Major city · Thailand
Chiang Daoเชียงดาว
Give Chiang Dao 2 nights if you want the cave and a mountain view; 1 night if you are only breaking the Chiang Mai–Fang road. No car, no cave.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- THB
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (cool, clear mountain views)
- avoid Mar–Apr (smoke and burning season), Aug–Sep (wettest)
- Airport
- CNX
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
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Chiang Dao is a valley town 72 km north of Chiang Mai on Highway 107, under a 2,186 m limestone peak that is Thailand's third-highest mountain. The cave, the hot springs and the mountain views are the draw; the town itself is small and quiet, and almost everything worth seeing sits 5–10 km outside it. It works as a 2-night stop between Chiang Mai and Fang or Thaton, or as a base for birdwatching and trekking. Without your own wheels or a hired songthaew, the day shrinks fast.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Chiang Dao, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿).Thailand-wide
- SIM or eSIMAIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.Thailand-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Thailand-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 (≈ US$1–4) or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.Thailand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/O. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Thailand-wide
- SafetyQuiet and low-crime; the real risks are motorbike crashes on Highway 107, unlit cave passages, and burning-season smoke.
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops.Thailand-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 1669 (≈ US$55) ambulance and rescue · 1155 (≈ US$40) tourist police (english) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany Bangkok street-food vendors stay off the main roads on Mondays (street-cleaning day in several districts)…Thailand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCNX Chiang Mai International (Nearest airport; about 1.5 h by road to Chiang Dao on Highway 107).
- Getting aroundNo Grab coverage.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or fruit shake฿40–90 (≈ US$2–3)
- Street or quick mealThai rice or noodle dish฿50–120 (≈ US$2–4)
- Beerlarge bottle at a shop / in a restaurant฿60–80 (≈ US$2–3)฿90–150 (≈ US$3–5)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miSongthaew or taxi ride in townfrom ฿150 (≈ US$5)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week฿250–500 (≈ US$8–16)
- Museum or sight ticketChiang Dao Cave entry (lit section)checkabout ฿40 (≈ US$2)
- Budget bedFan bungalow, shared or private bath, a night, per room฿350 (≈ US$11)
- Mid-range bedFan bungalow, shared or private bath, a night, per room฿550 (≈ US$17)
- High-end bedFan bungalow, shared or private bath, a night, per room฿900 (≈ US$30)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ฿700 (≈ US$25) · Mid ฿1,500 (≈ US$50) · High ฿3,000 (≈ US$95)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CNX Chiang Mai International (Nearest airport; about 1.5 h by road to Chiang Dao on Highway 107)
Weather and climate
Chiang Dao: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
29°C84°F
13°C55°F
1 rd
Feb
32°C90°F
14°C57°F
1 rd
Mar
35°C95°F
17°C63°F
2 rd
Apr
36°C97°F
21°C70°F
5 rd
May
34°C93°F
23°C73°F
13 rd
Jun
32°C90°F
23°C73°F
16 rd
Jul
31°C88°F
23°C73°F
18 rd
Aug
31°C88°F
23°C73°F
20 rd
Sep
31°C88°F
22°C72°F
17 rd
Oct
31°C88°F
21°C70°F
11 rd
Nov
30°C86°F
18°C64°F
4 rd
Dec
28°C82°F
14°C57°F
1 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No Grab coverage. Guesthouses rent motorbikes for about 200–300 baht/day and some rent bicycles for about 100 baht/day; this is the practical way to reach the cave, the springs and the viewpoints. Local yellow songthaews and taxis start around 150 baht a ride and wait near the 7-Eleven; agree the price first. Buses and songthaews on Highway 107 run south to Chiang Mai and north to Fang about every 30 minutes, 40 baht, and can be flagged down anywhere.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Chiang Dao Cave
goDoor to door: About 15–20 min each way
Motorbike or hired songthaew from town, 5 kmMotorbike or hired songthaew from town, 3.1 mi
Entry to the lit section about 40 baht; lantern guides to the unlit chambers about 200 baht per group of up to 5. Bring a torch.
Chiangdao Hot Spring
goDoor to door: About 15 min
Motorbike or songthaew south of town
Basic basins free; the garden pools cost about 100 baht.
Pong Arng Hot Spring
cautionDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Follow the sign off Highway 1178 (≈ US$40) north of town
Open roughly 08:00–18:00; foreigners about 100 baht. Best with your own transport.Open roughly 8:00 AM–6:00 PM; foreigners about 100 baht. Best with your own transport.
Wat Pa Bunnak
goDoor to door: Half a day
Motorbike northeast, then walk
Lone temple with rice-field walking; go early, take water.
Chiang Mai
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Bus or songthaew on Highway 107, about every 30 min, 40 baht
See the Chiang Mai guide for the city itself.
Fang
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Bus or songthaew north on Highway 107, 40 baht
Continue north toward Thaton and the Mae Kok valley.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Chiang Dao town (Highway 107)
Guesthouses, cafés, the 7-Eleven and the Tuesday market; buses stop here, but the cave is 5 km away.Guesthouses, cafés, the 7-Eleven and the Tuesday market; buses stop here, but the cave is 3.1 mi away.
Ban Tham / cave village
Closest to the cave and the trailheads; quieter, fewer places to eat, best with your own transport.
Rice-field and mountain-view stays
Scattered 2–5 km off the highway; views and quiet, but you need a motorbike or a booked transfer.Scattered 1.2–3.1 mi off the highway; views and quiet, but you need a motorbike or a booked transfer.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ฿700–1,200 (≈ US$25–40) excl. bed
- Mid
- ฿1,200–2,500 (≈ US$40–80) excl. bed
- High
- ฿2,500 (≈ US$80)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Air-con double room1 × 2 nights × ฿1,200 | ฿2,400 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ฿1,500 | ฿6,000 |
| Motorbike hire, one day2 × ฿250 · check | ฿500 |
| Bicycle hire, one day2 × ฿100 · check | ฿200 |
| Chiang Mai to Chiang Dao bus, both ways2 × ฿80 · check | ฿160 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ฿300 | ฿600 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ฿986 |
| Trip total≈ ฿2,712 per person per day, bed included | ฿10,846≈ US$350 |
2026 estimate in baht; flights and long-distance buses excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or fruit shake | ฿40–90 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Thai rice or noodle dish | ฿50–120 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Vegetarian buffet with ricecheck | about ฿50 (≈ US$2) |
| Beer: large bottle at a shop / in a restaurant | ฿60–80 (≈ US$2–3) / ฿90–150 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Songthaew or taxi ride in town | from ฿150 (≈ US$5) |
| Chiang Dao Cave entry (lit section)check | about ฿40 (≈ US$2) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ฿250–500 (≈ US$8–16) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The cave is 5 km from town with no public transport: arrange a ride or a motorbike before you go.The cave is 3.1 mi from town with no public transport: arrange a ride or a motorbike before you go.
- Doi Luang Chiang Dao needs an approval letter from the Royal Forest Department, arranged at least 2 weeks ahead; no letter, no climb.
- Smoke from the burning season (roughly Feb–Apr) can wipe out the mountain views and the air quality.
- Songthaew drivers at the Chiang Dao bus stop quote 100 baht or more to resorts; flag the bus down nearer your stay instead.
- Sunday afternoon buses from Fang toward Chiang Mai are often full and hard to catch here.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance and rescue
- 1669
- Tourist police (English)
- 1155
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Chiang Daoเชียงดาว
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ไปที่ที่อยู่นี้ครับ/ค่ะTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police191
- Ambulance and rescue1669
- Tourist police (English)1155
Embassy
No embassies in Chiang Dao; most are in Bangkok, with consulates in Chiang Mai.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Chiang Dao → Chiang Mai, bus or songthaew: about ฿40 (≈ US$2), 1.5 h (check)
- Chiang Dao → Fang, bus or songthaew: about ฿40 (≈ US$2), 1.5 h (check)
- Chiang Mai → Chiang Dao, metered taxi: about ฿1,000–1,200 (≈ US$35–40) one way (check)
- Songthaew in town: from ฿150 (≈ US$5); agree the price first
Say or show
- สวัสดี — Hello (sawatdee)
- ขอบคุณ — Thank you (khop khun)
- เท่าไหร่ — How much is it? (tao rai)
- แพงไป — Too expensive (phaeng pai)
- ถ้ำอยู่ที่ไหน — Where is the cave? (tham yu thi nai)
- จ่ายบัตรได้ไหม — Can I pay by card? (jai bat dai mai)
Carry cash: many guesthouses, cafés and drivers outside town take baht only.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chiang Dao. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb (cool, clear mountain views) · avoid Mar–Apr (smoke and burning season), Aug–Sep (wettest) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CNX: last bus and songthaew times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Cave, hot spring and viewpoint pages with verified entry prices, opening hours and last-entry cutoffs.
- Doi Luang Chiang Dao permit walkthrough with the Royal Forest Department letter timeline.
- Burning-season air-quality fixture so the mountain-view and trek pages can go red.