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This 2,225 m conical limestone mountain in the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary is Thailand's third-highest peak (after Doi Inthanon and Doi Pha Hom Pok). Narrow plains on top of the mountain provide spectacular views that include a sea of fog on the Chiang Dao side, Doi Sam Phi Nong, the Chiang Dao mountain range, and the far end of Doi Inthanon. The peak is cool and windy. It is full of rare highland flowers, birds, and butterflies. Visiting Doi Chiang Dao needs an approval letter from the Director of Wildlife Reserve Division, Royal Forest Department. It must arranged at least 2 weeks before travelling.
Getting there: The peak is accessible on foot. At Chiang Dao cave, guides, porters, and chartered transfers to the starting point of the trail are available. Rented local trucks cost around 900 baht and a porter is 300 baht per person. There are no tourist facilities on Chiang Dao Mountain. Visitors must bring their own sleeping bags, food, and water.
If you are a very fit trekker you might be able to climb up and down in one day if you start very early — it's just 1,000 elevation difference. There is a small village with the lodging near the start of the northern trail, easily accessible on a motorbike via paved road. If you have Osmand, use the OSM Public Tracks overly map and you will find many possible trails previously do by other people and not in any map. Or use Wikiloc, etc. to find valid GPS trails.
Descending the mountain is possible on the trail near Ban Tham, which is located near Chiang Dao cave. The trail is rather steep; nevertheless, it could shorten the walking distance upon descending. It is quite difficult to climb up.
Doi Chiang Dao, also known as Doi Luang Chiang Dao, is a 2,175 metres (7,136 ft) high mountain in Chiang Dao District of Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. It is one of the highest peaks of the Daen Lao Range on the Thai side of the border.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
ถ้ำเชียงดาว, Tham Chiang Dao
The cave is a part of Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary. The best-known attraction here, offering 12 km of stalactite-laden caves — although only five of the caverns are accessible to the public. Chambers are large and there are sinter formations, however, no spectacular colours - rather everything looks like covered by a sheath of dirt. You can tour the lighted part of the cave (350 m) alone (40 baht). Somewhere along the lighted path, guides with lanterns hang around to offer an excursion to unlit parts of the cave. A tour costs 200 baht per group of up to 5 persons. It involves crawling through narrows, some steep steps and brings you to real bats and sinter formations such as an elephant and an upside-down lotus flower. Bringing your own torch is recommended.
Bathe in two very nice Japanese gardens, with a restaurant, bamboo gazebos, changing rooms, showers and toilets. The original bathing area, a little up the road, is just several small concrete basins fed from a pipe.
An Instagram hotspot which has become popular lately. Basically an alley with giant trees, great for interesting pictures.
อุทยานแห่งชาติผาแดง, formerly Chiang Dao National Park
Over 1,000 sq km of stunning craggy mountain park begins adjacent to the town. The altitude makes it cooler and drier than the plains and it can get downright cold in the winter. The semitropical local flora includes extensive bamboo forests. The many mountain streams and waterfalls make the park good for trekking. In addition to the mountain views there are many Lisu and Karen hilltribe villages scattered throughout the park.
A lone temple up northeast. Great for a half-day hike with rice fields and lots of scenery.
A very large bamboo forest dominated by clumped bamboo groves. Dark and a little foreboding even in the day time. Muddy river crossing may be necessary. No signs. Very large, takes about half an hour to cross by motorbike.