menu facebook twitter instagram pinterest youtube search chevron-down chevron-up
  • About
    • About Kristin
    • Press
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me
  • Blog
    • Archives
    • Best of the Blog
  • YouTube
  • Solo Female Travel
  • Home
  • Tours
  • Destinations
  • Travel Resources
    • Outdoors 101
    • Itineraries
    • Spiritual Travel
  • SEARCH

Be My Travel Muse

Solo Female Travel

A Guide to Hiking Doi Luang Chiang Dao

02/01/2018 by Kristin 42 Comments

2019 Update: To do this hike you MUST get a guide. The entrance now has guards and those who attempt the hike without getting a guide risk getting arrested. The info in this post is still good and useful for prepping for the hike. Have fun!

Doi Luang Chiang Dao is Thailand’s third tallest peak, accessible via a fairly easy drive 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai and surrounded by mountain after mountain in every direction. In a word, it’s stunning.

The hike itself is also lovely. It’s steep in parts, though not overly so, weaving through a jungle over mountain saddles and up to a peak that gives you what must be the most beautiful and expansive view in Thailand. After comparing with Doi Inthanon, this one might not be as tall but it’s so much better.

It’s pretty hard to find any concrete information online about this hike. I was left with more questions than answers before attempting it myself: Does one need a guide? Is it necessary to book weeks in advance? Is it possible to do it in one day?

hiking doi luang chiang dao
The top – wow!

We arrived at the park area well after dark the night before we aimed to do the hike. Everywhere I might be able to inquire was closed, so all I could really do was just go and see. Thankfully it worked out, but for those who would like to plan ahead a bit more, here’s what I found out about hiking Doi Luang Chiang Dao:

Table of Contents

  • Independently or with a guide?
  • Is it possible in one day?
  • Other Tips

Independently or with a guide?

It is now required that you get a guide to do this hike. It’s not really possible to book one the day of due to the park office opening late (8:30am) and sometimes availability of guides is limited.

Therefore you must book in advance, at least one day before at the park office, which is in a different location than the park entrance. You’ll need to get there before they close at 4pm. The guide costs 1000 baht and will probably not speak English.

That said it’s a small fee, really, and provides a job for someone.

I had also read that booking several weeks in advance is necessary. Perhaps this is true during the highest season, though in late January didn’t seem to be the case.

It’s also possible to join an organized 2 day, 1 night hike with a guide and porters if you’d like to camp out and see the sunrise and sunset from the top, which must be spectacular. This is by far the most popular option and you’ll mostly be with Thai people, which if the abundant friendliness on the trail is any indication, is probably a pretty cool experience.

hiking doi luang chiang dao
The view at the halfway point

If attempting in one day, the earlier you go the better. If driving, you’ll enter the park headquarters where you’ll be asked to pay 200 baht per person plus a vehicle fee if you’re driving yourself. It’s also possible to take a taxi.

From there it’s a straightforward hike all the way to the top through a gorgeous forest with tropical plants, tall trees wrapping around rocks, bamboo, and in mid January, even some cherry blossoms.

hiking doi luang chiang dao
Such a lovely hike

There will be several forks in the road with signs that are only in Thai. At each one, veer left and you’ll stay on the correct trail.

Towards the end, there will be a large camping area that lasts for several hundred meters. Keep walking through it and up to the top.

Again, I’m not encouraging that you go without a guide, but I did notice during the hike that it would be doable independently with relative ease.

Is it possible in one day?

hiking doi luang chiang dao
Sunset on the drive in the day before.

A few posts I saw online insisted that doing the hike in one day would be impossible or incredibly difficult. I disagree. This hike was only moderately difficult (by my standards – everyone is different) and at about 12km roundtrip, which is totally doable if you leave early enough in the morning.

I started at 7am and finished at 4pm, including plenty of time at the top and lots of photo stops.

The beginning and the end are steep, with a bit of rock scrambling at the top. I imagine shortly after it rains the trail is muddy and difficult. However I found it to be pretty manageable just in running shoes.

One big benefit of doing it in one day is the possibility of having the top to yourself. I passed what must have been at least 70 people coming down as I was going up, since most people don’t do it in one day. The sunrise and sunset are undoubtedly incredible, but also crowded, so unfortunately, you will miss that doing it in one day only. Unless you hike in with the stars, which I suppose is possible.

Other Tips

Though you can leave Chiang Mai in the very early morning — like while it’s still dark out — to make it up to the trailhead, I suggest booking a couple of nights in Chiang Dao. It’s a lovely little town and it’s nice to have a laid back and relaxed evening before and after the hike, should you choose to do it in one day. I stayed at Chiang Dao Story Camp and thought it was lovely.

Also, bundle up! It gets cold up there, especially if you camp overnight at the top.

Additionally, if you can make this part of a bigger road trip, do! There are so many amazing things in the areas surrounding Chiang Mai, much of which are unknown to other tourists, which to me, makes them all the more special.

Looking for a place to hike in Northern Thailand that is off the beaten path? Doi Luang Chiang Dao may be the answer. Here's a complete guide to hiking Doi Chiang Dao, read to find out if you could hike independently, best time to go, and many more tips! Be My Travel Muse | Northern Thailand hiking tips | one day hikes in Thailand | southeast Asia travel tips
Pin me!

Doi Luang Chiang Dao was a highlight of the north for me, and a lovely hike that I thoroughly enjoyed. I hope that you do, too!

READ NEXT: Wat Chaloem, Thailand’s Floating Pagodas



291 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Get the guidebook for solo female travelers!
« Emerald Lake: A Cenote in Thailand?!
Hidden Thailand: 8 Amazing Day Trips From Chiang Mai »

Hello There!

headshot

Welcome to Be My Travel Muse, one of the top female travel blogs in the world, welcoming over 5 million readers annually.

I'm Kristin, and my vision of a better world is one where more women are empowered and living out their dreams. Solo traveling is the best method I've found to become the best, bravest version of me. This site is all about how YOU can have the adventure of a lifetime in an easy, fun, approachable way, so that you can feel empowered, too. Want to learn more about me?

Click here!

Get the Solo Female Travel Guidebook

Popular Posts

I am currently in:

The USA!

Check it out on Instagram Stories!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Sandeep panwar says

    02/01/2018 at 11:22 pm

    Hiking is my passion.

    Reply
  2. Dominique | dominiquetravels.com says

    02/04/2018 at 12:55 am

    You do you train to be fit for hikes like these? I do hikes in the Netherlands, but they are mostly flat. How can I prepare for hiking up mountains?

    Reply
    • Ash says

      12/24/2018 at 2:31 pm

      This mountain was the second I’ve ever tried. My first time, I decided to pick a small mountain that was going to take a few hours and was well populated in case I ran into trouble. I over prepared by bringing extra clothes, food and water and learned on the way what was actually neccessary. I live in the prairies, so I’ve only done flat land hiking as well. I think the best thing you can do is pick a small one and go for it! I didn’t overly train before I went but I did break in my new shoes on rougher terrain off the path and took advantage of going up any hill or stairs I came across. I think it helped.

      Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    02/05/2018 at 12:43 pm

    Glad you made it here! This was my favorite hike in Thailand, we saw the best sunset and sunrise, and saw mountain goats too.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/12/2018 at 4:31 am

      No way! Goats?

      Reply
  4. Danny says

    04/06/2018 at 6:30 am

    Hi,

    How did you get your permit without a guide ? How do they enforce this ? We like to do trail running, so I don’t think guides are running.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      04/06/2018 at 6:52 am

      They don’t really enforce it and I didn’t have a permit TBH.

      Reply
    • Ash says

      12/24/2018 at 2:38 pm

      I just went here November 2018. They now have guards posted at multiple stations along the hike. You do need a guide!! They don’t send you back down, they arrest you. This is relatively new as it was explained to us. The guards are there 24/7 and camp on the mountain. Our guides name was Coco, I bet if you asked he’d run up the mountain with you. He was a fantastic guide, and very knowledgeable. He also had a hotel near by so you can sleep then head right out to your hike. We found him by asking the man at the bus station in doi Chiang Dao national park.

      Reply
      • Danny says

        03/30/2019 at 3:06 pm

        Ash is absolutely correct, me and my girlfriend did the hike November 2018 and ended up getting arrested. We followed the directions for the trailhead that we found through this blog and at about 3/4 of the way up the mountain there were two guards stationed there. One was holding a machete. They told us to go back down, so no arguments on our end lol. At the bottom there were 5 park rangers waiting for us. They drove us to the police station, and made us take a video apologizing to the rangers and then let us go. Worst day in Thailand by far lol. And that trailhead thats described in this blog is no longer used and the trail has overgrown and is difficult to follow. We’re not exactly sure where the new trailhead is. So yeah, just get the guide.

        Reply
  5. Barbora says

    05/24/2018 at 11:25 am

    Hi!!
    Thank you for your awesome post! 🙂 we are looking to do this hike in November but dont really want a guide. If we start early around 7 am is it possible to get through main entramce without a guide?
    Thank you in advance!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      05/24/2018 at 2:28 pm

      I’d start earlier if you can.

      Reply
  6. hermit says

    09/23/2018 at 4:28 am

    Hi there,

    Thanks for the post. Very useful tips. I am going there for hiking in November and was wondering if any earlier notification of national park authorities is required beforehand? Any permits/pass? Would be grateful for your advice.

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/23/2018 at 5:47 pm

      You are supposed to have a permit, yes.

      Reply
      • Hermit says

        10/18/2018 at 8:18 am

        Hi Kristin,

        Thanks for your reply.
        How can I Get the permit? Is it possible to arrange it via internet? Do You know more details?
        Is there any map available to Get there wihout a guide?

        Reply
        • Kristin says

          10/19/2018 at 9:22 am

          You have to go in person the day before to the office and get it.

          Reply
  7. JZ says

    10/08/2018 at 3:47 pm

    Were you are able to do this hike in a pair of sneakers or do you advise hiking boots?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/08/2018 at 6:19 pm

      Sneakers. The beginning can be steep and muddy if it has rained so boots might be helpful. I think the biggest thing is shoes with tread.

      Reply
  8. Ben says

    10/11/2018 at 6:02 pm

    Hi there,

    First of all, great blog post on this! Love all the information. Truly grateful for it.
    I know you didn’t get a permit, but was wondering if you knew where to acquire one? Everywhere I’ve read tells me I should get one but doesn’t say where from.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/11/2018 at 10:19 pm

      There’s an office located elsewhere. Travelfish says, “the Wildlife Sanctuary office, where you register for treks and book guides and transport, is situated at the end of the lane leading past Chiang Dao Nest at the foot of the steps climbing up to Wat Tham Pla Plong”

      Reply
  9. Shan says

    11/04/2018 at 8:27 pm

    Can you share how much the permit cost? The Airbnb’s I’m booking said they could get me a permit and guide but I think are ripping me off.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      11/05/2018 at 6:12 am

      I honestly did not get a permit. I just showed up at sunrise and was able to hike in.

      Reply
  10. Lor says

    11/04/2018 at 11:49 pm

    Not possible without a tour guide. Just went to their office, they don’t issue permits anymore.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      11/05/2018 at 6:12 am

      It’s not supposed to be possible, no.

      Reply
  11. Tarek says

    11/11/2018 at 9:09 am

    Anybody wants to do the hike on Nov-14?
    Solo here

    Reply
    • Nadia says

      11/14/2018 at 4:08 am

      Hi! We’re planning to do the hike on Nov 20th. Did you try and succeed? With or without guide? 🙂 We’re still trying to find out if we can do it without guide and if not how much we would have to pay.

      Nadia

      Reply
      • Justyna says

        11/19/2018 at 8:29 am

        Hi, maybe you will still manage to read it: I went there today. The path was awful: extremly muddy and with so much bush you couldn’t see the way. I slipped multiple times, it wasn’t enjoyable at all. After 1,5h we decided to go back. As we finally managed to reach the parking lot, there were some rangers waiting for us! They were unhappy with us appearing from behind the board „no entry” and took as to the police station in Chiang Dao! It wasnt funny!! With us started also one couple, the rangers knew it and were waiting for them as well! We were told the only legal way to reach the peak is with the guide but it’s also possible to do it in one day. People, dont go there alone if you dont want get into trouble with the police.

        Reply
        • paul says

          11/25/2018 at 3:48 am

          what are the police going to do? they’re not taking you to court are they. 500 baht fine at worst and I’d refuse to pay that as well. i’m not even sure if the park rangers have any authority to physically move you somewhere. they can tell you to leave the park, sure, not take you to a police station.

          Reply
          • Justyna says

            12/02/2018 at 3:15 am

            Just saying what happened to me. I didn’t have to pay anything, they were just taking 1000 pictures od us, I think they also made a short video of us apologizing and we had to sign something written in Thai (?!). We don’t know what it was, nobody could explain us. There’s not so much space for a discussion as people speak only very basic English. As for me: it was very unpleasant to be stoped by them, waiting, not knowing what they actually wanted from us. I wouldn’t do it again so I’m just sharing my experience, hoping it will spare others some trouble.

          • Kristin says

            12/03/2018 at 3:09 am

            Ooooh, I think it’s important to not sign anything in a language when you can’t understand it. Glad it didn’t end up worse for you.

  12. JackyJeck says

    12/18/2018 at 5:04 am

    Hello. 🙂 Glad to have come across your blog. I’m looking for some hiking destinations in Thailand. Was there any river crossing in the trail?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/18/2018 at 8:51 am

      There was not 🙂

      Reply
  13. Sherry Cote says

    01/16/2019 at 8:03 am

    Hi, I booked accommodation at Chiang Dao Nest, a friend had told me there were alot of trails, I had intended on run/hiking minimum 20 km a day and now see we cant access the trails. Is there any long distance trails near by? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/16/2019 at 1:58 pm

      I have no idea actually. I just went with the intention of doing that one. You can’t get the permit and do it? I would ask at the nest for other options.

      Reply
  14. Beth says

    09/12/2019 at 12:49 pm

    Do you know of any guide tours that drive up early in the morning for stargazing?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/16/2019 at 1:38 am

      Most involve an overnight so you’d see the stars then!

      Reply
  15. Michelle says

    11/12/2019 at 8:16 am

    Thanks for this post! Did you take anti-malarial drugs while hiking in this area? I know you’re not a doctor, and I’m not holding you to medical advice. I’m just curious what you did as I plan my own trip. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      11/12/2019 at 8:33 am

      I have never taken anti malarials in Southeast Asia.

      Reply
  16. Larry says

    12/30/2019 at 7:43 pm

    My wife and I went by the park headquarters yesterday morning to be told that all the trails are closed and that even with a guide you cannot climb the mountain. When I asked why and if and when it might reopen they laughed uncomfortably trying to determine which of the five of them would respond to us. Finally a woman stepped up to the challenge said said she couldn’t say

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/31/2019 at 9:10 am

      Aw bummer. Thanks for the update. I wonder if extreme rain caused an issue.

      Reply
  17. JAdams says

    02/24/2020 at 4:51 pm

    Does anybody know if this hike has been reopned? We are looking to go in April and do this with a guide in one day

    Reply
  18. Anonymous says

    09/21/2020 at 12:15 am

    Hiring a guide does not ‘provide a job’ – the guide is a park ranger, who works and lives at the park full time. Please do not assume that these guides merely exist to take your money and lead you up a mountain. They are experts in reforestation and forest management.

    Also ‘Again, I’m not encouraging that you go without a guide, but I did notice during the hike that it would be doable independently with relative ease.’ As you are not Thai, do not live in Thailand, and are not familiar with the hike and the wildlife in the area, please do not recommend to not use a guide because *you* thought the hike was easy. The guides exist for a reason.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/10/2020 at 10:33 am

      Take a deep breath, friend 😉

      Reply

Stay Connected

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Archives
  • Privacy Policy and Disclaimer

© 2023 · Be My Travel Muse. All Rights Reserved

footer-icon

291 shares