Pa Kia Doi Chiang Dao

This research station is under the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University. It is situated in a beautiful area from which visitors can clearly view magnificent Doi Luang Chiang Dao Mountain. The area is full of bird life, making it a great spot for bird watching. In the cool season the mountains are blanketed by a sea of fog in the mornings, and evening skies are dark and clear and full of stars. The lights from Chiang Dao Town shimmer far below.



Getting there:
Take Highway 107 from Chiang Mai via Mae Rim and Mae Malai (visitors can buy supplies here at Mae Malai market), and Mae Taeng. Continue till you reach Ban Mae Na, where there is a separate left turn with a sign for ‘Mae Taman Watershed Management Unit’. After about 21 kilometres there is an intersection. Turn right. This road is steep and unpaved and leads to Pang Hong Village and Pang Hang Village. The road continues and becomes steeper. Go straight past the turnoff for the Pa Den Ya Khat Ranger Station. Turn right towards Ban San Pa Kia School. From there, continue to the Mae Taman Watershed Management Unit. The Research Station is about 500 m up the road, which is very steep.

Getting back:
From the Station, visitors can get back on Highway 107 via Kaeng Phan Tao Village. Approximately 12 kilometres from the Station, visitors will find an intersection. Turning either right or left will bring you to the main road. Going right, the road passes Pak Iak Village, tea plantations and a hilltribe community. The road is paved but is still rather steep. It leads to Kaeng Phan Tao Village and Highway 107.

Accommodations and facilities:
Dorms for students of the Agriculture Faculty, Chiang Mai University are available, as well as bathrooms and kitchens equipped with utensils, but visitors have to bring their own food. The fee is 50 baht per person per night.