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

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. 🙏😊

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.

Itinerary

Pickup location:
Chiang Mai
Van
(1 hour)
Chiang Dao
Visit, Sightseeing, Hiking (2.5 hours)
Local restaurant
Lunch, Food market visit (2 hours)
Extra fee
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

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.

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