Home of the White Temple, the Golden Triangle and the villages of the hill tribes

The offer data was updated on October 25, 2026.

About Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is northern Thailand's artistic powerhouse. National artist Chalermchai Kositpipat's Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), with its surreal, mirror-covered design, attracts over a million visitors annually—and that's just the beginning. The Black House (Baan Dam) by the late Thawan Duchanee is an equally impressive collection of dark, sculptural buildings filled with animal bones, crocodile skins, and provocative art. The Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) completes an unofficial trio of temples that function as art installations.

Beyond the temples, Chiang Rai province stretches north to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet at the Mekong River. The region's tea and coffee plantations, particularly around Doi Mae Salong, settled by Chinese Kuomintang soldiers in the 1960s, produce some of Thailand's finest coffee beans. The Akha, Lahu, and Hmong hill villages in the surrounding mountains offer community-based tourism, including homestays and guided hikes.

Wellness retreats in Thailand, all types sorted by destination and cost

Meditation retreats in Thailand: From monasteries and silent retreats to 3-day programs

Nan, Thailand: A Travel Guide

Is Chiang Rai worth a visit?

  • Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang

    • Visitor information

    Avoid: Mid-February – April (smoke and heat)

    Chiang Rai weather by month: rain, temperatures and humidity

    Peak season: December – February

    Mae Fah Luang Airport (CEI) offers direct flights from Bangkok (80–95 minutes). The Green Bus from Chiang Mai takes 3 hours 20–3 hours 45 minutes. Alternatively, a scenic tour of the Golden Triangle from Chiang Mai is a great option.

  • •Grave (available in the city center)
  • •Motorcycle rental (฿200/day)
  • •Rental car (for the Golden Triangle and the hill tribes)

    • Accommodation in Chiang Rai

    Compare prices on the major booking portals and filter for rooms with free cancellation if you want to book now and decide later.

  • Compare prices on different websites.
  • Filter for free cancellation
  • Secure checkout on the partner site

    • Compare prices on Booking.com

    Compare prices on Trip.com

    We may receive a commission for bookings made through these links – this will not incur any additional costs for you. Learn more.

    Explore Chiang Rai by category

    Are you looking for a clear itinerary instead? Start with our "Things to Do in Chiang Rai" guide and then come back here to browse all entries by category.

    Chiang Rai offers 322 carefully selected places in 8 categories. Choose from 55 hotels and resorts for your stay. Discover 71 restaurants and eateries. Visit 47 temples and cultural sites. Book from 64 activities and tours.

    Browse the categories below or scroll down to see the top deals in each category. Every offer includes Google reviews from verified visitors, pricing information, and, where available, direct booking links.

    Book in advance in Chiang Rai

    The highest-rated tours offered by Klook in Chiang Rai, at today's prices. Most can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours in advance.

  • Over 10,000 bookings for the Chiang Rai tour: White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House Museum, Hot Springs. 4.8 (1,726 reviews) from US$43.15.
  • Over 6,000 bookings for the Chiang Rai Golden Triangle boat tour from Chiang Mai (4.4 out of 5 stars, 416 reviews, from US$47.59).
  • Over 4,000 bookings for the Chiang Rai day trip from Chiang Mai, 4.3 (211 reviews), from US$42.65

    • The best hotels in Chiang Rai

    My hotel selection in Chiang Rai in every price category, based on Google's hotel classification. My top 10 hotels are displayed first, followed by the highest-rated ones. Each button takes you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where your travel dates are already entered.

  • #1 Luxury · 5-Star Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort, Thailand 4.7 (2,844 reviews) A luxurious riverside resort in Chiang Rai with expansive grounds, an infinity pool, and consistently praised service. Check prices
  • #3 Mid-range · 4-star Nak Nakara Hotel 4.6 (1,402 reviews) Centrally located hotel in Chiang Rai with spacious rooms, a pool, and many free extras. Check prices
  • #4Budget · 2-Star B2 Chiang Rai Night Bazaar Boutique & Budget Hotel 4.3 (1,989 reviews) A budget-friendly boutique hotel just steps from the night bazaar in Chiang Rai. Comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi. Check prices

    • Hotels & Resorts

    B2 Chiang Rai boutique and budget hotel

    Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort, Thailand

    B2 Chiang Rai Night Bazaar Boutique & Budget Hotel

    Nak Nakara Hotel

    Restaurants & Food

    Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House, Bistro & Bar

    Central Chiangrai

    Lalitta Café

    Big C Supercenter Chiang Rai 1

    Temples and Culture

    Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple)

    Wat Rong Khun

    Wat Huay Pla Kang

    Baan Dam Museum

    Markets & Shopping

    Chiang Rai Night Bazaar

    Bandu Market

    Big C Supercenter Chiang Rai Airport 2

    Index Living Mall Chiang Rai

    Activities & Tours

    Golden Triangle

    Choui Fong Tea Plantation

    Singha Park Chiang Rai

    75th Anniversary Flag and Lamp Park

    Nightlife & Bars

    O'Kane's Irish Pub

    Tawandang Mahason Chiang Rai

    Young

    Tamarind

    Wellness & Spas

    Soon Wipassana Rai Cherntawan (W.Wachiramethi)

    The Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort and Spa

    Chiang Rai Beautiful Massage

    Siamese Spa

    transport

    Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport

    Arrival in Chiang Rai and onward travel

    Arrival

  • Bangkok – Chiang Rai: Fastest flight, Don Mueang, 80–95 min. Cheapest night bus, Transport Co., approx. 720–840 ฿. Compare all 5 options.
  • Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai: Fastest minivan (approx. 3 hours), cheapest green bus (express class, 260–290 ฿). Compare all 4 options.
  • PaiChiang Rai Cheapest Prempracha van + green bus, approx. ฿410–550 Compare all 7 options

    • Further from Chiang Rai

  • Chiang Rai – Bangkok: Fastest flight to Don Mueang, 75–85 minutes; Cheapest night bus, approx. 810–1,030 Baht; Compare all 6 options
  • Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai: Fastest minivan (approx. 3 hours), cheapest green bus (express class, 260–290 ฿). Compare all 4 options.
  • Chiang Rai – Luang Prabang: Fastest package with slow boat trip (2 days, 1 night). Cheapest option: Van + sleeper bus (approx. 1,350–1,500 ฿ with 12Go). Compare all 5 options.

    • Live departures from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with 12GoEvery on the route within Thailand in comparison

    12Go is a sponsored link. We may receive a commission if you book through it, at no extra cost to you.

    Frequently asked questions about Chiang Rai

    Two full days are sufficient to visit the White Temple, the Black House, the Blue Temple, and the Night Bazaar. Three days allow you to add the Golden Triangle, the tea villages of Doi Mae Salong, and a trek to a hill tribe village. Some travelers take a day trip from Chiang Mai, but this only leaves time for one or two temples.

    Absolutely. They are completely different experiences. Chiang Rai is smaller, quieter, and focuses more on the surrounding province than the city itself. The temples are incomparable to those in Chiang Mai, and the Golden Triangle, the mountain villages, and the tea-growing region are inaccessible from further south. The three-and-a-half-hour bus ride is straightforward. You can find my detailed answer in my article "Is Chiang Rai Worth Visiting?". There you will also see a direct comparison between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

    Yes. The Chiang Khong border crossing leads to Huay Xai in Laos, from where you can take a slow boat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang in two days. The Mae Sai border crossing to Tachileik in Myanmar allows for day trips. As visa regulations change frequently, please check the current rules before your trip.

    The night bazaar takes place daily on Phahonyothin Road in the city center. It is smaller and less hectic than the bazaar in Chiang Mai and offers hill tribe handicrafts, local food stalls, and a central stage with live music and Lanna dance performances. On Saturdays, there is also a pedestrian market near the clock tower.

    Are you planning a trip to Chiang Rai?

    Essential planning guides for every trip to Thailand – costs, travel period, visas and safety.