The sights of Chiang Rai province are spread over a wide area with little public transport between them, so a day tour or a car with a driver is the practical way to see them. Group tours that start in Chiang Rai itself give you far more time at each stop than day trips from Chiang Mai, which spend six hours or more on the road.
These picks were chosen in October 2026 for their itineraries and reviews. Prices are indicative “from” prices in euros; check which entry tickets are included.
Our pick of Chiang Rai & the Golden Triangle tours & tickets
from €35 Chiang Rai guided highlights full-day tour with lunch buffet
A group tour of the province’s best-known attractions with a guide, mixing temple art, culture and history, with a buffet lunch included.
from €38 Golden Triangle and 7 landmarks guided tour
A full day with an experienced local guide team covering the main temples and the Golden Triangle, paced to allow enough time at each place.
from €61 Golden Triangle and Mekong boat trip
A day at the border where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, with a boat ride on the Mekong and stops at a monkey cave and the Choui Fong tea plantation. The itinerary also lists a Karen long-neck village, which you can skip.
from €26 White, Blue and Red temples day trip from Chiang Mai
A long day from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai’s famous temples with a stop at the Mae Kachan hot springs. A hill-tribe village stop is listed and can be sat out.
from €73 Slow boat to Luang Prabang, 2-day trip from Chiang Rai
Transfer from Chiang Rai to the slow-boat pier on the Lao side of the Mekong, followed by the two-day river journey to Luang Prabang.
from €76 per group Private tour with driver and custom itinerary
A car and driver for the day to build your own route: White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House, Golden Triangle, the Choui Fong tea farm and more. Priced per group.
Booking tips
- Start in Chiang Rai if you can. The same sights are far more enjoyable without a six-hour round trip from Chiang Mai.
- Village stops. We do not recommend “long-neck village” visits, which treat people as exhibits. Tell your guide you prefer to skip them.
- Wild monkeys. At cave temples, keep food out of sight and do not feed them.
- Slow boat. You will need to meet Laos’s entry requirements at the border; the journey breaks overnight in Pakbeng, and accommodation there may not be included.
- Dress code. Shoulders and knees covered at all temples.
