Chiang Rai (Thailand): what to see for tourists. Black and white temple in Chiang Rai (Thailand). Chiang Rai: how to get there, where to live, what to see The most beautiful national park of Chiang Rai

The borders of three amazing Asian states - Thailand, Myanmar and Laos - constitute a special region called the Golden Triangle. total area The region is quite large, while the tourist center is the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers in the village of Sop Ruak in Thailand. Travelers from all over the world head to the north of the country to see with their own eyes three great countries at the same time.

But not so long ago, completely different motives brought people here. The “opium paradise” attracted smugglers with a thirst for profit. The policies of neighboring powers have successfully overcome the situation, and this issue is no longer on the agenda. So what can you profit from in the Golden Triangle now? The pristine beauty of Don Sao Island, descent along the Mekong River, visit observation deck at the top of the Wat Phrathat temple and, of course, a visit to the opium museum will diversify your vacation.

Kok River

The Kok River is full-flowing and the most long river in Northern Thailand. It begins in Myanmar and flows through picturesque places, some of which are nature reserves, and flows into the Mekong River in the Golden Triangle region, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. The border in this place is precisely the river.

Kok links the Thai provinces of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai and is the most important route between them. This is why walks along the Kok River are so popular among tourists: following the flow of the river, you can watch the inhabitants of these places, stop the boat near the shore and continue traveling through the jungle, or get to the city to admire the ancient temples.

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Mount Doi Tung

Mount Doi Tung is located in the Golden Triangle. This “Triangle” is the intersection of the borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. The main income of local peasants has always been income from growing opium poppies, which had a detrimental effect on the local population. However, in the 80s of the last century, the royal family began to revive these places, and Doi Tung became one of the most important projects. The once disadvantaged region turned into a blooming garden when the mother of the current monarch of Thailand moved into a palace built here especially for her.

The Doi Tung project occupies 150 sq. km of land and employs more than 11 thousand people. Now, instead of opium poppies, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and coffee are grown here. The project is directly supervised by the royal family.

Wat Rong Khun Temple is considered to be the most unusual Buddhist temple Thailand. It is relatively young - its construction began in 1997. The creator of this unique monument is the Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who, according to rumors, erected the temple only with his own money in order to perpetuate his name in history. The artist made every detail, every roof slope, every figure in the temple according to his own sketches.

It is simply impossible to describe the temple in words. It looks as if it was created not by man, but by some unprecedented force. The stark white jagged temple is surrounded by ponds teeming with sacred fish. Inside the temple you can look at the works of the artist Chalermchayu and even buy some of them.

Monument to King Mengrai

In Chiang Rai, at the exit from the city, next to the road to Mae Chan, there is a tall dark monument against the backdrop of a golden carved wall with sharp ends. This is a monument to Koroi Mengrai, the founder of the city. According to legend, King Mengrai was looking for his elephant on the banks of the Kok River and, admiring the beauty of the area, decided to found a city here. Many city tours start from this place as a sign of respect to the founding king.

Opium Museum

The world's most famous Opium Museum is located in Thailand for good reason. It was in this country that almost until the end of the 20th century, opium production was almost the only means of ensuring the life of local peasants. The museum's exposition is designed in such a way that, moving from one exhibition to another, one can imagine the development of the production of narcotic drugs in Thailand from ancient times to the present day. The museum's extensive collection includes production tools, agricultural implements, posters, as well as modern multimedia resources.

The museum is open every day except Monday from 8.30 to 16.00.

Museum "House of Opium"

In the very center of the Golden Triangle is the private museum “House of Opium”. Its collection is not as extensive and varied as that of the large and famous Hall of Opium, but it is also worthy of attention. Here are examples of agricultural implements used in poppy cultivation, utensils for making opium, a collection of old photographs and much more. Price entrance ticket several times cheaper than a ticket to the large Opium Museum.

In addition, the “House of Opium” is open every day, seven days a week, from 7.00 to 19.00

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Wat Umong Temple

Wat Umong is one of the most unusual temples in Thailand. It was founded in 1927.

The temple consists of caves that are connected by tunnels. Translated from Thai, "Umong" means "Tunnel". Inside the underground temple there are Buddha statues illuminated by candles.

Most of the territory is occupied by a pond and forest. The pond is home to large carp and turtles. “Wise trees” grow in the forest near the temple; there are signs with written Buddhist sayings on them. The temple houses a replica of the Ashoka pillar with four lion heads and the wheel of Dharma, installed in the 13th century. This is a world symbol of the spread of Buddhism.

There is also a library-museum and a meditation school, where classes are taught in English language.

The most popular attractions in Chiang Rai with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places to visit famous places in Chiang Rai on our website.

More attractions of Chiang Rai

Having spent nearly 30 years in the shadow of Chiang Mai, the Thai city of Chiang Rai has sprawled haphazardly across south coast Kok River. Now this city is trying to rival Chiang Mai as an upscale tourist centre with all the indispensable attributes like intrusive advertising 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 live its own life during the day. ordinary life, as travelers leave for excursions, but at night the neon lights flash and the souvenir shops and ersatz Western restaurants are pandemonium. However, among Thais the city retains its reputation as a weekend getaway for lovers. This is thanks to 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 receive less attention here, but they still come to visit 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 airlines Air Asia and Oriental Thai. There are taxis from the city to the airport, located 8 kilometers to the south (300 baht).

The 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 cards and information brochures. 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 does not have established routes, is taken from local residents 10-20 baht per 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. Expensive car Full service rentals are available through Budget, 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 poor quality service high price. One or two guesthouses are said to be comparable to the best hotels in Chiang Mai. More expensive places Accommodation is concentrated around the commercial center on Thanon Phaholyothin Street, 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 bathrooms 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). Guesthouse 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, Lak Muang was erected in honor of the official founding of a Thai city, in Chiang Rai this happened on January 26, 1263, and the new Lak Muang and carefully executed stone structure appeared around exactly 725 years later, to celebrate the 16th birthday 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, linking the hill with the wat into a single sacred place.

The Emerald Buddha, the most significant Buddha image in , was discovered when lightning shattered the chedi (it has since been repaired) 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 recently been 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.

Museum (Monday-Friday from 9.00 to 18.00, Saturday-Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00; 50 baht) is wonderful place, where you can learn more about 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 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 an elephant ride. 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 travel companies in Chiang Rai recently expanded its 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 work in 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 to mountain biking to the sources of the Kok River, the program includes fishing, meals and guide/mechanic services (2200 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 guide is Gas station Cosmo is 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 (Chiang Rai, Chang Rai, Changrai, English name Chiang Rai) is a city in, the capital of the province of the same name. Located on the Mae Kok River, 800 km from Bangkok, 150 km from Chiang Mai and 65 km from Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Laos. The total area including the surrounding area is 60 sq. km. The population, excluding tourists, is 68,000 people.

Chiang Rai is the most northern city Thailand, interesting not only from a tourist point of view, but also for long-term stay. Of course, even further north are the Golden Triangle, Mai Sai, Chiang Khong and other small settlements. But foreigners visit there for a maximum of 1-2 days, since there are few interesting sights and the infrastructure is very poorly developed.

The city is small, you can easily walk from one end to the other in 1.5-2 hours, if not less. There is all the infrastructure: a shopping center with a cinema, a night market with a food court, restaurants, bars, banks, travel agencies, etc. Chiang Rai is famous primarily for the unusual White Temple, which is located 10 km south of it. Is launching pad for trips to the Golden Triangle, which is an hour and a half away.

Chiang Rai on the map of Thailand

Story

The city of Chiang Rai was founded by King Mengrai in 1262. Until 1281, it was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Then, for several years, the city of Lampun became the center, and after that, in 1286, the capital was moved to Chiang Mai. For a long time it was captured by the Burmese. In 1899, the territory was annexed by the Kingdom of Siam.

Only in 1933 did Chiang Rai fully become part of Thailand, becoming one of its provinces.

Who should go

Why do tourists come to Chiang Rai, and some stay here for weeks and months? There may be several reasons. There are one-day tourists who arrived here as part of organized excursion eg from Chiang Mai, Bangkok or Pattaya. They only briefly explore it, visiting a couple of temples. Their main goal is the White Temple, located 12 km to the south and the Golden Triangle - 65 km to the north.

Others come on their own to get to know the history, sights and spirit of the city in more detail. They usually explore all the temples, visit the night market, and ride around the surrounding area.

Still others specifically travel to Chiang Rai to long term, because we are tired of crowded popular resorts Thailand and their hot weather.

Chiang Rai has everything you need to stay for a week, a month, a year or a lifetime. The climate is especially pleasant – not humid and cool at night (+12…+18). The city has a large selection of accommodation, prices start from 80 baht per night for a place in a dormitory and from 250 baht for a private room with shower and toilet. There are numerous restaurants, bars, cafes, tour desks, and motorbike rentals at your service. Everything you need can be bought at the night market, in the Big C hypermarket and a huge mall Central Plaza (with a cinema, Robinson store, Tops supermarket and a bunch of boutiques).

Despite such infrastructure, Chiang Rai can be explored on foot if desired (although it will not take one or two hours). In size it can be compared with Pattaya. But only in size, everything else is very different. The city is very calm, in the evenings the activity is only near the night market and the bus station.

Inside Thailand you can get there by plane or bus; there are no trains to Chiang Rai.

Almost all popular airlines fly: Thai Airways, Nok Air, Air Asia, Bangkok Airways and others. There are direct flights from Bangkok, Krabi, Udon Thani, Phuket and Koh Samui.

Cheap flights to Thailand

You can buy air tickets to Thailand as profitably as possible using special search engines that collect data from all airlines.

You can take buses from almost anywhere in Thailand. The easiest way to buy tickets is at the nearest travel agency or. You can also leave from the nearest bus station.

There is a ferry from Chiang Mai from the pier to Thaton (3-4 hours), for some this will be a good alternative to the serpentine road to Chiang Rai.

Transport

Beaches

Chiang Rai is not a resort for beach holiday. However, 4 km from the city there is a place on the river for local residents to relax, which can roughly be called a beach. In principle, you can go there to sunbathe, get a massage right on the shore, ride a boat on the river and enjoy beautiful views. It's unpretentious to even take a swim. But the water is muddy, the coast is so-so.

There is no smell of tourists here because they know nothing about this place. But Thais come here only in the evenings, after work or on weekends. But don’t think that there are crowds of locals here. Not at all! The author of these lines was on the beach on Sunday at 10 a.m. - there was no one there (see photo). The place is well equipped, there is a toilet, shower, canopies with sun loungers and a fan! In a word, comfortable stay provided for you. The only negative is that the sand here is not as beautiful as on the sea, sometimes with green grass. In general, in appearance it quite resembles a beach next to a river somewhere in central Russia.

What to do and what to visit

There are quite a few in Chiang Rai, mostly represented by old ones. Unfortunately, they are not as ancient as those in Chiang Mai or Ayutthaya, but still deserve your attention. Ironically, the most popular is the White Temple, which is located outside the city and is a very young complex, built only in 2008. However, the construction has not yet been completed and new fragments and structures are added to it every year.

There are several ancient temples and remains of the stone wall that surrounded the city from the time when Chiang Rai was part of the Lanna Kingdom. Also of interest is the Wat Phra Kaew temple, which is located in the historical part of the city. It was here that the statue was found, which is now located in the temple of the same name in Bangkok. A copy of it is now installed here.

In the province of Chiang Rai (not in the city itself), the tribes of long-necked women are of tourist interest, to whom you can book an excursion at any travel agency.

Well, and of course, beautiful nature- green meadows, majestic mountains, waterfalls, caves, hot springs.

And from here you can go to Burma or Laos; the trip will take 1.5 and 2.5 hours, respectively, by bus. Also a must-see is a visit to where they converge borders of three countries (despite this, you cannot cross the border at this place and get a visa). It takes 1.5 hours to get there to the north.

The atmosphere in Chiang Rai is completely different, unlike any other place in Thailand. This is not a remake like Pattaya, which was a godforsaken village 60 years ago. Here you will see the city with rich history, which dates back more than 700 years. This place is definitely worthy of your attention!

Climate

It is no secret that in the central and southern parts of Thailand the climate cannot be called comfortable: during the day +30...+35, and at night +26...+28, i.e. There is no escape from the heat and high humidity even after sunset. Chiang Rai in this sense is simply paradise, especially for long-lived people, the temperature is really the same during the day, but after 18 o’clock it begins to drop sharply, reaching +25 in the evening, and +15…+20 in the morning. Plus the humidity is much less. Many people stay here to live precisely for these reasons - on the one hand excellent climate, and on the other hand - quite quiet place, albeit with all the necessary infrastructure. There are never crowds of tourists in Chiang Rai - neither in the low season nor in the high season.

Read in detail about.

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.

Spend at least 2 hours to explore Chiang Rai full days plus a day at 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 - ancient temple, in which the statue of the main Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Sihing, which is now located in Chiang Mai, was kept for a long time. 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 animal bones and horns. 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 the ancient Vietnamese and Chinese civilizations.

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


Oub Kham Museum. Photo credit: thailandneo

Bike tours

Neighborhoods of Chiang Rai, unlike most Northern Thailand- flat with small hills, 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 - Sop Ruak, extreme point Thailand at the intersection of the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos, here from the observation deck you can see both neighboring countries, and also rent a boat and go to Laos. The last point on the route is ancient city 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 independent trip along 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.

The route Chiang Rai - Chiang Saen - Sop Ruak (Golden triangle) runs minibus every 15-20 minutes (green minivans from 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 great 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.

 

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