But while the younger city has become a stalwart on the itineraries of backpackers and package tourists alike, Chiang Rai remains relatively off-the-radar for most visitors to the country. Here are our recommendations for some unforgettable thrills. Feel free to contact us. Chiang Rai is easily accessible, with its own airport offering daily flights to and from Bangkok, as well as airports across Thailand and some international destinations. WHY VISIT? Thailand Weather in July: Temperatures, Best Places to Visit, Thailand Weather in August: Temperature and Best Places to Go, Thailand Weather in September: Temperature, Best Places to Visit. This is despite the fact that Chiang Rai Province has such a diversity of attractions that its capital is often overlooked. Apr 2017 Solo. Built in 1385, it is one of Chiang Rai's oldest temples and is a fine example of Lanna style. They picked great hotels and tours. It also has some amazing pictures on the wall depicting various scenes from Buddhist teachings, and the caretaker drives an old army Jeep which is often parked up outside, and worth a look!OPENING TIMES:0800-1800 Daily.COST:Free.LOCATION:Directly south from the clocktower on Jetyod road, about a five minute walk.MORE INFORMATION:Thailandee.com. Thats just one example of how far out of her way she went to make our trip easier and more enjoyable. : Original home of the most revered statue in Buddhism, The Emerald Buddha. One things for certain, its a unique and unmissable sight.OPENING TIMES:0900-1700 Daily. 2 days in Troms itinerary: visit Norways Arctic city! We found the Saturday night and Sunday night walking markets a better and more authentic experience. $174.38. Go beyond the sightseeing. Nov 2022. Located near the citys Clock Tower, on a street just off Th Phahonyothin, here youll find all manner of items, from small wooden mak-hot (Thai checkers) boards to eclectic t-shirts that even the backpackers in their fluorescent elephant trousers would consider a little garish. This message of greed is also thoroughly represented throughout the decor. Or you can see our popular Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai tours for inspiration: All the itineraries can be adjusted. This small, amiable city is worth getting to know, with its relaxed atmosphere, fine local food and good-value accommodation. travel advisor will always reply within 24 hours. It is a great example of Lanna architecture, with intricately carved wooden doors and ornate interior.OPENING TIMES:0600-1700 Daily.COST:Free.LOCATION:On Pakdeenaroung Road in thecentre of Chiang Rai, directly north of the clock tower, about a ten minute walk.MORE INFORMATION:TheRoadToAnywhere.com. Hostel: As Im sure youll have guessed, my hostel option would be Get Hi Hostel. Speaking of which, I apologize that private car is the easiest (and in many cases only) way to tick items Ive listed in my Chiang Rai travel guide. You can either spend day two entirely in the Golden Triangle, or head there early in the morning to enjoy your second sunset at Wat Huay Pla Kang, aka the massive Guan Yin statue. The Thailand Golden Triangle is one of my favorite day trips to take anywhere in the world, from the perspective into Myanmar Mae Sai offers, to the relaxed river vibe of Chiang Saen, to the Golden Triangle monument itself. Its only a small hostel, with around 16 beds and no private rooms. Wat Rong Seur Ten, known as the Blue Temple, is a much more recent addition to the spiritual scene in Rai, having opened its doors in 2016. : We stayed right beside this temple on our first visit to Chiang Rai, so visited it lots! Chiang Rai, a city with 70,000 inhabitants in Northern Thailand, is one of the country's most interesting places to visit. This should cost no more than 2,000 baht for a full-day excursion, during which you can also hike to Khun Korn Waterfall and visit sprawling Singha Park (and the White Temple, if you didnt mention to see it on your first of three days in Chiang Rai and its vicinity). Need help planning your trip to Thailand? Probably the most famous attractions in the city are the White Temple and the Black House. I wont go all existential hereIm not going to address questions like is Chiang Mai worth visiting?but I do think its important to compare these two cities. I will take you through the good, the bad, share some ideas of things to do. Pro: Chiang Mai is Cheap . Chiang Rai - Is the Village of Hill Tribes Worth Visiting? - Runaway Ann 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. Can you guess which it is? As the earth began coming into focus through the clouds, however, I felt as if I was looking upon it for the first timeChiang Rai province, and the planet. But and you know I love my controversial opinions on where I like best I think Chiang Rai is my favourite place in Northern Thailand. While there certainly are tourists in Chiang Rai, its nothing on Chiang Mai or Pai. Chiang Mai offers a more diverse selection of activities, which makes it perfect both for families, young people, and seniors. (TIP: End your sacred morning with lunch at the fabulous Chivit Thamma Da!). This is particularly the case when it comes to the Chiang Rai Black Temple. Read our Privacy Policy. Closes for lunch 1200-1300.COST: 80.LOCATION: About 12km north of Chiang Rai, just off of route 1, it will take about 25 minutes to get here. Then, youd begin the two-day boat journey, spending one night in Pak Beng before arriving in Luang Prabang, a delightful city that almost feels like it could be part of the Golden Triangle Thailand. Brian and Michelle. So we decided to go and check it out. It is well known that Kositpipat didn't want money to be a major influence in the building of the temple. It's not worth it, unless you're a hardcore fan of visiting temples and coffee. If you are looking to party hard in a crazy hostel then Chiang Rai may not be for you. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside, in which it sits in harmony. Where to Visit? Its littered with sculptures, including the incredibly creepy hands rising up from what looks like the pit of earth. Our article will tell you more about them. This Thai city is hugely underrated. >>Nightlife in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai: Nightlife is not one of the strong points of Chiang Rai, but you will always find something to do. Located in the far north of Thailand, Chiang Rai is more laidback than other more famous destinations in the country and is well worth visiting for its amazing historical attractions, delicious local cuisine, and beautiful scenery. From Chiang Rai - go straight down Phahonyothin Road towards Chiang Mai. I recommend spending no less than two full days in Chiang Rai. Located in the northern part of the country, Chiang Rai is a province that is known for its beautiful temples, stunning natural landscapes, and vibrant nightlife. So, a trip to Chiang Rai for two people costs around 16,039 for one week. Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Thailand Weather in November: Which Island to Choose, Thailand Weather in December: Best Places to Visit and Travel Tips, 11-Day Best of Thailand and Cambodia Tour, 15-Day Best of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam Tour, 6-Day Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Highlights Tour, 10-Day North India Tour (Delhi to Shimla), How to Plan Your First Trip to Thailand 7 Easy Steps, Best (& Worst & Cheapest) Times to Visit Thailand 2023 & Rainy Season, How to Plan a 3-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary. Bus Tours. Luxury Hotel:For a 5* luxury experience, check out the River House Resort. Founded in 1262 as part of the Lanna Kingdom (modern day northern Thailand), Chiang Rai was the first capital of King Meng Rais principality and today is a perfect destination for travellers looking to slow down the pace, escape to nature, and soak up the charms of Thailands smaller though sometimes equally frenetic northern city. So it is by no means dead or boring. Indeed, Chiang Rai and the adjacent Golden Triangle (where Thailand meets Myanmar and Laos) are home to some of the most enchanting scenery and culture in all of Southeast Asia. A vacation to Chiang Rai for one week usually costs around 8,020 for one person. Chiang Rai Day Tour + The Long Neck Hill Tribe & Boat Ride Heading south to Sukhothai (which, geographically if not culturally, is more part of central Thailand than the north) is just one option after finishing up in Thailands northern reaches. Click here for more details and to book. In my opinion, if you have enough time, you should definitely add 2-3 nights in Chiang Rai to your travel plan. Depending on your route, the ride should take you around two hours each way.Note: always agree on a price before renting the bike to ensure you dont pay an inflated fee upon return. In Chiang Mai, Mr Ekachai took my son snd I on an amazing trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and to visit a community Lanna home, gardens and a hands-on cooking class preparing an authentic Thai meal. If only because they often get lumped together (for some good reasons, and also some lazy ones), and because I definitely have a preference for which is better to visit between them. The spectacular golden display, carved wooden ceiling and 400-year-old golden Buddha make it well worth the visit. Chiang Rai is close to Chiang Mai, so a trip to Chiang Mai is usually combined with Chiang Rai. pace. WHY VISIT? You will find more accommodation options in Chiang Mai, but overall Chiang Rai offers the cheaper rates. It turned out that Chiang Rai was founded in 1262 by King Mengrai, the creator of Kingdom Lanna. Chiang Mai is about 146 kilometres away (i.e. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel. Is Chiang Rai Worth Visiting? - Leave Your Daily Hell For the first time in four years, the big cats have been spotted in western Thailand a positive step toward the countrys goal of increasing tiger. It is a peaceful place, with a huge golden Buddha, that stares down at you through the huge entrance doors and out to the street. 2016-2023 Asia Highlights Discovery Your Way! Doi Mae Salong (Chiang Rai) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go You can use public transit fo get from Chiang Rai to Golden Triangle. Many just take a day-trip to Chiang Rai rather than basing themselves here. Chiang Rai has three biggest highlights that you cannot experience in other cities in Thailand: Here is our sample itinerary of a 6-day Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai tour: If you are interested in the itinerary, you can get more details here. I highly recommend Asia Highlights. The restoration project and brainchild of Thai artistChalermchai Kositpipat, it is still a work in progress with the expected finish not until 2070! >>>An Ultimate 5-Day Itinerary for Chiang Mai (Cost, Best Times, Tips). This fourth edition of The Travel Book features incredible photography that illustrates each country, accompanied by a profile that includes details of when to visit, what to see and do and how to learn more about the countrys culture. >>>How to Choose Hotels in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai has a good number of hostels and hotels but there are fewer than you will find in the larger city of Chiang Mai. Is Chiang Rai worth visiting? Explore the Black House 3. The most shining example of this isCaf Chivit Thamma Da, which occupies an airy, two-story house on the banks of the Kok. 762 crazy twists and turns). Start your trip with an excursion to Wat Rong Khun, aka the Chiang Rai white temple, which is located south of town. Thailand Weather in October: Still Rain? Chiang Rai is a fairly small town and easily navigates on foot. In the end, despite the fact that I changed my mind on location multiple times, I ended up booking a 17 day trip to Thailand for this upcoming November. Scandalous, I know. In need of a breather from the thundering skyscrapers and neon mania? This is their 1st trip but I've visited BKK, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui, so would like to experience new places with them. Whether you travel from Chiang Mai to Lampang, or head to destinations that are even wilder (such as Tak and Loei), northern Thailand really only begins in mainstream spots like Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. The floating houses , railway market and elephant sanctuary were particular favourites.We had one minor glitch with the accommodation in Phuket which was immediately dealt with by Tip. Or you could just arrange a taxi for the day! Chiang Rai is a well developed but peaceful and slow-paced city in the very north of Thailand. Im talking about opium, whose former ubiquity near the point where Thailand meets Laos and Myanmar is the reason its known as the golden triangle. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. per adult (price varies by group size) Chiang Rai One Day : White Temple, Golden Triangle, Boat Ride to Laos, Long Neck. Heres How. Would not want to do it any different when we travel to Asia from now on. The quality of the food everywhere we ate was also, outstanding. 100% yes! I booked tickets to the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Nov 2022. It is located about 190 kilometers from Chiang Mai and is a particularly popular stop that should not be missed on any tour of the North of Thailand. Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable . Opened to the public in 1997, it has even survived a 2014 earthquake.OPENING TIMES: 0800-1700 Daily.COST: 50 for foreigners (this has recently changed, so any articles claiming its free are outdated).LOCATION: 15km South-West of the town centre, a bus will cost you around 20 or a taxi 250-300.MORE INFORMATION:Renown-Travel.com. :The White Temple is one of the most iconic places in Chiang Rai, and the most beautiful in the whole of Thailand. Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep. She was responsive and knowledgeable. per adult (price varies by group size) Chiang Rai One Day: Hot Spring,White Temple, Golden Triangle, Yao&Akha Hilltribe. How To Get From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai | Gecko Routes Have an Iced Drink at Betty Coffee - a great pit stop when checking out all the things to do in Chiang Rai 5. WHY VISIT? From the outside, it looks absolutely magical (as my sister vocalised when she replied to my Instagram story of it), but on the approach the temple, youll see that this is no normal magical temple. This is true for more modest properties such as Le Patta Chiang Rai, which is one of the most well-balanced places Ive ever stayed in Thailand, as well as Mora Boutique Hotel, which manages to combine five-star luxury with a down-to-earth ambiance that never feels stuffy. It is also filled with some of the most impressive temples, views and natural attractions that warrant a longer stay to be able to enjoy them properly. I wont wade anymore deeply into the Chiang Rai vs Chiang Mai debate right now, other than to say youll not only get a taste of authentic northern Thai cuisine and culture in Chiang Rai, but will be day-trip distance from some of the Kingdoms most incredibly scenery, including Golden Triangle Thailand, Mekong River and a menagerie of coffee and tea plantations. ChiangRai worth the trip? : r/Thailand - Reddit We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and had a great days out exploring the glorious White Temple, visiting a Tea Plantation with Panoramic views and travelling to the most northern point in Thailand where the borders of 3 countries meet at the Golden Triangle. The food court is right at the back. If youre more of a tea person, you could visit the Mae Salong Tea Planation, although this is neither as impressive as other tea areas in Asia (namely Malaysias Cameron Highlands and Sri Lankas Nuwara Eliya), nor as relevant to Chiang Rais sipping sensibility as coffee is. Chiang Mai is Not for Everyone. - Adventurous Kate No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Thanks Bella, for being patient explaining everything to me. When we arrived, we were met by our guide and all the details were attended to. Feast On Thai Treats at The Night Market 7. 98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+, Heather Stern Wilensky, The Saturday Walking Street Market on Th Thanalai, held between 4pm and 10pm, is an ideal place to sample some local, inexpensive street food and mingle with locals. Not to mention, when it comes to iconic places in Thailand, Golden Triangle scenery is hard to beat. Is Chiang Rai Worth Visiting? 9 Reasons Why You Should Visit Ben has lived in the UK, South Africa and Australia and has travelled extensively in Europe and Southeast Asia. Worth visit. On the other hand, my answer is pretty unequivocal. Albee went above and beyond to make our trip perfect. Pubs, bars, and specialty nights can be found throughout Chiang Mai. All our tours can be adjusted based on your needs. Yep, you heard that right. :The Black House is the lifes work of Thai artistThawan Duchanee. Over the last 5 years we've used Asia highlights twice. The White Temple is part temple, part social critique. March 29, 2022 by Robert Schrader Leave a Comment. Read Privacy Policy or view sitemap. Is Chiang Rai worth visiting in 2023? - Savvyvoyagers This was the question we asked ourselves as we planned our road trip in Northern Thailand. Indeed, staying in the right place is a great way to make sure you conclude that Chiang Rai is worth visiting, once you leave and move on to other destinations in Thailand. From there, you may be forced to hitchhike to Chiang Saen, a Mekong River town where you can touch down before heading back to Chiang Rai. on Two days in Bergen itinerary: fjords, museums & mountains! Read my article about whether Isaan is worth visiting to determine whether you might head to Thailands underrated, rough-and-tumble northeastern region once your Chiang Rai trip ends. With no entry fee, and very few crowds, it's well worth a visit. Cant wait for the trip. We spent 3 nights in Chiang Rai which was the perfect amount of time to see the key attractions without feeling rushed, I have shared my example itinerary and further information on Chiang Rai here (coming soon). After spending a couple hours at the Chiang Rai White Temple in the morning, head back to the bus station and board one bound for Mae Sai, but tell the driver you want to get off about 15 minutes into the journey at Baan Damthe Black House. Once the goth-chic of the exhibits here becomes too much to bear, head back to the main road and board a bus back toward Chiang Rai, this time alighting after about five minute at the Blue Temple of Rong Suea Tan. November to February is the dry and cool-to-warm season, and also the peak season for tourism. She made sure we were still picked up and escorted to the airport. Thanks so much!
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