Chiang Rai – Pearl in the far north of Thailand
Chiang Rai is not the best known but it is the northernmost province of Thailand. The region is home to a number of scenic mountain landscapes.
The infrastructure has been greatly improved in recent years, making the region easier to reach. This has made the province more popular among tourists looking for luxury and budget accommodations.
The city of Chiang Rai is a good base for adventurers. You can in the area rafting and special walks. Many local tour companies organize overnight stays in the villages of the hill tribes.
What can you see in Chiang Rai?
Doi Tong is located in the northwest of the city. It is located near the banks of the Kok River. Hike to the top of the Doi Tong. Here you can enjoy a nice view of the city and the river. In the southwest of the city, at the Doi Khao Kwai (Buffalo Horn Hill), you will find another viewpoint.
Wat Khao Kwai
The Wat Khao Kwai temple has a terrace where you can enjoy the view. Wat Khao Kwai is Chiang Rai's most spectacular temple. It was once home to the Emerald Buddha. He now resides in Wat's namesake in Bangkok.
Even if you think you've seen enough temples, the beautiful Wat Rong Khung is worth a visit. It is located just outside the city of Chiang Rai. The temple is also known as the 'White Temple'. A trip to the beautiful gardens in Mae Fah Luang is highly recommended.
What can you do there?
The 'Golden Triangle' (the point where Laos, Burma and Thailand meet) is within easy reach. In reality, it's less romantic than you imagine it to be. Most impressive are the mountains, rice fields and ancient ruins nearby.
All hotels and travel companies in Chiang Rai can arrange a trip to the Golden Triangle for you. Trip might not be the right word for an area formerly known as a center for opium production. You can also arrange an excursion to the mountain villages of the local 'Hilltribes'.
A walk (not a ride) with an elephant in the surrounding countryside is also possible. In the center of the city you will find the popular Night Bazaar. Here you can enjoy entertainment, snacks and drinks.
Where can you spend the night?
Due to the increasing popularity of Chiang Rai, the quality and number of accommodations has increased considerably. There is accommodation for every budget, although the choice is more limited than in Chiang Mai. Budget accommodations, mid-range hotels and guest houses can be found in the central part of the city. The more luxurious hotels, such as the Legend Chiang Rai, can be found near the river.
Search for accommodations in Chiang Rai
Transportation
Many people travel from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai. By bus, this journey takes just over three hours. You can also make the journey by boat and partly by bus. This route is more beautiful, but you are on the road longer.
Most travel companies in Chiang Mai offer various combinations of transportation and accommodations in Chiang Rai. Buses to Chiang Rai depart every hour from 06:00 AM to 17:30 PM. They depart from Chiang Mai Arcade bus terminal.
About this blogger
-
This article was written and checked by the editors. The content is based on the author's personal experiences, opinions and own research. Where relevant, ChatGPT was used as an aid in writing and structuring texts. Although the content is handled with care, no guarantee can be given that all information is complete, up-to-date or error-free.
The reader is responsible for the use of the information on this website. The author accepts no liability for any damage or consequences resulting from the use of the information provided.
Read the latest articles here
OpinionsMay 21, 2025Opinion: A new look at short-term rentals in Thailand
News from ThailandMay 19, 2025Outrage in Pattaya: Foreigner releases pit bulls on neighbor's dog – with poll
News from ThailandMay 19, 2025Thailand revises tax rules for foreign income: transferring money to Thailand becomes more attractive
PattayaMay 19, 2025The Gourmet Guide to Culinary Delights in Pattaya: 10 Excellent Restaurants
It is certainly beautiful, also go to the caves of Chiang Dao and the associated place where there is a beautiful market in the morning with many hilltribe people in traditional costumes.
really worth it!
If you want to know more about Chiangdao, then press "search" but in Chiangdao you will find a fairly extensive article about the caves, among other things.
Chiang Dao is certainly beautiful and worth it, no misunderstanding about that! However, the article is about Chiang Rai, and from Chiang Rai, Chiang Dao is about 185 km. or a short 4 hour drive through the mountains. From Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao is about 95 km, an hour and a half drive.
Doesn't Chiang Rai also have a milder climate with lower humidity compared to most other places in Thailand?
The winter months: November/January is the best time in CR.
Dry and temperatures around 25/30C. For our pleasant shorts weather. The Thai themselves are somewhat cold (in our eyes) and dressed accordingly with winter jackets / hats and shawls !!!!
March / May is not recommended due to the heavy smog (burning of forests) and the high temperatures 38/44C.
The night bazaar has a cozy patio with various dining options, Thai show and live music.
For the advanced golfers among us, the Waterford Valley golf club is an absolute must with 18 courses in a hilly parkland.
Less gods can go to the Old Airport Golf Course in CR with a green fee of 300 bht for 9 holes, with an American style golf restaurant serving the best fries and burgers I have eaten in Thailand. (Only as rice soup or Pad Thai you will get bored)
The price level in CR is about 20% lower than in BKK and the surrounding area
It is an hour's flight from BKK with Nok Air or Air Asia. You can of course also take the bus or car, but then count on 10/12 hours travel time.
Good trip.
We visited Chiang Rai for the third time in January, flying directly from Bangkok in 1 hour (Nok Air). In January, the Wat Rong Khun was not yet damaged, and still beautiful and unique, on the weekends it is it is quite busy, so preferably go during the week. Rent a moped and explore the beautiful mountains and tea plantations. We always stay in the Home Stay, it is located just outside Chiang Rai, in the middle of the rice fields and close to Chiang Beach / river, where very nice restaurants are Home Stay is owned by a Dutch/Thai couple. They personally arrange all excursions.
The Golden Triangle is special to see, but unfortunately it has become more of a commercial institution in recent years.
Maybe a tip for an overnight stay in Chiangrai.
I went there in November 2014 and on the advice of friends I booked a room in the guesthouse “Baan Jaru” – “1003 Jetyod Road ,Chiang Rai , 57000 , Thailand
+66820285666, +6653713640
You don't think it possible but many 4-star hotels can't even match this accommodation.
Perfectly clean, 40 inch flat screen TV, free wifi with perfect reception; spacious room and immaculate bathroom with shower.
The son “Toddy” speaks perfect English (he studied in England) and is 100% helpful.
The included breakfast is simple but completely fine.
A taxi from the airport to the hotel costs 150 baht.
Highly recommended first class and if in doubt, take a look at the reviews on “Booking.com”
Visited Chiang Rai last year in November and this year in March. Time is largely used to explore the beautiful surroundings by mountain bike, with it located just outside the city http://www.homestay-chiangrai.com/nl/ as a particularly pleasant, well-maintained base. From there you can also book all kinds of excursions. I found the city itself less interesting than for example Chiang Mai. November is more pleasant than March in terms of weather conditions, especially for physical exertion on the bike. In March the temperatures start to rise again and there is often some smog due to the burning of fields, etc.
I'm still looking forward to it - I hope to cycle around there again in November!
can only confirm this, have been there 3 times over the years and continue to be a stroke of luck. Beautiful rooms with very good beds and perfect service.
Chiang Rai is a nice location. Cozy center, affordable accommodation.
Will self in a beautiful guesthouse for 700 thb and in the center of CR Nice Soi: Soi Sanpanard soi 2
If you want to stay in Thailand for a longer period of time and affordably, the north is an excellent place, Chiang Mai / Chiang Rai.
As mentioned earlier. Bkk is easily accessible with an hour's flight. Robert
Chiang Rai is more than worth it - I'm going there soon for the fifth time in 2 years........
It's four years later, and I still enjoy coming here. Stayed there for 3 months this spring and hopefully again in September – and then back again in the Dutch spring……..
Visited Chiang Rai this year as well. The “flower festival” … well worth it. During this period there are several other gardens, outside the festival, that are also well worth a visit. The period is January. It can be quite chilly, like this year barely 13°C in the morning with a wonderful 25°C during the day. Chiang Rai is the flower garden of Thailand.
Chiang Rai seems attractive to me, but what I wonder is, does Chiang Rai have the same problems as Chiang Mai?
I hear directly from someone who lives in the immediate vicinity of Chiang Mai that 2 months per
haven't lived in Chiang Mai for years because of the many fires there, do you have the same misery in Chiang Rai? Would love to hear from people who live in Chiang Rai.
Nico B
Also here in Chiang Rai you are not completely immune from the smoke, but the nuisance seems to be less than in Chiang Mai. This year, by the way, it was considerably less than last year. It doesn't bother me physically – it's just that I can see the mountain tops a little less sharply on my bike rides………..
Been to ChiangRai many times myself, November, Dec, January to about March 12, but more near Chiangwai one of the districts, of which this one is, beautiful vast rice fields, just a mountain in a barren plain, there may be good , wear shorts, a little colder by December, sometimes due to the cold wind from China, Chiangrai has more than you see as a holidaymaker, shopping center, BIG C, Makro and many other things, well developed, in the village of Chiangwai, half an hour drive, beautiful houses, wooden houses on stilts, where my wife has her family, rich and poor, live together, by working, rice is planted at the beginning of February, after 6 weeks it grows nicely, otherwise enough to see, during this period noticed little of smog, greetings Maarten
Chiangwai does not exist, you possibly mean Wiang Chai?
http://www.homestaychiangrai.com/ at toonie and path highly recommended
for overnight stay
The recommended homestay is that with Ton and Pattie?
The view from Doi Tong over the river praised in the article - from 2012 - may have existed in that year, but in 2022 this is not the case. The 'mountain' is also just a pimple of a few tens of meters at most, which is hardly interesting from a tourist perspective.
When it comes to Chiang Rai, the white temple always comes up. However, there is also a blue temple and frankly I find it much more interesting. And then there is the Baan Dam Museum (Black House Museum), which has already been extensively written about here on Thailandblog (search for duchanee. That is the artist who made the entire complex). Some call it the black temple, but although the main building looks a lot like a temple, it is not. For me, Baan Dam was the highlight of our visit to Chiang Rai last week.
Photos Baan Dam: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA6x1u
Photos blue and white temple: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA6wRE
Yes, Chiang Rai, my living area that I am still enthusiastic about. Also an ideal wintering destination for those who want to escape the cold and wetness of Western Europe! Riding your bike in your shorts in December and then checking the weather forecast for the Netherlands when you return is priceless!
I have been wintering in Phayao for more than 30 years and have unfortunately noticed that air pollution in winter is getting worse and occurs earlier and earlier. I think I will have to avoid those months in the future. Last year I looked at the Dutch weather forecast with a scorched throat and watery eyes and I would have killed for a day of fresh air on the beach.
I have now been to Chiang Rai no fewer than 15 times in 9 years, and it still fascinates me, quiet city, good eateries and extensive nature with various objects to visit, always stay in Baan Bua near the clock tower, quiet and cozy , good service, not exuberant but good, and out and about almost every day with Nok, a lady with her own hotel but also a good guide (see: bamboo hut CR), she still has new ideas to visit with me, really and recommended