading out to the trails
and return to rest, hang out, and re-caffeinate.

In this conversation, we sit down with the owner of Basecamp Coffee Club, Bas Narathip.

From starting as a barista surrounded by runners, to becoming an elite athlete, and now caring for a space that has become a “home base” for many in Chiang Mai.

At Doi, we believe places are critical to community and connection.

Basecamp Coffee Club is not just a location, but a space where Chiang Mai's running culture continues to evolve through conversations, training, and countless events.

This conversation with Bas is not just about running and coffee. It's a perspective on what it means to build a space where people can come together, grow, and discover something about themselves along the way.

1. Before we talk about Basecamp Coffee Club, can you tell us your own running story? How did you get into the sport, and when did it start becoming something more serious for you?

Bas: I started out as a barista in a coffee shop surrounded by trail runners. Every day, all I heard were conversations about trail running, intense races, beautiful routes, and the excitement of it all. It was something I couldn’t avoid being drawn into. Eventually, I experienced it firsthand and became both a trail runner and a barista.

That coffee shop was Basecamp Coffee Club. What made me take running more seriously was being surrounded by so many talented runners at the shop, both at the national and international level. They inspired me to improve, to train harder, and to push myself toward the level they had reached. I wanted to experience what it feels like to be among the top runners, even just once.

2. You’re now an elite runner for Kailas Thailand. What does your life as an athlete look like right now, and what races or goals are you most excited about this year?

Bas: Right now, I’m an athlete for a Chinese sports brand, KAILAS, representing FUGA Mountain Club Thailand, which is honestly beyond what I ever expected for myself.

This year is especially exciting and meaningful because I’ll be competing in one of the biggest trail running events in the world, the UTMB Finals. I’ll be racing in the CCC category, which is around 100 kilometers. This race is my main focus and biggest goal for the year.

3. Some of us know how Basecamp Coffee Club first came together and how you eventually took over as the owner. But for new readers who don’t know the story, can you share how Basecamp Coffee Club first started and how you became its current owner?

Bas: Basecamp Coffee Club was founded 10 years ago by Cake and Harry, the previous owners, driven by their passion and the support of the Chiang Mai trail running community.

I joined as the first full-time staff member two years after the shop opened. Five years later, I had the opportunity to take over the business. Now, I run the shop together with my partner, and we’ve been managing it for the past three years.

4. Basecamp Coffee Club has always naturally been a place for runners and outdoor people to meet before or after a run. It’s right next to Pha Lat Trail and Galae Trail, which makes it easy for trail runners. It’s also right next to CMU, so road runs around the university are easy too. But aside from the location, what else do you think makes Basecamp Coffee Club such a destination for runners?

Bas: Beyond the location, what truly defines Basecamp is the people. It’s a place where individuals come together to share the same mindset of progress and self-improvement through running.

Most people who run want to move forward, to become better versions of themselves. Basecamp has become a space where those people connect, exchange knowledge, and support each other’s journeys.

5. Because you’re both a runner and a café owner, I have to ask about coffee. How many coffees do you usually have in a day, and do you normally drink coffee before a run? If yes, what’s your go-to pre-run coffee?

Bas: As someone who owns a coffee shop and genuinely loves coffee, every cup must be tested before it reaches the customer.

I divide my coffee routine into three parts:

1. In the morning, I test all the beans we use in the shop.
2. In the afternoon, I taste how the flavors change with temperature and weather conditions
3. Before closing, I drink something I personally enjoy.

I prefer black coffee. My go-to is a light roast hot Americano. Light roast coffee has a very distinct character and identity, and drinking it always feels special to me.

6. With so many running events already starting or ending at Basecamp Coffee Club, what made you want to create your own harder training sessions with the Basecamp Coffee Club and Kailas Thailand crew?

Bas: Right now, I’m working on a project with Super Jay called HARDCORE TRAINING. It’s designed to help runners push themselves toward becoming top-level athletes through small, focused training sessions every Tuesday morning.

The idea is to build a community through shared hardship. The sessions are intense, structured, and serious, but also incredibly satisfying.

7. Do you think community is built more through sharing difficult terrain together, or through having a place like Basecamp Coffee Club to come back to and decompress afterwards?

Bas: The community is built on the dedication of the coaches, myself and Super Jay, who want to share knowledge and real training experience.

Having Basecamp Coffee Club as both the starting and finishing point makes it even more meaningful. It gives participants a sense of completion, like they are finishers every single day.

8. Basecamp Coffee Club also has the Rev Runnr store right next to it. How much does having that trail and running retail space contribute to the overall community and energy around Basecamp Coffee Club?

Bas: Having Rev Runner in the same area plays a big role. It creates a strong, immersive atmosphere. Seeing trail shoes lined up in front of the shop helps people fully absorb the spirit of trail running when they come to train.

9. For a lot of runners and outdoor people in Chiang Mai, Basecamp Coffee Club already feels like a home base. What does the future look like for you, both as the owner and as someone who is part of that community yourself?

Bas: As the owner of Basecamp Coffee Club and someone who supports the trail running community, I want this place to be a voice for all runners.

Running and outdoor activities are powerful; they help people find good friends, build a positive community, and experience nature. But for all of this to exist, we need a healthy environment.

Basecamp will continue to stand as part of the movement to reclaim clean air for Chiang Mai, in every season and every moment.

10. At Doi, we believe all types of challenges allow us to research more about ourselves. Through running, racing, community, and building Basecamp Coffee Club, what do you feel like you’re researching or learning about yourself this year?

Bas: This is my third year as the owner of Basecamp Coffee Club. Seeing communities grow, seeing people take better care of themselves, and choosing healthier lifestyles means a lot to me.

I’m proud that Basecamp and myself can be a small part of people learning to care for themselves.

For me, one of the most meaningful aspects of life is creating a positive environment for society.