Explore the sights and magnificent temples of Chiang Rai! The province and city of the same name is located high in the north near the borders with Myanmar and Laos, where the famous golden triangle is located. Chiang Rai is particularly famous for its unique temples, such as the sparkling white temple Wat Rong Khun or the aesthetic blue temple Wat Rong Suea Ten. Another highlight is Wat Huay Pla Kang - a gigantic, walk-in statue of the goddess of mercy: Guanyin. From Chiang Rai, it is also worth taking a day trip to the Doi Tung National Park or to the green tea fields to the north Choui Fong. In the evening, we recommend a walk along the popular Night Bazaar, where there is plenty of street food and souvenirs to discover!
All Highlights
All highlights in Chiang Rai
Mae Salong Flower Hills
Mae Salong Flower Hills (also known as DoiMok DokMai Resort) is a beautiful mountain resort in the north of Thailand! The highlight of this accommodation is the magnificent flower garden, which makes the place truly unique. The in-house café and the fresh green tea from the adjacent tea plantation also make your stay a special experience....
Choui Fong tea plantation
The Choui Fong tea plantation is located in the north of Thailand, just under an hour's drive from Chiang Rai. This picture-book location is a popular excursion destination for all nature and tea lovers and should not be missed on any tour of northern Thailand! Due to the altitude, the fields in the north are ideal for growing various types of tea such as green and black tea. With a cultivation area of over 1,000 rai (= 1.6 square kilometers), the Choui Fong plantation is one of the largest tea producers in Thailand....
Wat Huay Pla Kang
Mistakenly known as the „Big Buddha of Chiang Rai“, Wat Huay Pla Kang embodies a giant statue of Guan Yin - the Chinese goddess of mercy; and is therefore not an image of Buddha. Behind the walk-in statue is a unique building concept of a temple that combines spirituality, purity and aesthetics. The temple is located about 8 kilometers outside the city center in a rural area. The respected monk Phra Ajarn Phob Chok had the impressive building...
Black House
The Baan Dam Museum, better known as the Black House, is another art project in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai. Contrary to expectations, this is not just a single house, but a huge complex with more than 40 individual buildings and some very bizarre exhibits. The exterior façade of the houses is uniformly kept in a dark color scheme (predominantly black and dark brown), which gave rise to the nickname „Black House“ ....
Blue Temple
The Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) is one of the most visited temples in northern Thailand. Its unique design with a bright blue exterior façade and golden decorations attracts over a million visitors every year. In Thai culture, the colors stand for purity, wisdom and the divine. The murals inside also shine in magnificent shades of blue and purple. The highlight of the Blue Temple is the large seated Buddha in the main temple hall (Viharn), whose posture symbolizes the...
White Temple
Wat Rong Kung, better known as the White Temple, is a magnificent work of art combining traditional Thai architecture with a white façade and hundreds of thousands of mirror ornaments that glitter in the sunlight and symbolically reflect the wisdom of Buddha. This spectacle of light and spirituality is truly unique in Thailand. With over one million visitors a year, the temple is now one of northern Thailand's most famous landmarks and a must-see attraction in Chiang Rai!...
Journey to Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is the northernmost province of Thailand and has its own airport. The Mae Fah Luang International Airport is located around eight kilometers north of the city center. The quickest way to get there from Bangkok would therefore be by plane, which will take you to your destination in one and a half hours. There is no train connection to Chiang Rai. An alternative from Bangkok would be by bus or minivan - these depart from the bus stop Mo Chit and reach the northern city after around twelve hours. If you are already in Chiang Mai, the journey takes around 3 to 4 hours. If you want to experience a scenic highlight, you can also take a boat trip across the Kok River from northern Tathon to Chiang Rai. The trip takes around 4 hours. If you continue along the river, you can also travel on to Laos from here. You can find all connections on 12go.asiaª.
Excursions in Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai has much more to offer than just blue or white temples. They are beautiful, no question! But if you are already in this region, you should definitely plan a trip to the north. To the north of Chiang Rai are the vast fields of the Choui Fong tea plantation. Since 1977, freshly brewed green tea and delicious matcha desserts have been offered here in the in-house café. The green tea fields are like the counterpart to the golden rice terraces - and Thailand simply has both to offer! Further north is the village of Mae Salong, which is home to a gigantic flower garden in the resort of the same name, which is even visible on Google Maps. We recommend staying here for one night, as you can enjoy a unique view of the tea plantations from the pool! A visit to the famous Golden Triangle, which lies exactly between Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, should also be on your itinerary. You can find all excursions on GetYourGuideª, Viatorª or Klookª.
