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	---> MORE Destinations: _________________________________ New Perspective of Chiang Rai at Latitude 19 VISITING A BORDER TOWN: Mae Sot – then and now The Poy Sang Long Festival in Mae Hong Son The Samoeng Strawberry Festival Far Out and Cool in Fang District PICTURE PERFECT Mon Jaem Chiang Mai Reflections and a Night Safari Adventure Wat Palad: The Temple below the Temple The Bua Tong Waterfall Park The Cave and Hot Springs of the Mae On Area A DAY TRIP TO DOI INTHANON Two wheels good four wheels…er… The Sino-Thai Dragon Temple of Wat Tha Ton Doi Inthanon - Thailand’s Highest Mountain Kad Mua - an all-you-need market Chiang Dao High! Chiang Mai’s Red Cross and Winter Fair Loy Krathong at Tak A RETREAT TO... Kwan Yin Bodhisattva Hall Living with nature: Galyani Vadhana District Treasures of Myanmar A Journey to Shangri-La Pha Wing Choo – A Lover's Cliff Wiangtakan – The Past Remains Rural Life and Natural Mystery in Chaiprakarn Taking Aim at Chiang Mai's Shooting Gallery Chiang Mai - Maerim - Samoeng Route Hot Springs (and eggs) Ratchaphruek Festival 2009 The 5th Lanna - Japan Festival 2009 Make a Day of it at the New Look Night Safari Mae Sa Snake Farm Marine Lives in a Mountainous Zoo X-Centre Mae Hong Son, Pang Oong and much more along the way... Mae Kampong Village Tiger Kingdom Pai: The Hub of Joy Flower Festival Annual Bo Sang Umbrella Festival at Bo Sang Village Wiang Kum Kam: The Underground Ancient City Loy Kratong: The Town's Joyful Festival Monkey Centre Maerim, Chiang Mai Baankwai Thai Maerim Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden THE ROYAL PALACE ON DOI SUTHEP The Night Safari Ban Saonak Chae Son National Park Lamphun's Wat Chamathevi Doi Tao Lake Mae Sai Bai the Beautiful Wieng Kum Kam Mae Klang Luang Village Doi Pui - Hmong Tribal Village Nan Province Wat Suan Dok Chiang Saen: a city in myth and reality One Night in Chiang Rai and a day across the border A trip full of tour guides Two Days and a Night in the Country The Sumptuous Angkhang Gourmet Tour AWAY FROM IT ALL IN NEARBY MAE WANG Children's Day at the Westernmost Point of Thailand To Lamphun Along the Road of Histories ESCAPING TO PAI A WINTER TRIP ON THE PING RIVER To the Back of Beyond, right on your doorstep Visiting the Shrine of the Elephant-Headed God Visiting Samui Back to Nature at Opkhan National Park Lost in the Chiang Mai Zoo Three Days through the Northern Countryside DOING A NINE-TEMPLE KARMA TRIP - Right Here in Chiang Mai An Early Summer Trip to the Thi Lo Su Falls Nan: Forest, Temples and the Salt of the Earth TREKKING AND TUCKING IN: Wawee Coffee Plantation Mai Long Yee - Lovely Whatever Else You Call It Magnificent Creatures at Wat Changkham Off to See Some Mural Paintings in Lampang The Salawin and the People of Tha Tafang A Hike in the Forest A Journey back in time A Long Night of Luxury in the Chiang Dao Valley Ice-cold in Omkoy A Quick Visit to a Karen Wedding Strawberry Fields Forever A quick ride to Jaesorn National Park A Journey to Wawee A Birding Trip for Newbies Nam Bor Phi Cave A Breath of Sea Air Shopping With a Difference: Kad Luang Airport ELEPHANTS AND ORCHIDS AND THE SNACKS IN BETWEEN Monsoon Miscellany MAE RIM LAGOON AN IMPRESSIVE TRIP - to the Sukantara Resort Visiting Luang Prabang, the Pearl on the Mekong River Phrae: refreshing trip, auspicious visits Up on the Mountain (again) at Khun Wang UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THUNG LUANG SINGAPORE - City of Parks A Short Sight-Seeing Trip to the Monkey Centre GIVE PAI A TRY! You won’t regret it A BUSY DAY’S VISIT TO SANKAMPAENG A Rainy Day Outing to Phrao Monsoon Miscellany TRIPPING AND TASTING ALONG THE HANDICRAFT HIGHWAYS

Chiang Dao High!

Among the destinations many people are heading to this winter, Doi Chiang Dao should also be on their list. The many different environmental features of Chiang Dao draw tourists to experience the cool winter breezes, year after year.

Chiang Dao is fertile and mountainous and many species of wildlife are to be found there. Some - such as Hume’s Pheasant and the Sitta magna - are very rare and can be found only in some specific locations. Apart from this, Chiang Dao is also fascinating on account of the local community of many races and tribes, which has settled here over a long period of time. The fertility of Chiang Dao makes it a water resource of the Ping River, which flows as the main artery of Chiang Mai, giving the plain the fertility and prosperity we see all around us. So you can well imagine that many sightseeing and fun-filled activities await you in Chiang Dao

We highly recommended you visit Doi Luang Chiang Dao, which at 2,225 metres is the third highest mountain in the country, and also serves as the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary. Doi Luang Chiang Dao is ideal for trekking and camping. However, the mountain is open to visitors only between November and March every year. Tourists need to submit a letter requesting permission to access the mountain to the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary and have to be led by an official guide and staff.

The next recommended attraction is the hot springs at Baan Yaang Poo To. During winter, many people come to this place for mineral hot water bathing. There is an outdoor zone, supported by the Chiang Dao Sub-District Organization Administration, where you can soak yourself in a hot spring for free. But if you need more personal space, the indoor zone charges you 150 baht per time.

After relaxing at the hot spring, why not visit Baan Phalai to see the three hill tribes there - Akha, Lisu, and Pakeryaw (Karen) - to see how they live differently and also join some of their activities, such as the ceremony to show respect and thankfulness to the spirit of the land and celebrate the growth of the new crop of rice in the paddy fields. (Though this event normally takes place every October - so drop by again earlier next year, maybe).

All the charms of Chiang Dao are the product of the collaboration between villagers and relevant organizations that wish to see the sustainable development of culture and tradition continuing. Chiang Dao’s natural tourist attractions have been well maintained by the people in the community and some local organizations with cooperation from DASTA (Designed Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration [Public Organization] ) to help support tourism by preserving nature and traditional lifestyles and make a better living for people in the community.

So come along and see for yourself - just an hour up the road from Chiang Mai town itself.

How to get there: Use Highway no.107 (Chiang Mai - Fang), 72 kilometers passing Mae Rim, and Mae Tang. For more information: www.dasta.or.th

Text : Mario
Images: SP