The most beautiful national park in Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai is the northern capital of Thailand. Mount Doi Tung

Chiang Rai is the capital of the northernmost province of Thailand. The distance from Bangkok to Chiang Rai is about 790 km, from Chiang Mai – 155 km. Chiang Rai, although a city, is not as big as Chiang Mai. Currently, about 136 thousand people live in Chiang Rai.

The city was founded a long time ago, in 1262 by the king of the Lanna kingdom on the Kok River. Then Chiang Rai belonged to Burma and only in 1786 it became a Thai city.

Nowadays many tourists come to Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai attracts them not only for its attractions, but also because very close to it is the so-called Golden Triangle, where the border of three countries passes - Thailand, Burma and Laos.

There are beautiful mountains and many natural attractions around Chiang Rai. Very close by is the royal villa and a magnificent flower garden. Not far from Chiang Rai there live several northern tribes, whose villages are very interesting to see. At a distance of about 60 km from Chiang Rai there is a Chinese village with tea plantations. The Opium Museum is located in the Golden Triangle, in the Chiang Saen district.

How to get to Chiang Rai

1. By plane. Chiang Rai has an airport located 8 km from the city. Flights arrive here from.

Several airlines operate flights:

AirAsia and NokAir fly from Bangkok's old airport, Don Mueang. Thai Airways flies from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Travel time is 1 hour 20 minutes.

If you are flying from Russia to Thailand, you will arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, so if you want to fly straight to Chiang Rai, it is better to choose Thai Airways flights. Otherwise, you will have to move from one airport to another, which will take quite a lot of time.

The best way to get from Chiang Rai airport to the city is by taxi (200-300 baht).

2. You can get to Chiang Rai by bus from Bangkok. Buses depart from the northern bus station in Bangkok MoChit. Travel time is 8-10 hours, cost 600-1000 baht (20-30 dollars), depending on which class of bus you choose: VIP, 1st class or 2nd class.

3. You can get to Chiang Rai by Green Bus from Chiang Mai. Travel time is about 3 hours. It is advisable to buy tickets in advance, at least a day in advance. There are many people who want to leave.

It should be noted that there are now two bus stations in Chiang Rai: New Bus Station or Terminal 2 and Old Bus Station or Terminal 1. Old Bus Station is located in the city center, next to the night market. Currently it serves only suburban destinations. Buses from Bangkok arrive at the new bus station. There is a minibus running between bus stations. Cost 60 baht (2 dollars).

4. You can get to Chiang Rai by water! On the boat from the town, a public boat leaves from Tha Thon at 12:30 and costs 350 baht ($12). Travel time is 3.5 – 4 hours.

There is no train station in Chiang Rai, so you cannot get to Chiang Rai by train.

Where to stay in Chiang Rai accommodation

There are many hotels and guesthouses in the city, but strangely enough, during the high season (November - February) it is quite difficult to find available accommodation!

You can live in the city itself (it is best to find a hotel near the night market) or stay in the vicinity of Chiang Rai, in the mountains and enjoy nature. During peak season, I advise you to book your accommodation in advance. I always book here: booking.com, if I can’t find anything here, then I look here: agoda.com.

We stayed in a small hotel called Baan Bua Guest House for 460 baht ($15). I booked my stay there very much in advance, the hotel was somehow popular, and all the rooms were occupied!

Green lawn in front of the house, quite a lot of space where you can park your car.

Regular room, fan, large bed, hot shower.
We had breakfast right there, American breakfast for 150 baht per person. Delicious and filling!

What to see in Chiang Rai - attractions of Chiang Rai

In addition to many beautiful places around Chiang Rai, you can see several temples in the city itself

In the city itself there is a beautiful Golden Clock Tower (Clock Tower), every evening at 19:00 the music and lights turn on. But we didn’t catch this show.

I also recommend visiting Chiang Rai night market(Chiang Rai Night Bazar). Here he is even more colorful than. And prices for souvenirs are lower. Perhaps one of the best places in Thailand to buy souvenirs.

We were also attracted to the Chiang Rai night market by the fact that here you can eat deliciously and not expensively. There is a large food court here. There are tables, and around there are tents with a variety of food.
There are a lot of people. Mostly locals or Thai tourists. There are very few foreigners. Locals come with their Thai rum, grab food, Coca-Cola and have dinner!

What's missing here! A lot of seafood, delicious fish, shrimp.

And at the Chiang Rai night market, such pots are very popular - Hot Pot, in which you can cook soup. The cost of this soup is 70-100 baht (2-3 dollars) depending on the ingredients.

I wanted to take it, because I really love Thai soups, but then for some reason I chose fish 😎


Dinner with beer at the Chiang Rai night market cost us 400 baht ($13).

When talking about Chiang Rai, it is impossible not to mention massage parlors. In general, when we were traveling to the North of Thailand, I imagined that every evening, before dinner, I would enjoy a Thai massage, which everyone praised so much in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. But that was not the case - we had such a busy program that there was simply no time left for a massage.

There are many massage parlors in Chiang Rai, so we had time before dinner and went for a long-awaited massage.

They took us to a room on the second floor and gave us these pajamas 😎

we thought it must be a super massage. But, unfortunately, the massage in Chiang Rai did not impress us. Although it was not expensive at all - 150 baht (5 dollars), and I got massages for 250-300 baht. Still, it all depends on the massage therapist, how lucky you are. And I’ll definitely tell you about the best massage in the North of Thailand.

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Having spent nearly 30 years in the shadow of Chiang Mai, the Thai city of Chiang Rai has sprawled haphazardly on the southern bank of the Kok River. Now the city is trying to rival Chiang Mai as an upscale tourist destination, with all the trappings of hype and crowding. The long arm of the complex industry has reached this northern outpost, opening the way for busloads of reckless tourists and newlyweds in cars who stop here and walk around the area for a couple of days, and then rush on.

Paradoxically, this allows the city to carry on as normal during the day as travelers go on excursions, but at night the neon lights flash and the souvenir shops and ersatz Western restaurants are crowded. However, among Thais the city retains its reputation as a weekend getaway for lovers. This comes courtesy of several motels with carports, where you pull into a garage and pay for a modest screen to be drawn behind you. Travelers on a budget get less attention here, but still come for hiking, day trips and other outdoor activities.

Chiang Rai is most famous for the things it had and lost. The city was founded in 1263 by the king of Ngon Yang, Mengrai, who caught a runaway elephant here, which he was chasing around Doi Tong Mountain. The king decided that the capture of the animal was a good omen for the new city. It is traditionally believed that Chiang Rai was the capital of the North for 30 years, but historians believe that Mengrai and his court moved from Ngon Yang directly to in the 1290s.

It was once home to two of the most revered shrines - the Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok) and Phra Singh Buddha (now in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or, depending on which story you believe). They were later taken to other places, but at least replicas of these statues can be seen at Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Phra Singh.

Arrival and transport in Chiang Rai

If you arrive at the bus station, which is located on Thanon Phaholyothin Road, in the south of Chiang Rai, you will have a long walk to most guesthouses, so you may want to leave here by tuk-tuk (about 30-50 baht) or songthaew - these are the two main ones type of transport in the city. Longtail boats from Tha Thon arrive at a boat station located northwest of the center, on the north side of the Mae Fah Luang Bridge. Thai Airways flies to Chiang Rai from. You can also use the services of Air Asia and Oriental Thai. There are taxis from the city to the airport, located 8 kilometers to the south (300 baht).

A convenient TAT office is located at 448/16 Thanon Singhaklai, next to Wat Phra Singh (daily from 8.30 to 16.30), where some good free maps and information brochures are provided. This office covers the provinces of Chiang Rai, Nan, Phrae and Phayao. Every October they organize the Mekong Adventure, a nine-day bicycle trek through China and Laos. Gare Garon at 869/18 Thanon Phaholyothin has a small selection of new and used books in English, as well as handicrafts and drinks. Tourist police are located on Thanon Phaholyothin Road near the Golden Triangle Inn.

Songthaew, which has no set routes, charges locals 10-20 baht for a short trip. You can negotiate the price for other trips. Most guesthouses offer motorbike and car rentals, although finding a bike to rent can be a little more difficult. Both mountain bikes (100 baht per day) and motorcycles (150-300 baht) can be rented from the very reliable Soon Motorbikes at 197/2 Thanon Trairat. An expensive car with full service can be rented through Budget, which is located at the Golden Triangle Inn.

Accommodation in Chiang Rai

The Thai city of Chiang Rai is crowded with all kinds of hotels, but many of them offer low quality service at high prices. One or two guesthouses are said to be comparable to the best hotels in Chiang Mai. More expensive accommodation is concentrated around the commercial center of Thanon Phaholyothin, while guesthouses, most of which also offer tours and treks, are located on the south bank of the river and on the outskirts.

• Cheap places

1). Baan Bua Guest House– This is a pleasant establishment, located in a surprisingly large garden, away from the road. The concrete rooms are very clean and beautiful, with private hot water baths and some with air conditioning. Location: 879/2 Thanon Jet Yot;

2). Bowling Guest House– This charming establishment, located on a residential street, is famous for its peaceful atmosphere. It offers small concrete rooms next to a fragrant courtyard filled with potted plants. Owned by a young family, this guesthouse has a homely, friendly atmosphere. Six rooms have a private bathroom with cold water, and in addition, a shared hot shower is available. Location: next to Thanon Singhaklai Street, near Mae Hong Guest House;

3). Pension Chat House– Located on a quiet side street behind its own garden cafe. It is Chiang Rai's oldest gathering place for travelers with a relaxing atmosphere. The modern rooms are colorfully decorated and have private baths with hot water, although the cold water is somewhat cleaner. The cafe shows satellite TV programs every evening. Location: 3/2 Soi Sangkaew, Thanon Trairat;

4). Chian House Guesthouse– This lively, run-down complex with a small pool offers lovely en-suite rooms (all with hot water, some with air conditioning) and spacious, clean, wonderfully appointed wooden bungalows with cool tiled floors. There is Internet access. Location: 172 Thanon Koh Loy;

5). Mae Hong Son Guest House– This friendly establishment is located on a quiet street. The complex is housed in wooden buildings surrounding a green, shaded courtyard with an elegant bar and cafe. The rooms are very nice - some have baths (with hot water) and others have shared hot showers. Location: 126 Thanon Singhakai;

6). Pension Tourist Inn– A clean hotel-style guesthouse housed in a modern 4-story building, run by a Japanese-Thai team. Near the reception on the 1st floor there is a European-style bakery, a lobby with large comfortable chairs, a TV and a library, and the bright, bright rooms have hot water baths and air conditioning or a fan. There are cheaper rooms in the next building, not as modern, but with hot showers. Location: 1004/4-6 Thanon Jet Yot;

7). Hotel YMCA International– Trustworthy hotel with comfortable rooms with hot water. Some rooms have air conditioning. The hotel is located in a modern building in the northernmost part of the city. They also offer beds in a dormitory (90 baht). The hotel has a small swimming pool, a café-restaurant and a small charity shop with handicrafts and local agricultural products. Location: 70 Thanon Phaholyothin.

• Establishments with reasonable prices

1). Baan Worabordee Hotel– A quality, well-equipped, newly built building located on a quiet road off the main street. Comfortable, clean, beautifully decorated rooms with small balconies, hot water baths, cable TV and a fan or air conditioning. Location: 59/1 Moo 18, Thanon Sanpanard;

2). Golden Traingle Inn Hotel– The hotel is located in the city center and is surrounded by a garden. It offers large, comfortable rooms with sophisticated decor. All have air conditioning and hot water. Location: 590 Thanon Phaholyothin.

• Expensive establishments

1). Dusit Island Resort Hotel– This hotel is located on an island on the Kok River, offering a magnificent view of the entire valley. It is considered the best in the city. There is a health club, tennis courts, swimming pool and children's playground. The service meets the highest standards. Location: 1129 Thanon Kaisornrasit;

2). Rim Kok Resort Hotel– A magnificent luxury hotel located in the quiet northern part of the city. It occupies a vast area and has a swimming pool. Location: 6 Moo 4, Thanon Chiang Rai-Tha Ton;

3). Wangcome Hotel– An ordinary hotel with a swimming pool, located in the city center. Not quite up to international five star standards. Location: 869/90 Thanon Pemavipat;

4). Wiang Inn Hotel– Located across the street from the Wangcome Hotel, but slightly more sophisticated than the latter, and also has a swimming pool. Location: 893 Thanon Phaholyothin.

Sights of Chiang Rai

The walk from the center to the towering Doi Tong Mountain in the northwest is especially beautiful at sunset, when you can enjoy magnificent views of the Kok River. At the top of the mountain stands the most interesting of Chiang Rai's few, a sort of phallic one centered around the city's new lak muang, symbolizing the Buddhist order of the universe. Historically, the Lak Muang was erected in honor of the official founding of the Thai city, in Chiang Rai this happened on January 26, 1263, and the new Lak Muang and the carefully crafted stone structure around it appeared exactly 725 years later, to celebrate the 16th anniversary of King Bhumibol.

The lac muang itself symbolizes the axis of the Universe, Mount Sineru (or Meru), and the series of concentric terraces, ditches and columns symbolize the heavens and earth, the great oceans, rivers and the main features of the Universe. It is believed that if you sprinkle water on the entwined garlands of lac muang, and then sprinkle your head with the water that flowed from it into the pool, this will bring good luck.An old wooden lac muang can be seen in the viharna of Wat Phra That Doi Tong, the first temple in the city, which was built scattered chaotically on the eastern side of the hill. Note the small golden prang, this is an old-fashioned wooden spirit house and a Chinese shrine that links the hill with the wat into one sacred place.

The Emerald Buddha, the most significant Buddha image in , was discovered when lightning shattered the chedi (it has since been restored) at Wat Phra Kaeo on Thanon Traitat Road. The beautiful copy, which was donated to the city by a Chinese millionaire in 1991, was carved in China from a 300-kilogram piece of soft green jadeite. It can now be seen in Khor Phra Yok, a small Lanna-style pavilion located on the right behind the viharn. This copy, which is 47.9 centimeters wide and 65.9 centimeters high, is several millimeters smaller than the Emerald Buddha, since, according to religious rules, a copy cannot exactly replicate the original.

The entire complex has been recently renovated and the decorative finishes are now of a high degree of craftsmanship. Of interest are the decorations on the large wooden building to the left of the viharn, where ancient religious objects and texts are kept. The Hill Tribe Museum and Craft Shop at 620/25 Thanon Tanalai offers a collection of authentic, exquisite hill tribe crafts. The store on the 3rd floor was opened by a member of leading development company Meechai Viravaidya under the auspices of PDA (Population and Community Development Association), which continues to be involved in village projects.

The museum (Monday-Friday from 9.00 to 18.00, Saturday-Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00; 50 baht) is a wonderful place where you can learn more about the mountain peoples before going on a hike to them. Hikes to the mountain tribes are also organized here. The exhibition includes a well-produced, informative slide show (25 minutes). You can donate old clothes or money for jumpers and blankets to the hill tribes. All handicrafts that are of good quality and low price can be found at the night bazaar, located next to Thanon Phaholyothin street near the bus station. Here you can also just while away the evening.

• Travel and trekking from Chiang Rai

The area around Chiang Rai offers a variety of treks, from easy walks along the Kok River trails to strenuous treks along the mountain slopes north to the Burmese border. The region has settlements of all mountain peoples. The river, both on the western and eastern sides of the city, is deep enough for rafts, and most trips include a ride on elephants. However, the region's abundance attracts too many travel agencies, and many mountain villages, especially between Chiang Rai and Mae Salong, have grown tired of the regular visitors.

Some tourism companies in Chiang Rai have recently expanded their network to the rest of the province, including Chiang Khong, where the Hmong and Mien people live. Group sizes on treks from Chiang Rai are usually smaller than in Chiang Mai, often ranging from 2 to 3 people, with a maximum of about 7 people per group. The estimated prices set by the Chiang Rai branch of TAT are quite high; an average three-day trek with two overnight stays and an elephant ride usually costs 3-4 thousand baht for each participant in a group of 2 to 5 people. Almost all guesthouses in Chiang Rai can arrange trekking for you. Trustworthy guesthouses include Chat, Chian and Mae Hong Son.

More expensive treks are offered by several non-profit community tourism organizations with offices in Chiang Rai. Hill Area and Community Development Foundation founded Natural Focus, which is located at 129/1 Moo 4, Thanon Pa-Ngiw. It offers tours from 1 to 15 days during which you will study the life of mountain peoples, and there are also programs for young people who volunteer to live and volunteer in the villages. The company has a folk crafts store.

The growing PDA offers one, four-day jungle treks that include elephant and longtail boat trips. It also offers day trips on mountain bikes to the source of the Kok River, the program includes fishing, meals and guide/mechanic services (2,200 baht). There are also excursions to and from other interesting places. Most guesthouses can arrange sightseeing tours, boat trips and elephant rides for you. Mae Hong Son Guest House and Chian also offer motorbike rides, while the latter offers horseback riding tours.

Food and drink in Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai's restaurants, including those that cater to Western tastes, are clustered around Thanon Jet Yot and Thanon Phaholiothin streets, where there are also good Thai restaurants. There is a food section at the night bazaar where they offer a variety of very tasty snacks, and there is also a beer garden where you can catch a free gay cabaret performance, or local folk singers, or traditional dance performers. On Thanon Jet Yot, south of the clock tower, there are several Western-style bars where you can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere, satellite TV, music or just a drink and a chat.

1). Cafe Baan Chivft Mai– This is a Scandinavian bakery owned by a Swedish charity company that helps children from the slums of Chiang Rai and Bangkok. This is a very cozy air-conditioned café serving exceptional sandwiches, cakes, cinnamon rolls, croissants, coffee and tea (Monday-Saturday 7am to 9pm, Sunday 2pm to 9pm). Location: 172 Thanon Pra Soop Sook, opposite the bus station;

2). Restaurant Cabbages and Condoms“This restaurant proudly states, “Our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy.” The walls here are lined with various items related to birth control, including paintings by Meechai Viravaidya, who offered family planning products in the early days of this organization. The menu features delicious Thai food, including some traditional northern delicacies. All dishes are labeled in English, there are several items that are suitable for vegetarians. Opening hours: daily from 7.00 to 00.00. Location: located in the Museum of Mountain Peoples;

3). Restaurant Chiangrai Coffee Company– A simple cafe-restaurant that serves a variety of coffees made from local beans, as well as many types of tea, Belgian waffles, good breakfast options and Western dishes such as chicken breasts in orange sauce (120 baht). Location: 1025/38 Thanon Jet Yot;

4). Muang Tong Bistro– Offers a wide range of Thai and Chinese dishes, presumably 24 hours a day, and also displays a great variety of ingredients in the open lobby. The establishment is popular among both Thais and foreigners. Location: On the corner of Thanon Phaholyothin Street just south of the Wiang Inn;

5). Salungkum establishment– This establishment is rightfully appreciated by local residents, as it serves the best Thai food in the city, and also has a garden where you can dine in the evening. There is no English sign here, the landmark is the Cosmo gas station on the opposite side of the road. Location: 843 Thanon Phaholyothin, between the statue of King Mengrai and the river.

In contact with

Chiang Rai is the main base for exploring Thailand's Golden Triangle. The city itself is incredibly charming - small, cozy, atmospheric, with magnificent ancient and original new temples and museums, plenty of good cheap housing, excellent restaurants and a colorful night market.

Allow at least 2 full days to explore Chiang Rai, plus a day to explore the Golden Triangle.

why go

Don't miss it in Chiang Rai

• Explore the city on foot, exploring the temples and museums of Chiang Rai.
• Rent a motorbike and explore Chiang Rai's new temples, including the iconic White Temple.
• Join a bike tour to ride through the countryside in search of small temples, villages and waterfalls.
• Take at least a day to explore Thailand's Golden Triangle.
• Try Thai food at Chiang Rai's night market and learn to cook Thai at local cooking classes.

Temples and museums of Chiang Rai

Among the city temples, two stand out - the ancient Buddhist temple Wat Phra Kaeo, which in difficult times for Siam was the home of the Emerald Buddha - the most sacred shrine of Thailand, later transported to Bangkok and Wat Phra Sing - an ancient temple in which the main Buddha statue was kept for a long time — Phra Buddha Sihing, which is now located in Chiang Mai. Both temples in Chiang Rai have copies.

Wat Phra Kaeo, Chiang Rai. Photo credit: Poxxel, Flickr

Monks at Wat Phra Kaeo. Photo credit: Doris Bowling, Flickr

Wat Phra Sing, Chiang Rai. Photo credit: Stefan Fussan, Flickr

"White Temple" - Wat Rong Khun. Photo credit: Silp Satjawattanavimol, Flickr

To the northwest of Chiang Rai, 12-15 km from the city, not far from each other, there are two more interesting newly built temples - the colorful Wat Huay Sai Khao with original architecture and the “little brother” of the white Wat Huay Plakang 9 Tier Temple with a huge statue Buddha. You can only get to them by your own transport or tuk-tuk.

Wat Huay Sai Khao. Photo credit: gt-rider

“Little brother” of the white temple Wat Huay Plakang 9 Tier Temple. Photo credit: Apisak Kanjanapusit, Flickr

Chiang Rai Museums

The Baan dam museum is called either the Black Temple or the Black Houses. A large park area on which small rooms in the form of temples and chedis are built, inside there are art galleries with paintings, sculptures and various products made from bones and horns of animals. The purpose of this largely kitschy art exhibition is to illustrate the dark side of human nature, using traditional Asian elements crops

Baan dam Museum, Chiang Rai. Photo credit: Steven Murray, Flickr

Art gallery inside the Baan dam museum. Photo credit: Duncan Taralrud-Bay, Flickr

Among the more positive and noteworthy art projects in Chiang Rai are the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, located 5 km from the city, and the Oub Kham City Museum, which contains ancient samples and products of different Asian cultures - from the Lanna kingdom to ancient Vietnamese and Chinese civilizations.

Mae Fah Luang Park. Photo credit: Duncan ursula_bkk, Flickr

Oub Kham Museum. Photo credit: thailandneo

Bike tours

The surroundings of Chiang Rai, unlike most of Northern Thailand, are flat with small hills, and cycling here is a pleasure. Cycling tours start away from city traffic, along charming rural roads past rice fields, gardens and small towns. Popular routes are half a day to the White Temple, a full day to the White Temple and further to the waterfalls, a full day to the Golden Triangle. See more details.

Bike tours in Chiang Rai. Photo credit: Zach W, tripadvisor

Golden Triangle

The classic circuit from Chiang Rai starts in the direction of Mae Sai, a town on the border with Burma with a large market on the border and a bridge crossing into Burma. Next is Sop Ruak, the extreme point of Thailand at the intersection of the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos. Here you can see both neighboring countries from the observation deck, as well as rent a boat and go to Laos. The last point on the route is the ancient city of Chiang Saen.

The worst option for visiting the Golden Triangle is large groups and/or bus tours, try to avoid such experiences). If you are taking a tour from Chiang Rai, try to take either a private tour or a small group tour.

In Chiang Rai, you can either use a motorbike for an independent trip around the Golden Triangle. You can rent a car with a driver through any guest house or tour office in Chiang Rai (about $50-60 per car).

If you are not comfortable with a motorbike, but want to travel around the Golden Triangle on a budget, then the best option is public transport. In this case, map out the route Chiang Rai - Chiang Saen - Sop Ruak (Golden triangle) - Mae Sai - Chiang Rai, which, in principle, can be covered in a day.

On the route Chiang Rai - Chiang Saen - Sop Ruak (Sop Ruak or Golden triangle) a minibus runs every 15-20 minutes (green minivans from the Chiang Rai bus terminal). Songthaews (route pick-ups) run between the Golden Triangle (Sop Ruak) and Mae Sai. You can return to Chiang Rai from Mae Sai by bus (about 1.5 hours).

Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai. Photo credit: adventurocity, Flickr

Cooking classes

Chiang Rai, like , is an excellent place for lovers of delicious food. In addition to visiting the Night Market and restaurants in Chiang Rai, the gastronomic experience can be complemented by cooking classes offered in the city. Here you can learn more about the traditions of Thai cuisine and the ingredients used, try your hand at cooking Thai dishes, eat delicious food and generally have fun in the company of nice people.

Our first trip to the north of Thailand ended in the city of Chiang Rai. In this post, I will talk about the main attractions of Chiang Rai, as well as our general impressions of the city.

White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

The White Temple in Chiang Rai is the main attraction of the city, for which tourists mainly come here. Construction of the temple began in 1997 and is still ongoing. It is being built at his own expense by one of the most talented living artists and architects in Thailand, Chalermchayu Kositpipat. Exhibitions of his work can be viewed in neighboring buildings. The talent of this man is truly limitless, his paintings and bronze sculptures are simply amazing in their beauty (they cannot be photographed). By the way, the gold clock in the center of Chiang Rai is also his work. Entrance to the territory of the white temple is free.

All tourists visiting the white temple in Chiang Rai are given the opportunity to contribute to the construction of the complex. For 30 baht you can buy an aluminum heart and write your wishes on it. Later, all these hearts are collected and used to form the ceiling in various outdoor structures on the temple grounds. It looks very nice. Few people turn down the opportunity to “publish” their dreams in such an energetic place.

Video tour of the white temple in Chiang Rai:

Black Temple (Baan Dam)

The Black Temple in Chiang Rai is not, in fact, a temple. It's just a big black house with a common interior space, in which some installations and exhibitions of contemporary art periodically take place. The territory of the black temple is quite large and includes many medium and small sized buildings. The whole complex is permeated with a gloomy mood of death, skulls and skins of killed animals lie everywhere. The place is quite interesting, but does not make a particularly strong impression. By the way, it is also being built by a modern Thai architect at his own expense.

Doi Tung Royal Villa

We set aside a whole day to visit the Doi Tung Royal Villa. It is located 55 km from Chiang Rai. We got there on a bike in about an hour and a half. At first the road goes along a wide highway, and for the last 16 km you need to climb uphill along a winding serpentine road with very beautiful views.

The attraction consists of four objects, for the entrance to each of which you need to pay separately, or you can buy a complex ticket. We decided to visit three objects that are located in close proximity to each other: the interactive pavilion, the Mae Pha Luang flower garden and the royal villa itself. Tickets cost us 190 baht per person.

In the interactive pavilion you can get acquainted with the history of the Thai royal family and important events in the life of Thailand in various forms (photos, video, audio). Quite a fascinating excursion.

Just outside the interactive pavilion is the entrance to the Mae Pha Luang Flower Garden. There's not much to say about him. The garden is naturally very beautiful and you can take a huge number of good photographs there. The Thais are great masters at creating beautiful gardens and parks.

Just after the flower garden, a little higher on the mountain, is the Doi Tung Royal Villa. The house is built entirely of wood in the style of a Swiss chalet. The villa is operational and members of the royal family periodically relax there. At the entrance to the building we were given audio guides in English, with the help of which we learned about some interesting facts from the construction of the villa and the life of the Queen Mother. Filming inside is prohibited.

Search for a hotel in Chiang Rai:

With this, our trip to the north of Thailand has come to an end, and now we are already in the capital of Malaysia, where the Formula 1 racing stage is taking place from March 28 to 30 (post Trip to Malaysia for Formula 1 in March 2014). Also, after returning to Pattaya, we will write a final post about our northern trip, in which we will talk about the most memorable moments and financial expenses.

Northern woman:

Excursions in Chiang Rai from private guides and travel agencies.
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The northernmost of all tourist cities in Thailand, located 785 km from Bangkok. It is the commercial capital of the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma meet. Chiang Rai has become a popular tourist destination due to its many sites left over from ancient civilizations. It is believed that this is where the culture of Siam originated. In addition to monasteries and palaces, tourists can see the villages of indigenous tribes and their inhabitants. The settlement of the Karen tribe, a tribe of “long-necked women,” is especially popular.

Just like neighboring Chiang Mai (158 km to the southwest), this is not a beach resort. True, there is one beach in the city, and if you wish, you can sunbathe there. The order in Chang Rai is very specific: after At 21:00 almost all establishments in the city close. Only the Night Market and the cafes located next to it are open. Therefore, it is not worth going to Chiang Rai in search of nightlife. Exotic lovers come here, already fed up with beaches and discos. And this is quite understandable - after all, the kind of atmosphere that reigns on the streets of Chiang Rai cannot be found anywhere else.

Video from Chang Rai

The White Temple is the most beautiful attraction in Chiang Rai, although it is not ancient. It began to be built in 1997, according to the design of a famous young Thai architect. The work is still ongoing. The style of the temple can be called avant-garde; it really looks very unusual - not...

Chiang Rai Tours & Activities

The main tourist attraction in Chiang Rai is visiting the ethnic tribal villages. Of particular interest is the village of the Koren tribe - the tribe of “long-necked women”. When a girl from this tribe turns 4 years old, a copper ring is twisted around her neck. With age, the number of rings increases, and the neck stretches to incredible sizes. There are several versions of where such a tradition could have come from. Perhaps, once upon a time, men tried to protect their wives and daughters from predators. Some say that by mutilating their women, they saved them from slavery. But now a long neck is considered a symbol of a woman’s attractiveness. Usually a visit to this village is included in the trekking program, the cost and duration may vary.

The center of the Golden Triangle is located 80 km from Chiang Rai. Some people say there's not much to see there, but that's not true. In this place there is a very beautiful statue of the golden Buddha, two opium museums and a temple. And from here you can sail to the islands of Laos without a visa and take a walk around them. Usually a visit to the center of the “triangle” is the final part of any excursion. Duration of stay in the border zone is 4-5 hours.

You can also get to Burma for one day without a visa through the town of Mae Sai (61 km from Chiang Rai). Groups are also often brought here, although there is nothing remarkable in the city itself. But tourists usually take photographs of the “northern gate” and enter Burmese territory. You need to go back before evening.

History of Chang Rai

There is an interesting legend associated with the history of Chang Rai. According to it, one day King Mengrai's favorite elephant ran away. They looked for him everywhere and could not find him. Then the animal was discovered in a hitherto unknown area. The king was very happy that the elephant was found, and ordered to build...

Chiang Rai is located in the north of the country, far from the capital, so the climate here is somewhat milder than in other areas. The Thais call Chiang Rai the “cold capital”; in fact, the air temperature in the city does not drop below +30°C almost all year round. For this reason, Chiang Rai is ready to receive tourists at any time. But we must remember that here, as elsewhere, three seasons follow each other: dry, hot and wet. If you check beforehand when planning your vacation, you can choose a period when it is not very hot and there is no rain.

Chiang Rai attractions and activities

Trekking ranks first in popularity among other outdoor activities in Chiang Rai. The reason is that it includes several activities at once, rather than being limited to, say, elephant riding or rafting.

The trekking program usually includes mountain trekking, river rafting, a trip into the jungle on the back of an elephant, overnight stays in ethnic tribal villages and daytime excursions to these villages.

Some tourists are frightened by the prospect of encountering “savages,” but this is an unfounded fear. In fact, the natives have long been accustomed to tourists and have even learned to make money on such excursions.

Chiang Rai's mountainous terrain is ideal for mountain biking. If you book a bike tour along the Mekong River, you can not only admire nature, but also visit villages.

Also in Chiang Rai you can ride a horse or an ostrich.

The most common water sports are rafting, kayaking, paddleboarding and canoeing.

Transport features of Chang Rai

There is very little public transport in Chiang Rai as the city is very small. You can get around it all on foot, and everything you need is nearby. But still there is transport on the streets:

• sontaego;
• minibuses;
• knock knock.

The fare is the same as in Chiang Mai, that is, within $1.

Those interested can rent a vehicle:

• motorcycle - about $10;
• car - about $40.