Chiang Dao

Where is it? Chiang Dao (or City of Stars) is one of our furthest recommendations, so it really deserves a few days to get it all in. If time is short, leaving at day break and heading home at dusk is absolutely doable.

Why we love it: The list of reasons to love Chiang Dao is long. Hiking around Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Thailand’s third highest mountain Doi Luang Chiang Dao is a dopamine filled day and a great shout for twitchers too – the migrating birds passing through never disappoint, although the convoluted booking process might. The two incredible cave temples have seen pilgrims coming to this palpably spiritual region for generations. The first and most popular, Chiang Dao Cave, is a vast cave network filled with sacred Buddha statues – you can only enter with a guide lest you get lost.. The other, more serene Wat Tham Pha Plong, is perched on the steep mountainside 500 steps up through the forest. Your efforts are encouraged along the path by inspiring meditation quotes before you reach the cave temple at the top. It’s Chiang Dao Hot Springs that keep us going back time and again though, sitting in the hot vats of water before cooling off in the babbling brook they’re built beside is one of the most gloriously life affirming days out – particularly if you’re smart about timing and catch them on a quiet weekday. Oh and they’re free to use. Heaven. But, if you want an easy breezy day that involves zero climbing, head to the recently opened Elements Spa, who keep the sauna and steam room regularly topped up with herbs and aromatic oils.

Time Out tip: Choeng Doi Distillery and their curated tours of Chiang Dao take all the effort out of planning so you can just enjoy the ride. Owners Pam and Jeen are some of the friendliest folks you’ll meet in the city, and they know all the best hidden spots.