The province of Chiang Rai

Location on map

Province of region Northern Thailand

Less popular and visited than its neighbor, Chiang Mai, the province of Chiang Rai is located in the far north of Thailand and shares a border with Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Laos. It is a fascinating region which captivates with its cultural diversity, its historical heritage and its spectacular mountain landscapes and the tribes who live there. Chiang Rai's most iconic landmark remains its famous white temple, Wat Rong Khun with its dazzling architecture and contemporary works of art. Some prefer its counterpart, the Blue Temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten

The city has pretty temples, two impressive Saturday and Sunday Wlaking Streets and a Night Bazaar. And outside the city, in addition, the White Temple, the Golden Triangle meeting point of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar remains the best known place and the most requested by foreign tourists. However, for me, in the province of Chiang Rai, it is to conquer the mountains that we must set out. Either for the day with a tour like these excursions in Chiang Rai, or on a trek with overnight stay in a village of one of the mountain ethnic groups.

If the city of Chiang Rai probably has more charm than that of Chiang Mai, the nature, the mountains and the countryside have little to envy of those of the neighboring province.