Chiang Rai is a small, relaxed provincial capital on the Kok River, about three hours north-east of Chiang Mai. Many visitors see it only on a rushed day trip to the White Temple. Stay two or three nights and the province opens up: the old Chinese settlement of Doi Mae Salong among its tea terraces, forest treks to Akha and Lahu villages, quiet backroads for cycling, and the Golden Triangle at Sop Ruak, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar face each other across the Mekong.
The town is also a staging post. From Chiang Khong, two hours away, the two-day slow boat runs down the Mekong to Luang Prabang in Laos. And for adventurous drivers, the mountain roads along the border are some of the most scenic in the country. Combine Chiang Rai with Chiang Mai and Pai for a complete northern loop.
Highlights
- Walk through the White Temple’s surreal mirrored halls
- Take a longtail boat on the Mekong at the Golden Triangle
- Hike or cycle between the tea terraces of Doi Mae Salong
- Watch sunrise over the cloud sea from Phu Chi Fa
- Trek through forest to a waterfall swim
- Board the two-day slow boat to Luang Prabang
Chiang Rai & the Golden Triangle in pictures
How long to stay and where to base yourself
Give Chiang Rai two nights at least: one day for the temples and Baan Dam, one for the Golden Triangle and tea country. A third day allows Phu Chi Fa at sunrise or a forest trek.
Stay in the compact town centre near the clock tower and night bazaar if you want to walk everywhere, or at one of the riverside resorts a short drive out. For cool air and views, spend a night in a guesthouse on Doi Mae Salong.
