The Chiang Dao Trekking Area
Frans Betgem
Table of Contents
The Chiang Dao District
The Chiang Dao District is a district in the province of Chiang Mai. The Chiang Dao “Trekking Area” is an area east of the town of Chiang Dao, the district capital. The town of Chiang Dao is about 70 km from Chiang Mai, a drive of around 1,5 to 2 hours. This trekking area borders the Sri Lanna National Park, a largely undervisited protected area.
The Sri (or Si) Lanna National Park was declared a protected area in 1989 making it the 60th national park of Thailand. It covers about 1400 square kilometers in the Mae Taeng, Phrao, and Chiang Dao districts of Chiang Mai province. Most people visit the Mae Ngat Dam and reservoir, which are located in the park. Few people visit the remote forested mountainous area of this park. Besides trekking in the Chiang Dao Trekking Area, there are many other great things to do in Chiang Dao.
Great trekking with a lot of flexibility
We have organized trekkings in the Chiang Dao district for more than 20 years. There are many villages, many trails and the trails are not too steep. Most of the villages are accessible by car year-round. We can be very flexible here. It is very easy to adjust the hiking to the requirements of trekkers.
We also offer more challenging trekking in this area. Although the villages often receive guests, the local indigenous people are still very welcoming. Are you interested in Chiang Dao Jungle Trekking? You will need three days to get into the real jungle of Sri Lanna National Park. On this page you can find more information about the home stays we use in this area.
Multiple activity trips in Chiang Dao
A visit to Chiang Dao can be combined with a visit to Mae Taeng district, an area which offers many different activities. You can, for instance, enjoy bamboo and whitewater rafting on the Taeng River (Mae Taeng).It is also possible to combine trekking in Chiang Dao with kayaking on the Ping River. There are many elephant camps and sancuaries in the Mae Taeng area such as Kanta Elephant Sanctuary, Elephant Nature Park and many others.
You can also combine Chiang Dao with a visit to the Bua Tong Waterfalls, better known as the “Sticky Waterfalls“. In recent years this pretty waterfall has become incredibly popular. You can walk up and down the falls because the limestone is not slippery, hence the name. We offer a number of multiple activity tours that combine trekking with the Sticky Waterfalls and with other activities in the Mae Taeng area.
Amazing variety of indigenous people and culture
Chiang Dao is the area with the greatest variety of indigenous or ethnic minority villages in Northern Thailand. It has several Palong (Dara-ang) communities, such as the villages of Mae Chon and Pang Daeng Nai. The Palong people migrated to Thailand from Myanmar in the 1980s. There are also a couple of Karen villages in the area, as well as Lisu and Lahu communities.
There is at least one Akha village and also a Hmong community in the area. With some of these villages we have worked for many years. For many years, we have organized trips for textile lovers to Chiang Dao. Especially the Palong (Dara-ang) women of the village of Mae Chon are exceptional weavers, who produce beautiful textiles. We can organize customized workshops at this village. In recent years, we have organized school and university tours to villages in the Chiang Dao area. We have also done very successful tours for students from USAC in the Chiang Dao Trekking Area.
The third highest mountain in Thailand
Doi Luang Chiang Dao aka Doi Chiang Dao is the third-highest mountain in Thailand (2,275 meter). The mountain impressively looms over the Chiang Dao district and is a popular destination for hikers. The walk to the mountain’s summit can be done in two days, or even in one. It is only allowed in the dry season. There is a campsite just under the summit of the mountain. I have done the walk up the mountain twice, in 2012 and 2015.
In 2021 UNESCO designated the mountain a Biosphere Reserve. After that the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary started to take charge of the climb to the summit of Doi Chiang Dao. You can only book the climb on the website of the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary. The climb is only open in November, December, January and February. They only allow 100 people per day to climb Doi Chiang Dao. According to staff of the Wildlife Sanctuary all places are fully booked within one day.
Amazing Cave Temples
The Chiang Dao Cave Temple in Doi Luang Chiang Dao has been a major attraction for many years. It is a beautiful and interesting limestone cave with Buddha statues and beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Access to the cave is not difficult. Just wear a good pair of shoes and you don’t have to worry. Part of the cave is illuminated. There are local community guides available to take you a bit deeper into the cave. They will bring a lantern with them.
Not far from the Chiang Dao Cave Temple is the Wat Tham Pha Plong, an atmospheric and interesting cave temple, built into the rock wall of Doi Luang Chiang Dao. You have to walk up quite a few steps up to get to the temple, but it is very worthwhile. We love Wat Tham Pha Plong and we highly to visit this special cave temple. Apart from these cave temples there are more fantastic Buddhist temples in Chiang Dao district.
Great Trekking and Hiking
Chiang Dao is a fantastic destination. You can combine it with Mae Taeng where you have a lot of great activities that attract a lot of visitors. About 10–12 years ago, the area east of the town of Chiang Dao was a very popular trekking area because you could combine trekking with village overnights, elephant riding and bamboo rafting. In 2012 some big tour companies decided not to offer elephant riding anymore to their guests, which led to the demise of Chiang Dao as a trekking destination. Green Trails is at this moment the only company that offers trekkings in the area east of Chiang Dao.
Chiang Dao has the greatest variety of ethnic minority villages in Northern Thailand and offers an extensive network of trails, ranging from very easy to very challenging. You can do agricultural, educational, textile or photography tours.
Green Trails trips in Chiang Dao
Green Trails Expeditions
Two day tours
