Chiang Rai Travelers Recommend

Chiang Rai is ideally situated for discovering Thailand’s Golden Triangle, so three days in the city give you ample time to immerse yourself in local culture and cuisine, and explore the northern highlands. Here’s how.

Day 1: Temples and Thai Culture

The compact center of Chiang Rai is easy to explore on foot, but some of the city’s most-photographed landmarks lie just a short tuk-tuk ride away. Joining a temple tour ensures that you don’t waste time getting lost and reveals local history and heritage that you may otherwise miss. Tours typically cover the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), made entirely of snow-white stone; the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Sear Tean); the ancient temples of Wat Phra Keow and Wat Phra Singh; and the Hill Tribe Museum, where you can learn more about the region’s indigenous villages.

In the evening, soak up the atmosphere at the Chiang Rai Night Market. Browse stalls for traditional handicrafts and souvenirs, and choose from a delicious array of Thai street food—take a food tour to guarantee the best bites. Look out for regional specialties such as Khao Soi (a coconut based curry).

Day 2: Journey to the Golden Triangle

As Thailand’s northernmost city, Chiang Rai serves as the gateway to the Golden Triangle, the highland region where the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand intersect. Day trips from Chiang Rai let you skip the stress of hiring a car and transport you between dispersed attractions in air-conditioned comfort.

Most tours make a stop in Chiang Saen village, where you’ll find the ruins of one of Thailand’s ancient kingdoms, and the Hall of Opium, a museum dedicated to the region’s notorious opium trade. Excursions tend to include a cruise along the Mekong River, to the meeting point of the three countries, while some even offer the chance to cross the border to visit Tachileik in Myanmar or Huay Xai in Laos.

Day 3: Highland Views and Hill Tribes

While travelers short on time often combine a tour of the Golden Circle with a visit to one of Thailand’s hill tribe settlements, it’s well worth setting aside an entire day to explore the remote villages. Choose a tour that visits a number of villages, so that you can learn about the cultures and traditions of the Akha, Hmong, Lisu, and Karen people. A guided trek through the valleys or lunch with a local family adds an extra level of cultural immersion.

If you’d prefer to spend your final day closer to the city, take a cycling tour of the countryside or visit the Singha Park, where activities include ziplining, nature trails, and tea plantation tours. Spend your last night in Chiang Rai admiring the city’s illuminated temples and landmarks on an evening tuk-tuk tour, and then enjoy a Thai dinner show, which combines regional cuisine with live music and folk dance performances.

Learn more about the rich diversity of northern Thai culture by visiting one of the hill tribe villages near Chiang Rai during an exploration of the Golden Triangle—where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. Here are some of the best hill tribes to visit from Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai.

Karen Village

The Karen people originate from Myanmar and are the largest hill tribe group in north Thailand. They traditionally live in stilt houses, cultivate rice, raise animals, and craft silver jewelry. The Karen villages near Chiang Rai are known as the “Long Neck Villages” for the stacked brass rings the women wear around their necks.

Lahu Village

The Lahu hill tribe came to Thailand from the Tibetan plateau by way of Yunnan. A strong commitment to the traditional Lahu way of life means their modern-day settlements are often situated in remote areas far from roads and towns. Primarily hunters and subsistence farmers, the Lahu often wear brightly colored floral garments.

Akha Village

The Akha hill tribe people originate from Tibet and migrated to north Thailand in the 1900s. They traditionally live in bamboo huts divided into separate areas for men and women. The Akha are known for their colorful embroidery, and the traditional costume is a black shirt with embroidered sleeves and an ornate headdress.

Hmong Village

The Hmong people (also known around Chiang Rai as the Meo) migrated to Thailand from China via Laos. The Hmong live in mountainous areas and previously cultivated opium, though have now switched to rice and corn. The Hmong people, known for their batik fabric-dyeing techniques, traditionally wear indigo clothing.

Yao Village

Originally from South China, the Yao migrated into northern Thailand in the late 19th century, many of them settling in Chiang Rai province. This hill tribe is known for its spectacular traditional dress, which includes long blue jackets accented with red wool lapels and a turban-like head wrap. 

One day in Chiang Rai is just enough time to take in the highlights of Thailand’s northernmost city. With limited time, planning ahead and booking tours in advance is essential—look for tours that combine multiple attractions to save time or opt for a private tour to create your own itinerary. Here are some ideas.

Morning: Tour the Temples

Chiang Rai is home to some of Thailand’s most beautiful temples, which are scattered throughout the city. Visiting as part of a tour allows you to delve deeper into Thailand’s Buddhist history and heritage, and to travel between each with ease.

Tours typically cover Wat Phra Kaew and the 14th-century Wat Phra Singh, one of the city’s oldest temples. Just north of the city center, the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Sear Tean) is so-called for its bold blue and gold interiors.

Afternoon: White Temple and Waterfalls

With its snow-white façade and elaborate embellishments, the fairy-tale Wat Rong Khun (aka the White Temple) is one of Asia’s most impressive contemporary temples. Visiting the temple, which is located just outside the city, as part of a tour means that you can combine it with the nearby Singha Park, home to lakeside walking trails and a tea plantation.

Alternatively, head into the surrounding rainforest and enjoy a short hike to the Khun Korn Waterfall, a tranquil spot where you can cool off with a swim beneath the falls.

Night: Street Food and City Lights

Continue sightseeing into the evening hours during a tuk-tuk or trishaw ride around the town, which typically stop to admire the illuminated King Mengrai Monument and give you time to watch the light-and-music-show at the Clock Tower.

Conclude your evening at the Chiang Rai Night Market, where you can browse the stalls, shop for traditional handicrafts and souvenirs, and tuck into some of Thailand’s renowned street food. Look out for typical Northern dishes such as khanom jeen nam ngiao (spicy noodle soup) or khao soi (a coconut based curry).

Two days in Chiang Rai gives you time to take in the city sights, experience local culture and cuisine, and discover Thailand’s northern highlands. Plan ahead to maximize your time and choose tours that combine multiple destinations for the best value. Here’s how to spend two days in Chiang Rai.

Day 1: Follow the Temple Trail

Morning: Opting for a city tour ensures that you maximize your time in Chiang Rai and see all of the city’s landmarks. City tours usually cover the contemporary Wat Rong Sear Tean (Blue Temple); the ancient Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Phra Singh; and the Hill Tribe Museum, which details the region’s ethnic minorities.

Afternoon: Devote the afternoon to the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), one of Thailand’s most iconic temples; visit with a guide to discover hidden details. Afterwards, stroll around the gardens and tea plantations of Singha Park, or hike through the rainforest and cool off with a swim at Khun Korn Waterfall.

Night: Continue sightseeing into the evening on a night tour by tuk tuk or trishaw. Stop to watch the nightly light and music show at the Clock Tower and admire the illuminated King Mengrai Monument. For a cultural feast, opt for a traditional Thai dinner show, which combines regional cuisine with live music and folk dance performances.

Day 2: Thailand’s Golden Triangle

Morning: Chiang Rai is the gateway to Thailand’s Golden Triangle, the meeting point of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. With just one day to explore, look for a day trip that combines a visit to the Golden Triangle with a stop at one of the region’s ethnic minority villages, or opt for a private tour and devise a personalized itinerary.

Afternoon: The village of Chiang Saen is the last stop before arriving at the meeting point of the three countries. Spend some time exploring the village’s ancient ruins; visit the Hall of Opium museum; or enjoy a longboat cruise on the Mekong River.

Night: Spend your final night browsing Chiang Rai Night Market. This is the best place to purchase unique souvenirs or traditional handicrafts, but it’s also renowned for its delicious street food. Order a bowl of khanom jeen nam ngiao (spicy noodle soup) or sample khao soi (a coconut based curry), both popular northern Thai dishes.

The northern Thai city of Chiang Rai is home to a large assortment of Buddhist temples, or wats. With so many to see, it can be hard to know where to start prioritizing. Luckily, we’re here to help. See below for our top picks of Chiang Rai temples.

Wat Rong Khun

Set just outside of town, Wat Rong Khun—better known as the White Temple—is one of the most unusual sacred structures in the region. Built in the late 1990s by an eccentric Thai artist, its all-white facade is covered with glass shards that give it an all-over sparkle. Inside, the temple features traditional images of Buddha as well as murals depicting Superman, Batman, and Neo from The Matrix.

Wat Phra Kaew

This hugely revered temple complex once housed the famous Emerald Buddha, one of Thailand’s holiest icons. Though the original now lies in Bangkok, an exquisite replica made of jade can be seen alongside other Buddha images in Wat Phra Kaew’s museum.

Wat Phra Singh

One of the oldest temples in Chiang Rai, this historic compound dates back to the late 14th century. Here, you’ll find carvings by local artists and a copy of the sacred Phra Singh Buddha, aka “Lion Buddha,” a revered Buddha image housed in Wat Phra Singh temple in Chiang Mai.

Wat Rong Sear Tean

Located just outside Chiang Rai town center, this modern temple is one of the most colorful in Northern Thailand. As its colloquial name—the “Blue Temple”—suggests, Wat Rong Sear Tean has a magnificent blue interior with intricate carvings, gold accents, and a large white statue of a seated Buddha.

Wat Huai Pla Kung Temple

Located 3.7 miles (six kilometers) from Chiang Rai, this 21st-century temple is known for its nine-tiered pagoda, which offers excellent views of the surroundings, and its large statue of Bodhisattva, which sits on the hilltop.