Chiang Rai sights - what to see

An overview of the sights of Chiang Mai and what to visit for sure

The province and the city of Chiang Rai are often lost in the shadow of their more popular neighbor Chiang Mai, where travelers and tourists who want to get to know the north of Thailand mostly go. And most tourists know about Chiang Mai only that there is an amazingly beautiful White Temple and there is a Golden Triangle. But, in our opinion, Chiang Rai is one of the most underrated provinces of Thailand, which stores a lot of amazing and intriguing sights, just many of them are little known to mass tourists. We have traveled almost the entire province and discovered a lot of cool places here, which we will tell you about in this guide.

But first, here's our TOP Chiang Rai locations that you should definitely visit if you have limited time, or you just don't know where to start:

In the city of Chiang Rai

• The White Temple of Wat Rong Khun is one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand.
• Blue Temple Wat Rong Suea Ten is another unusual and beautiful blue temple.
• The Black Temple and the Baan Dam Museum is not exactly a temple, but an exhibition-museum of modern and traditional art.
• Wat Huay Pla Kang Temple is the modern and largest temple complex in the province.
• Temple of the Emerald Buddha Phra Kayu is one of the most important temples in Thailand, a statue of the famous emerald Buddha was found here.
• Saturday Night Market is a very cool traditional night market, but only open on Saturdays. If it doesn't work out on Saturday, come to the more modest daily night market.

In Chiang Rai Province

• The Golden Triangle is the most famous place in the province and a "tourist trap", but it's still worth a visit.
• Some of the hot springs, for example Pong Phra Bat or Pha Soet Hot Spring – very nice, useful and inexpensive.
• Wat Tham Phra Cave Temple is the largest cave temple in the province.
• Wat Phra That Doi Tung Temple is a very beautiful temple on the mountain, only the footpath to it is worth something.
• Villages of mountain tribes – there are several of them here, but to be honest, we are skeptical about this attraction. Why, read the link, we explain everything.

How to visit the sights of Chiang Rai

If you are an experienced independent traveler, then you will not have any problems visiting interesting places in the province, everything is the same as in other places of Southeast Asia: city attractions on foot, by taxi or routes, and for a trip about the province take a motorbike or a car for rent, and go ahead. On rented transport, you can plan a route with overnight stays in May Sanog, May Sai and in the Golden Triangle, 2-3 days will be enough for this. You can also drive along the ring from Chiang Mai via the northern road Changdao, Fung, Taton and return after a detour of the province to Chiang Rai. We passed so much, it was a great week-long trip!

If you are not ready for such trips, you will have to buy ready-made excursions from Chiang Mai, or in the city of Chiang Rai in street travel agencies or hotels. However, oddly enough, the cost of excursions similar to the route from Chiang Rai, as a rule, is more expensive than from Chiang Mai. This is due to the fact that from Chiang Mai you can visit the Golden Triangle and the White Temple as part of a large organized group excursion for little money, while from Chiang Rai their visit will most often be possible only as part of an individual tour or in a small group in a minivan.

But this applies only to the most popular one-day routes. But trekking tours with visits to ethnic tribal villages in Chiang Rai province from Chiang Mai are not organized, because there are enough of their own villages there.

And now we will tell you about all the sights of the city and province that we were lucky enough to visit, indicating where they are and how to get there on our own, the cost of visiting and opening hours:

Chiang Rai sights on the map

Attractions in Chiang Rai

• The White Temple of Wat Rong Khun

  

  This temple is sometimes disparagingly called a "remodel", and the locals do not perceive it as a real temple. But with all this, this is one of the top tourist locations in Chiang Rai province, or even the entire north of Thailand, and without a doubt a must-visit place. Fully justifying its name, the temple is really all white and incredibly beautiful. You can visit it from Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai. The White Temple is very modern, it began to be built in 1997, and the work continues to this day. The author is a young Thai architect Chalermchai Kositpipat. We can say that this is temple avant-gardism. But it's better to come and see for yourself. Read more about the White Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: the temple is open from 8:00 to 18:00 hours, but you can view and photograph it outside at any time. It is best to visit the temple early in the morning, because from 11 o'clock there is just a huge influx of tourists and it is difficult to take good photos.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to the temple is free. Photographing inside is prohibited, but you can purchase postcards with images of the interior painting of the temple.

  🚶 How to get there: the temple is located 15 kilometers from the city on Highway No.1 towards Chiang Mai (White Temple on the map). You can get to the temple from the city by bus from the old bus station for 25 baht. For more information about how to get there, follow the link with a full description.

• Blue Temple Wat Rong Suea Ten

  

  If you think that of the unusual temples in Chiang Rai there is only a White One, then you are very much mistaken. There is an even less well-known, but no less unusual Black temple Baan Dam, and relatively recently, in 2016, there was another Blue or Blue temple Wat Rong Sua Ten (Wat Rong Suea Ten). He is not so "popular" and known as White, and so far is almost not found in guidebooks and travel brochures. The Blue temple is not as large-scale and, perhaps, not as unusual as the White and Black ones, but it will definitely leave impressions. Its architect is the artist Putha Kabkaew (Phuttha Kabkaew, also known under the pseudonym Sala Nok), a student of the famous Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, the one who created the famous White Temple. Read more about the Blue Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: From 07:00 to 20:00, seven days a week.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located on the outskirts of Chiang Rai, three kilometers from the center, i.e. from the night market area and the old bus station (Blue temple on the map). You can even get there on foot, and a taxi ride through the Grab or Bolt applications will cost from 80 baht (2.4 USD)

• The Black Temple and the Baan Dam Museum

  

  Despite the well–established name, this landmark is not exactly a temple. You can describe this place as an exhibition or an open-air museum. On the territory of the exhibition, Thai artist Thawan Duch created 40 houses in traditional styles. Some of them are made and reflect Balinese and Burmese architecture, in some the artist exhibited his paintings and sculptures made of all kinds of materials, including animal bones. According to some versions, the White temple seems to represent paradise, and the black one represents hell. Anyway, the place is very interesting and deserves a visit, and what it represents there, decide for yourself when you visit it. Read more about the Black Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 09:00 to 17:00, seven days a week.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 80 baht (2.4 USD)

  🚶 How to get there: located 10 kilometers from Chiang Rai in one of its suburbs (Black Temple on the map). It is most convenient to go here by rented transport or taxi, you can even come by bike. It will not be difficult to get there by public transport for just 20 baht. To do this, come to the bus station in the center of Chiang Mai and ask other passengers or staff there how to get to Black Temple, they will help you find the right Songthaew minibus. Read more at the link with the full description.

• Wat Phrathat Doi Khao Kwai Mountain Temple

  

  This temple is not particularly known among the guests of Chiang Rai, but we can safely call it one of the most picturesque and interesting in the city. The fact is that it is located on the very top of a hill with a height of more than 500 meters, and from the temple site there are cool views of the green surroundings of Chiang Rai. In addition to the views, this temple is notable for something else: according to legend, the mythological creature Sihuhata was discovered here, whose sculpture menacingly looks at Changrai from a hill. Sihuhata is a four–eared and five-eyed god, somewhat outwardly resembling a cat or a tiger, bringing wealth and prosperity. He is revered by players and those who are looking for luck in promotions. It is said that it helps vision and clear understanding. Read more about the Black Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 05:00 to 19:30, seven days a week.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, donations are welcome.

  🚶 How to get there: Phratat Doi Khao Kwai Temple is located on a mountain near Chiang Rai, five kilometers from the city center (Wat Phrathat Doi Khao Kwai on the map). You can get here by taxi, but it is reached by a very steep climb, so not every taxi driver agrees to go here at the price calculated by the Grab or Bolt applications, you may have to negotiate a payment of 150 baht (4.5 USD). Or you can drive to the foot of the hill and then walk 25 minutes with a climb of 120 meters. It is not a problem to get here by rented transport, there is a free spacious parking area upstairs.

• Wat Huay Pla Kang Temple

  

  As we always say in our guidebooks, every temple in Thailand is unique in some way, and this one is also special. It is the largest temple complex in the city and in the entire province. It impresses with its scope and architecture. The Chinese style and the traditional architecture of the kingdom of Lanna are mixed here, and all this in such hypertrophied sizes that in good weather it can be seen tens of kilometers away. It is very easy to recognize him from afar by the huge statue of Guan Yin, which sits in a lotus position on a hill. This is the largest statue of this goddess in Thailand, 79 meters high. This is a modern temple, it began to be built in 2001. Today this place has turned into a large complex for believers, and attracts a huge number of tourists. For its inspection, tourists are even driven here on electric car trailers, but, of course, it is easier and more interesting to get around everything on foot. Read more about Wat Huay Pla Kang Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 07:00 to 21:30, seven days a week.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, lift lift in the statue - 40 baht.

  🚶 How to get there: located near Chiang Rai, seven kilometers from the city center (Wat Huay Pla Kang on the map). You can get here by taxi or rented transport. Grab and Bolt applications work, the trip will cost from 100 baht (3 USD)

• Monument to King Mengrai (King Mengrai the Great Monument)

  

  The monument to King Mengrai (King Mengrai the Great Monument) is a very revered place among locals, although for foreign tourists it is just a monument to some little-known historical character for them. But in fact, the importance of the King for the formation of Thailand is difficult to overestimate.

  There is a small park and a monument to the king, made in the form of a statue and a large golden "trident", there are always fresh flowers and offerings. Locals come here to pray and pay homage to their revered hero. Read more about the Monument to King Mengrai here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: monument on the map of Chiang Rai

• Clock tower

  

  In the heart of Chiang Rai there is a new modern symbol of the city – the clock tower. It was built in Thai style by the famous Thai architect Ajarn Chaloemchai, the one who worked on the White Temple Wat Rong Kun. The tower was built very recently, in 2008, in honor of the current king of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej, known as Rama IX. You can't miss this tower in any way, because it is located at a roundabout on the main road of Chiang Rai. During the day it sparkles with gold, and at night it is beautifully illuminated in different colors.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the city center near the old market and the night market clock tower on the map of Chiang Rai

• Tung Garden and the museum of 30 costumes

  

  It's not really a garden, but rather a theme park. There is nowhere to walk here, and it does not differ in beauty. But you can see something. There are several interesting sculptures here, but the most interesting thing is to visit the museum of 30 national costumes. The museum is made in the form of a large wooden house, and mannequins of local nationalities in national costumes are exhibited in it. In addition, there are household items and other exhibits. Moreover, the entrance to this museum is completely free.

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: during daytime.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: Tung Garden and Museum on Chiang Rai map

• Chiang Rai Night Market (Night Bazaar)

  

  The main place around which the evening tourist life in Chiang Rai flows is the night market near the old bus station of the city. With the arrival of darkness, active trade begins here, there is an excellent food court, several cafes and restaurants, street fast food is sold. The assortment of the market is represented mainly by goods for guests of the city. These are all kinds of souvenirs, food, some clothes. The market itself is very interesting, and you can buy very rare and unusual souvenirs on it. We have visited dozens of similar night markets in Thailand, but for some reason the night market in Chiang Rai has sunk into my soul the most. In general, if there is anywhere to go in the evening in Chiang Rai, then definitely here. Learn more about Chiang Rai Night Market here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: daily from 18:00 to 24:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the heart of the tourist part of the city in a few minutes walk from the old bus station (Chiang Rai Night Market on the map). Almost any hotel in the central district can be reached on foot, a taxi ride from 60 baht (approximately 1.8 USD)

• Saturday Night Market

  

  This is another place in addition to the daily night market, where you can and should go in the evening if you are lucky enough to be in Chiang Rai on Saturday. During its operation, several streets are closed to traffic here at once, a stage is set up on the square in front of the city park, and the weekly fun begins. As always, in the center of everything there is a large street food court, countless fast food stalls, and kilometer-long rows of sellers of consumer goods, handicrafts, souvenirs. Local folk ensembles and artists perform on the stage, and the funniest guests of the city join the general dances. In general, it's very fun and cool, and this is even a reason to come to Chiang Rai on Saturday. Learn more about Chiang Rai Saturday Night Market here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: Saturdays from 16:00 to 24:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: works in the city center on Thanalai and Wisetwiang streets (Chiang Rai Saturday Night Market on the map). Almost any hotel in the central district can be reached on foot.

• Temple of the Emerald Buddha Phra Kaew (Wat Phra Kaew)

  

  This temple, also called Bamboo Forest Monastery, is one of the most important temples of Chiang Rai and all of Thailand in general. It is famous for the fact that in the XV century the famous statue of the "Emerald Buddha", the one that is currently on display in the temple on the territory of of the Royal Palace in Bangkok, was found walled up here in one of the stone stupas. The temple is also interesting because it is practically buried in greenery, as if it is in a forest. Nearby, in a wooden two-story building, there is a temple museum, which can be visited for free. Read more about the Temple of the Emerald Buddha Phra Kayu here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: The temple and the museum are open from 07:00 to 18:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located within walking distance from the city center (Phra Kayu Temple on the map of Chiang Rai)

• Temple of Phra Sing (Wat Phra Sing)

  

  This, in our opinion, is the second most important among the historical temples of Chiang Rai after temple of the Emerald Buddha Wat Phra Kaew. And both temples, by the way, are only a few minutes walk from each other, so you can and should see both of them. The importance of the Phra Singh temple for the faithful of Thailand is difficult to overestimate. The fact is that in the past there was kept a very important statue of Buddha Guatama, the second most important after the famous emerald Buddha. This is a statue of a Golden sitting Buddha with a height of 79 centimeters. In general, strictly speaking, this statue is made of bronze with gilding, but this does not at all beg for its significance, even despite the fact that in Thailand there are other statues of Buddha made of gold much larger and heavier than this one. It's all about the history of its origin. Read more about Phra Sing Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: the temple is open from 08:00 to 17:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located within walking distance from the city center (Phra Singh Temple on the map)

• Wat Klang Wiang Temple

  

  This is one of the oldest temples in Chiang Rai, it is more than 560 years old. Located in the heart of Chiang Rai and stands out with an abundance of red and wood in the interior. It is made in classical Thai architecture in the style of the kingdom of Lanna. It was built in 1432, and was originally called Wat Cahantalok in honor of the red sandalwood tree Chan Ding, growing on the temple grounds. Although it is not among the unusual and especially significant ones that are definitely worth visiting in Chiang Rai, but if you are walking around the city center, be sure to look here. Read more about Phra Sing Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: the temple is open from 08:00 to 20:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the heart of Chiang Rai on one of the main streets (Klang Wiang Temple Wat Klang Wiang on the map)

• Wat Mung Muang Temple

  

  Another one in a series of important and ancient temples of Chiang Rai. It is believed that it appeared before the formation of the city in 1262, founded by Mengrai the Great. Locals believe that the temple protects the city, and an amazing story really happened in it: during the Second World War, the city was bombed, and 8 shells fell on the territory, but none of them worked, the temple survived. Read more about Ming Muang Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: the temple is open from 08:00 to 20:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the heart of Chiang Rai near the city market (Mung Muang Temple on the map).

• Wat Ming Muang Temple

  

  This is a very beautiful ancient temple, which is usually bypassed by tourists, but in vain. It was founded in the XIII century by Queen Ta La Mae Sri, the wife of King Mengrai the Great, the founder of the city of Chiang Rai. Unfortunately, nothing more could be found out about his story, but it was very interesting to visit him. Its architecture and elements are somehow inexplicably different from other city temples, they breathe antiquity. Although, of course, it can be seen that the temple has been rebuilt many times. Inside the viharna there is a painting of the founder of the temple. And yet, to the left of the main entrance to the temple there is a monastery building, be sure to climb to its roof. Read more about Ming Muang Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 08:00 to 20:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: Located in the heart of Chiang Rai(Ming Muang Temple on the map).

• Tribal Museum (Hilltribe Museum and Education Center)

  

  This museum is highly recommended to visit before you go to get acquainted with the local exotic tribes in their settlements. The exhibition is not very rich, but informative. It includes household items, clothing, models of tribal dwellings, etc., with very detailed explanations in English. There are video terminals where you can watch videos on the topic in different languages. Here you can learn something interesting about each of the tribes and, finally, choose which one will be more interesting for you to visit. The museum staff is always ready to help and will be happy to answer your questions about the tribes.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: from 08:30 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - day off.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 50 baht (1.5 USD)

  🚶 How to get there: located in the city center, you can get to it on foot (tribal museum on the map of Chiang Rai).

Attractions in Chiang Rai Province

• Golden Triangle (Sop Ruak)

  

  The center of the Golden Triangle, called Sop Ruak, is located about 80 kilometers from the city of Chiang Rai. This is the confluence of the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar on the river and is usually the culmination of most excursions to Chiang Rai Province. Although, according to many travelers, the center of the Golden Triangle is not at all interesting and it is just a "trap" for tourists, our opinion is that it is simply impossible not to look here, since you have climbed so far. And there is something to see here. Stopping for a few days for excursions is not worth it here, it will be enough to stop by for a few hours as part of a group excursion or on your own. There are two opium museums, a statue of a giant Buddha in a boat, an ancient temple with a viewing point on the Golden Triangle, and you can visit the Lao island of Don Sao. Read more about the Golden Triangle here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  Entrance fee / ticket price: visiting the Golden Triangle is free if you get here on your own, excursions from Changrai cost from 1000 baht, from Changmai from 1500 baht.

  🚶 How to get there: The Golden Triangle is located in the far north of Thailand on the border of Changrai province, 80 kilometers from the provincial capital (Golden Triangle on the map). You can go here for one day by rented transport from Changrai, with excursions from Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, and you can also come by bus with an overnight stay in the village, there are several hotels here. For more information, follow the link with a full description.

• Villages of mountain tribes

  

  The villages of the northern tribes are perhaps the most famous tourist attraction in northern Thailand and one of the "business cards" of the region, one might say a local tourist brand. And that's why most travelers go to the north in the hope of seeing with their own eyes and taking photos of the tribes of long-necked Karen or Khmonog dressed in colorful clothes, which official advertising guidebooks attract here. But, unfortunately, the times of real tribal villages are already a thing of the past, there are almost none left, civilization has come everywhere. Almost all the villages that are shown to tourists today are a tourist show and commerce. They no longer wear traditional clothes in everyday life, and wear rings around their necks only in front of tourists. We told you more about the ethnic villages of the tribes in the north of Thailand here ...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: during daytime.

  Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to tribal villages is paid, 300-500 baht (approximately 9-15 USD, see Thailand's currency and exchange rate). Excursion with a visit to villages from Chiang Rai with transport – from 600 baht (approximately 18 USD), more complex trekking tours - from 2000 baht (approximately 60.01 USD).

  🚶 How to get there: The easiest way to visit villages is with excursions, which are sold in almost every travel agency on the street and in hotels. There are simple minivan tours from 600 baht, but there are also more serious trekking tours to visit more natural and distant villages. For more information, follow the link with a full description.

• Elephant nurseries in Chiang Rai

  

  Everyone knows the elephant farms in the neighboring province of Chiang Mai, and most often when they talk about such places in the north of Thailand, they automatically mean Chiang Mai right away. However, in Chiang Rai province there are several elephant nurseries where you can get acquainted with these animals, which are considered sacred in Thailand. There are 2 elephant camps located here, which are positioned as non-tourist places where animals are rescued, and you can visit them to look after them as a volunteer. But, of course, there is no way to do without traditional elephant riding, because this is the most popular service among tourists, and farms somehow need to earn money. Learn more about elephant nurseries in Chiang Rai here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to the elephant nursery for photographing – from 150 baht (approximately 9 USD), elephant riding - from 300 baht. Half–day tour with transport from Chiang Rai - from 1800 baht (approximately 54.01 USD), for a full day from 2000 baht (approximately 60.01 USD). Volunteering and training are possible for free, but for this you need to contact nurseries and negotiate.

  🚶 How to get there: There are a lot of elephant nurseries in Chiang Mai, but not in the city itself, they are scattered around the province in different places. You can see nurseries on the Google map, you will also see reviews about them there. If you rent a transport, you can come to the selected nursery yourself and pay the entrance fee on the spot. In the city, every travel agency sells ready-made day trips.

• Pong Phra Bat Hot Springs

  

  These natural hot springs are located 15 kilometers from the center of Chiang Rai in the park of the same name. It is best to get here by your own transport, for which a parking area is provided. Access to sources is paid: 20 baht in the communal pool, 70 baht in an individual room, 130 baht for two in an individual room. And you can steam your legs for free. Also here you can buy eggs and boil them in natural boiling water, it costs 20 baht for a basket of 3 eggs. Learn more about Pong Phra Bat hot springs here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 08:00 to 18:00.

  Entrance fee / ticket price: admission is free, swimming in the communal pool is 20 baht (0.6 USD), bathing in an individual room – 70 baht (2.1 USD), an individual room for two 120 baht (3.6 USD), foot pool – free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: Pong Phra Bat Hot Srpings are located 15 kilometers from the center of Chiang Rai (Pong Phra Bat hot springs on the map). You can only get there by your own transport, public transport does not go here.

• Pa Tueng Hot Springs (Huay Hin Fon)

  

  Pa Tueng Hot Springs also called The Hot Spring in Mae Chan, as well as Pon Nam Rong Hot, and also Huai Hin Fon are located in the north of Chiang Rai Province near the town of Mae Chan. It is quite far from Chiang Rai, the distance is 35 kilometers, and it may not be worth going here on purpose. But if you move this way into the mountains towards the villages of mountain tribes, north to the border town Maesai and to The Golden Triangle, or travel along the northern road from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai via Taton and Fang, then it is necessary to come here. There is no communal pool, but there is a free foot pool. And for a full bath, there are separate individual cabins worth 100 baht. And here it is absolutely possible and necessary to buy a wicker basket with chicken eggs, and boil them in natural boiling water. Read more about Pha Soet hot springs here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 09:00 to 20:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to the territory is free, use of the foot pool is free, bathing in an individual cabin is 100 baht/person (3 USD), or 90 baht /person in a booth for 2-4 people.

  🚶 How to get there: Pa Tueng Hot Springs are located 35 kilometers north of Chiang Rai (sources on the map). It is most convenient to get here by rented or private transport, but there are also buses between Chiang Rai and Taton, and they pass by the springs.

• Hot Springs Pha Soet Hot Spring

  

  Along the road from Chiang Rai on the left bank of the Kok River are the hot springs of Pha Soet Hot Spring. This is a place equipped and organized for taking hot therapeutic baths and relaxing. The territory is equipped and ennobled. You can swim in the communal pool, rent a personal room, cook chicken eggs in the water of hot springs in a special pool. And you can just walk around the beautiful and well-groomed territory. It is quite far to go from Chiang Rai to here, but not far from here are the waterfall and the Akha Hill House camp, the Huay Mark Liam hot springs, as well as the elephant camp. So if you are going to these places, it will be very pleasant to drop by along the way and relax in these springs. Learn more about Pha Soet hot springs here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: From 07:00 to 17:00.

  Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to the territory is free, swimming in the communal pool is 30 baht (0.9 USD); private room for one person – 80 baht (2.4 USD); private room for two – 100 baht (3 USD), the use of a foot pool is free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: located 25 kilometers from the center of Chiang Rai(sources on the map). You can get here only by private or rented transport or taxi, no public transport goes to these places.

• Hot springs Huay Mark Liam (Huai Mak Lium)

  

  Located on the territory of the national park Lam Naam Khok National Park on the banks of the Kok River. This place is well equipped, the territory is well maintained, houses for hot baths have been built. In general, this is something like a wellness or a campsite in our way. Near the springs you can even ride elephants, and here you can stay overnight or even pitch a tent. But the hot spring itself is one common pool, rather even a small lake, with very hot water, in which you can just cook. Ie, it is more of a natural attraction for a walk, and not at all a place to receive hot treatments. Learn more about Huay Mak Liam hot springs here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: access to the nationalpark and to the spring from 08:30 to 16:30.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 25 kilometers from the center of Chiang Rai, you can only get here by your own transport (Huay Mark Liam Hot springs on the map). You can go along one of the routes on the right or left bank of the Kok River, both roads are in good condition.

• Mae Chan Hot Springs (CLOSED)

  On the "people's maps" in the Maps Me, OSM and other similar applications in the northern part of the province, a place with Mae Chan Hot Springs is marked, it is just a couple of kilometers from the Pa Tueng springs (Mae Chan Hot Springs on the map). We visited this place, and, unfortunately, found that everything there was abandoned and blocked. Perhaps there really were once equipped hot springs, and apparently even a hotel, but as of 2024 there is nothing. Perhaps, like many other interesting places in the north, these springs did not survive the pandemic period. But next to them there are working Pa Tueng Hot Springs.

• Pong Phra Bat Waterfall

  

  This small waterfall is located in the immediate vicinity of Chiang Rai on the territory of Lamnamkom National Park, and it is unlikely to surprise you with its scale and scope. It is quite small, the height of its main threshold is at most two meters. But interesting here is not only and not so much the waterfall itself, as the path to it, which passes through the rainforest of the protected national park. Moreover, unusually, the entrance here is free. After all, in most other national parks of Thailand, the entrance for foreigners is 200-300 baht. Learn more about Pong Phra Bat waterfall here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 08:00 to 16:30.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located about 20 kilometers by road from the center of Chiang Rai (Pong Phra Bat waterfall on the map). You can only get there by your own transport, public transport does not go here. At the entrance to the route, you need to register in the visitors' log, and then follow the signs and the trail 1200 meters to the waterfall, which will take 30-60 minutes.

• Huay Kaew Waterfall

  

  This small beautiful waterfall is located far from major cities (25 kilometers from Chiang Rai), and very close to Akha Hill house. It consists of two thresholds. It is full of water all year round, even in the dry season. It is very difficult to get to this waterfall, because it is located in the mountains, and only a dirt road leads to it. You can easily get lost along the way, so use the navigator and offline maps, follow strictly to the coordinates that are indicated on our map. Learn more about Huai Kai Waterfall here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock, visit during the day.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 25 kilometers from Chiang Rai in a mountainous wooded area (Huay Kaew Waterfall on the map). As far as we know, group tours are not carried here, and you can't get there by taxi either. Therefore, you can get here only by rented transport or with a guide by transport by agreement.

• Camp-Akha Village and Akha Hill House Guesthouse

  

  There is one interesting place 25 kilometers from Chiang Rai that could rather be attributed to hotels or to a separate resort in Chiang Rai province. This is a special village of the Akha tribe. Rather, it is not really a village, but, one might say, a tourist camp, which was formed on the basis of the village. There are several guest houses, a camping area, a waterfall, tea plantations and mountains, all in one place. The center of all this is the Akha Hill House guesthouse (just do not confuse this place with the Akha Hill House Hotel, which is located within the city of Chiang Rai). The village even has its own website http://www.akhahill.com. Here you can stay in a bungalow like a village house and spend a few days in the atmosphere of a tribal village of northern Thailand. Around the camp within walking distance are: Huay Keaw waterfall, villages of other tribes, tea plantations, hot springs, elephant camp. Excellent trekking tours to the jungle with overnight stays are organized from here. Read more about the village of Akha here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 25 kilometers from Chiang Rai in a mountainous wooded area (Akha Hill House on the map). As far as we know, group tours are not carried here, and you can't get there by taxi either. Therefore, you can only get there by rented transport or with a guide by agreement. A transfer here can also be arranged from the guest house. For more information about the way here, follow the link with a full description.

• Wat Tham Phra Cave Temple

  

  There are many temples in Chiang Rai, all interesting and beautiful in their own way. But this Wat Tham Phra or Buddha Image Cave Temple is unique among all. This is the largest, and perhaps the only real cave temple in the entire province, at least we have not met any other such large-scale ones here. Wat Tham Phra is not just a temple, but also an important historical place for the people of Thailand. In 1926, King Rama VII Prachadipok, the last absolute monarch of Siam and the first constitutional monarch, visited here. The visit of the king is of great importance to the locals, as the royal dynasty is especially revered here. Every year in May, many believers come here to hold a traditional ablution ceremony. Read more about the Wat Tham Phra cave temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 06:00 to 18:30.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in a small mountain Pra Cave (at least so marked on the map) on the outskirts of Chiang Rai, 8 kilometers from the center (Wat Tham Phra Cave Temple on the map). You can only get here by taxi or rented transport.

• Tham Wai Cave

  

  This place is not for every tourist, but only for lovers of little-known places. To be honest, it is difficult to call it even a tourist attraction: there is no information about the history, values, and nothing is known at all. Moreover, some locals and tourists even believe that this cave and cave temple have long been gone. But we went to the place and made sure that everything was there. Learn more about Tham Wai Cave here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in a small mountain Pra Cave (at least so marked on the map) on the outskirts of Chiang Rai, 7 kilometers from the center (Tham Wai Cave on the map). You can get here only by taxi or rented transport.

• Mon River Cave

  

  This is a small and not particularly interesting through cave, its length is 50 meters. It is located in a rock on the outskirts of the Pra Cave mountain. You can walk through it in full growth, but you won't see anything interesting except darkness, humidity and mosquitoes. You can only drop by here for fun on the way to Tham Wai cave and the cave Wat Tham Phra temple. Learn more about Mon River Cave here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: located in a small mountain Pra Cave (at least so marked on the map) on the outskirts of Chiang Rai, 7 kilometers from the center (Mon River Cave on the map). You can get here only by taxi or rented transport.

• Cave temple in the mountain Phra Cave

  

  To be honest, we do not know the exact name of this cave temple and have not found any mention of it anywhere, but perhaps this cave is part of the Wat Tham Phra cave temple complex, which is located in the same mountain, but on the other side about a kilometer from here. Although it is not even among the famous attractions, in our opinion it is still worth a visit, especially if you are a fan of various little-known and non-tourist places. It may not be worth going here on purpose, but complete with two more little-known caves and a large Wat Tham Phra cave temple in this mountain, this is quite a good place for a short trip from Chiang Rai. Read more about the cave temple in the mountain Phra Cave here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in a small mountain Pra Cave (at least so marked on the map) on the outskirts of Chiang Rai, 7 kilometers from the center (cave temple in the mountain Phra Cave on the map on the map). You can only get here by taxi or rented transport.

• Chiang Rai Beach

  

  Surprisingly, near the city of Changrai, a thousand kilometers from the sea, there is its own beach, known among locals as a small Pattaya (Pattaya Noi). It is located on the banks of the Kok River, and it even has its own beach infrastructure in the form of cafes and restaurants, sun loungers and gazebos for recreation. The river beach itself is sandy, almost one and a half kilometers long. But, unfortunately, when we visited it for the last time again in 2024, we found that everything here was almost abandoned. As the local watchman said, everything fell into disrepair after the pandemic, when tourists disappeared. Whether it will be restored and whether this beach will "blossom" again is unknown. Write in the comments if it got better here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock, visit during the day.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: The beach is located on the banks of the Kok River on the outskirts of Changrai, 5 kilometers from the center (Chiang Rai beach on the map). You can get there by taxi or rented transport.

• Lao Island Don Sao

  

  Visiting the Lao island of Don Sao is probably the most interesting thing to do in the center of the Golden Triangle. You can get to the island by boat on the Mekong River, while you will also get a small cruise along the river with a tour of the coastal beauties (although do not expect too much from these beauties). Access to the island is carried out without obtaining a visa for all tourists without exception, for a nominal fee of 20 baht. There is not much to do on the island: there is a market of many shops where you can buy inexpensive goods and souvenirs from Laos (there are a lot of leather bags on sale, traditional tourist souvenirs, bottles with a snake on alcohol, Lao banknotes, etc.); from the post office on the island you can send yourself a postcard from the territory Laos (60 baht per stamp + 10 baht postcard); you can buy Lao beer. Learn more about the Lao island of Don Sao and how to visit it here ...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: during daytime.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to the island is 20 baht, boat rental for an hour and a half - from 800 baht (24 USD)

  🚶 How to get there: Don Sao Island is located on the opposite bank of the Mekong River from the Golden Triangle (Don Sao on the map). You can get there from the Thai side by pleasure boat from the pier next to the Big Buddha in the Boat. The boat ride lasts 1-,15 hours, costs from 800 baht for the whole boat, the price is negotiable.

• Opium Museum Hall of Opium

  

  This opium museum is the world's largest thematic opium museum, and probably one of the most interesting museums in Thailand. The museum's modernly constructed exhibition shows the history of opium, clearly demonstrates the process of production, use and consequences of taking the drug. It even has its own small opium plantation. The exposition is made using modern multimedia technologies and, according to the plans of the creators, is not only entertaining, but also informative and instructive. If you have an hour or two of extra time, you should definitely visit this place.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: from 08:30 to 15:30, Monday is a day off.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 120 baht (3.6 USD)

  🚶 How to get there: located near the center of the Golden Triangle (Opium Museum Hall of Opium on the map).

• Opium Museum House of Opium

  

  Another small opium museum is located right in the heart of the Golden Triangle. This museum is private and it is much more modest than the Hall of Opium, but it pursues the same goals and we talk about the same thing. If you did not manage to get into the Hall of Opium due to its working hours or high cost, then you can safely go here, especially since the cost of visiting it is only 50 baht, and it works daily from 7 am to 7 pm. In addition to exhibits related to the history of opium in these places, on the second floor you can see an exhibition dedicated to the life of local tribes.

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 07:00 to 18:00, seven days a week.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 50 baht (1.5 USD)

  🚶 How to get there: Opium Museum House of Opium on the map

• Giant Buddha in the Golden Triangle (Phra Chiang Saen Si Phaendin or Golden Triangle Buddha)

  

  Not far from the Opium Museum (House of Opium) and the pier of boats going on cruises to the Lao island, a giant statue of a happy or laughing Buddha sits in a boat on the banks of the Mekong River. Most likely, he is happy, considering what kind of treasure ship he is sailing on. If you go on a boat cruise, you can take a picture of the Buddha from the side of the river. In general, this place is quite interesting and ... funny. You can go on the boat and see the Buddha from all sides, but apart from that, there are several "attractions" on the boat to collect donations.

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 06:00 to 20:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, donations are welcome.

  🚶 How to get there: a giant Buddha on a boat is located almost in the very center of the Golden Triangle giant Buddha on the map.

• Wat Prathat Pukhao Temple (also Wat Phra That Doi Pu Khao) and observation deck

  

  This ancient temple is located on a hill, and is known and popular for the fact that at the top of this hill is the most famous observation deck, with the bark offering the best view of the center of the Golden Triangle – the confluence of three borders and rivers. This site is marked everywhere as the center of the Golden Triangle, and to some extent this is true, because no visit to these places takes place without being photographed from here. However, it is worth saying that the view from here is not stunning. The green mountain ranges are far away and usually hidden in a haze, and the view of the yellow water of the Mekong Rivers and the deserted island is rather dull.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: the observation deck is available around the clock, the temple is open during the day.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: Wat Prathat Pukhao Temple on the map. It is easy to climb to the site and to the temple on foot, the mountain is not so high.

• Singha Park or Boon Rawd Farm

  

  Singha Park is a huge agro–farm of giraffes, zebras and other animals in the open air in the vicinity of Chiang Rai, there are also tea plantations, flower fields, strawberry beds, gardens of exotic fruits, themed sculptures. All kinds of events are often held, for example, a balloon festival, mass bike rides, tourist exhibitions, etc. All because this farm belongs to a brewing company, yes, the one that produces the famous Singha beer. You can find out the calendar of events on the park's website.

  But even if you don't get to any festival, you can spend more than one hour on a tour of the farm. Children will especially like it here. You can take pictures with giraffes and zebras, feed them and even take care of them a little. the territory of the park is huge, and you can't overpower it on foot. But you can rent a bicycle for 100 baht /hour, 400 baht / 6 hours, or use the services of a free electric car that carries groups of tourists around the territory along a seasonal route, depending on the ripening time of certain exotic plants.

  Practical Information

  🌐 Website: https://singhapark.com/

  🕐Working hours: from 09:00 to 18:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, but you will have to pay for the rental of transport or excursion.

  🚶 How to get there: the park is located in the vicinity of the city, 12 kilometers from the center, and you can get to it by taxi, rented transport or as part of an excursion Boon Rawd Farm Park on the map. If you arrive by your own transport, you will have to leave it in the parking lot and go around the park on a rented bicycle or with an excursion by electric car.

• Mae Sai City (Maysai) and the transition to Myanmar (Mae Sai)

  

  The town of Mae Sai is the northernmost city in Thailand and is located very close to the border crossing to Myanmar. There is nothing remarkable in the city itself, but they visit it in order to photograph the "northern gate" of Thailand to Myanmar or make a one-day "excursion trip" to a neighboring country, without staying in the city itself. And, of course, this is a transit point for those who travel from Thailand to Burma. There are a couple of interesting places in the city that are worth a visit: These are Wat Phra That Doi Wao Temple and Khun Nam Nang Lagoon (Sleeping Lady Lagoon). Read more about Mae Sai here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: the city is located 60 kilometers from Chiang Rai(Mae Sai city on the map). You can take a bus from Chiang Rai from the old bus station, there are flights from Chiang Mai and even Bangkok. There are minibuses from/to the Golden Triangle. For more information, follow the link with a full description.

• Doi Tung Mountain (Doi Tung)

  

  Doi Tung Mountain is located on the way between Chiang Rai and Mae Sai. The name of the mountain literally translates as "top of the flags" or "flag peak" because of the flags that once towered here, marking the site of the construction of two pagodas. It is the highest mountain of Chiang Rai Province.

  The mountain itself is not an outstanding peak of Thailand, its height is only 1389 meters, but the sights located both on the mountain itself and on the way to its top are of considerable interest. Among them is a very important temple Wat Phra That Doi Tung, located at the very top. And on the way here, be sure to visit the royal Doi Tung Villa and the Mei Fa Luang Garden.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: You can get to the mountain by road No.1149, along which most of the attractions along this route are located. Road No. 1149 starts from Highway No. 1 near the town of Huai Khrai (the turn to 1149 is indicated by a large sign above the road). The road is not of very good quality in places, but it is possible to get to the very top, as well as to most of the attractions by motorcycle or car (Doi Tung Mountain on the map).

• Wat Phra That Doi Tung Temple

  

  This temple is located on the very top of Doi Tung Mountain and is the end point of the ascent. Initially, two stupas were built here in the 10th century, and the temple was erected around them much later. The pagodas were built in order to store the Buddha's left clavicle bone, which is still in the temple. The temple is the highest point in Chiang Rai province (1389 meters) and the most revered place in the north of Thailand. Read more about Wat Phra That Doi Tung Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 08:00 to 17:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 60 kilometers from Chiang Rai on the way to Maesai (Phra Tat Doi Tung Chiang Rai Temple on the map). You can get here only by rented transport or if you hire a taxi, it takes almost 2 hours to go one way. On the way you can stop at the Royal Villa Doi Tung (Doi Tung Royal Villa) and Mae Fa Luang Garden (Mae Fa Luang Garden). Be careful when driving: the last 15 kilometers of the way, although they pass on good asphalt, but the road is very winding, a real mountain serpentine.

• Doi Tung Royal Villa and Mae Fa Luang Garden

  

  These two attractions are usually visited together, because they are next to each other and are like a whole complex for recreation and excursions. The same complex includes the Hall of Inspiration and the Arboretum (Mae Fa Luang Arboretum). Here you can not only take a walk and see the sights, but also stay overnight at the hotel. The royal villa was built in 1990 as a gift for the ninetieth birthday of the king's mother. Now the two-storey building of the villa is open to the public for a fee. Also of interest is the very beautiful Mei Fa Luang Garden, spread over an area of 40 square kilometers. Read more about Wat Phra That Doi Tung Temple here...

  Practical Information

  🕐Working hours: from 08:00 to 17:00.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: single ticket 220 baht (6.6 USD, see currency of Thailand); individual tickets for 90 baht.

  🚶 How to get there: located 50 kilometers from Chiang Rai on the way to Maesai (Doi Tung Royal Villa and Mae Fa Luang Chiang Rai Garden on the map). You can get here only by rented transport or if you hire a taxi, it takes almost 2 hours to go one way.

• Mae Salong Village and Mountain (Mae Salong, also Santikhiri)

  

  This village is located on Doi Mae Salong Mountain. The climate in May Salong is often compared to Alpine, so it is also known as "Little Switzerland". This is not surprising, since it is located at altitudes of about 1100 meters. This is a great place to spend a couple of days in a quiet mountainous area to make trekking and hiking trips in the nearby mountains, visit tribal villages, and see tea plantations. Yes, there are really a lot of tea plantations here, and therefore Mae Salong is even called the main tea village of Thailand. The village and its surroundings are inhabited mainly by Chinese who arrived here in 1949 to hide from the communist regime. As a result, the influence of Chinese culture is very strong here. The restaurants serve Chinese cuisine, the architecture is typically Chinese, many Chinese temples have been built. Learn more about the village of Mae Salong here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: Located in the northern part of Chiang Rai Province, 50 kilometers from the provincial capital (Mae Salong village on the map). There are no direct bus routes from Chiang Rai to Mae Salong. But you can take a bus to Taton, and from Taton on Songthaew minibuses you can get there for 50 baht. And it is best to go here by rented transport.

• Chiang Saen

  

  The town of Chiang Saen is located on the banks of the Mekong River, which flows between Thailand and Laos, but there is no border crossing between the countries. And this place could have turned out to be completely unvisited by tourists, if not for its location: Chiang Saen is on the way from Chiang Rai to the center of the Golden Triangle. Despite its small size today, until 1262 the city was the capital of the kingdom of Lanna. Stopping in Chiang Saen specifically to get acquainted with its sights may not be worth it, but if you drive through the city, you can visit some of its temples and museum. Read more about Chiang Saen here...

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: located 60 kilometers by road from Chiang Rai(Chiang Saen on the map). You can get here from Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai by buses that run frequently during the day. There are departures from Chiang Rai every 15 minutes from the old bus station from the city center. You can also get from Mae Sai by minibus.