Chiang Rai Destination Guide

Chiang Rai province in northen Thailand borders Myanmar and Laos, and is known for it's superb mountain scenery. Whether you are trekking to various hilltribe villages, mountain biking, river rafting down the Kok River or boating along the mighty Mekong River, Chiang Rai's beauty will not disappoint the adventure seeker. Chiang Rai offers an excellent base to explore this region including its ancient towns, serene temples and hilltribe communities.

Chiang Rai is the perfect launching pad for treks through some of natures finest accomplishment and most beautiful settings!

This Chiang Rai Destination Guide and our Chiang Rai tours page will tell you all you need to know about the highlights and must-see's of a trip to Chiang Rai. We also provide some useful general information about your trip to Thailand. You should also check out the highlights of some other great Thailand destinations such as Bangkok, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, or Sukothai.

Things to See & Do in Chiang Rai

Follow the links to the right or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Chiang Rai:

Doi Pha Tang is a popular viewing point with enchanting views of the river and sea, situated at the top of a high cliff that looks out over the Thai-Laos border. The mist that is ever present adds a magical element to the beautiful scene. Doi Pha Tang is situated at a distance of about 160 kilometres from the provincial town. From December to January, the scenery has an added element of Sakuras in full bloom. Chian Rai hotel options include bungalows and tents.

This area is inhabited by the Chinese Haw, the Yao and Hmong minorities. The descendants of the 93rd Chinese Division who moved to Doi Pha Tang are referred to as the Chinese Haw.

The best part of a Thailand visit is a visit to one of the hill tribes of Chiang Rai. Their existence is unaltered by any modern influence. Their quaint way of living is very interesting. They make their own clothes and sell handicrafts to earn some money for other needs.

There are ten different hill tribes in northern Thailand. The Karen, who are friendly and tolerant, are found in relatively large numbers. The mountainous area in Chiang Mai is inhabited by the Hmong people.

The Akha are one of the most remote hill tribe people. They practise traditional methods of cultivation like shifting cultivation. Visitors find it interesting to go on long treks and interact with these hill tribes.This truely is one of the great Chiang Rai highlights!

The Khun Chae National Park can be found at Tambon Mae Chedi Mai of Wiang Pa Pao District. Highway No. 118 on the Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai Route will take you to the park, with the park headquarters being enroute. Trekking or camping will necessitate the hiring of a guide, but arranging camping equipment will be your responsibility. The Khun Chae jungle trek is not for the faint hearted as the path is through rough terrain. Hills and cliffs, some over 1,400 meters in height, flowing streams, waterfalls and dense jungle area with varied plants await you as you trek through the jungle. The steep terrain is dangerous but thrilling and beautiful too.

The Kok River flows from Thathon to Chiang Rai City. Thathon is located in northern Chiang Mai. This river is very scenic and it continues beyond Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong merging with the Mekong River. You can go on boat rides and raft rides from Baan Thathon These rides take you close to the surrounding mountains where the river meets the dense jungle. These rides include stops at Lisu, Karen, and Akha or Iko hill tribe villages. Some rides stop at the Buddha cave, a riverside Lahu village and an interesting temple within a cavern.

The other interesting places to see are an elephant camp and a hot spring. The trips could cost you 300 bahts to 700 bahts which in USD is around $7-$16. The rates differ as per the number of stops decided upon. The ferry pier can be reached by crossing the bridge from the Dusit Island Resort.

Ruammitr Village is a Karen hill-tribe village and it is located along the Mae Kok River. The main occupation of the tribesmen is to raise and tame elephants, who are then put to work in the jungle. The tribes-people also farm and hunt. Their settlements are made up of bamboo houses built on stilts, and they rear domestic animals like buffaloes, pigs and chickens. The general dress code is white shirts worn with sarongs and headscarves. The womenfolk are well trained in the art of fabric making, dyeing and sewing. Respect for elders and dead ancestors is ingrained in all the members of the tribe. This village can be reached by taking a ride on a long-tailed boat from Chiang Rai or from the Ban Tha Ton pier.

The place where three nations - Thailand, Laos and Burma - share borders is referred to as the Golden Triangle. Tourists make it a point to visit this place and take pictures making this one of the highlights of Chiang Rai. Opium use to be grown a lot here and this place was very notorious for drug trafficking. However, these days tourism is the mainstay of this area and most locals sell handicrafts and other souvenirs to earn a living. The scenic beauty of this place with lush green hills and flowing rivers with sparkling water makes it a truly charming place.