Things to do & places to visit in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand

Chiang Rai Province #9 destination in Thailand 2023. The average rating score is 4.27 based on 29.7k traveler reviews, of 127 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Bangkok, current date and time: Monday, April 29, 2024, 17:05.

Chiang Rai Province Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in April

95°F - 70°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Pleasantly warm, comfortable

Feels like

16%

Chance of rain

113.0 millimeters

Amount

7.1 mph

Wind speed

52%

Humidity

12.6

Daylight length

6:03 AM

Sunrise

6:38 PM

Sunset

45%

Cloud cover

Sleeveless shirt

What to wear

Top things to do (30)

Top destinations in Chiang Rai Province 59

See more 47 destinations »

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Suwannee Thai Cooking Class Chiangrai (994 reviews)
- Educative and fun cooking class given by someone who is passionate about cooking and teaching!
Monday: 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Cooking Classes

Thai cooking individual class with the market tour, organic ingredients, support local farmers and sellers. Food Tasting & Cultural walking tour. All ages are welcome. See more..
5.0 Elephant Valley Thailand (613 reviews)
- A true Sanctuary
Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

Elephant Valley Thailand was Chiang Rai's elephant sanctuary. Established in 2016 it closed in May 2020 due to Covid19 crisis. See more..
5.0 Tad Kwan Village Park & Waterfall (238 reviews)
- Well planned day
Points of Interest & Landmarks

One of the last unspoiled Mien Hill Tribe villages where you can see and learn about the Mien culture, visit/swim in the waterfall and tour the village & surrounding countryside in a buggy (included). This is a fun day out for all the family, the ladies will enjoy the culture, the gents; the buggies & kids; the waterfall. Pickup/drop-off from your hotel, full details on our website. See more..
5.0 Rai Ruen Rom - Organic Farm Chiang Rai, Thailand (109 reviews)
- Great Organic Farm Experience
Monday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Farms

RAI RUEN ROM Eat | Farm | Learn | Stay Rai Ruen Rom is not just an organic farm,but an environment that lets people return to nature through perception. We are an open space for immersive experience, but also a new generation of farmers, creating fresh, organic,ethically produced food. We create because we believe that..."Good food starts with good ingredients. Good raw materials come from good farming." Sustainable agriculture is good farming. We produce high quality food that is safe for both the people and ecosystem. See more..
5.0 Nagi of Mekong Cruise (92 reviews)
- Highlight of my trip
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Boat Tours

If you consider doing the cruise I can absolutely recommend doing it! The best part is that you are going to meet other travellers of all age groups and from all over the world and at the end of the cruise they are going to feel like family. It was absolutely worth paying the extra money because it will be much more comfortable, you will be served very tasty food and it includes an accomodation. In addition to that you will learn many things about Lao culture and history during your cruise and make interesting stops along the way. Generally it is a beautiful way to travel Laos and time is going to fly by as the views get better and better. Thank you for the flawless experience. See more..
4.5 Wat Rong Khun (7.832 reviews)
- Beautiful temple
Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites

Beautiful temple south of Chiang Rai city. Beautifully decorated and surrounded by lots of visual art. Worth paying a ticket to go in to see the cool modern paintings which you rarely see in a Buddhist temple. Must visit. See more..
4.5 Wat Rong Seur Ten (Blue Temple) (981 reviews)
- Loved it!
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites

Wow, amazing, very quiet after visiting the White Temple which was nice. The blue, gold and other colours were amazing. We both like blue so enjoyed the colours. It was well done with some new additions going up now so you could see some of the different stages in the building and painting process, very interesting. Inside and out was nice. Some nice little stands on the side, I had some a nice ice cream cone and my wife had a cup of nice sweet strawberries. Great place to visit! See more..
4.5 Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) (926 reviews)
- Worth an hour of your time.
Religious Sites

This was the original location of the Emerald Buddha, now housed in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaeo. See more..
4.5 Doi Mae Salong (630 reviews)
- Beautiful and peaceful
Spent More than 3 hours Mountains • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Lookouts

Doi Mae Salong is a primarily Chinese community that offers a variety of activities. Visitors can take in a morning market, tour General Tuan's Tomb, go to a memorial museum and take in tea tastings while visiting the village. See more..
4.5 Wat Huay Pla Kang (522 reviews)
- Good sunset spot
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites

Good place to come and watch the sunset, sat on the platform behind the giant goddess statue for this which gave great views over the mountains. You can go up inside the statue to the top in an elevator however this was closed when we visited. After the sunsets then the temple is lit up and looks very beautiful. Worth a stop. See more..
4.5 Doi Tung Royal Villa (406 reviews)
- Excellent , well worth a visit .
Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Castles

The royal residence of HRH the late Princess Mother formerly served as her base of operations to monitor the work progress at the Doi Tung Development Project. It has since been transformed into a symbol of the Princess Mother's commitment to improving the local people's quality of life. See more..
4.5 Mae Fah Luang Garden (356 reviews)
- Worth the drive
Monday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 AM Spent 1-2 hours Gardens

As a famous tourist spot, the Mae Fah Luang Garden generates revenue and creates jobs that make the most of the various skills available in Doi Tung. See more..
4.5 Khun Korn Waterfall (330 reviews)
- Beautiful waterfall and not a long walk.
Waterfalls

After reading through some reviews I thought it was going to be a long and hard trek to reach the waterfall...it was not though. Drove up on a scooter from Chiang Rai, which took around 35mins. We left around 7.20 and arrived by 8am just when it opened, signed in, parked up and started the walk. The walk only took us just under 25 mins. I would recommend wearing trainers and not flip flops as some parts can we a bit slippery and some steep steps up and down. It was great when we arrived by 8.25 as noone was there and we had the place all to ourself. Well worth a visit...it's free and if you get there early enough you'll be the first people there. When walking back, we walked past about 6 other people in different groups along the way. Bring some insect repellant as there are loads of bugs and flies hovering around you constantly. See more..
4.5 Phu Chi Fa Forest Park (306 reviews)
- Green mountain , orange sun , white fog , blue sky, colourful Hmong
Mountains • Parks • Forests

Worth a trip. It’s breathtaking . Im lucky enough to see the sunrise on early January .you’ll see the sea of fogs, some Hmong kids dancing en route when we climb up the peak, everything is epic. It’s windy and cool up there. I offer some tips for people who’re staying in Chiang rai and don’t mind to spend a lil and wanting an easy trip (save time )to phu chi fa, you can actually get some agency along the city in Chiang rai offering a trip from your hotel to the hiking point, around 3000 baht ,then you’ll just take a 20-30 minutes hike up to phu chi fa. See more..
4.5 Mae Fah Luang Art and Culture Park (236 reviews)
- The highlight of our trip to Chiang Rai.
Monday: Parks • Art Museums

Mae Fah Luang Art & Cultural Park houses the region's largest collection of folk art and teak artifacts from the Lanna Kingdom. It has been recognized as a unique tourist destination in northern Thailand and has won the Thailand Tourism Award 2006 as an outstanding tourism destination in the category of Arts and Culture. See more..
4.5 Wat Phrathat Doi Tong (156 reviews)
- More than just a Temple
Religious Sites

While the Phrathat Temple was interesting, Doi Tung mountain has much more to offer, including an excellent botanic garden, a Royal Villa for Her Royal Highness, the Princess Mother, an arboretum, and villages of at least three hill tribes (Shan Akha, Lahu). Once virtually denuded, this mountain is now green and scenic. And at the bottom of the mountain are some of the most outstanding limestone caves in Thailand, notably Tham Tung (Thailand's fifth longest cave), which is easily followed for about 800 meters, with scentic stalagtites and -mites. Little visited, but worth better dvelopment by the tourism agencies and the Department of National Parks. See more..
4.5 Wat Phra Singh (140 reviews)
- Very nice Wat.
Points of Interest & Landmarks

We did our own, nickel walking tour of Wats and this was our first. Nice grounds, good washroom. It is not a large Wat but we like visiting many to see the diversity of styles inside and out. It has very nice grounds and is quite ornate plus it has a jade Buddha. We did see arrangements and setup for a funeral of young man, sad to see. It is past one of the large local markets and if you like Wats, very much worth visiting. See more..
4.5 Doi Tung (139 reviews)
- Floral Extravaganza
Neighborhoods • Mountains • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Mae Fah Luang Garden. a beautiful floral park The flower garden was designed according to the wish of Princess Mother (the mother of King Rama 9). Entrance for 90 THB (discount for seniors) A delight, my earlier study of the reviews and other inputs proved me right, it had a rightful place on my bucket list, I am keen on floriculture, God's bounty to us. It compares favourably with the gardens in Europe and Dubai, though smaller. Hire of a Golf cart for seniors is recommended, as there are inclines. See more..
4.5 Tea Plantations (106 reviews)
- breathtaking!
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Probably one of the most amazing places we visited in our self-made tour in Thailand. Here you get to know the habits of people from this Chinese corner in Northern Thailand. If you love tea - this place is a must! Unfortunately we had only the afternoon to walk around Mae Salong. It's worth a visit from the morning, so you can get back in the early afternoon without running (we lost the last bus to get back in Chiang Rai!). I suggest to choose a tea house and to visit the tea plantations and taste the different types of teas, the owners will be happy to explain everything about tea and to answer all your questions! Transport - we took public buses - it's easier if you have your own car, because from a certain time in the afternoon buses stop. It's not the easiest place to reach, so pay attention. See more..
4.5 Wat Pra Dhat Pha-Ngao (96 reviews)
- Great views
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Firstly explore the temples at car park level. Then drive through the grounds and turn right to hill top Chedi and view breathtaking. You can get nice drinks in cafe at top. See more..
4.5 Doi Tung Palace (83 reviews)
- Wonderful Thailand
Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

My most enduring memory of Thailand is this wonderful experience. The botanical gardens are truly beautiful and the museum recently added to the grounds bring emotional tears to the eye with an amazing insight into the country's history. As a farang luckily married to the most beautiful local girl I just simply love this visiting place as often as I can. See more..
4.5 Wat Pa Sak (69 reviews)
- Stunning During Sunset
Religious Sites

This was a quick stop at the end of our 1 day guided tour around Chiang Rai. The wat was quiet and rustic - seemingly untainted from modernity and commercialisation, unlike many other wats. It was stunning during sunset. See more..
4.5 Oub Kham Museum (65 reviews)
- Recommended
Speciality Museums

While the admission fee may seem expensive and from outside, the place may seem small, there is actually a lot to see. The place is never crowded and the guide was friendly and informative. Worth a visit. See more..
4.5 Doi Chang (61 reviews)
- Lovely mountain views, with great coffee house at the top
Mountains • Farms

From Chiang Rai take road number '1' for around 20 km South, and turn right on to road '118' sign posted to Mae Suai. Around 3km short of Mae Suai, you will see a small tuning right to Doi Chang. This is a very windy road, which turns do dirt track in places. We hired a 250cc trial bike, which made the journey easy. The mountain views were spectacular, especially when we reached cloud level. I will try and add some photos. Right at the top of the mountain, you will come across the factory of Doi Chaang coffee. Along the way you will also see the coffee being grown along the mountain tops. A different spelling of the mountain, but great place to visit. They have an academy, museum, and in peak season tours. Great coffee house which has done one of the best coffee lattes I have ever tasted. We thouroughy enjoyed our trip to Doi Chang, and plan to go back again. Not easy to find, as so many coffee shops called Doi Chaang coffee house, but the original is on top of Doi Chang mountain itself. See more..
4.5 Art Bridge Chiang Rai (57 reviews)
- not much here
Art Galleries

Interesting arch entry to art museum. Somewhat dramatic but the significance of this remains unknown to me. See more..
4.0 Baan Dam Museum (2.595 reviews)
- Art museum
Spent 2-3 hours Art Museums

Thawan Duchanee (September 27, 1939 - September 3, 2014) was a Thai contemporary painter, architect and sculptor with an international reputation. In 2001, this notable artist was given the price by the Office of the National Culture Commission of Thailand as the National Thai Artist in Fine art and Visual art. Thawan is not only famous for his paintings but also architecture. His architectural masterpiece is Black House. It was the residence for Thawan for the rest of his life. In Thai, 'baan' means home or house and 'dam' means black. The Black House isn't just one structure, but a collection of around 40 buildings of varying shapes and sizes dotted around a peaceful garden. Created by Thailand national artist Thawan Duchanee, the grounds include nearly 40 small black houses made of wood, glass, concrete, bricks, or terracotta in various unique styles and design scattered around the temple area. The cluster of houses accommodates Thawan's collections of paintings, sculptures, animal bones, skins, horns, and silver and gold items from around the world. Several of the houses exhibit Balinese and Burmese architecture and art dating back to the Ayutthaya Period. The artist uses bones as a source of inspiration to paint. It is definitely not a place for animal lovers. There are also various kinds of baskets and drums from many regions and countries on display at Baandam. Not all exhibits are open to public. See more..
4.0 Clock Tower Chiang Rai (2.080 reviews)
- Not a visit but a passby
Monday: 7:00 PM - 7:15 PM, 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

This super clock tower will not go unnoticed. Massive golden full of lights clock tower and beautiful at the same time. Marks the center of the city and they have a short light and sound (so to speak) in the evenings. But due to the small size of Chiang Rai, why not! spend a few minutes there and take some photos. Nobody knows or seems to know that was designed by Achan Chalermchai Kositpipat, who also built the White temple, indeed this is one of the most beautiful clock towers in Thailand that was built in 2005 to honour Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. See more..
4.0 Chiang Rai Night Bazaar (1.990 reviews)
- Authentic Dining Experience
Flea & Street Markets

A great place to eat like a local at a very reasonable price. A huge communal area with tables and chairs surrounded by stalls selling food and drinks - go around and choose your favourites from different stalls, a drink from one stall, a starter from another, main courses from different stalls if you want. A great space to feel like a local, and on the night we visited some local musicians playing in the background too. Two starters of tempura prawns, two main courses of stir fry chicken and two main courses of chicken and egg fried rice (all from different stalls, and far too much food - but it all looked so delicious) came to 600 baht/£15. Two large beers and a bottle of water came to 200 baht/£5. Quite easy to tell which has the freshest food - join any stall that has a bit of a queue at it. Enjoy! See more..
4.0 Singha Park (1.097 reviews)
- Fantastic find and stunning park.
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Parks

This park was clearly well maintained and had a lot of work gone into it. They had set up a shaded area by the sports section you could enjoy the view and the warm breeze while looking out across the valley. In the evening it turned into a more british summer esq night food market with live band and good food being served. Best thing of all being able to take off your shoes and feel the grass under you feet while looking up at the stars. It was so enjoyable we came back the next night to do it again. See more..
4.0 House of Opium (1.021 reviews)
- Highly recommend
Monday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums • History Museums

Located in the heart of the infamous Golden Triangle, this museum is dedicated to educating visitors about the history of the opium trade and the dangers of addiction. See more..