Chiang Dao: The Perfect Day Trip From Chiang Mai

Located only 1 hour and 30 minutes outside of Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao is the perfect day trip destination. It was one of the first places I visited when I first moved to Chiang Mai, and it is still my favourite day trip from Chiang Mai! So with this quick guide, I want to give you all the information you need to plan a perfect day trip to Chiang Dao.

Update: In November 2024, we visited Chiang Dao again and spent three days there. Click here to read about our most recent trip!

Are you planning a trip to Chiang Mai? Click here for 6 hidden gems in Chiang Mai!

Getting There

We started our day off quite early and got a bus at 8 a.m. from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 1 (Chang Phueak Bus Station). Unfortunately, I could not find any bus schedules online so you would have to go to the bus station and ask. When we took the bus to Chiang Dao there were busses running from roughly 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets should be around 150 Baht (3,79€).

If you don’t want to take the bus you also have the option to go by taxi which should cost you around 22-27€ according to Rome2Rio and should take no longer than 1.5 hours. This option is the fastest. However, it is also the most expensive option.

If you want to rent your own car or scooter you will obviously have the most flexibility for your trip and you will also have it easier to get around Chiang Dao. But be careful, the traffic in Thailand can be dangerous!

Note: On the way back, our bus was stopped, and police came in to check everyone’s ID, so I would recommend keeping your ID or passport on you. As far as I know, you’re meant to keep your passport with you at all times anyway while travelling around Thailand. However, I know a few travellers who only kept photos of their passports with them, which was always sufficient. So if you don’t want to carry your passport with you, you might want to consider doing that.

Getting Around in Chiang Dao

Depending on what you want to see it’s probably not possible to walk everywhere. So you’ll have to organise a taxi or red car to get around. I recommend booking your own red car for the day. That’s what we did and it seemed to be the cheapest and most convinient option. A taxi would be slightly more expensive.

The other option would be to rent your own car or scooter. This option will obviously be slightly more expensive. However, it is the option that gives you the most freedom.

What We Did in Chiang Dao

We visited two of the main attractions in Chiang Dao: Wat Tham Chiang Dao (Chiang Dao Cave) and Wat Tham Pha Plong. First, we visited Wat Tham Pha Plong which is a temple perched on a mountainside. It’s known for its panoramic views of the surrounding landscape – and believe me, the view is truly amazing. To get to the temple, you will have to climb about 500 steps (I know that’s a lot but totally worth it). Next to the path, you’ll find many signs with Buddhist sayings written on them to keep you motivated during your ascent.

After visiting the breathtaking Wat Tham Pha Plong, we headed over to Wat Tham Chiang Dao – also known as Chiang Dao Caves – an underground network of caves filled with intricate stalactites and stalagmites. Inside the caves, you’ll also find an altar where you can pray and meditate. Guided tours are available for a deeper understanding of the cave’s history and geology. We didn’t book our tour in advance, but still ended up getting a private tour (lucky!). I highly recommend getting a guided tour to learn more about the caves and to get around the caves safely. Without a guide, I would have never dared to go so far into the caves. There were times when we were actually climbing and there was no light at all – I would definitely not want to do that without an experienced guide! Overall, it was an amazing and adventurous experience that I can only highly recommend to anyone visiting Chiang Dao. However, some parts of the caves were very narrow, and there was no proper light, so keep that in mind in case you are claustrophobic.

Visiting both Wat Tham Pha Plong and Wat Tham Chiang Dao took us around 3 hours in total. After our adventurous exploration of the caves, we headed to a local restaurant to enjoy some delicious Northern Thai food. Of course, you also get the same dishes in Chiang Mai. However, they taste even better when surrounded by mountains.

Other Things to Do in Chiang Dao

There are many other things you could also do while in Chiang Dao. We have actually posted an in-depth guide on all of Chiang Dao’s best attractions, which you can read here. The following list shows the main attractions at a glance:

1. Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary: Nature enthusiasts will love the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary. You can go on guided treks or opt for bird-watching tours to spot various species of birds and other wildlife.
2. Chiang Dao Hot Springs: After a day of exploration, relax your muscles in Chiang Dao Hot Springs. The soothing mineral-rich waters provide the perfect way to unwind.
3. Scenic Drives and Hikes: If time allows, take a leisurely drive through the picturesque countryside. You can also go on a short hike to enjoy the lush, mountainous terrain. The views will definitely be worth it!

Are You Ready?

So we actually only managed to visit two places and have some food before heading back to Chiang Mai by bus. If I were to go back to Chiang Dao, I would probably consider spending one night in this picturesque mountain town to fully enjoy the natural beauty and peacefulness of this place. So, are you ready for your trip to Chiang Dao? I cannot stress enough how much I loved this place. I hope you’ll enjoy it too!

Are you spending a few days in Chiang Mai and are looking for non-touristy things to do? Click here for 6 exciting activities beyond the tourist hotspots and here for a guide on where to stay!