What to do and how to get to Chiang Dao, Thailand

How to get to to Chiang Dao from Chiang Mai

Chiang Dao is really close to Chiang Mai, making it an ideal stop on a route through northern Thailand.

⭐ You may be interested in our guide on When to travel to Southeast Asia, best time by country and month. And what is the best travel insurance for Southeast Asia.

Going to Chiang Dao by public transportation

One of the ways to travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Dao is by public bus. It takes between 1h30-2h00 and leaves every half hour from 5:30 to 17:30 from the Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 1 (Bus station Chang Phueak). They are buses that go towards Fang, but you will have to get off at the Chiang Dao bus station.

The ticket costs 50 THB and can be purchased on board. It is best to arrive with some time to secure a seat.

Go to Chiang Dao by motorcycle

We chose this option because Chiang Dao was part of a longer route we did through northern Thailand. But If you feel comfortable on a motorcycle It is definitely a very good option to rent a motorbike from Chiang Mai and go on your own.

Chiang Dao is located 70km from Chiang Mai center through a good carretera (although with traffic), the carThe road itself is a typical national route with nothing special about it, but riding a motorcycle gives you the opportunity to deviate from the route and visit other places like Bua Tong sticky waterfalls.

Go to Chiang Dao on a guided tour

Especially if you only have one day (and you don't want to go on a motorcycle) there are 1 full day tours leaving from Chiang Mai to visit the main attractions of Chiang Dao or do a different activity, I leave you links to the most popular ones;

How many days does it take to Visit Chiang Dao

Taking into account the tight itineraries that we all tend to manage on vacation, I would recommend saidcar1.5 days – 1 night. If you travel more calmly, it is a beautiful and relaxed area where you could spend 2-3 days without getting bored.

Later in this guide you have our Recommendations of what to do in Chiang Dao and where to sleep Live a different experience in Thailand.

May interest you: How to get internet in Thailand

How move you by Chiang Dao

The best way to get around Chiang Dao is by scooter and there are not places to rent on every corner like in Chiang Mai, so I said that if you feel comfortable on a motorcycle it is best to go there on it.

You don't have to take all your luggage; just pack your essentials and clothes for a couple of days in a small backpack. We always ask our accommodations to store our large backpacks, and we've never had any problems or complaints. cara.

If you want to rent a motorcycle in Chiang Dao, you will find them in backpacker hostels such as Koko Home I recommend signing up for several and going straight once you get to ask. Most companies or hotels charge around 350 THB per day.

There is also the possibility of You can get around Chiang Dao in taxis, but there is no Grab or Uber. The most practical thing is to move shared taxi, they are yellow vans (songthaews) that you get on and depending on where you go the price will be one or the other. It is the same concept that you will see everywhere in Chiang Mai, only in Chiang Mai they are red and the price per way is cheaper. One of the departure points for these vans is the 7-Eleven downtown.

Where to sleep in Chiang Dao

As in most areas of Thailand, the value for money of accommodations is very good and you can find some great deals in Agoda, a reliable platform in Thailand. things to do in Chiang Dao I leave you an unconventional accommodation option that is our favorite.

But if you prefer a hotel or you are going to spend more than one night in the town, these are our recommendations for sleeping in Chiang Dao;

What to do in Chiang Dao, Top 8 Activities

1. Visit the Chiang Dao Cave (Wat Tham Chiang Dao)

It is the most touristic point in Chiang Dao because all day tours from Chiang Mai include this stop, in addition, it also has a lot of Thai tourism.

Wat Tham Chiang Dao is a group of temples and a 12 kilometer cave which is the main attraction.

The entrance to the cave is 40 THB and gives you access to visit the illuminated part It takes about 45 minutes to travel calmly, 800 meters each way. Furthermore, there is also the possibility of visit an unlit part accompanied by a local guide. They charge 200 THB and you hire once inside the cave. This part is the most adventure, narrow areas, bats, spiders... and all this only illuminated by your flashlight. The tour is approximately one hour.

2. Climb the Wat Tham Pha Plong pagoda

Near Chiang Dao Cave, you can find Wat Tham Pha Plong, also known as the Golden Temple. Admission is free, but to get to the pagoda, you will have to climb no more and no less than 500 steps.

Along the way, there are carTVs displaying Buddhist proverbs, lush vegetation, and secluded spots to rest and admire the scenery. Before reaching the summit, you'll find a small cave, and once at the pagoda, there are stunning views of the mountains in Pha Daeng National Park.

3. Get to the Doi Luang Chiang Dao viewpoint

La carThe road that leads into Pha Daeng National Park from Chiang Dao is one of the most beautiful we've driven in Thailand. Lush vegetation and limestone mountains.

From Chiang Dao to the Doi Luang viewpoint there are 20 kilometers, about 45 minutes by scooter. Upstairs we saw a yellow shared transportation van, so getting there is possible. But I don't know if it is usual and what price it may have. The entrance to the National Park is 200 THB (€5/person), we passed by late in the afternoon and there was no one charging, we know who also passed by around 7:30 in the morning without paying.

Just for the carThe restaurant alone would be worth the visit, but the viewpoint is also very beautiful. In addition, there are several cafes where try locally grown coffee.

If looking at the photo you think that going to the Doi Luang viewpoint is worth it, keep reading, because you will love the other way to visit it.

4. Camping overlooking Doi Luang Chiang Dao

You will not find this information in many places, we discovered it by chance and it is a 100% recommended experience to live in Thailand.

At the Doi Luang viewpoint there are tents (with mattress, pillow and blanket) to spend the night and also equipped bungalows. They usually offer you a package of accommodation, dinner and breakfast with a price of €15-€25 per person depending on the amenities of the place. Both dinner and breakfast are abundant and as they say, waking up to these views is priceless.

You can go there, ask and book directly, but if you prefer to go more quietly, leave a comment and I will send you by email the contact of two accommodations that I took a photo of.

5. Climb to 2.170 meters, Doi Luang Chiang Dao trek

Within the national park there is also the possibility of climbing the third highest mountain in Thailand, the Doi Luang Chiang Dao, It is mandatory to do it with a guide and the most popular option is to go up at night to see the sunrise from the top.

You can hire it in hostels in Chiang Dao or ask at the entrance of the Park (where they charge you 200TBH), the price of the guides starts at 1100 THB per group, so ideal if you find other travelers who want to go up.

6. Sri Sangwan Waterfall and Pong Arng Hot Springs Tour

30 kilometers away (1 hour on scooter) To the north of Chiang Dao, there are the Sri Sangwan waterfalls and the Pong Arng hot springs, a perfect excursion to do from Chiang Dao if you are going to spend several days.

Sri Sangwan is a limestone waterfall with 4 levels, about 15 meters wide and 20 meters high. Apart from its beautiful surroundings what the carIts defining characteristic is that, being limestone, it's not slippery at all! It's a very interesting place, ideal for cooling off.carsSwimming and climbing on its different levels. Plus, it's very untouristy, so in the off-season you're sure to have it all to yourself.

5 kilometers from Sri Sangwan are the hot springs by Pong Arng that divided into two parts, one part for the bathroom where lie down and relax and another where you can take a walk passing by fountains where boiling thermal water springs.

The entrance to the National Park is 100 bahts (€2,50) and is valid for both places, they also charge 10 bahts for parking.

If you don't have time or don't feel like going to Sri Sangwan, I recommend making a stop en Bua Tong sticky waterfalls if you go from Chiang Mai by scooter or go one day on purpose from Chiang Mai. It is the same concept, limestone waterfalls that do not slip, and in this case adapted to be able to climb all their levels. We loved it! Additionally, admission is free.

7. Bathe in the Chiang Dao Hot Springs (Yang Phu To Hot Springs)

These hot springs just 6 kilometers from the center can be a good way to start or end the day in Chiang Dao.

These are several small cement pools with capacity for about 3 people and The best thing is its location right in front of the river. They are divided into two parts, a free area, also very frequented by locals, and another private area (just before the public area) where they charge 50 THB/hour

8. Visit local markets in Chiang Dao

Getting lost walking through a market while you let yourself be surprised by everything they sell and delight in a bit of their street food is one of the things we like the most, so of course in Chiang Dao we also recommend it.

You can visit the morning market until 9am, Chiang Dao market, open during the day or Sunisa Market in the evening for dinner.

If you go on Tuesday you will also find the Tuesday MarketIf nothing else, there's no shortage of markets in Thailand. It's a good opportunity to see locals of different ethnicities coming down from their mountain homes to stock up.

Best time to visit Chiang Dao

Compared to other areas such as Bangkok, the climate in Chiang Dao (as throughout northern Thailand) is relatively cooler and more pleasant. three seasons: Cold, hot and rainy.

The cold season runs from November to February, These are the months when the weather is very pleasant during the day and even a little chilly at night. This is the perfect time to explore without breaking a sweat, especially if you plan to hike. Don't forget a sweatshirt in your bag. luggage for traveling to Southeast Asia.

During the months from April to June temperatures can be very high, reaching 40 degrees, which mixed with the humidity of the area can be very hard.

At the end of the warmer months begin the rains until about October. The rainy season is a bit of a lottery because either you get hit by a tropical storm and the sun comes out soon after, or you find yourself with days of rain, which is quite unpleasant for travelling.

Thailand in general has a wonderful tropical climate all year round. AND Chiang Dao can be visited at any timeHowever, in my opinion the best is during the colder months.

We hope this Chiang Dao guide I encourage you to add it to your route through Northern Thailand, and if you were already planning to go, I hope it has given you all the information you needed. Thanks for reading and have a nice trip! It is undoubtedly one of the places we have enjoyed the most on our trips to Southeast Asia. Others are Togean Islands, Perhentian Islands, Laos or North Vietnam.

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