10 BEST Things to Do in Doi Ang Khang, Chiang Mai

10 Best Things to Do in Doi Ang Khang

1. Relax By Pong Arng Hot Spring

Before we arrive at Doi Ang Khang, we should first stop by Pha Daeng National Park, which is on the way between Chiang Mai and Doi Ang Khang. Pha Daeng National Park is a national park in Chiang Dao district covering more than 1,100+ square kilometers, and it is home to Pong Arng Hot Spring, our first destination.

Pong Arng Hot Spring is one of the few hot springs where you will be able to find hot and cold pools of water near each other. The Pha Daeng rangers have turned the surrounding area of Pong Arng Hot Spring into a recreational park where one can come to visit, spend the day swimming, and relax at one of the many hot springs here.

There is also a local restaurant that sells Thai traditional dishes like papaya salad and grilled chicken, making it a great place to picnic with families and friends. Since the hot spring is located in Chiang Dao province, which is closer than Ang Khang National Park, the place is popular among locals and expats who often visit the hot spring as a day trip.

There might be more people during the weekends, so if you want to avoid crowds, I suggest you visit Pong Arng Hot Spring during weekdays. Pong Arng Hot Spring's opening hours are between 8 AM and 6 PM every day, and the admission fee is 100 THB for foreigners (10 THB for Thais), plus 20/30 THB for parking.

With this Pha Daeng National Park ticket, you will also have access to another tourist attraction that is next on our list: the Sri Sangwan Waterfall.

Where to Stay in Doi Ang Khang?

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Sui Thung Campground

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2. Relax at Sri Sangwan Waterfall at Pha Daeng National Park

Located not too far from Pong Arng Hot Spring, you will find Sri Sangwan Waterfall, a beautiful cascade with three levels of waterfalls where you can explore on foot or swim in all three of them. It is a great place to freshen up after a drive from Chiang Mai before we continue on to Doi Ang Khang.

Sri Sangwan Waterfall is not very big, and it is only a few steps away from the entrance. There is a trail that will take you to each level of the waterfall, but you can walk the entire length of it and back in just 5 minutes.

What is special about the waterfall is that there is a section where you can walk around and climb up rocks, similar to the more famous Sticky Waterfall, but smaller.

As part of the Pha Daeng National Park, the admission fee for Sri Sangwan Waterfall is included in the ticket you just bought from Pong Arng Hot Spring, so stopping by the waterfall for a quick dip is a no-brainer. The waterfall opens from 8 AM to 6 PM every day.

3. Visit Arunothai Border Town

After spending the morning exploring Pha Daeng National Park, you can continue north of Chiang Dao and visit the quiet, far-flung border town of Arunothai, a small settlement originally founded by the Chinese Nationalist Party when this area was not part of Thailand.

Nowadays, you will find many people of Yunnan descent living in Arunothai, as well as Thais, the Shan people, and several other minority groups. Most of the people you will see here look more Chinese than Thai, with some speaking Chinese better than Thai.

I also saw several kids doing their homework in Chinese (Yes, I sneakily looked at what they were writing 😆) and speaking Chinese to each other. It is not an usual sight I often see in Thailand, and it was wildly interesting to see such a beautiful blend of cultures here in Arunothai.

By this point, it should be lunchtime, and I highly recommend you stop at Arunothai and have lunch at Tayong Yunnan Noodle Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in Chiang Dao, serving Yunnan-style homemade chicken noodles that are incredibly delicious. Their gyozas are to die for, so be sure to try them out too.

Another cool spot you should visit in Arunothai is the Nong Uk Lake where you will find this little nice outdoor cafe called Swamp Cafe located right by the lake. They sell coffees and drinks at an extremely cheap price of around 20 THB. It's one of the cheapest freshly-made coffee drinks I have ever bought in Thailand!

4. Enjoy the View at Sui Thang Campground

After spending some time in Arunothai, continue to drive along the border and up into the foothills of Doi Ang Khang. The drive is steep but well-distributed throughout the journey along this narrow road, so be careful.

After driving up the mountain for about an hour, you should arrive at Sui Thang Campground, a place I recommend you spend the night before you continue on to Doi Ang Khang.

Sui Thung Campground is a lesser-known campsite with a killer view of the mountain range that divides Thailand and Myanmar. The viewpoint itself is located just across the road, and you will be able to see some really stunning views here, especially in the morning.

Right by the Sui Thang viewpoint, you will also find a restaurant, a cafe, and a guesthouse in case you do not want to camp. However, the guesthouse is rather rundown, so I would still recommend you to camp. The toilet facility is really good here.

To camp at Sui Thang Campground, you can either rent a 3-person tent from the ranger office for around 300 THB, including sleeping bags, sleeping mat, and pillows. If you bring your own tent, it is only 30 THB per person for a campsite.

5. Admire the beauty of Thai Sakura Garden at Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station

One of the most beautiful places to see the Thai Sakuras or the Wild Himalayan Cherry Blooms in Doi Ang Khang is at Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station, or more specifically, the 80 Royal Botanical Garden located inside.

Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station is a royal arboretum where various rare plants and flowers are cultivated to support agriculture within local communities and discourage the spread of opium planting that was prevalent among locals in the past.

The arboretum covers a vast expanse of land, divided into various sections that you can drive around and explore. The blooming season, which occurs around January every year, is the ideal time to visit Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station.

One of my favorite places within the Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station is the Sakura Park, where they cultivate these beautiful pink-colored wild Himalayan cherry blossoms all packed into one area, making it quite a photogenic place to see, as long as you visit it in January.

Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station's opening hours are from 8 AM to 8 PM every day, and the admission fee is 50 THB per person, plus an additional 50 THB for a car.

6. Stroll Around the Tea Plantation 2000

Tea Plantation 2000 is another popular place to visit in Doi Ang Khang. The Tea Plantation 2000 gets its name from the amount of land it has acquired, which is around 2,000 acres. Here, you will see hills upon hills full of tea plants where you can stroll around.

Since the tea plantation is huge, you can expect to walk quite a bit to get to the viewpoint where you will find a platform to sit and enjoy the stunning view of the tea plantation.

On your way to the platform, you will be walking downhill towards the viewpoint, which is easy. The problem arises when you have to get back to the parking lot, where you will realize just how steep the descent was. Expect to spend around 15 minutes walking up and down the road here at the tea plantation.

Tea Plantation 2000's opening hours are from 8 AM to 4 PM, and it is free to enter. For a stunning photo of the tea plantation, I highly recommend visiting during sunrise when the light is at its best. Unfortunately, it was cloudy when I was there.

7. Try Fresh Strawberries at Ban Nor Lae's Strawberry Fields

Right at the borderline between Thailand and Myanmar, not too far from Tea Plantation 2000, you will find a small settlement called Ban Nor Lae, a village known for producing some of the juiciest strawberries out there.

Due to the climate and the elevation of around 1,400 meters above sea level, Ban Nor Lae is the perfect place to cultivate strawberries. With royal recognition and investment in the area, the village has become a major supplier of strawberries for many companies.

At Ban Nor Lae, you will be able to stroll around these beautiful strawberry fields and buy some yourself at one of the many roadside stalls. If you want the highest quality strawberries, be sure to visit Ban Nor Lae in the early morning before the first strawberry dispatch, which often goes out around 8 AM.

Within Ban Nor Lae, you will also be able to interact with the hill tribe people in an authentic and sustainable way, and you can support them by buying their strawberries directly from them.

8. Camp and Watch the Sunrise at Mon Son Viewpoint at Doi Ang Khang ♥️ Must Visit

After spending some time exploring several tourist attractions around Doi Ang Khang, it is time to visit the true highlight of the place, which is Mon Son Viewpoint, where you will be able to see the stunning unobstructed view of the valley and Chai Prakan in the distance.

Mon Son Viewpoint is also a campsite where you will be able to pitch your tent right at the viewpoint, making it one of the prettiest places to camp in Chiang Mai without having to hike yourself.

Since Mon Son viewpoint faces east, it is best seen during sunrise. This is exactly what you should do, so I recommend spending your second night here in a tent. To spend the night, you will have to pay around 300 THB for the national park's admission fee and for your campsite.

You do not have to bring your own tent if you do not want to, as they offer a 3-person tent that comes with a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and a pillow that you can rent for around 300 THB. If you have your own tent, you only have to pay 30 THB per person for the campsite.

You also do not have to bring your own food here, as the campsite is very well-serviced with many local food stalls available for you to choose from. You can even order a hotpot or Thai-style BBQ straight from your tent, which has, for some unknown reason, become very, VERY popular among the Thais lately.

Mon Son Viewpoint does get extremely packed during the weekends, though, so I highly recommend you camp here on weekdays to avoid having to deal with loud sleepers and talkers, which I found are quite prevalent in many popular campsites in Thailand.

After spending the night at Mon Son Viewpoint, wake up around 6 AM and come out to the platform to watch the sunrise. I assure you, the sunrise here is definitely worth waking up for.

Once you have watched the sunrise, you can get breakfast at the food stalls located right by the ranger's office. They serve simple breakfasts like toast, fried dough, instant congee, instant coffee, etc.

9. Visit Chai Prakan Town

After spending the night at Doi Ang Khang, it is time to make your way down to Chai Prakan, which takes another road down from the top of the mountain. This road is one of the steepest roads on this itinerary, so be sure to be extra careful when you are driving down.

Chai Prakan is another small town with a few places to visit before you head back to Chiang Mai. On your way down from Doi Ang Khang, you can stop by Je Mei Suki Yunnan Restaurant for lunch before continuing on to Chai Prakan.

If you get down from Doi Ang Khang early enough, you can visit Chai Prakan Morning Market in the early morning before the market starts to close. You can also drop by Intapalum Garden, a Japanese-inspired garden/shop where they sell fresh intapalum (edible date palm dates) straight from the field.

There is also a café at Intapalum Garden where you can spend the morning enjoying a good cup of coffee or take photos of the beautiful Japanese architecture in the garden before we make our way back to Chiang Mai.

10. Admire the beauty of Doi Luang Chiang Dao Mountain

As you drive to and from Doi Ang Khang, you probably saw the mighty limestone massif that is the Doi Luang Chiang Dao mountain looming over you throughout your journey.

The stunning Doi Luang Chiang Dao is the third highest mountain in Thailand and one of the most iconic mountains in the country. It would be a shame if you didn't drop by and check it out before ending the trip to Ang Khang.

There are so many things to do in Chiang Dao that it deserves its very own travel guide. But since we will be passing through Chiang Dao anyway, it is worthwhile to visit Wat Tham Chiang Dao (Chiang Dao Cave) and Chiang Dao Hotspring for a little pit stop in Chiang Dao town before we complete our journey to Doi Ang Khang.

What To Eat and Drink in Doi Ang Khang?

1. Eat Gyoza at Tayong Yunnan Noodle Restaurant

Tayong Yunnan Noodle Restaurant has some of the most delicious gyozas you will ever try in Chiang Mai, and it would be a crime to travel all the way to Arunothai and not visit this restaurant.

Tayong Yunnan Noodle Restaurant serves delicious Yunnan-style homemade noodles with the option of chicken or Khao Soi curry. They make their own egg noodles, which you can often see them making at the back of the restaurant. Their attention to detail really shows in the tasty dishes they serve here.

Noodles at Tayong Yunnan Noodle Restaurant cost around 35-40 THB, and a set of gyozas (dumplings) costs from 50-90 THB. The restaurant opens from 9:30 AM-8 PM on Sundays and from 9 AM-8 PM every other day.

2. Have a Nice Cup of Coffee At Swamp Cafe in Arunothai Town

Looking for a nice cafe to relax by the lake in Arunothai? You can't go wrong with Swamp Cafe, a small family-run outdoor cafe located right on the bank of Nong Uk Lake where you will find one of the cheapest places to buy coffee and drinks ever.

With a coffee starting at 25 THB, this place is by far one of the cheapest places I have ever seen in Chiang Mai. With the view of the lake and an awesome self-installed swing by the tree near the lake, the Swamp Cafe is a great place to stop by before you continue on your journey towards Doi Ang Khang.

3. Try the Delicious Yunnan Hotpot at Je Mei Suki Yunnan Restaurant

Je Mei Suki Yunnan Restaurant is a famous restaurant in Chai Prakan that serves delicious Yunnan-style hotpot. It features a massive hotpot with 9 layers of meat and an infinite number of vegetables, perfect for 5-10 people. Yup, it's that big.

And it is as delicious as it sounds. With 9 layers of cabbage, black chicken, Chinese bamboo shoots, taro, ham, tofu, pork, meatballs, and the most delicious of all, Chinese-style omelet rolls at the top, all come in one huge pot, ready to eat.

The Yunnan Suki hotpot comes in 3 sizes: S, M, and L, serving 5 - 10 people and costing 1,200 THB, 1,500 THB, and 1,700 THB respectively. It is one of the most delicious suki hotpots you will ever eat. If you are more than 5 people, I highly recommend ordering the 9 layers hotpot.

If you are traveling solo or as a couple, you can order these layers separately and try them as you see fit without having to pay as much, and you won't be wasting food if you can't finish it. Je Mei Suki Yunnan Restaurant opens from 10 AM to 9 PM every day.

Looking for a foodie guide to Thailand's street food? Check out:15 Best Street Foods in Thailand to Try

When to Visit Doi Ang Khang?

The best time to visit Doi Ang Khang is from November to January, when the weather is cooler and less humid due to Thailand's northern climate, making it much more enjoyable to explore Doi Ang Khang.

That said, Thailand has suffered a lot from air pollution in recent years due to the burning season, and it is extremely prevalent during Thailand's winter period (December - January). So, even though the weather is cooler, your visibility might not be the best. Be sure to buy a face mask if you decide to visit Thailand during this time.

March - April are the hottest and most humid periods of the year, so if you can't handle the heat very well, avoid visiting during this time. The air quality may be a bit better during this time, but it's not guaranteed.

All the other months are considered to be a rainy season which, even though the weather is a little more manageable than the summer months, you will also see a lot more rain, which might prevent you from enjoying the outdoors. Air quality during this time should be better due to the rain.

As you can see, the best time to visit Thailand used to be during its wintertime BUT now that the air quality is getting worse and worse, you will have to decide which is more important to you as a traveler: good weather but bad air quality or vice versa.

For more detail on the best time to visit Thailand, check out:The Best Time To Visit Thailand

How to Get to Doi Ang Khang?

Doi Ang Khang is located in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand, and in order to travel here, you will first have to get yourself to Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand.

Thankfully, Bangkok is one of the largest hubs in the region. You should have no trouble finding a flight from your home country to Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

From the US, unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Bangkok, so you will have to rely on transit flights by Emirates, Qatar, or Turkish Airlines from the East Coast or ANA Airlines or Korean Air from the West Coast.

From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Thai Airways or local carriers such as British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa to Bangkok. From there, you can take a domestic flight to Chiang Mai. You can also choose to transit with Etihad, Qatar, or Emirates if you don't mind.

From within Asia, there are several low-cost airlines offering multiple routes from various hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, and Jakarta to Bangkok. AirAsia is a great option as it has the most connections to Bangkok from all over Asia.

To find a cheap flight to Bangkok, I would recommend using Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule, so you can compare and pick the best one.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Bangkok?16 Best Things to Do in Bangkok

Getting From Bangkok to Chiang Mai

By Air: The fastest way to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is to fly from Don Muang Airport to Chiang Mai International Airport using one of the many low-cost airlines in Thailand.

For AirAsia, there are over 13 flights per day that can cost as low as 492 THB, which is even cheaper than taking a bus or a train. There are also Thai Lion Air and Nok Air that offer the route, so be sure to check them out too. You can book the flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai here.

By Bus: If you are not in a rush, you can also take a bus from Morchit Bus Terminal in Bangkok, and it will take you about 10 hours to reach Chiang Mai Bus Terminal Arcade 2. The bus departs from Morchit Bus Terminal every hour from 5:30 to 22:00 and it should cost about 400 to 800 THB per person.

If you are looking to reserve a seat for your bus to Chiang Mai, you can book through here: Book a bus ticket from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

By Train: You can also take a train from Hua Lamphong Train Station in Bangkok to Chiang Mai Train Station, which can take anywhere from 11 to 15 hours. It is a long ride, and you are not even saving that much, as the price for a ticket is about 400 to 500 THB. There are 7 trains running between the two stations from 08:30 to 22:00 every day.

To get the train ticket, I would recommend that you go to Hua Lamphong train station a few days before and get it from there. However, if you are traveling during the high season, it might be worthwhile to book the train beforehand.

To book a train ticket from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, you can book through here: Book a train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Getting From Chiang Mai to Doi Ang Khang

Doi Ang Khang is located approximately 150 km north of Chiang Mai, and the journey will take about 3 hours with your own car/motorbike. There is some spotty public transportation to towns surrounding Doi Ang Khang, but none goes directly inside the national park. Therefore, for this itinerary, you will need to rent a vehicle from Chiang Mai.

By Motorbike: For a scenic experience, you can rent a motorbike and drive from Chiang Mai to Doi Ang Khang. To rent a motorbike in Chiang Mai, I recommend you rent it from Mr. Mechanic, a well-known motorbike rental shop that offers a variety of motorbike options for you to choose from.

For a 150 cc motorbike, the rent should be around 500 THB per day. You can also get a 200-250 cc motorbike for 700 THB or more from Mr. Mechanic. I highly recommend getting a motorbike with a 150 cc engine or higher to tackle the steep road to Doi Ang Khang, as it is quite steep.

By Car: For a more comfortable ride to Ang Khang, you can also rent a car directly from Chiang Mai Airport for around 700 - 1500 THB per day. All you need is a valid driving license and around 5,000 THB for the deposit. To rent a car in Chiang Mai, click the link below.

Rent a car in Chiang Mai

How to Get Around Doi Ang Khang?

By Car/Motorbike: As mentioned above, in order to travel to Ang Khang, you will need to rent a vehicle from Chiang Mai. With either a motorbike or a car, you can explore Doi Ang Khang and the surrounding tourist attractions.

How Many Days To Spend at Doi Ang Khang?

To explore all that Doi Ang Khang and the surrounding towns of Arunothai and Chai Prakan have to offer, I highly recommend spending at least 3 days (2 nights). Here's a rough itinerary for 3 days in Doi Ang Khang:

Day 1: Drive to Pha Daeng National Park, explore the hot spring and waterfall before having lunch at Arunothai, and drive up to Sui Thang Campground to spend the night.

Day 2: Continue on to Doi Ang Khang, visit Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station, Tea Plantation 2000, and Ban Nor Lae's strawberry field, before driving back to Mon Son Campground and camping there.

Day 3: Watch the sunrise at Mon Son Campground and make your way down to Chai Prakan. Visit the morning market and Intapalum Garden. Finally, drive back to Chiang Mai. On your way back, make a quick stop at Chiang Dao before heading back home.

How Much Money Do I Need For Doi Ang Khang?

With the rough itinerary above, we can calculate approximately how much you will be spending in Doi Ang Khang for two nights as follows:

Accommodation: For 2 nights camping inside Doi Ang Khang, you can expect to pay around 20 USD (618 THB) for accommodation.

Food: Food costs about 50 THB minimum in Chiang Mai on average, so you can expect to pay around 300 THB for 2 full days.

Transportation: If we go with renting a motorbike for 3 days, you will be spending around 1,500 THB + 500 THB for gas for transportation.

Activities: For Pha Daeng National Park (100 THB + 20 THB for motorcycle parking), Doi Ang Khang (part of Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park) entrance fee (300 THB + 20 THB for motorcycle parking), and access to Ang Khang Agricultural Station (100 THB), you can expect to pay around 540 THB for activities in Doi Ang Khang.

Total Budget for 3 days in Doi Ang Khang: 3,458 THB (112 USD)

Is it Safe in Doi Ang Khang?

Like most off-the-beaten-path destinations in Thailand, Doi Ang Khang is very safe to travel to. The locals are extra friendly as they don't usually get a lot of tourists, and you will unlikely find scammers or touts like in other places in Thailand.

That said, the road up to Doi Ang Khang is one of the steepest roads I have ever driven, and I've driven up some pretty sketchy roads in Thailand, not to mention all the steep hairpin turns you will have to drive through to get to Doi Ang Khang.

I highly recommend using a low gear (D1, D2, D3, or L) to provide your car with enough power to climb the steep road. Be particularly careful when turning around curved roads. Honk, especially at night, whenever you are about to turn to alert the cars coming down, as you won't be able to see them until you finish the turn.

And since you will be driving on Thai roads, it is my duty as a Thai to warn you that we are not the best drivers in the world. The roads are great throughout, but we sometimes do drive like maniacs, so make sure to be extra careful when you are on the road.

Drive slowly but surely, and you should be able to get up Doi Ang Khang in no time. Other than driving safely, you should have no trouble exploring Doi Ang Khang at your own leisure.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Thailand?

Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Doi Ang Khang, Thailand without having to switch out your physical SIM card.

Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Doi Ang Khang, Thailand:

There are 3 major carriers in Thailand: AIS, DTAC, and True. All of them offer a pretty similar range of traveler's packages and coverages. Personally, I use AIS because I have been with them since my first phone. They have a lot of Support Centers around Thailand, and their coverage hasn't failed me yet. So, if you are looking for a reliable carrier, I can recommend AIS.

There are 3 packages for tourists: 5 GB for 5 days at 160 THB, 15 GB for 8 days at 299 THB, and 30 GB for 15 days. Depending on how long your trip to Thailand will be, you can pick one of these 3 packages that fit your itinerary the most.

With these three packages, you can top up more in case you need more data or calls for your trip. More often than not, 5GB is more than enough for me to travel around Thailand for a month.

For more information about Thailand's local SIM card: Thailand's Prepaid Data SIM Card.

Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Looking for a more comprehensive packing list for Thailand? Check out:What to Pack For Thailand: The Essential Packing List