Introduction: Chiang Rai Travel Guide
Chiang Rai is one of our favourite places is Thailand, located up north, far from the touristic towns and beaches from the south of Thailand.
Not far from the golden triangle where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand have a common border, it offers a cool day trip to discover this unusual place along with tea plantation monkey cave, pineapple fields.
Chiang Rai is also home to beautiful temple such as the White temple, the Black house or even the blue temple.
Any trip in Thailand should have Chiang Rai on its list.
Table of Contents
Mapping the Chiang Rai Travel Guide
Getting there
The best way to reach Chiang Rai is:
- If you are coming from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, you can simply take a local long-distance bus. It is a 3h20 ride for less than 10€ per person
- If you are coming from Krabi, Bangkok, or someplace south, flying to Chiang Rai Airport will be the better call.
Moving Around
The easiest way to get around Chiang Rai is by renting a scooter/Motorbike, this is actually the same for all Thailand. There are pretty cheap and in good shape. This will really allow you lots of freedom to move around town.
There are tons of rentals around town, just ask your accommodations where is the best one nearby, some accommodation even rent them.
When to Visit
In Northern Thailand, March to June is the hot season with temperatures up to 40°C, July to October as it is the Rainy Season (30°C and lots of rain). So, the best time to visit Chiang Rai are the winter months, from November to February. At this time the weather is cool and pleasant (15 to 25°C without rain). But it’s also one of the peak seasons for tourism.
Where to Stay
- (€): Busket Hostel
- (€€): Saikaew Resor
- (€€€): The Riverie by Katathani
Our “coup de Coeur” is Ban Lom Jen Homestay which is not anymore available, but we had an amazing stay there
What to Eat
Generally, in Thailand, the to-go-food are:
- Pad Thai (Thai Style Fried Noodles)
- Som Tam (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)
- Pad See Eiw (Thick Noodle Dish)
- Khao Pad (Fried Rice)
- Gaeng Keow Wan (Green Curry)
- Pad Phak (Fried Vegetables)
- Kao Niew Ma Muang (Mango and Sticky Rice)
Also, if you are in a homestay which is cooking, go for their meals. We ate all ours in our accommodations and they were amazing.
Things to do in Chiang Rai
Baan Dam Museum (Black house)
Start your day by exploring the free black house, which was open at the death of its builder, a famous local artist. Impressive Thai building but a bit morbid, it’s a cool place to see.
Khun Korn Waterfall
After 1.4km hike in the jungle, discover the Khun Korn Waterfall, one of Thailand’s most impressive waterfalls
Night Market
As most of Thailand’s city, hang around the night market for some local street food and explore beautiful and lively shopping streets.
Clock Tower Chiang Rai
At night, after some yummy Thai food, watch the light show on the Clock tower in the old center of Chiang Rai.
Long Neck Village
First stop of the day tour to the golden triangle is an unreal village, the Yao village where a local tribe of long neck people are living.
Choui Fong Tea Plantation
On your day trip, you will have the chance to stop at one of Thailand’s biggest tea plantation. There isn’t any museum nor learning and the place is more about the landscape itself. Near its entrance you can also discover pineapple fields.
Golden triangle
And finally, discover the golden triangle. A Place famous its history of smuggling and for being a crossroad of 3 countries.
Wat Rong Khun - White Temple
Chiang Rai most famous landmark. The White temple is all traveler’s list to Thailand. The temple was opened in 1997 and made by a local artist from its fund as the original temple was in bad shape and the local monk out of resources.
Wat Rong Seua Ten - Blue Temple
Less famous yet really beautiful, the blue temple was completed in 2016. The temple featured monument of modern Buddhist distinguished by its vivid blue coloring & elaborate carvings.
3 days itinerary in Chiang Rai
Day 1:
- Baan Dam Museum (Black house)
- Khun Korn Waterfall
- Night Market
- Clock Tower Chiang Rai
Day 2:
- Long Neck Village
- Wat Phra That Doi Wao
- Fish Cave
- Choui Fong Tea Plantation
- Golden triangle
Day 3:
- Wat Rong Khun – White Temple
- Wat Rong Seua Ten – Blue Temple
ได้อย่างเสียอย่าง (dai yang sia yang) – You have to lose something to get another thing.
Meaning: You can’t make an omelette without breaking any eggs
