Doi Chiang Dao

Information

Elevation

2.195 m

Country

Thailand (TH)

Location / Range

Daen Lao Range (Thai–Myanmar border range), Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand

Mountain type

Non-volcanic limestone karst peak, with dramatic karst formations and cloud forest

Volcanic?

No (non-volcanic)

Coordinates

19.4083, 98.9217

Difficulty

Moderate–hard: a two-day climb with a mandatory overnight at camp. The trail passes through dense forest, alpine grassland, and rocky climbs. The weather can change quickly above 1,800 m.

Best Season

November–February (cool dry season; clearest views; wildflowers bloom). Avoid April–October (heavy rain; very muddy trail; fog).

Permits & Rules

A Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary entry permit from the management office is mandatory. A local guide must accompany the climb (arranged by the sanctuary). Group size is limited; reservations are advised.

Hazards

Slippery trail when wet (thick mud in the rainy season), sun exposure on the alpine grassland, limited water on the upper trail, slip risk on limestone, extreme temperature swings (hot by day, very cold at night at camp)

Description

Doi Chiang Dao (2,195 m) is the third-highest peak in Thailand, located about 80 km north of Chiang Mai city in Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. Unlike Doi Inthanon (the national high point, accessible by road), Doi Chiang Dao offers a genuine two-day trekking experience inside a strictly protected Wildlife Sanctuary, which keeps its ecosystem exceptionally well-preserved. The mountain is composed of limestone with dramatic karst formations; its slopes encompass tropical rainforest, dense cloud forest, alpine grasslands, and limestone cliffs that shelter rare endemic birds and wild orchids. The Tham Chiang Dao cave system at the mountain's base is one of the largest limestone cave complexes in Southeast Asia and a landmark of the area. Because of its sanctuary status, climbing requires a licensed local guide, limited group sizes, and a special permit — a constraint that preserves both the pristine experience and the mountain's fragile ecology. From the summit, often shrouded in cloud, clear days reveal panoramas toward the mountains of Myanmar to the west and the green Chiang Dao valley to the east.