There’s a small town in Thailand’s northern mountains and it’s not often on travelers’ radars. Although it’s close enough to take a day trip from Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, it’s an amazing place for a weekend getaway trip. It has the perfect atmosphere to unwind but you may quickly get swept up into other things to do in Chiang Dao like we did.
We knew almost nothing about Chiang Dao before arriving except that it hosts the Japanese Shambhala in Your Heart Festival each February, has a resort that serves up gourmet food, and that there are caves to explore.
Chiang Dao has absolutely stunning views of the towering mountain, Doi Luang Chiang Dao (ดอย
Prefer video? Check out our “Things to do in Chiang Dao” vlog:
We assumed we would spend the next three days relaxing and overindulging on food and drinks at our mountainside resort. But it didn’t take long before we started digging around for the best things to do in Chiang Dao and hopped on our motorbike to go exploring.
| TIP: Chiang Dao is a relatively safe 1+ hour drive from Chiang Mai. We drove there on our motorbike, but if you want to be comfortable (have a place to put your luggage and be protected from the hot temperatures and strong sun), we recommend renting a car. |
Discover Deals at the Tuesday Morning Market
While it’s impossible for everyone to coordinate their stay in Chiang Dao with the Tuesday Morning market, it’s a fun place to go if you happen to be there at the right time. This gigantic flea market is set up along either side of Route 107 (one of the main roads that run through Chiang Dao) for roughly a half kilometer and sports huge colorful umbrellas, tarps, and tents overflowing from the road onto the packed dirt and sparse grass.
You can find Thai (sized and styled) clothing and accessories, household and healthcare items, and dried goods and kitchenware. There are some produce stalls and vendors selling ready-made snacks and cold beverages, too. We were also told that the local hill tribes come and sell their handmade goods although we didn’t see them.
Many items are dirt cheap and the variety is incredible. We didn’t even feel the need to haggle when Chris bought a pair of knock-off Ray-Ban sunglasses. And we were tempted to buy a few pots of beautiful blooming orchids for 15 baht a pot (that’s half a dollar!) until we remembered we had to drive back to Chiang Mai.
Indulge in really delicious Thai food
Our trip to Chiang Dao was intended to be centered on relaxation but we ended up spending most of our time indulging in fantastic Thai food. Thanks to several friends’ independent recommendations, we dined at two incredible restaurants in Chiang Dao: Chiang Dao Resto and Nest 2.
Spicy Salmon Salad, Mixed Appetizer, and a fresh Piña Colada at Chiang Dao Resto
Chiang Dao Resto is on the main highway to Chiang Dao just on the southern outskirts of town. The stylish restaurant has gorgeous views of the surrounding rice fields and distant mountains. Every dish we ordered was delicious but our favorites were the Isaan-inspired Spicy Salmon Salad, the Mixed Appetizer, and the Spicy Chicken Wings.
Nest 2 is cozied up in the mountains just a little way into town. Once again, everything we ordered was amazing, but the entreés that really wowed us were the tenderly stewed buffalo in a spicy red coconut curry and crispy corn fritters with a sweet and tangy tamarind dipping sauce.
Papaya Salad, Green Curry Fried Rice, Tom Kha Kua Gai, and Corn Fritters at the Nest 2
It had been a long time since having a Thai meal that was not only delectable but in a beautiful setting with prices that were a steal. (These incredible dishes ranged between 120 THB and 200 THB!) Chiang Dao Resto or Nest 2 (or both) should make it on your ‘things to do in Chiang Dao’ list. Heck, we even recommend making an evening trip to either one of these restaurants in Chiang Dao just for a special dinner, they’re that good.
Explore the Chiang Dao Cave at Wat Tham
One of the main attractions is this little town is the Chiang Dao Cave (ถ้ำเชียงดาว). We heard mixed reviews about the cave before coming here. We didn’t know what to expect as far as how long we would be clambering through tunnels or how difficult it would be. But now that we’ve gone, we certainly agreed that it was an adventure!
There are actually two routes to explore in the cave. The first route is a well-lit, easy to walk path about 200m long that eventually ends at a reclining Buddha. The cave is very wide and high in areas and is quite beautiful with the illumination from the overhead lights.
The second route is more adventurous and involved going into the deep dark caverns for a 725m trek. This is when visitors can hire a guide for 100 baht (good for up to five people) who will lead you through the twists and turns and tunnels of the cave with only the light from an old-fashioned kerosene lantern.
Our guide took us along a series of tight tunnels and spacious caverns, regularly pointing out rock formations that resembled a lion, elephants and their baby, hippo, lotus flower, and even a throne. She showed us the cave’s hermit within a shrine, a sleeping giant covered in gold leaf, eerily stacked Zen stones, and the only pure white mineral formation.
Kudos to our guide for doing an excellent job of telling us where to step to avoid the slippery areas, when to watch our heads for stalactites, and lighting the footpath in the more precarious areas. It’s a tough job when combined with staying on route and not dropping the blazing hot lantern.
After roughly 45 minutes crawling and clambering our way through the caves, we welcomed daylight!
One thing we didn’t realize before coming to the cave is that it is a place of worship so appropriate dress is required. Ladies who are wearing shorts will be asked to donate 20 baht to rent a sarong before being allowed to enter the caves.
The caves are also quite damp, so it’s smart to wear shoes other than flip-flops to prevent yourself from losing your footing.
COST: 40 baht per foreign adult or 20 baht (written in Thai as ๒๑) per Thai adult or foreigner with Thai license entrance fee; 100 baht for a guide. Open 7 am to 5 pm daily.
| NOTE: This activity is not for everyone. If you are afraid of the dark, jumping bugs, tight spaces, or otherwise are in poor health and either cannot fit or bend through tight spaces or climb a flight of stairs without losing your breath, we do not recommend doing this. |
Soak in the Pong Arng Hot Springs
About 30 minutes drive north of Chiang Dao is the Pha Daeng National Park. We took the entire afternoon visiting the Pong Arng Hot Springs (บ่อน้ำร้อนโป่งอ่าง) and the Sri Sungwan Waterfalls (น้ำตกศรีสังวาลย์) there. This was our first visit to a hot spring and we were amazed by the unearthly like mineral formations at the bottom of the shallow pools. Is this typically what it looks like?
The Pong Arng Hot Springs are made of two crystal clear hot springs (51⁰C and 58⁰C) and a single cold but cloudy spring. They springs are redirected into a soaking area and the temperature feels very much like a steamy bath.
There are steps leading into the pool but we decided to sit on the stone-lined sidelines and dip our feet in instead. We can imagine how nice it would be to come here in the coldest months of January and February and take a nice hot soak when the air is chilly.
Entrance tickets are considered day passes to anywhere in the Pha Daeng National Park, so we were able to go to both attractions for one price. The foreigner price is 100 baht per person, but with our Thai driver licenses we managed to get the local price of 20 baht per person. Not bad for an entire afternoon exploring a national forest!
Climb the Sri Sungwan Waterfalls
The Sri Sungwan Waterfalls are just two or three kilometers north of the Pong Arng Hot Springs and are accessible through a different park entrance. It’s a three-tiered waterfall surrounded by a beautiful tropical rainforest.
We visited at the end of August, which is near the middle of the rainy season. The waterfalls are roaring with life and beautiful white rapids splash against peach colored rocks.
COST: 100 baht per foreign adult; 20 baht for Thai adult or foreigner with Thai license
Treat Yourself to a Thai Massage
Our weekend getaway could not be complete without a massage. We had spent the day walking through a huge market and crawling through dark caves and needed to rest our tender feet and legs.
We opted for an hour-long traditional Thai massage and a foot massage for a grand total of 350 baht. At the current exchange rate, that’s only 10 USD for two hour-long massages! That’s better than the prices that we typically see in Chiang Mai, which have hovered around 200 or 250 baht per massage in a similar casual setting.
Although there weren’t many signs advertising massages in Chiang Dao, we eventually found two places after keeping our eyes peels for a simple massage (นวด) sign.
COST: 150 to 200 baht per one hour massage, depending on the type
| TIP: Some of the guesthouses outsource masseuses and will make the appropriate arrangements if you ask ahead of time. |
Other Things to Do in Chiang Dao
We spent only three days in Chiang Dao and squeezed in as much as we could during our trip, but there are more things to do in Chiang Dao than what we had time for:
- Bamboo rafting on the Ping River
- Take an organized hike up Chiang Dao Mountain
- Wang Hai whiskey raft (March through May only)
- Climb to the top of Tha Pha Plong Temple for great views
- Soak in Japanese style hot springs
- Visit a hill tribe village
- Camp at Pha Daeng National Park
We should mention that Chiang Dao is an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of place. We didn’t find much activity past 7:30pm (sunset) when we went out, so plan accordingly. Two places we know are open later are The Cave Bar and Microkosmos Craft Beer.
Where to Stay in Chiang Dao
We had a very memorable stay at the Chiang Dao Nest and were lucky enough to try both Nest 1 and Nest 2. For the smaller, two-person cabin, prices range from 695 baht to 1045 baht (20 USD to 30 USD) per night depending on the season.
If you’d like to try out some other places in Chiang Dao, here’s a short list:
CHIANG DAO HUT
This pet friendly guesthouse offers simple but clean fan bungalows and lovely outdoor lounge areas. There’s also an onsite restaurant, bike rentals, and laundry facility.
Standard cottage
from 10 USD
MALEES NATURE LOVERS BUNGALOWS
These well-made bungalows are set in a cozy garden area and feature a pool and play area for children. They serve a great Western breakfast at their onsite restaurant, too.
Bedroom bungalow
from 22 USD
CHIANGKHAM LUANG RESORT
Beautiful views from private balconies in a peaceful setting. Relax at the bar, coffee shop, and restaurant.
Deluxe room from 60 USD
Very helpful article! Thank you :)
Thanks for these great suggestions! Based on this article we visited the hotsprings and waterfall today. Especially the waterfall was more than we had hoped for! It is possible to climb up the waterfall as the rocks are not slippery at all, and in the dry season the current is not too strong. We enjoyed ourselves playing in the water for an hour. Would definitely recommend to spend a morning or afternoon here. Also great place to have a picnic!
Hi, i’m going to Thailand and hoping to go to Chiang Mai November time, my sister wants to get the sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, have you had any exeperiences with that? also she’s heard of people staying in tree houses in chiang mai. Are they easy to get too? and worth the price? Thank you! i’m planning the whole trip, and its my first time to Thailand, ive been wanting to go for so long, and i’m trying to make it a perfect! any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated :) oh and also i was… Read more »
We have yet to do the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai but it’s on our to-do list. Get the private cart (1st class) and bring snacks aboard. The food is so so but it has AC and the beds are ok and your luggage will be secure. There are tree houses 1.5 hours north of Chiang Mai. Great to relax and decompress for a day in the middle of all your sightseeing. The owner of Rabeang Pasak, Mr Mink, is very accommodating and will even help to arrange for roundtrip transportation. If you are going to Chiang Dao,… Read more »
Chiang Dao has grown a bit and there is night life now in the form of a thai bar and even a craft beer place that sells local thai crafts called microkosmos. They are situated on the crosspoint of highway 107 and the road going from chiang dao town to the cave area.
Thanks for the update! So glad to see a few more places popping up for those of us who like to stay up late :)
Hi Chris and Angela – Great blog post! Super helpful! Would you suggest going to Pai or Chiang Dao for a day trip from Chiang Mai? Any help on adventurous itineraries in Chiang Mai and surrounding areas would be really helpful too! We plan to stay in Chiang Mai (as a base) and visit around for 7 days in January 2017.
Hey Josh. Pai is not a good choice for a day trip – it’s 3+ hours on a windy road one way! Stick with Chiang Dao. It’s a much better choice if you only have a day to spare. Please check out our week long Adventure Seeker’s Itinerary in Chiang Mai for things to do. Have fun!
Hello Chris and Angela,
I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts, thank you for all of the research you’ve done and time that you’ve put into writing it all down!
We’ll be in Chiang Mai for 5 days in Febuary and have 2 days to either go to Chiang Dao or Chiang Rai, which do you suggest and why? Thanks for your input!
Cheers,
Sarah
Thank you for those nice words:) We’ve been to both cities twice and recommend Chiang Dao if you only have two days to spare. Chiang Dao is closer (1 hr 15 mins) and super relaxing. The landscape and atmosphere is perfect for decompressing and catching up on journaling, sleeping, sorting through photos, catching up on emails, etc. However, Chiang Rai stays open later (there are a few areas in town where you can stay out for a late dinner and drinks; Chiang Dao is asleep by 8am) and has more things to do, mainly iconic landmarks such as the White… Read more »
Great blog, very handy for planning our action-packed day here! We’re staying at The Black Cat and definitely recommend it, 350 baht per night for a very basic room but everything is clean and the owner is an amazing lady, very helpful, friendly and a great cook!
We remember seeing signs for that place. Thanks for the recommendation!
Currently staying at Nest 2 on your recommendation…very impressed to say the least. A welcome lemongrass mocktail and the typical warm greeting and Thai smile, the soothing sounds of nature with the occasional soft musical clang of metal chimes, and really nothing to distract us from our goal of total relaxation. Looking forward to our evening meal in a little over 1 hour away.
Thanks Chris and Angela for your suggestion, which has helped make our 3rd trip to Chiang Mai even more enjoyable.
Wow, awesome! By now you’ve finished dinner and we hope you’ll be raving about it as much as we had (seriously, we talked about Nest 2’s food for DAYS after leaving).
Also, thanks for taking a moment and letting us know that you booked your stay based on our experience. It means a lot to us that you trust our recommendations :)
Loving the Chiang Dao posts, guys. We’ve got three days booked at the The Nest after your recommendation and I’m now starting to wonder if we’ve allowed enough time…
Glad you liked our post! If we did everything in three days/two nights (technically two days because we did nothing but eat the first day there :) ) you guys will be just fine. Have a blast and we wish you all the best!
Ahh this looks so cool. I’ve been looking for more lesser-known towns in Northern Thailand to explore (and eat in!) when I visit. Thanks for the details!
Awesome! Totally go for it :)
Great article, I feel like each time I read about a new place in Thailand, I need to go visit. I only have two weeks at the end of January and it just doesn’t seem like enough time.
We know what you mean. It can almost backfire if you look at too many things and fall in love with them all. Decisions decisions! If you need help, we design itineraries and can point you in the right direction based on your travel style, interested, and budget. It’s great you have a full two weeks to explore!
Another really interesting article and super watchable vlog once again guys. Oh yes music super cool again, cheers HelenD
Thanks for the positive feedback! It’s great to know where going down the right path :)
thank you Chris & Angela. I have been inspired by your blogs and I am intending on moving to Chiang Mai for at least 12 months. I regularly go to Chiang Mai and love it. Chiang Dao Caves & Pai are on my list of things to do when I finally move there. That countryside looks so beautiful. Would love to catch up with you both once I settle in Chiang Mai.
Cheers, Kay
Glad to have helped :) Both Chiang Dao and Pai are not far from Chiang Mai and easy to make arrangements to get there. Definitely include these towns on your must-see places when you get here!