10 Things to do in – CHIANG RAI – TREKwithBECK
There are 101 things to do in Chiang Rai, however if you are short on time and want to see some of the highlights – then this blog is for you! Chiang Rai is a beautiful place to explore, and I honestly wish I had more time here. There is something for everyone, whether you love food, nature, culture or the art of doing absolutely nothing.
Chiang Rai is a very popular place for both backpackers and travellers. It is also a very convenient place to stop if you plan on taking the slow boat into Laos. As Chiang Rai isn’t too far from Chiang Mai, and with the easy transport connections between the two cities, it is somewhere I highly recommend you visit on your Northern Thailand travels.
How long do I need in Chiang Rai?
I only had 2 nights in Chiang Rai, which was enough to see majority of the big sights, but I wish I had another day or two. Chiang Rai is a small town, so you can easily get lost in the streets and markets, exploring the many temples. But there are also the outskirts of Chiang Rai which have mountainous landscapes with endless greenery. I wish I had another few days to explore here.
I would recommend spending at least 3 nights here.
How to get to Chiang Rai
Getting transport around Thailand is incredibly easy, even if you are new to travelling. You can get to Chiang Rai by bus or flying. The easiest and cheapest way to get to Chiang Rai, is by bus from Chiang Mai (which I am sure you are visiting).
There are several buses that travel to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai, all different levels, and costs. I took the VIP bus, which cost me $17 and was pure comfort. It has recliner seats, onboard bathroom, snacks/water, AC and heaps of leg room. It was worth it for the 3-4 hr journey. You can easily book your bus tickets on 12go asia.
1. The White Temple
The White Temple is probably the most famous temple in all of Thailand, and for good reason. This temple is located about a 20min drive from the city centre of Chiang Rai, and can be reached by either bus, taxi, cycling or self-drive. This temple is absolutely incredible, in appearance, architecture and significance. This is a piece of art and despite having murals of iron man and others in the temple itself, it is a holy place.
Even if you don’t like temples this is one that I highly recommend you visit! You will need about 1-2hrs to explore the temple and for travel time. The entry fee is 100 Baht (roughly $5 AUD). You can read my full guide to visiting the White Temple here.
2. The Blue Temple
Another extremely popular temple in Chiang Rai, only a short 5-10min drive from the city centre. This is another extraordinary temple, which blew me away with its bright colours and attention to detail. As soon as you approach this temple you will see two massive blue statues at both the entrance and exit. The detail, paintings, murals, and statues are all beautiful, it is a very unique temple.
The temple complex itself is quite small and will only take about 30mins to explore fully, maybe a little longer if you want to take photos. This temple does get busy, and it seems it’s the first stop on a lot of tours that leave from Chiang Rai. I arrived at 7.15am and got it to myself for bout 10mins, before the tour groups arrived. The entry here is free.
3. The Baan Dam Museum
Also known as the ‘Black House’ or ‘Black Temple’, roughly a 20 min drive from Chiang Rai. This is a collection of artworks from a famous Thai artist, Thawan Duchanee. This was a spot I originally wasn’t going to visit, but I am so glad that I did! The wooden art pieces are spectacular – if not a little strange and quirky. There are some interesting pieces here, I’ll say that much.
The paintings in the main museum as you walk in, are some of the pieces that truly amazed me. They are not only interesting to look at with your own eyes, but if you scan the QR code, it opens a filter on Instagram and the paintings come to life! I thought that was a very cool mix of original and digital art. Entry here is 80 Baht, and I spent about 1.5hrs wondering around the grounds. There is a small gift shop and café inside the grounds, as well as some shops around the outside.
4. Cat “N” A Cup
Have you ever wanted to have a cup of coffee or piece of cake surrounded by adorable cats? This is the place for you. Cat ‘N’ Cup is close to the main walking straight in the centre of Chiang Rai and one person from your group will need to purchase something to enter. The coffee here is very good and the Japanese cheesecake – mouth-watering.
The cats here are all rescued or adopted, they are so loved, you can tell by the way the employees treat them. You can play with them, pat them, and only cuddle them if they approach you. It was a great little place to hang out for a night and get little bit of love from some fury friends.
5. Khan Korn Waterfall
This is a 70m waterfall is located approximately 40mins from the Chiang Rai city centre. It can easily be accessed via scooter, tuk tuk or by a tour. This is by far one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the area and entry in completely free! There is a short 1.5km jungle trek in order to reach the waterfall, but most of the trail is shaded.
This is something I ran out of time to do, but would absolutely recommend if you want to see some of the incredible nature that surrounds Chiang Rai!
6. Wat Huay Pla Kang
I will admit, if you aren’t heading out this way from Chiang Rai, you could probably miss this. However, if you are (especially if you go to Lallita Café), this is worth a quick visit – and its free!
Wat Huay Pla Kang, also known as the Big Buddha of Chiang Rai. This is a giant statue of Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. The statue sits on top of a pedestal of lotus petals and rises 90 metres into the air.
This giant statue is about 15-20min outside of Chiang Rai, or 15 mins from the Blue Temple. You will be able to spot it on the way north, it’s very hard to miss. There isn’t much to do here but climb the few 100 steps and admire the details of the statue. You also do get some decent views of Chiang Rai for the top.
7. Chiang Rai city Temples
There are plenty of temples scattered throughout the city of Chiang Rai, all easily accessible via walking or bicycle. Spend the day hopping around to the many different temples for free and admiring the unique traits of each one. You might also stumbled across a hidden gem or two!
My personal favourite was the “Red Temple” which although smaller in size compared to temples such as the White and Blue Temple, still had such vibrant colours and artwork.
8. Lalitta Cafe
This is a café I found through social media, that I had never heard of before – but it deserves a place on this list! It’s about a 15–20-minute drive outside the main town of Chiang Rai and costs 60 Baht to enter. The 60 Baht goes towards food and drinks though.
This café is a mystical wonderland, which made me feel like I was stepping straight into fairy tale. The gardens are beautiful with a variety of different plant and flower species, the statues are unique and there is even a waterfall! This is a great place for kids and adults, really making you feel like you are in a fairy tale. The coffee is also very good!
9. Golden Triangle
This is somewhere I didn’t visit while in Chiang Mai, as I ran out of time and was heading to Chiang Khong later in my travels. The Golden Triangle is 9km north of Chiang Rai, along the Mekong River. Here, you can visit 3 countries at once, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. From the viewpoint you can see where land connects all three countries, surround by waterways. Although it is a tourist stop, and very busy, it is a unique place in South East Asia that would be worth visiting.
10. Street Markets
I love exploring the night markets in each town I visit through Southeast Asia; in my opinion they have the best food and are all reasonably cheap! Chiang Rai walking street and markets are no different. This walking street is a little bit smaller than other ones in places like Chiang Mai and Bangkok, but it’s worth it for a snack or some dinner.
Go check out the ‘dining hall’ for some incredible Pad Thai and curries! When you are facing the dining area, head to the left and it’s the first booth. Incredible food for only 50 Baht!
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