Day trip

From Chiang Mai: Chiang Dao Cave Trekking Full-Day Tour

Top rated
4.9  / 5111 reviews
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Day trip
From Chiang Mai: Chiang Dao Cave Trekking Full-Day Tour
Top rated
4.9  / 5111 reviews

Explore the caves of Chiang Dao, a spectacular system of stalactites and stalagmites less than two hours’ drive from Chiang Mai. See the limestone and climb the Buatong Sticky Waterfall.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 8 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English
Pickup included
Free pick-up areas for Small Group Tour Within 2km radius from the Thapae Gate- Chiang Mai city area. Such as Central city of Chiang Mai and the surrounding areas of the Old City Wall in Chiang Mai Province including Chang Klan Road, Thapae Road, Wualai Road in zones of the Night Bazaar, Lam Yai Market and Warorot Market (Kad Luang) Pick-up services are only offered from hotels or registered accommodations. For safety reasons and in line with Thailand's traffic laws, we cannot pick up from roadsides or shopping malls. Our team will email you the evening before your activity to confirm your pick-up time and meeting point. Your guide will be holding a TripGuru sign. Please be ready in the lobby of your hotel 10 minutes before pickup time.
Small group
Limited to 9 participants

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

E
Eileen – Hong Kong

Wow, we spent an amazing day today with our beautiful tour guide Nom 🥰 She really took care of us on this trip! Every location was well organised and meaningful. We loved the Chiang Dao Cave experience! The cave was amazing and it’s definitely worth paying the extra 300 bhat to explore further inside the cave a local guide, simply an extraordinary experience! The Sticky Waterfall was a one-of-a-kind experience for us too 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼 Being in our fifties, we were skeptical at first! But walking up the waterfall was unbelievable. We really appreciated how Nom took care of our belongings as we brought so much with us on this trip. She really made every experience special and memorable for us. We also loved the local food that was recommended. We will both recommend this trip to anyone visiting Chiang Mai and we will come again next time we are here. 🙏😊

Y
Yasmina – Germany

The Tour was fun. We were a small group of 4 people. I was picked up on time, first stop was a local market. It was very interesting because the Tour guide Pranom or "beautiful" explained a lot about the food which was offered at the market. The caves were really cool, you definitely should book the extra tour through the dark part of the cave. It is just 300 Baht for the group and so interesting! Afterwards Pranom took us to a local restaurant. The food was cheap and extraordinary good. Then the driver took us to the sticky waterfall. That part was the highlight of the trip. It is such a beautiful place and it's fun to walk up the fall. I really can recommend the trip, even though I expected a little more hiking. I really liked the Tour guide Pranom, she is a very funny person and she gave us a lot of interesting information.

Experience

Itinerary

  • Timeline stop icon

    Pickup location:

    Chiang Mai

  • Van

    (1 hour)

  • Timeline stop icon

    Chiang Dao

    Visit, Sightseeing, Hiking (2.5 hours)

  • Local restaurant

    Lunch, Food market visit (2 hours)

    Extra fee

  • Timeline stop icon

    Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls

    Visit, Sightseeing (2 hours)

  • Mae Malai Market

    Pass by

  • Van

    (1 hour)

  • Arrive back at:

    Chiang Mai

Main stop
Other stop

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

Highlights

  • Discover the caves of Chiang Dao
  • See the five limestone caverns beneath the mountains with gas lanterns
  • Climb the Buatong Sticky Waterfall and appreciate the scenic landscape
  • Enjoy a small-group or private experience
  • Explore responsibly with a GSTC-certified tour.

Full description

Get picked up from your hotel in Chiang Mai city center and head off on a day trip to Chiang Dao. Begin with a visit to the Chiang Dao Cave (Wat Tham Chiang Dao), which is without a doubt one of the area's most fascinating sites. Five limestone caverns invite visitors to uncover the beautiful stalactites, stalagmites, Buddha statues, and offerings from faithful pilgrims. After paying a small entrance fee, the tour begins through a system of interconnected caverns extending over seven miles into the heart of the mountain. Expect cooler air in here, although hot days may create humid conditions at times. Some of the caves are illuminated by electric lights. Here you'll find Buddha statues, including a 13-foot reclining one. Don’t miss the row of five seated Buddhas in the first cavern, which many travelers find particularly impressive. After the cave adventure, the next stop is the Chiang Dao market to gorge on delicious local meals before heading to the Buatong Sticky Waterfall, one of the most unique waterfalls in Thailand. One impressive feature of this natural wonder is the sticky mineral deposits that allow visitors to actually climb up the waterfall without falling off, with the help of a safety rope. This is definitely a great way to cool off after a long day of your trip. Afterward, relax on a complimentary transfer back to your hotel in Chiang Mai city. Enjoy a low-impact way of exploring. On this tour, you explore sustainable experiences that prioritize providing water in glass bottles and offsetting carbon emissions in every tour, reducing your environmental impact and carbon footprint.

Includes

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Tour guide
  • Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
  • A glass bottle of drinking water
  • Entrance fee to Chiang Dao Cave
  • Insurance
  • Food and drink
  • Fee for local guide and lantern in the cave (to be paid on the spot in cash)

Not suitable for

  • People with back problems
  • People with mobility impairments
  • People with claustrophobia
  • People with heart problems

Select participants and date

Participants

Important information

What to bring

  • Swimwear
  • Change of clothes
  • Towel
  • Cash
  • Flashlight
  • Long pants
  • Long-sleeved shirt
  • Trekking gear

Know before you go

  • Solo travelers pay the same price.
  • Exact pickup time depends on participants' respective locations. The driver will contact you the evening before your activity date to confirm the exact pickup time. Please check your email for the update.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity date, or if you don’t show up on the date, no refund will be given.

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 111 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Transportation
    4.9/5
  • Value for money
    4.8/5

Customer photos

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Recommended
E
Eileen – Hong KongJanuary 29, 2025 – Verified booking
Wow, we spent an amazing day today with our beautiful tour guide Nom 🥰 She really took care of us on this trip! Every location was well organised and meaningful. We loved the Chiang Dao Cave experience! The cave was amazing and it’s definitely worth paying the extra 300 bhat to explore further inside the cave a local guide, simply an extraordinary experience! The Sticky Waterfall was a one-of-a-kind experience for us too 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼 Being in our fifties, we were skeptical at first! But walking up the waterfall was unbelievable. We really appreciated how Nom took care of our belongings as we brought so much with us on this trip. She really made every experience special and memorable for us. We also loved the local food that was recommended. We will both recommend this trip to anyone visiting Chiang Mai and we will come again next time we are here. 🙏😊
Y
Yasmina – GermanyJanuary 9, 2025 – Verified booking
The Tour was fun. We were a small group of 4 people. I was picked up on time, first stop was a local market. It was very interesting because the Tour guide Pranom or "beautiful" explained a lot about the food which was offered at the market. The caves were really cool, you definitely should book the extra tour through the dark part of the cave. It is just 300 Baht for the group and so interesting! Afterwards Pranom took us to a local restaurant. The food was cheap and extraordinary good. Then the driver took us to the sticky waterfall. That part was the highlight of the trip. It is such a beautiful place and it's fun to walk up the fall. I really can recommend the trip, even though I expected a little more hiking. I really liked the Tour guide Pranom, she is a very funny person and she gave us a lot of interesting information.
I
Ioannis – GreeceDecember 12, 2024 – Verified booking
The cave was an amazing experience. Very big impressive cave and the tour guide with a lantern gave the tour a very natural feeling. It has a few tight spots, but nothing too difficult for anyone. The waterfalls were so different than I expected, they were really sticky! The water had a good temperature too (now is December). Rubber sea shoes are nice to have, but not necessary.

Product ID: 318513

Activity provider:TripGuru Thailand

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