Chiang Dao is 70 kilometres north of Chiang Mai along Highway 107 — a straightforward drive through a river canyon that takes about 1.5 hours. It's an easy road and the scenery is good.
Buses leave from Chiang Mai's Chang Puak bus station roughly every 30 minutes throughout the day for about 40 THB. The journey takes around 1.5 to 2 hours depending on stops. Minivans from Tha Phae Gate area are faster and more frequent. Songthaews (shared pickup trucks) run the route for around 100 THB each way.
There's no direct train service to Chiang Dao.