Doi Luang Chiang Dao 2-Day, 1-Night Trip

In winter, if you don’t want to go to the overcrowded Doi Inthanon, Chiang Dao is a great alternative. Bring your winter clothes and head to the Lisu village in Doi Luang Chiang Dao for a 2-day, 1-night tent camping experience!

Thailand's Third Highest Mountain

Chiang Dao Mountain (Doi Chiang Dao), at 2,225 meters above sea level, is Thailand's third highest peak. From dawn to midnight, the mountain constantly "changes colors"!

Reaching the summit of Chiang Dao is quite difficult. The national park limits access to 150 visitors per day, requiring advance reservations and waiting in line. The 6-kilometer hike to the summit is also strictly controlled. If you don’t want to climb, the best tourist destination is Doi Luang Chiang Dao on the northern side of Chiang Dao Mountain, where you can enjoy a 2-day, 1-night trip in a Lisu village.

DAY 1

After breakfast, depart at 10:30 AM from downtown Chiang Mai, heading north along Highway 107.

Bhagava Cafe

Stop at Bhagava Cafe & Cuisine at the foot of Chiang Dao Mountain to enjoy coffee and desserts.

The coffee shop has a white theme with circular furniture, offering both indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor decor features a Christmas theme and is very cute. There’s also a playground outside for children to run around and play.

The menu includes drinks, bread, Thai dishes, and Western cuisine. For dessert, the Fruite Tart (109 THB) is highly recommended. It’s a variety of fruit slices paired with an egg tart, served with a smooth Americano (80 THB). The Raek Phop Bhagava, a special white chocolate bread, is soft and delicious.

From the outdoor seating area, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Chiang Dao Mountain. Don’t forget to take photos!

Address: Chiang Dao, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai 50170

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7BdawYDQTyXsCFrv8

Business Hours: 09:00 - 20:00

Phone: 091-3021909

Chiang Dao Road — Tree Section

The road to Doi Luang Chiang Dao has another landmark that you must stop to take photos of, the Tree Section (ถนนต้นยาง). On both sides of the road, there are tall rubber trees stretching for about 700 meters.

In some sections, the curves and beautiful light create a stunning road scene. Many people like to stop and take photos, making it a popular photography spot. Especially in winter, the atmosphere is fantastic, the nature is lush and green, and it's truly refreshing.

Be cautious when parking and standing in the middle of the road. If you arrive in the morning when it's less crowded, it will be easier to take photos.

Baan View Doi Luang Chiang Dao Homestay

Around 2 PM, arrive at the Lee Shu village (Lisu Tribe) of Doi Luang Chiang Dao and choose to stay at the Baan View Doi Luang Chiang Dao Homestay (บ้านวิวดอยหลวง บริการที่พักพร้อมอาหาร), located at the higher point of the village.

The accommodation offers parking in front, with great views. The place is clean, and you’ll stay in a private two-person tent. The shared bathrooms cost 650 Thai Baht per person (the village's fixed price), which includes dinner for the day and breakfast the next day, making it very worthwhile.

Address: CR8V+JXP บ้านนาเลาใหม่ Tambon Chiang Dao, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai 50170

Phone: 0895598272

Rabieng Dao Coffee Shop

After settling in, head forward to Rabieng Dao (บ้านระเบียงดาว), which is the most famous place to have coffee. Most visitors come here to relax and enjoy the close-up view of Doi Chiang Dao.

This place is both a homestay and a coffee shop, with an open balcony where visitors can stop by for coffee or a snack and enjoy the breeze while taking in the 180-degree view of the beautiful mountain scenery.

Highly recommended: Order a hand-drip coffee set (120 Baht). The coffee dripper is in the shape of a rolled elephant's trunk, which is very unique!

Address: 55 Moo 10, Chiang Dao, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai 50170, Thailand

Phone: 0899030083

Dinner Tent Overnight Experience

In the evening, I walked around the village. The accommodations and attractions I saw were mostly similar.

At sunset, I returned to my accommodation. There was a mat in front of the tent where I could sit, eat, and enjoy the view.

The host brought dinner on a small bamboo round table: a simple meal with two dishes, chicken soup, and two boiled eggs, typical Lisu tribe home-cooked food. I enjoyed the fried eggs and chili sauce, which gave the meal a unique flavor.

After dinner, I slowly watched the beautiful sunset in the west.

A reminder: there is no electricity here. There is only one solar-powered streetlight (which goes off periodically). It’s best to bring your own lighting (such as a power bank), but you can charge your phone at the host's counter.

At night, besides the sounds of neighbors talking, it was very quiet. I couldn’t see the stars or catch any shooting stars like the influencers do. Instead, I watched the full moon slowly move west, a rare moment for soul-searching.

The mattress in the tent was thick and very comfortable. However, as the night deepened, the weather got colder. The blankets might not be thick enough, so I had to wear socks and a sweater to stay warm (it’s best to bring an extra blanket).

Under the raised tent, free-range chickens ran around, and the roosters started crowing at 3 AM, making it hard to sleep.

DAY 2

Sunrise and Hearty Breakfast

At 6 AM, breakfast was delivered: 2 boiled eggs, a pot of chicken congee, a variety of condiments, and a pot of hot water to make coffee and cocoa powder. Simple and delicious.

I waited eagerly for the fiery red sunrise, but I didn’t see it! I waited until the sun crossed over the peak of Chiang Dao Mountain.

The mist was still present, floating between the mountain foothills, and with the sunlight, it created another beautiful scene!

I walked around and saw many tourists sitting at breakfast spots, leisurely drinking coffee, basking in the sun, and enjoying the mountain view.

Visiting the Famous Chiang Dao Cave

I checked out of the accommodation at 9:30 AM and drove back to visit the famous Chiang Dao Cave, also known as Wat Tham Luang Chiang Dao (วัดถ้ำเชียงดาว). This is a large cave on Doi Luang Chiang Dao, where a staircase was built in 1887 to reach the entrance. Inside, there are naturally formed stalactites and stalagmites, and a temple is built in the cave with hundreds of Buddha statues carved into the rock walls. It is well-preserved.

The cave has many paths: some have electric lights for visitors to walk through, and some require you to rent oil lamps (6 people per group, 100 Baht per person) or hire a guide (100 Baht per person). Many small tunnels require bending to get through. It’s said that no one has yet reached the end of the cave.

Another feature of the cave is the clear water that flows in front of the cave year-round, forming a pool with fish swimming in it. The water has an emerald color, making for a beautiful sight in photos.

Address: Wat Tum Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Opening Hours: 07:00 - 18:00

Phone: 088-788-8926

Admission: 20 Baht for Thai nationals, 50 Baht for foreigners.

Pronto Coffee for Lunch

I returned to Pronto Coffee, located at the intersection of Route 3024 and 107.

This is a beautiful coffee shop with a great atmosphere, air conditioning, and comfortable seating. The decor is world-style, and it attracts many foreign tourists.

The menu has coffee and delicious food at reasonable prices. I ordered a bowl of Vietnamese pho (65 Baht), an iced latte (70 Baht), and a hot Americano to go (55 Baht). The taste was good.

I chose to sit outside because the view was beautiful! The garden was in bloom, and when I looked up, I could see Chiang Dao Mountain. It was enough to stop and enjoy a coffee, eat something, take some photos, and then continue on my journey.