Chiang Rai - how to get there, what to see, where to stay

Holidays in Chiang Rai and why to go here

Chiang Rai (also Bang Pla Soi, Mueang Chiang Rai) is a city in the north of Thailand and the capital of the province of the same name. It is the northernmost among the major cities of Thailand, located near the border at the confluence of the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar near the famous "The Golden TriangleIt is located 785 km north of Bangkok and 155 km northeast of Chiang Mai. The city is the main commercial center in the Golden Triangle area. The population is 200,000 people.

Chiang Rai city was founded by King Mengrai of the kingdom of Lanna in 1262 as the capital, which it was until 1281, until it was moved to the city of Lamphun. Then Chiang Rai was conquered by the Burmese, and only in 1786 King Rama I entrusted Chiang Rai to Siam.

The city of Chiang Rai and the entire province, together with the "Golden Triangle", are popular among tourists due to their historical attractions. The historical past of these places is very rich, and, according to some versions, it was here that the culture of northern Siam originated and then spread to the whole country. A special "attraction" are the tribes living here, among which the most famous are the "long-necked" Karen tribe and the Akha tribe. In addition to attractions, northern Thailand is famous for its natural beauties, including picturesque mountains and fields, mysterious caves and beautiful waterfalls. A very pleasant natural attraction are the hot springs of the province. Chiang Rai is also a gateway to Myanmar (Burma), Laos and China. There is no beach holiday here.

It should be noted that Chang Rai is not the end point for visiting the Golden Triangle, which is usually the confluence of rivers and borders of three states. In order to visit the Golden Triangle, you will have to travel from Changrai by bus or with an excursion for about an hour and a half. Therefore, if you are trying to visit the city of Chiang Rai just for the sake of visiting the Golden Triangle, then perhaps you should not do this. With the same success, you can visit these places on a tourist bus from Chiang Mai as part of an excursion, and return back in the evening. A one-day excursion from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai Province with a visit to the hot springs, the White Temple, the Golden Triangle with a boat trip to the Lao Island costs about 1000 baht (+300 baht for a boat trip). Moreover, it is worth noting that the cost of the same excursions from Chiang Rai itself is usually more expensive, which is apparently due to the small number of tourists and an incomplete set of tourist groups. Therefore, in our opinion, the option of visiting only the Golden Triangle and the White Temple from Chiang Mai seems to be an excellent alternative to staying in Chiang Rai.

But if you do not want to limit yourself to visiting only the Golden Triangle and The White Temple, and are ready to fully explore this wonderful province, then welcome to Chiang Rai for a few days, and we are sure you will not be disappointed. After all, there are still very, very many interesting places in the province. In order to at least take a cursory tour of the most interesting places in the province, you should plan at least three days for it. Of course, during such a trip you will not have to spend all these days in the city, because there are many more places in the province where you can stay and spend the night along the route.

Well, I should also say a little about the daily routine in the city of Chiang Rai: at nine o'clock in the evening, almost everything in the city closes, lights go out everywhere and the city falls asleep. There is a slight revival in the evening only in the area of the old bus station and the night market, where an evening market, an open-air food court and several restaurants open. No night entertainment, except shopping at the market and dinner at one of the local eateries, can not be found here. But the atmosphere here is simply extraordinary.

So, if you have decided on an independent and detailed acquaintance with the province and the city of Chiang Rai, study the information carefully:

• How to get to Changrai and how to get around the province
• Hotels and places to stay in Chiang Rai
• Sights of Chiang Rai
• The Golden Triangle

Our interactive map of Chiang Rai will also help you plan your route. Well, if you still have questions, ask them in our chat about Thailand.

Infrastructure in Chiang Rai

A couple of times we heard the opinion from tourists that there is nothing to do in Chiang Rai and it is a village, and that in general it is a wilderness in the north. But we have heard this from people who have never been here themselves. In fact, no matter which farthest corner of this province you go to, you will find the minimum necessary infrastructure everywhere: local shops and chain supermarkets, markets, cafes and street food stalls, gas stations, hotels and state houses.

The most developed place in the province is, of course, the city of Chiang Rai. There is a transport hub, markets and shops, many travel agencies. In general, the tourist infrastructure here is well developed: you can go on an excursion to any place in the province and the whole north in general, there are car rentals, motorbikes and bicycles, there is a cool night market.

There are banks and several currency exchange offices in Chiang Rai, but the exchange rate is slightly lower than in Bangkok. Look for exchangers on the streets near the night market and the old bus station. Well, if you get here through Bangkok, it's better to change cash in advance at the airport of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (where to change money in Suvarnabhumi profitable, read here) or in the city of Bangkok itself, there is generally the best exchange rate in the country (where it is profitable to change money in Bangkok, read here).

There are, of course, ATMs for cash withdrawals, and bank cards are accepted in many shops, hotels, supermarkets. Russian Mir cards do not work at all, only Unionpay cards of only a few remaining non-bank Russian banks work. In particular, Gazprombank and Rosselkhoznadzor. But the situation may change, so keep an eye out for changes in our detailed information about money and currency in Thailand here.

Finally, as for shopping. The main place for tourist shopping in Chiang Rai is the daily night market and Saturday night market. You can buy anything there, but of particular interest, of course, are souvenirs and handicrafts made by local residents, and not factory China.

For daily shopping, there are many chain supermarkets, including, of course, the ubiquitous 7-eleven. For fruits, vegetables and other fresh products, and indeed for anything, you can go to the city market, preferably in the morning.

Hotels in Chiang Rai and where to stay

There are plenty of hotels and inexpensive guest houses both in the city of Chiang Rai and in the towns and villages of the province. Basically, all of them are focused on short-term accommodation of tourists for 1-2 nights, so there will be no problems with finding options for active travel.

The prices for accommodation here, even by Thai standards, are very pleasant. For example, a budget room for two with a fan can be rented from 300 baht (approximately 9.2), a bed in a hostel from 99 baht (approximately 3.04), and a more or less cozy room with air conditioning and a private bathroom from 600 baht (approximately 18.4).

If you are heading to Chiang Rai just to visit the "Golden Triangle" and get acquainted with the Sami popular tourist attractions in the city, then, in our opinion, it is most convenient to stay in one of the hotels in the tourist center of the city, it is within walking distance from the Chiang Rai night market and the old bus station (old bus station on the map). Then you can walk around the entire center and visit the most interesting and important city temples, a museum, and in the evening go shopping and have a delicious meal at the food court or from the stalls of the night market. It will be possible to travel to the Golden Triangle and the White Temple during the day by bus from the old bus station, rent a car or motorcycle for a trip, or buy an excursion.

Well, if you prefer a secluded holiday in the middle of nature, you can even find accommodation away from the city in the jungle or in the mountains, for example in the village of Maesalong.

You can find and book accommodation in Chiang Rai on these reliable, trusted sites or through the search form. All sites have a Russian interface and Russian-language support for travelers, reviews of real guests.

• 🛌 Search hotels in Chiang Rai on Trip.com
• 🛌 Search hotels in Chiang Rai on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru

If you want to come to Chiang Rai without booking a hotel and look for accommodation on the spot, then this is also possible. Again, it is best to start the search from the old bus station. And in any case, it's best to choose a hotel in the city closer to the bus station, since all the evening fun in the city takes place right here at the night market.

It is also not a problem to find budget accommodation on the spot and in other towns of the province if you decide to make a route with overnight stays along the way.

Weather in Chiang Rai, tourist seasons

You can visit Chiang Rai all year round. It's always warm and cozy here. But the seasons of northern Thailand have their own specifics.

Unlike the rest of Thailand, where, as a rule, there are only two seasons (rainy season and dry season), there are three seasons: cold season, hot season and rainy season. At the same time, the cold season is considered the most favorable and convenient for tourists.

Cold season. From December to February. The temperature during the day is very comfortable, but at night it may be a little cool and you will need warm clothes. Almost no precipitation falls.

The hot season. From March to May. The hottest time of the year with daytime temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees. There is little precipitation, but the air humidity is very high. What's bad, during this period there are often forest fires in the jungle and, as a result, a lot of smoke. It is recommended to avoid visiting Chiang Rai during this period.

Rainy season. From June to November. The temperature is quite comfortable, but at this time there is a lot of precipitation. Fortunately, the rains, as a rule, are short-lived, though abundant. Maximum rains occur in July and August. If you are planning a trip during this period, please note that heavy rains can make serious adjustments to your route.

Festivals in Chiang Rai, when is the best time to go

• "Loi Krathong" (Loi Krathong) – is held on the full moon in November. Thousands of people annually launch boats made of banana leaves and decorated with flowers and candles into the water to pay homage to the God of Water.
• "Songkran" (Songkran) – is held in early-mid-April during the celebration of the Thai New Year. The festival is characterized by a variety of religious and traditional entertainment, as well as universal dousing with water.
• Flower Festival is a three—day festival held annually on the first weekend of February. Parades, traditional dances, and a beauty contest are held during the festival.

Seasons in Chiang Rai by month*

Current Chiang Rai weather and forecast

Time in Changrai

The time difference between Chiang Rai and Moscow is +4 hours in winter and summer.

How and how to get to Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai City and province is located in the north of Thailand on the border with Laos and Myanmar, 800 kilometers from Bangkok (Chiang Rai on the map). There is an airport to which there are many flights from Bangkok, but there are no direct flights from other countries. Chiang Rai is also connected by many bus routes to other cities of the country, and this is the cheapest way to get here. There is no railway here, but you can take a train to Chiang Mai or Lampang, and change to a bus there.

Here are brief instructions on how to get to Chiang Rai:

• From Chiang Mai – direct buses run every hour during the day, 4-5 hours on the way, cost from 300 baht. You can also take a taxi, which will cost about 2000 baht.
• From Bangkok – planes from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports; buses from Mo Chit station every hour of the day. You can also take the train to Chiang Mai, then take the bus to Chiang Rai.
• From Pattaya – there is a passing Rayong-Chiang Rai bus, or you can take a bus to Chiang Mai and change there, or through Bangkok by plane or bus.
• From Phuket – there are direct flights once a day. Or with a transfer in Bangkok by train (from Surat Thani), bus, plane.
• From Kanchanaburi – there are direct buses 2-3 times a day to Chiang Mai, there is a transfer to Chiang Rai.
• From Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Phitsanulok – trains at least 5 times a day to Chiang Mai, there is a bus transfer to Chiang Rai.
• From Hua Hin, Surat Thani, Koh Samui, Phangan Island, Tao Island – by plane, train (from Surat Thani or Chumphon), or bus to Bangkok, where you can transfer to a direct plane or bus to Chiang Rai.

Detailed instructions about all the ways how to get to Chiang Mai here...

Transport and what to use to get around

Public transport in Chiang Rai is poorly developed, or rather, there is practically none here. You can travel on foot, by tuk-tuks, Songthaew route taxis and car taxis, rent transport. You can also meet bicycle rickshaws, but this is already a rarity and more expensive entertainment than a real way to get around here.

But, fortunately, to move directly around the city itself, you may not need transport at all, since the tourist center is not very large and you can walk around it slowly.

For tourists who have stayed in the city of Chiang Rai for a few days, city tours are organized on a special tourist car with visits to the main attractions of the city. Such a tram departs from the Memorial to King Mengrai, and you can buy tickets for such an excursion in hotels.

To travel around Chiang Rai province, the ideal solution would be to rent a motorcycle, a car or hire a guide with a car. In principle, you can travel all over the province by bus + minibus, but at the same time you will have to spend a lot more time.

You can rent a motorcycle in Chiang Rai at every corner. Ask about it at the reception of the hotel, they will arrange for you. If you want cheaper, look for yourself on the street. The price for renting a motorcycle starts from 250 baht, but you can bargain if you take it for a few days.

To drive a car in Thailand, tourists now theoretically do not need to obtain an international driver's license (IDP). On May 1, 2021, the long-awaited event finally took place - Thailand ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which it initially joined back in 1968. And now in Thailand, theoretically, it is possible to manage rented transport using ordinary Russian rights. However, so far there has not been a practice in the country of adopting national IDUs on the roads by police officers, therefore, so that you do not have to prove your case every time, we still recommend that you additionally issue an IDU. For more information about renting a transport in Thailand, read here.

The cost of renting a car in Chiang Rai starts from 800 baht when booking for a few days, and this is one of the lowest prices in the country that we have met. You can book a car for rent on these price comparison sites from different rental companies:

Finally, if you do not drive a car or motorcycle, and you want to see the city and the province without excursions, then it is quite realistic to go around the entire region by public transport. Cities and villages are connected here by a good network of intercity buses and minibuses, so you can easily get to Maisai, Chiang Saen, the Golden Triangle, Taton (but this is Chiang Mai province), as well as visit many of the attractions. We have written more about this in our guide to the sights of Chiang Rai.

In Chiang Rai, most of all buses in the province depart from the old bus station in the city center. They are sent quite often, so you can just come to the bus station and wait for the next flight without taking into account the schedule. But still keep in mind that if you need to get to some remote corner of the province, for example, to the village of Mae Salong with a transfer via Taton, it is better to start the journey in the morning so as not to get stuck somewhere along the way on transfers.

Another conditional bus station is located next to the city market on Uttarakit Street. This is the final urban and suburban minibuses Sonthaew or Baht Bus. Unfortunately, we do not have information about flights and routes from it, you will have to find out everything on the spot.

Attractions and what to see

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.

About all the sights of Chiang Rai and the provinces that we were lucky enough to visit, indicating where they are and how to get there on our own, the cost of visiting them and opening hours, we told here...

And here are some photos of interesting places in Chiang Rai that we visited. We hope they will intrigue you, and you will definitely come here, and our detailed guide will help you on your journey.