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Must-see places in Chiang Rai
Things to see and do in Chiang Rai
The most famous temple in Chiang Rai is undoubtedly the White Temple or Wat Rong Khun. This is one of the most famous and probably the most surprising temple Thailand! It is located a few kilometers out of Chiang Rai. But in the city, there are also very beautiful temples. Wat Phra Kaew and its magnificent Buddha in front of the red and gold background of the main wihaan or Wat Ched Yod and its slimmer statue or Wat Phra Singh and its beautiful roofs, you will have the choice ! And out of the city, in the mountains, you have plenty of beautiful spots to discover like Doi Chang and its coffee plantations, Doi Tung with its floral park and the royal villa mix between a Swiss chalet and a Lanna house, large tea plantations, some amazing temples and the Golden Triangle. There is also a recent temple with a huge statue of Guan-Im often mistakenly called the Chiang Rai Big Buddha (while it is not a Buddha). There are plenty of places to visit in and around Chiang Rai.At the end of the page, I have also listed some good tours, excursions and activities you can do in or from Chiang Rai. Click here to see them.
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Map of sights in Chiang Rai
Must-sees Other sights
Must-visit places in Chiang Rai
White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
วัดร่องขุ่นMy opinion : 5/5
This temple is different from those we are used to cross in Thailand with their gilding and strong colors. Wat Rong Khun is completely white. It is located 13 km in the South of Chiang Rai at the intersection of highway to Chiang Mai and highway to Phayao.
Wat Phra Kaew
วัดพระแก้วMy opinion : 5/5
In Lanna style, it housed the statue of Emerald that now is in Wat Phra Keo in Bangkok and has a copy of it.
Wat Rong Suea Ten - Blue Temple
วัดร่องเสือเต้นMy opinion : 5/5
Wat Rong Seua Ten is also known as the blue temple because it is its dominant color. A little outside Chiang Rai city, its interior with a magnificent white Buddha is just magnificent. Still little known by tourists because very recent, its popularity will certainly go growing very fast !
Black House (Baan Dam)
บ้านดำMy opinion : 3/5
As the name suggests it is a black house, actuallly several houses built by a Thai artist. It is probably the second best known place in Chiang Rai (it is a few kilometers outside the city) although its decoration consisting of skeletons and skulls of animals can disturb some visitors.
Wat Huay Pla Kung (Big Buddha)
วัดห้วยปลากั้งMy opinion : 5/5
The temple is often mistakenly called Chiang Rai's Big Buddha, but its impressive white statue does not represent Lord Buddha, but Guan Yin, the goddess of Mercy. TAnyway, this recent temple, partly still under construction, worths a visit ! Located a few kilometers from the city, it is really beautiful!
Doi Chang
ดอยช้างMy opinion : 5/5
This mountain offers beautiful sceneries and is known throughout Thailand for its coffee, the most famous and most delicious coffee in Thailand. Going up there, you can meet the hill tribes that grow the coffee plant and see the whole process of its transformation and of course enjoy great views, or maybe discover some surprises....
Sunday Walking Street
สันโค้งถนนคนม่วนMy opinion : 4/5
This big night market, set up in a street in the center of Chiang Rai becoming pedestrian for the occasion, is one of the things I love the most about Thailand. It is a funny and friendly place for shopping but also and above all to come for dinner and discover the Thai Street Food, one of the best and most tasteful in the world.
Saturday Walking Street
ถนนคนเดินเชียงรายMy opinion : 3/5
Another big night market that settles in a street in the center of Chiang Rai beoming pedestrian to accommodate for a few hours vendors of all kinds (clothes, souvenirs, vegetables, artcrafts) and of course many Street food stalls
Night Bazaar
ไนท์บาซาร์My opinion : 3/5
This night market takes place every night in Chiang Rai city right next to the Bus Terminal Number 1. You can certainly do a little shopping there but it is especially to come have dinner for cheap in a simple and typical atmosphere that I recommend it.
Wat Saeng Kaew Pothiyan
วัดแสงแก้วโพธิญาณMy opinion : 5/5
This recent temple, its construction started in 2006, is about 50 kilometers from Chiang Rai city. It clearly worths the detour as it is certainly one of the most beautiful and impressive temples in the province.
Golden Triangle
สามเหลี่ยมทองคำMy opinion : 3/5
In Sop Ruak, 67 km from Chiang Rai and 9 km from Chiang Sean, borders of Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Loas meet. Minivans depart from Terminal bus number 1 and can take you there.Find a room in Chiang Rai
Other places worth visiting in Chiang Rai
Wat Phra Singh
Lanna style, it also has a namesake temple in Chiang Mai. The roofs of the temple are absolutely beautiful
Cherntawan Meditation Center
This great meditation center is worth a visit. It is a beautiful place on the edge of a lake that breathes serenity. Besides the lake and the neighboring countryside are also worth a visit.
Fish Cave Temple (Wat Tham Pla)
This amazing temple full of surprises is not in Chaing Rai but rather in Mae Sai. Actually 16 kilometers from Mae Sai. With its monkeys, fishes and cave, it is really interesting and still very little known by tourists. It must be said that foreign tourists are few to go here or in a hurry to cross the border to go to Myanmar.
Doi Pha Tang
A few kilometers from Phu Chi Fah, less known, Doi Pha Tang mount is ideal for watching the Mekong River down in the Laotian valley because yes, here you are at the border. An excursion here on a clear day will make you discover beautiful landscapes.
Doi In Cee
This mountain a few kilometers outside Chiang Rai is interesting for the view it offers over the valley and for its pretty quiet lovely temple in the mountain. Inside the ordination hall, you will see a beautiful white reclining Buddha.
Wat Jed Yod
which unlike Wat Ched Yod in Chiang Mai does not have the stucco carvings representing Boddhisatvas but houses a beautiful big sitting Buddha
Elephant Valley Thailand
This elephant sanctuary opened in 2016. It offers a truly respectful and responsible meeting with the elephants experience. You will not ride them, you will not wash them, you will not watch them do tricks to entertain you, you will just observe them live their elephant life at a reasonable distance. The goal of this park is to let elephants be elephants and that's why I recommend it.
Mae Sai Border market
This market is not in Chiang Rai but in Mae Sai city 60 kilometers further in the North. It is the last city before Myanmar. YOu can actually cross the boder there. Big and very lively, it's fun to walk around and why not do some shopping in this local market.
Phu Chi Fah
It is the most popular and well-known mountain in Chiang Rai Province. In good weather, it offers beautiful views of Laos and the surrounding mountains. The landscapes crossed to get up there are also superb. In winter, many Thais come Phu Chi Fah to see the "sea of mist" in the morning.
Doi Mae Salong
This other mountain in Chiang Rai province is first and foremost famous for its tea production and for the pagoda built as a tribute to the princess mother of King Rama 9. Visitors come for the freshness, the magnificent views and see the tea process (plantations, picking , roasting ...)
Wat Phra That Pha Ngao
This very pretty temple located in Chiang Saen is quite large. It is usually visited before going to the Golden Triangle 9 km away. From the platform next to its white perched chedi visitors can enjoy a panoramic view over the Mekong River.
Wat Phra Non
temple of the Reclining Buddha, it is especially interesting for its beautiful red brick porch
Doi Tung
Mountain 60 km from Chiang Rai, there are many interesting things to see. The setting and scenery which explain its nickname "Switzerland of Thailand", of course, but also the Doi Tung Palace, the garden of Mae Fa Luang, the temple of Phrat That Doi Thong and hill tribe villages .
Singha Park
If named after one of Thailand's most famous beer brands, Chiang Rai Singha Park is a huge oolong tea plantation with beautiful sceneries that are very pleasant to discover by bicycle. It's a nice family outing. The park is located outside the city of Chiang Rai about ten minutes drive from the White Temple.
Choui Fong Tea Plantation
Located about forty kilometers from Chiang Rai city, this huge tea plantation offers a very photogenic setting that attracts many visitors every day for some selfies in these beautiful landscapes. There is also a shop and a café (a café where you can order and drink all kinds of tea drinks).
Huay Kaew Waterfall
This waterfall is about twenty kilometers from Chiang Raï. In the middle of the forest, it has the advantage of having water all year round. You can bath there to cool off and pay a visit to the nearby Akha village.
Pha Soet Hot Springs
In Thailand, it's always nice to relax in the hot springs. There are several hot springs around Chiang Rai, Phra Soet Hot Springs are only about twenty kilometers away from the city and personally, I like them for their big mineral swimming pool in which you can swim.
Rai Mae Fah Luang
This beautiful park, just a stone's throw from Chiang Rai Beach, has ancient Lanna-style wooden pavilions with interesting exhibits, and is also a nice place to relax among the trees or in front of the lotus pond.
Wat Phra That Doi Jom Thong
located on a hill, it offers an interesting view of the city but the temple itself is very small and common
Wat Doi Ngam Muang
3 minutes walk from Wat Phra Kaew, it is an interesting step in the ascension of Doi Jom Thong on the way to Phrat That Jom Thong, the temple at the top of the hill from which you can have an interesting view of Chiang Rai.
108 pillars of Chiang Rai city
on the hill of Wat Phra That Doi Jom Thong, a few meters from the temple, this highly symbolic monument pays tribute to the creation of the city of Chiang Rai imagined by King Meng Rai after contemplating the surrounding area from up there
King Meng Rai Monument
with a statue of the King, the monument pays tribute to the founder of the city of Chiang Rai
Phu Sang Waterfall
This waterfall is very easy to access because at the edge of the road. It can be a nice stop on the road to Phu Chi Fah. But on the other hand, it does not justify to come over there just to see it.
Chiang Rai Beach
The Chiang Rai beach is of course a river beach but a nice place to chill out and have lunch or dinner (but do not go too late). The setting is friendly and popular with locals on weekends in the dry season.
More suggested visits in Chiang Rai
- Oub Kham Museum
2 km from downtown, this renowned museum of Chiang Rai has an impressive collection of artifacts of Lanna Kingdom. - Doi Mae Salong
This other mountain in Chiang Rai province is first and foremost famous for its tea production and for the pagoda built as a tribute to the princess mother of King Rama 9. Visitors come for the freshness, the magnificent views and see the tea process (plantations, picking , roasting ...) - Doi Mae Salong
This other mountain in Chiang Rai province is first and foremost famous for its tea production and for the pagoda built as a tribute to the princess mother of King Rama 9. Visitors come for the freshness, the magnificent views and see the tea process (plantations, picking , roasting ...) - Doi Mae Salong
This other mountain in Chiang Rai province is first and foremost famous for its tea production and for the pagoda built as a tribute to the princess mother of King Rama 9. Visitors come for the freshness, the magnificent views and see the tea process (plantations, picking , roasting ...)
Tours in Chiang Rai and around
This selection includes tours, excursions and activities in Chiang Rai that I have tested myself or that were tested by people I fully trust, as well as offers from agencies and websites known for their reliability and quality.
Visit Chiang Rai with Bee a licensed Thai guide
Offered in English
Visit Chiang Rai with Bee, a Thai licensed guide guide who speaks good English. She will bring you to discover all the facets of Chiang Rai province. The detailed program of your visits will be established by discussing with her based on her suggestions, your tastes, and desires. Bee will also take care of booking a minivan with driver to offer you a complete service.
Details & Booking
Unique tour in the mountains from Chiang Rai to the Golden Triangle
Offered in EnglishExplore the superb mountain landscapes of Chiang Raiprovince, stroll in the tea and coffee plantations before arriving at the famous Golden Triangle and taking a boat trip on the Mekong. A unique off-the-beaten-track tour in Northern Thailand!
Details & Booking
Chiang Rai must-sees tour by tuk-tuk - 1 day
Offered in EnglishThis full-day tuk-tuk tour will take you to visit Chiang Rai's four must-see temples: the famous White Temple, its counterpart the Blue Temple (a Chinese Buddhist temple with its immense statue of the Goddess of Compassion), and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew). Lunch will be at a local restaurant. This tour does not include a guide, just a tuk-tuk and driver.
Details & Booking
Chiang Rai must-see temples & mountain tour
Offered in EnglishVisit the 3 unmissable temples of Chiang Rai: the White Temple, the Blue Temple and that of the Goddess of Compassion and head into the mountains to discover the landscapes and coffee plantations. A tour that sums up all the facets of Chiang Rai.
Details & Booking
Farm Stay in the Chiang Rai Countryside
Offered in EnglishSpend two days and one night at a farmhouse in the Chiang Rai countryside. You'll participate in activities with your hosts: rice planting, rubber harvesting, relaxation in a stunning traditional spa, cooking classes, and a Thai dessert workshop. A truly unique experience in an exceptional setting!
Details & Booking
2-Day 1-Night Trekking in Chiang Rai mountains
Offered in EnglishGo on a trek to discover the beautiful landscapes Chiang Rai mountains, meet the Karen, spend the evening and sleep in a Lahu village, swim in a waterfall... Enjoy Northern Thailand nature for 2 days and one night!
Details & Booking
Overnight Immersive Stay with the Lahu People in Chiang Rai
Offered in EnglishExperience an authentic adventure in the Chiang Rai mountains by visiting a Lahu village and sharing their simple, natural, and deeply human way of life. You will experience their daily life, share their meals, discover their crafts and traditions in a verdant setting, surrounded by nature and fields, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, for a truly immersive experience with the Lahu tribe.
Details & Booking
Ethical encounter with elephants in Chiang Rai
Offered in EnglishSpend half a day with elephants, which do not do tricks, which you do not show, for a moment of ethical sharing with these gentle giants. You will walk alongside them in the mountain, prepare food for them, take them to bath...
Details & Booking
2 days / 1 night trek mountains + elephants in Chiang Rai
Offered in EnglishTrek through the mountains of Chiang Rai to discover the jungle and its superb landscapes, spend the night with the locals in the village of a mountain ethnic group and meet the elephants in an ethical way alongside the Karen, their devoted keepers.
Details & Booking
2-day trek with overnight stay with the Lahu in Chiang Rai mountains
Offered in EnglishDiscover the authentic North of Thailand and its magnificent nature with this 2-day trek in the mountains of Chiang Rai accompanied by a local English-speaking guide. You will meet the Lisu, Lahu and Akha mountain ethnic groups.
Details & Booking
1-Day Trekking in Chiang Rai mountains
Offered in EnglishLet's trek for 1 day in Chiang Rai mountains to 2 hill tribes villages and a waterfall with a local guide.
Details & Booking
3-Day 2-Night Trekking in Chiang Rai mountains
Offered in EnglishGo on a 3-day trek to discover Chiang Rai mountains and forests, sleep in a Lahu village, camp under the stars, swim in a waterfall and wake up in an incredible setting!
Details & Booking
Chiang Rai famous temples from Chiang Mai
Offered in EnglishVisit the most beautiful temples in Chiang Rai : one all white and one all blue! We'll also go to the unique Black House museum, also the lotus temple unseen in Thailand and have one of the best Khao Soi in Chiang Rai for lunch.
Details & Booking
1 Day trekking in the mountains of Chiang Rai
Offered in EnglishAlthough I recommend a 2-day, 1-night trek in the mountains, there is also this day trek option. Accompanied by a local English-speaking guide, you will discover the splendors of the jungle and the wild nature of the Chiang Rai mountains before returning to your hotel in the evening.
Details & Booking
See Sunset at White Temple with Heartmade Meal in a Farm
Offered in EnglishChiang Mai to Chiang Rai, we'll visit the fanciful Blue Temple, have organic lunch and Blue Latte at the farm restaurant Sawan Bon Din (Heaven on Earth), Black house, Singha Park and see the vanilla sunset (weather pemitting) at the White temple.
Details & Booking
Countryside Cycling in Chiang Rai with Northern- and Northeastern-Style Lunch
Offered in EnglishLet's bike around my village and enjoy the countryside charms of Chiang Rai. You'll see local farms and temple, as well as mountain views. Then we'll have delicious Northern and Northeastern Thai lunch at a local favorites' restaurant. They serve one of the best Larb (Spicy Minced Pork Salad) in Chiang Rai.
Details & Booking
Places to see elsewhere in Thailand
Chinatown Street Food Area
It's in the Chinatown district, on a stretch of Yaowarat Road, that you'll find the largest concentration of street food stalls in Bangkok every evening. A busy spot, but ideal for discovering the…
Khao Yai National Park
the most famous of the country, among the most beautiful national parks in the world and UNESCO listed, it is a rendezvous for nature, flora and fauna lovers. About hundred kilometers far, it is not…
Dan Sai during Phi Ta Khon Festival
Every year around July, the city of Dan Sai offers this amazing festival of ghosts. It lasts three days and includes parades in the city, concerts, dance performances but people mostly come for the…
Prasat Muang Tam
8 km from the Phanom Rung, this small Khmer temple has been wonderfully restored. A visit to do before or after Phanom Rung visit.
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