Chiang Rai is a small town for relaxing and relaxing holidays. It is home to some of Thailand’s most famous temples, and there are several authentic villages in the surrounding area. This area will appeal to those who are tired of the bustling streets of Bangkok and the nightlife of Phuket.
General information
Chiang Rai is a city located in the north of the country, almost on the border with Myanmar and Laos. The area is famous for its sights, and, first of all, the White Temple.
This is an amazing place for Thailand, because in addition to Thais and Chinese, small peoples also live here: Akha, Karen, Lisu and Miao. For centuries, Chiang Rai was the main city of the Lanna Kingdom, but the territory was occupied by the Burmese, and later annexed to Thailand. At the beginning of the 20th century, the city became the capital of the province of the same name. Today, about 78,000 people live here, and in the region — about 200 thousand.
Attractions
Since Changrai is a small city, there are few attractions here, and many interesting places are located in neighboring localities. Chiang Rai is worth seeing:
White Temple
The White Temple is one of the grandest and most impressive complexes in Thailand. Here you can see amazing carved sculptures made of alabaster and mirror mosaics. Most travelers come to the north of the country precisely in order to see this attraction. You can read more about it here.
Blue Temple
The Blue Temple is one of the best not only in Chiang Rai, but also in Thailand according to tourists. It is a colorful and atypical sanctuary for Thais with high gilded ceilings and bright turquoise walls. The entrance to the attraction is guarded by sculptures of dragons, and tigers are depicted on the facades of the building. Traditionally, a marble statue of the Buddha is located in the center of the room. Travelers note that this is a very atmospheric and pleasant place that you do not want to leave. And even those travelers who have already been to many Asian shrines say that the Blue Temple of Chiangra managed to impress them.
It may seem incredible, but the new temple was built on the ruins of the old one in just one year, and, atypically for Thailand, the temple complex has many sculptures of deities belonging to other religions.
- Location: 306, Moo 2 / Rim Kok, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
- Opening hours: 09.00-17.00.
Chiang Mai in Thailand — why travelers come here
Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo)
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is a 1-hectare complex. All the buildings are made in the Thai style, and the pearl of the collection is considered to be the statue of the emerald Buddha, which was discovered by monks in 1434 near this place. In honor of the sculpture, a temple was built, which for a long time belonged only to the head of the kingdom and his family. According to the ancient Thai tradition, the rite of “dressing up” the Buddha in clothes of different colors (depending on the season) is held here 3 times a year.
Travelers who come to the temple should pay attention to the 12 golden lions sitting near the entrance to the temple, and the door panels made in the 17th century. Surprisingly, over the centuries of its existence, the attraction was able to preserve its original appearance.
- Location: 19 หมู่ที่ 1 Trairat Rd, Wiang, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand.
- Opening hours: 8.30-15.30.
Doi Mae Salong Village
Mae Salong is a small Thai village located on the border with Burma. It is located 60 km from Chiang Rai. This locality consists of a single street, where there is a market, houses of local residents, and hotels for tourists.
The main feature of the area is that it is not Thais who live here, but Chinese people who once fled here in search of a better life. The refugees earned money in a peculiar way: they grew opium poppies and sold drugs. Only in the 80s of the 20th century, the Thai government managed to oblige local residents to grow tea and fruit instead of poppies in the fields. And the area itself received a new name – Santikiri (which, however, is used only in official documents). Now almost 80% of the village’s population is engaged in growing and collecting tea.
Today it is a very beautiful and picturesque place. The climate here is not typical for Thailand: due to the fact that the village is located high in the mountains, it can be very cold at times. In May, Salong is worth coming to buy delicious tea and enjoy exotic mountain views for Thailand.
Location: Doi Mae Salong, Thailand.
Singha Park
Singha Park is owned by a Thai beer company. A few years ago, the company started working on a large-scale project, the main goal of which was to create a recreation park for both local residents and visitors to Thailand.
Today it is a huge area of 13 km2, which is home to some of the main attractions of Thai Chiang Rai: the zoo, swan Lake, tea plantations and gardens. The symbol of this place is the sculpture of a huge golden lion, which makes it easy to navigate. Tourists note that despite the size, the territory of the park is always well-groomed: trimmed trees, no garbage and beautiful flower beds.
You can travel around the park not only on foot, but also with the help of open mini-buses. Bike rental is also available. Singha Park will also appeal to extreme athletes: there is a climbing wall and canopies. A number of cafes and restaurants can be found on site.
- Address: 99, Mae Kon, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai 57000, Thailand.
- Opening hours: 09.00-17.00.
- Official website: www.singhapark.com.
Chiang Rai Night Bazaar
Thailand is famous for its markets, because you can find anything you want, and they can also be morning, evening and even night. Chiang Rai’s most popular market opens at 18.00-19.00 and runs until midnight. All tourists are eager to get here, because there is the largest selection of souvenirs (magnets, soap made from flowers, Buddha figures, etc.), clothing, jewelry and fruit. There are also many cafes and eateries near the market, and Chiang Rai’s main square is always full of live street performers.
You should come here to experience the nightlife of Thailand, and also try Thai delicacies on the food court.
- How to find on the map: Chiang Rai Night Bazaar.
- Opening hours: 18.00-23.00.
Black House-Baan Si Dum-Baandum Museum
The Black Museum is often mistaken for a temple, although in fact it is a modern art gallery with rather specific exhibits. Numerous buildings on the territory of the complex display disemboweled snakes, decayed animal carcasses, skeletons of sheep, compositions of feathers and beaks of birds. Next to the main building is a pet cemetery and some very original sculptures. As the artist who created this museum says, he wanted to show Hell on Earth.
Despite not the most pleasant exhibits, tourists note that the museum’s premises are decorated with taste, and the black temple in Chiang Rai will be interesting for all creative people.
It consists of more than 25 buildings of local northern architecture and many buildings of applied local architecture displaying folk art, all painted black. These are the creations of local craftsmen from the past to the present. Each house is decorated with beautiful patterns of carved wood. They display large crocodile skin, snake skin, and various types of animal horns. Baan Dam Museum is a work of art that creates the imagination of the audience in many angles, as well as a collection of objects that were used in everyday life of the past.
- Location: 333 Nang Lae, อำเภอเมือง Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
- Entrance fee: 80 baht.
- Opening hours: 9.00-17.00.
Wat Huai Pla Kung Temple
Wat Huay Pla Kang is located on a mountaintop surrounded by green hills in the heart of Chiang Rai. This impressive place can be seen from afar and jyj gets even more interesting as you get closer. The pagoda is built in the Chinese style, and at the entrance there are huge colorful snakes. This Chiang Rai attraction is not very popular with tourists, as it does not have a rich history and unusual design, but it is still worth visiting the temple in order to see the huge Buddha statue located at the foot of the complex.
It is believed that anyone who prays in the temple will receive good health or money as a blessing. Since there are almost never large crowds or groups of tourists who can spoil the authentic atmosphere, visiting here really feels like a blessing.
One of the main attractions of this unusual temple is actually a huge statue outside. Often mistakenly referred to as the Big Buddha, this impressive figure is actually Guan Yin, the Buddhist ” Goddess of Mercy.” Guan Yin is an important deity in the pantheon of Mahayana Buddhism.
- Address: 553 หมู่ที่ 3 Tambon Mae Yao, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
- Opening hours: 7.00 – 21.00.
Accommodation
Chang Rai in Thailand is not a popular resort, so in comparison with other cities, there are not so many hotels and hostels here, but there are enough (about 260). But the prices here are relatively low.
The cheapest option is to stay in a room in a private house. The price will be $7-10 per day. This accommodation is suitable for travelers who want to learn more about the local culture or live near attractions.
The most budget hotel room for two will cost $13 per night. Wi-Fi and air conditioning are already included here, sometimes even breakfast. The same room in high season will cost $16-18.
Accommodation is the same in hotels 5***** with a SPA, fitness center, swimming pool and beautiful views, it reaches $350-400 per day. The most popular “average” options cost about $875-110 with breakfast included.
How to get there from Bangkok
Bangkok and Chiang Rai are 580 km apart, so it will take about 7-8 hours to get from point A to B. You can do this in the following ways:
By plane
This is the fastest and most expensive option. Its convenience lies in the fact that you can go to Chiang Rai immediately after arriving in Bangkok in Thailand. Tickets can be found on popular Internet search engines. The flight time is just over an hour. Flights are operated several times a day. The cost of a one-way trip is around $47-103.
Flights are operated from both BKK Suvarnabhumi International Airport and DMK Don Mueang Airport. the flight duration is 1 hour and 20 minutes.
By bus
The bus is the most affordable and popular way to get from one city to another. Almost all buses leaving the capital Bangkok depart from MoChit Bus Station. The ticket price varies from $20 to $24 depending on the vehicle class. The most budget bus company is Govermentbus, which is just engaged in second-class transportation. However, this does not mean that this office is worse: all buses in Thailand are quite new and have air conditioning. You can also purchase VIP or 1st class tickets. You should buy them at least an hour before the trip (depending on the time of day) at the ticket offices of the railway station.
In Chiang Rai, the bus goes to the Arcade Bus Terminal. Travel time is 11-12 hours.
You can find out the exact schedule and buy a ticket for any type of transport in the direction Bangkok-Chiang Rai on the website 12go.com.
Chiang Rai is worth a visit to see the mountains, large tea plantations and huge parks.