Chiang Mai is the second-largest city in Thailand located in the north. While there is plenty to see and do in Chiang Mai, you might want to check out the countryside of Thailand.
Just north of Chiang Mai, is Chiang Dao, a quiet mountainside village mostly untouched by tourists. If you’re looking to get in touch with the Thai culture and be mostly surrounded by the locals, then this village will be exactly what you’re looking for.
How to Get to Chiang Dao
The best way to get to Chiang Dao from Chiang Mai is by van or bus which you can get from the Chang Puak bus station. The air-conditioned van is 150 baht one way and the non-air-conditioned bus is 80 baht one way. Also note, that if you have a weak stomach or don’t like winding roads be sure to take some medicine with you because the road to Chiang Dao is through a mountain range.
One and a half hours later you will arrive at the Chiang Dao bus station. It is best to have prearranged pick up from your hotel as there isn’t much public transportation. You may also quickly notice that you are the only foreigner, but hey, that’s why you came here!
Chiang Dao Cave
The most popular attraction to go exploring is the Chiang Dao Cave. This cave is fairly large and attracts a lot of tour groups visiting from a day trip from Chiang Mai. During my visit, there were two groups, one speaking Chinese, and one speaking French. If you decide to go into the cave, it is 40 baht, but you can’t go inside alone, because you can easily get lost. It is also respectful to wear appropriate clothing as the cave is a temple. So make sure your shoulders and legs are covered.
Once you have purchased your ticket you can make your way inside the cave where you have the option to hire a guide or explore on your own, however, you must be in a pair. There are no lights in the cave, so I definitely recommend hiring a guide and an oil lantern. The guide will lead you around the passageways in the cave which can be quite narrow at times, so be sure to watch your head!
Walking around in the cave you will see great limestone formations like the one pictured above. It doesn’t take long to tour the cave, but all the tour groups cause a little bit of a traffic jam inside.
Surrounding the cave are some temples and a small pond with fish. There are also some restaurants at the top of the hill where you can grab a nice Thai tea or iced coffee to cool you down.
Pha Dang National Park
Another place to visit in Chiang Dao is the waterfall in Pha Dang National Park. There is a 100 baht entrance fee for foreigners to the National Park. This waterfall is popular with the locals and I’m sure there will be a group of Thai people enjoying the water too. What is unique about this waterfall is that the rocks and water cause a chemical reaction making you able to climb up the waterfall without slipping. It’s definitely a cool experience. The surrounding area is also great to enjoy a picnic with friends.
I spent two and a half days exploring Chiang Dao which is plenty of time to see everything. I booked a driver for a day with the hotel I stayed with. This was the best option to get around Chiang Dao. There are also other activities in the area such as elephant camps, rafting, hot springs, and yoga meditation retreats. Once you’re done exploring Chiang Dao you can hop back on a van or bus to Chiang Mai.
For more things to do in Thailand check out this 7 Day Itinerary
