All the things you should learn about the very best issues to do in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Though generally ignored by travellers heading to Northern Thailand, Chiang Rai is actually not price crossing off your Thailand itinerary.

Positioned 190km and a 3-hour bus journey from Chiang Mai, it’s a metropolis stuffed with a vibrant tradition that’s assured to have you ever wishing you could possibly keep longer.

Some folks go to Chiang Rai as a day journey from Chiang Mai, however we suggest spending at the very least a couple of days right here to completely soak in all of the actions and pure magnificence on this a part of northern Thailand.

Discover temples, go to waterfalls, or store and eat native Thai meals on the Chiang Rai evening bazaar. There are such a lot of superb Chiang Rai sights to fill your time, so prepare for a tremendous journey!

Epic Issues to Do in Chiang Rai

The checklist of issues to do may very well be limitless, however listed below are the highest 20 issues to do in Chiang Rai throughout your go to.

1) Be part of the Vacationer Buzz on the White Temple

The White Temple is presumably the preferred attraction in Chiang Rai, however there’s a motive for that.

The unbelievable structure of Wat Rong Khun is like one thing out of a gorgeous Thai fairy story, and the small print might maintain you mesmerized for hours.

It’s all the time on the prime of any checklist of the highest issues to do in Chiang Rai, so don’t miss it. If folks take a day journey from Chiang Mai as much as Chiang Rai, that is often the primary attraction they arrive to see.

One of the simplest ways to test it out is by becoming a member of a tour, and this one on Klook consists of the White Temple and a go to to an area tea farm.

• Opening hours: 8 am – 5 pm
• Value: 50 baht

READ MORE: For all the very best recommendation and knowledge for journey to Thailand be sure to’ve learn by our Thailand journey information!

2) Reply Nature’s Name within the Most Stunning Public Rest room

As you permit the White Temple and make your technique to the exit, be sure to look to your proper.

You’ll see essentially the most beautiful constructing which might be simply mistaken for an additional temple altogether, however in precise reality, it’s simply the world’s most majestic public lavatory.

3) Admire 50 Shades of Blue at Wat Rong Suea Ten

Also called the Blue Temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten is one among Thailand’s newer and fewer established temples amongst vacationers.

However I’m positive it received’t keep that means for lengthy – its distinctive and fashionable design adorned with gold gildings is really breathtaking and can quickly begin attracting much more guests.

So, be sure to add the Blue Temple to your what to do in Chiang Rai itinerary ASAP!

Solely opened to the general public in 2016, the Blue Temple is stuffed with kaleidoscopic imagery depicting the lifetime of Buddha, with an enormous ceramic Buddha shrine on the far finish.

In contrast to the White Temple, you might be allowed to take photographs contained in the Blue Temple, however be sure to’re respectful.

To profit from all of the temples within the Chiang Rai province, ebook a guided tour.

• Opening hours: 7 am – 8 pm
• Value: Free (for now!)

4) Discover the Weird Grounds of Baan Dam

Chiang Rai actually has a factor for color themes, and right here’s one other – Baan Dam interprets to Black Home.

Typically mistaken as a temple, Baan Dam is a sequence of recent buildings created by artist Thawan Duchanee.

The interpretive taxidermy and occasional phallic statue might not be your cup of tea, nevertheless it’s positively in style with vacationers in Chiang Rai and makes for some attention-grabbing photographs!

• Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm
• Value: 80 baht

5) ‘All Alongside the Clock Tower’

Located in the course of a site visitors intersection in central Chiang Rai is an attention-grabbing golden construction, created by the identical thoughts behind the White Temple.

As if this golden tower didn’t stand out sufficient amongst the very extraordinary streets of Chiang Rai’s central district, each evening at 7 pm, 8 pm, and 9 pm, the clock comes alive with a programmed mild present.

There are many eating places and cafés with the clock tower in excellent sight,

To search out this, head over to the intersection of Thanon Jet Yot and Thanon Baanpa Pragarn.

READ MORE: Try the final word checklist of the greatest locations to go to in Thailand!

6) Test Out the Native Bars in Chiang Rai

One of many streets resulting in the Clock Tower in Chiang Rai is Jetyod Highway. It boasts a succession of bars run by pleasant locals, resembling Peace Home Bar and Smile Bar.

Absolutely outfitted with pool tables and native drafts on faucet, it’s the proper place to fulfill new folks and socialise with travellers and natives alike.

Individuals could not all the time consider nightlife after they go to Chiang Rai, however in the event you’re on the lookout for a great time, there are many locations to have some enjoyable!

7) Make Pals with the Locals

Chiang Rai was one among my first stops on my 2-month solo journey round Southeast Asia, so it was the proper likelihood for me to observe beginning up a dialog with folks with whom I crossed paths.

I used to be fortunate sufficient to fulfill a pleasant younger Thai man who was insistent on displaying me round – it turned out he was a certified tour information and I got here away with essentially the most cultural and off-the-beaten-path experiences.

Whereas seated at an area restaurant for dinner, I obtained chatting with a stunning man from California who had moved to Thailand a decade or so in the past.

He’d lived in Chiang Rai for a couple of years and beneficial some sights that I wouldn’t have recognized about in any other case.

Keep in mind in 2017 when the Thai boys’ soccer workforce obtained caught in a cave for 10 days?

Nicely it seems it’s not removed from Chiang Rai, and this native knowledgeable us that they’d only recently been filming a documentary about it, so he suggested it might be price visiting.

He wasn’t unsuitable.

8) Be a A part of Latest Historical past at Tham Luang Cave

‘BREAKING NEWS: All 12 boys and coach efficiently rescued from Thai cave’.

The world watched as a gaggle of 12 to 17-year-old boys and their soccer coach have been trapped in a waterlogged cave close to Chiang Rai for 18 days in June 2018.

Even with the loss of life of an ex-Thai Navy Seal trying to get to the group, the rescue mission was nonetheless dubbed as a miracle.

Little did I do know that 12 months later I’d be strolling within the footsteps of the boys, their coach, and the entire 2,000 troopers and 200 divers concerned within the rescue.

For apparent causes, the cave remains to be closed.

However a small museum and statue in tribute to Saman Kunan, the diver who died as a consequence of lack of oxygen, have already been erected.

9) Watch the Solar Rise at Phu Chee Fah

Probably an tour to overlook out on in the event you’re tight on time, however the 2-hour drive to the mountains from Chiang Rai is so extremely price it.

It’s attainable that you simply would possibly be capable to ebook a tour to Phu Chee Fah with the lodge or hostel at which you’re staying.

However within the case of wanting your individual freedom, it is likely to be price hiring a personal driver to take you – you’ll have to go away Chiang Rai at about 3 am to make the dawn.

Watching the dawn and the clouds float above the Laos border is an unbelievable view – one completely price waking up at an ungodly hour.

10) Pattern the Native Natural Tea at a Choui Fong Tea Plantation

Choui Fong Company is the most important tea provider in Chiang Rai, and its two plantations are the proper location to take a seat again and chill out, sipping a contemporary cup of tea.

The Mae Chan plantation homes a contemporary restaurant, café, present store, and terrace searching over the 1 million sq. meters of tea fields.

It’s positively the most effective issues to do in Chiang Rai!

• Opening hours: 8:30am – 5:30pm
• Entry: Free

11) Eat Your Method By way of the Chiang Rai Evening Bazaar

Close to the primary Chiang Rai Bus Terminal is a each day market open within the evenings, regardless of the climate.

Right here you’ll find handmade souvenirs, low-cost meals, and reside music carried out by native musicians.

It’s separated into two courtyards, one with a restaurant and stage, the opposite appearing as extra of a meals court docket.

The Chiang Rai Evening Bazaar gives a night of leisure in addition to alternatives to provide again to native communities, as a few of the distributors even promote merchandise on behalf of the hill tribes.

When you’ve skilled evening markets in Chiang Mai, you’ll benefit from the markets in Chiang Rai as a result of they’re smaller and have fewer vacationers, which is all the time a bonus.

• Opening hours: 6pm – 11pm

12) Benefit from the Weekend Strolling Streets

Saturday nights are when Thanalai Highway in Chiang Rai comes alive. By closing the street off for pedestrians for a couple of hours, Chiang Rai’s Saturday Strolling Avenue turns into a hub for avenue meals, regionally made garments, and different souvenirs.

• Opening hours: 5pm – 11pm

Going to overlook the Saturday Chiang Rai evening market? Haven’t any worry; San Khong Noi Highway is open to buyers on Sunday nights with an enormous choice of meals stalls, a stage for performers, and a buzzing environment. It’s one other must-see while you discover Chiang Rai.

• Opening hours: 4pm – 11pm

READ MORE: Make sure to look into the greatest issues to do in Koh Phangan while you’re on the town!

13) Uncover Chiang Rai’s Waterfalls

Chiang Rai is the proper place to take a refreshing dip after a protracted hike by the humid jungle. Some are extra accessible than others, with some not having any public transport entry.

Khun Korn Waterfall is essentially the most well-known waterfall within the Chiang Rai area, however here’s a checklist of all the very best waterfalls within the space. We’ll additionally embody the space from the Chiang Rai centre for each.

• Khun Korn Waterfall – 32km
• Huay Mae Sai Waterfall – 21km
• Huay Kaew Waterfall – 25km
• Pu Kaeng Waterfall – 65km
• Pong Phrabat Waterfall – 14km

14) Heat Up in a Scorching Spring

The closest sizzling spring to Chiang Rai’s city centre is Pong Phrabat Scorching Spring.

It’s beneficial that you could possibly mix this with a go to to Pong Phrabat Waterfall as these aren’t removed from one another.

You even have Huay Mak Lium Scorching Spring which is situated in a gorgeous picturesque forest. Sadly far too sizzling to swim in, with a temperature of 65 levels Celsius!

There are different sizzling springs located additional outdoors of Chiang Rai, resembling Fang Scorching Spring which is round a 2-hour drive from town centre.

15) Overlook All the things the Mild Touches on the Golden Triangle

An hour north of Chiang Rai is the border the place Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos all meet.

The Golden Triangle is unquestionably in style with vacationers. However in case you have an area taxi driver like I did, he would possibly take you as much as the upper viewpoint that has fewer folks and (for my part) higher views.

As Myanmar and Laos didn’t function on my journey, at the very least I might say that I caught a glimpse of them on this tour from Chiang Rai.

One other good possibility is to take a tour that features the White Temple and exploring the Golden Triangle. This one on Klook is the very best accessible in the marketplace.

16) ‘Monkey Round’ at Wat Thlam Pla

A terrific stop-off in your means again from the Golden Triangle is the Wat Thlam Pla (translating to FishTail Temple).

Don’t let the title idiot you – sure, there’s a massive pond with loads of fish swimming round.

However these temple grounds are additionally house to lots of of monkeys.

You may spot these mischievous creatures climbing the rooves of the temples and meals stalls as they attempt to sneakily steal any scraps of meals that they’ll handle to get their palms on.

(The locals aren’t scared to make use of their brooms to scare them off – however the monkeys are cussed!)

Don’t let the monkeys distract you an excessive amount of.

When you head to the left and climb round 300 steps, you’ll make it to Fish Tail Cave (the place the title really comes from).

There’s additionally Turtle Cave which is nearer the primary entrance however usually missed.

17) Wander By way of the Doi Tung Palace and Gardens

This one other the most effective issues to do in Chiang Rai.

The royal mom of King Bhumibol, Princess Srinagarindra, had this Swiss Chalet-style palace in-built 1987.

It’s open to the general public and tour guides can be found, though pictures is prohibited inside.

The grounds of the palace embody the Mae Fah Luang Backyard, a beautiful array of vibrant flowers unfold throughout 16,000 sq. metres.

• Opening hours: 7 am – 5:30 pm
• Entry: 90 Baht

18) Get Sky Excessive at Doi Tung Tree High Stroll

So, admiring mom nature from the bottom isn’t sufficient for you?

We’ve obtained you lined. For an additional 150 baht, you possibly can take to the skies and stroll amongst the bushes above the Palace grounds, overlooking the jungle.

When you’re afraid of heights or swaying bridges, it’s possible you’ll need to sit this one out. However in the event you’re up for being strapped to a harness for half an hour, it’s a enjoyable journey in Chiang Rai.

• Opening hours: 8:30 am – 5 pm
• Value: 150 baht

19) Sail alongside the Mae Kok River

Thailand is thought for its well-known longtail boats, so what higher technique to get from A to B?

The 130km lengthy Mae Kok River runs all the best way from Chiang Mai by Chiang Rai and as much as Tha Thorn in Northern Thailand.

You may catch a protracted tail boat from the Chiang Rai pier.

Costs will range relying on how far alongside the river you’d wish to be taken, and what you’d wish to see.

20) Go to Wat Phra Kaew

Final on our checklist of the very best issues to do in Chiang Rai is seeing Wat Phra Kaew. Even in the event you’ve explored all of the earlier temples in Chiang Rai talked about, don’t go away with out seeing this final one.

Wat Phra Kaew is among the oldest temples in Chiang Rai. Nobody is aware of how outdated it’s, nevertheless it was found in 1434.

Wat Phra Kaew is known for housing the Emerald Buddha, which has since been moved to the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Even with out the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew remains to be a temple price visiting in Chiang Rai.

• Deal with: 1 Trairat Rd, Wiang, Mueang Chiang Rai District,
• Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
• Price: Free

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