Chiang Dao
Where to lay your head
Where to lay your head
The big star of the near-the-caves guesthouse scene is of course the famous Chiang Dao Nest—a longstanding, popular and well organised resort, though there are plenty of other solid options nearby. The most popular spots, for instance Malee’s and aforementioned Nest, can get very busy during high season—when it is highly advisable to book in advance.
A convenient location, lovely garden, super friendly staff members and a wide and fine selection of accommodation makes Chiang Dao Hut Resort our clear favourite in the area. A long-standing address, management appear to have made a big effort to revamp the interiors since our last visit and have opened a coffee shop out front as well as their own restaurant across the road. Located close to... Read our full review of Chiang Dao Hut Resort.
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Chiang Dao Nest has a selection of well-designed and well-maintained wood and bamboo finished chalets set in a lovely sprawling garden among a stand of huge trees a couple of kilometres past the entrance to Chiang Dao Cave. The chalets are simply yet tastefully decorated and come with en-suite hot water bathrooms and generously sized terraces. All chalets are now equipped with air-con even if... Read our full review of Chiang Dao Nest.
Malee’s Nature Lovers Bungalows has been going for some 25 years now, though never fear, rooms and facilities have fortunately seen regular upgrades and makeovers through the years. This friendly spot has a range of options to suit flash-packer to mid-range travellers with the various bungalows placed in a pleasant and lush garden setting. The bungalows are well-maintained with either... Read our full review of Malee’s Nature Lovers Bungalows .
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While most of the best options are out near or past the famous caves, there are a few choices either in town or on the road to the caves. These don’t have either the advantage of being in town or being close to the main sites and some involve hikes down dirt tracks, which you perhaps wouldn’t want to do at night. They do however offer serious peace and calm.
With an abundance of very good flash-packer and mid-range options to hand out by the caves, the new and more specifically budget orientated Chiang Dao Hostel amid Chiang Dao town’s very limited addresses is an excellent initiative. Chiang Dao Hostel is set back off the main road, slightly to the north end of town, in a quiet garden. The caves are only a few kilometres ride away and the town... Read our full review of Chiang Dao Hostel.
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Out between the town and the bypass road, on a dirt track that leads off the cave road, Soi 25, you’ll find the chalets of the low-key Chiang Dao Nature Home Guesthouse liberally strewn amid a fruit orchard. The long-standing establishment, run by a friendly elderly couple, has a distinct family feel to it, so although the individual chalets are of a fairly classic design the overall feel... Read our full review of Nature Home Guesthouse.
Clearly several years past its best, Chiang Dao Inn has these days devolved into one of those bog-standard, travelling sales rep type hotels common to every Thai provincial town. Rooms remain acceptable, rates reasonable and particularly for anyone just passing through and arriving too late to make it out to Ban Tham, this is a useful address to have. Decor and furnishings probably haven’t... Read our full review of Chiang Dao Inn.
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