The people of Chiang Dao and the surrounding area care deeply about the serene valleys and mountains they call home. As such, great emphasis is placed on preserving the beauty and health of their farmlands and jungles, an important effort that goes missing in some other rural areas of Thailand (and much of the rest of Southeast Asia, for that matter). This, along with plentiful hilltribe village homestays, makes for a fabulous environment for trekking, birdwatching, nature photography, and anything else you fancy most when you find yourself in the great outdoors.