From Wikitravel

Chiang Dao (เชียงดาว) is a town in Northern Thailand.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By bus 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Buy 7 Eat 8 Drink 9 Sleep 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid-range 9.3 Splurge 10 Get out

Understand

Chiang Dao literally means "City of Stars", although this small rural town is hardly a city.

Get in

Chiang Dao is 72 km north of Chiang Mai on Highway 107 to Fang and Tha Ton.

By bus

There are buses six times daily from Chiang Mai to Tha Ton, which stop at Chiang Dao along the way. 90 minutes, 29 baht.

Get around

See

• Chiang Dao Cave (Tham Chiang Dao) is the best-known attraction here, offering 12 kilometers of stalactite-laden caves — although only five of the caverns are accessible to the public. Entry 10 baht.

Do

The town of Chiang Dao is adjacent to Chiang Dao National Park [1], which covers over 1000 sq.km. of the stunning craggy mountains in the area, including Doi Chiang Dao itself (2225m). Being fairly high up, it's noticeably cooler and drier than on the plains and can get downright cold in the winter. The local flora are semitropical, with extensive bamboo forests and a number of mountain streams and waterfalls.

The area is popular for trekking, as in addition to the mountain views there are many Lisu and Karen hill tribe villages scattered in the park.

• Chiang Dao Nest Tours and Trekking, [2] offers a wide variety of 2-3 day treks in the national park. Small, private groups led by local hill tribe guides, priced at roughly 1000 baht/person/day all-inclusive.

Buy

Every Tuesday the town has a market with many hilltribe people coming down to trade.

Eat

• Mon and Kurt's Thai-German Restaurant, +66-41739975 [3] has a big variety of European, North American and Thai food. Located on the old Chiang Dao - Fang highway, 2.5km after the Chiang Dao 7-11 in the Fang direction, on the right hand side. Thai mains ~50 baht, European dishes ~100 baht.

Drink

Sleep

Accommodation in Chiang Dao is limited to a few guesthouses and hill resorts, mostly along or near the road from the town center to the caves.

Budget

• Mon and Kurt's Thai-German Restaurant, +66-41739975, [4] mon@chiangdao.org offers a large, cozy, teak private room with a fan for 190 baht/night. Shared bathroom and hot shower, towels and clean bedding provided, and great food in the restaurant and good fresh coffee. Beautiful mountain view from the restaurant, UBC TV, 7 baht/minute international calls and Internet access. A popular place for local expats as well as people on day trips from Chiang Mai.

Mid-range

• Chiang Dao Nest, +66-60171985 [5] run by English/Thai couple Stuart and Wicha is a self-proclaimed mini-resort with views of the mountains around and surprisingly gourmet food. 11 bungalows with fan, attached bathroom, hot water, from 495 baht/night.

Splurge

• Baan Krating Chiang Dao, Highway 107 Km. 63, +66-19520067 [6] is a "boutique resort" with 10 villas on the banks of the Ping River, 10 km to the south of town. Each villa has air-con, attached bathroom, terrace, and costs from 900 baht/night low season, from 1200 baht/night high season.

Get out

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