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

Mae Sai city in , Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Timezone: Asia/Bangkok, current date and time: Thursday, May 16, 2024, 8:56.

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Top things to do (10)

• Monuments & Statues
• Military Bases & Facilities
• Caverns & Caves
• Scenic Walking Areas
• Lookouts
• Bodies of Water
• Points of Interest & Landmarks
• Flea & Street Markets
• Religious Sites
• Mountains

Top places to visit (17 attractions)

1. 5.0 Wat Hiranyawat (2 reviews)
   - Biggest bamboo woven Buddha in Thailand
   Thursday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Religious Sites
   
   
   Located in Tambon Ko Chang of Amphoe Mae Sai, this is the home of Phra Sing San Chana Man, the biggest bamboo woven Buddha of Thailand. You will hardy find any western tourists here. But since I'm such a nice guy, I will reveal its location to the TA community by writing this review ;-) This is one of the most beautiful temples I've been to in Thailand. A true hidden gem. The temple complex is made of various large elephants, one very big on with the Buddha sitting on it. The details on it are amazing. The temple itself is made entirely out of bamboo wood too. Entrance to the temple is free. See more..
   
2. 4.5 Pha Hi Village (14 reviews)
   - Beautiful scenic drive
   Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lookouts • Scenic Walking Areas
   
   
   Drove past Pha Hi village on route 1149, discovering this place by accident actually since we took a wrong turn. Turns out to be one of the most scenic and beautiful drives I've done in Thailand, with the cool crisp November weather and driving along the twisting mountain top road at sunset and seeing the shadows of the mountains of Myanmar just across the border. Some where near Pha Hi village we drove right past the Myanmar border outpost. See more..
   
3. 4.5 Than Patibatkan Doi Chang Mub (4 reviews)
   - Great view point
   Points of Interest & Landmarks • Military Bases & Facilities • Scenic Walking Areas
   
   
   Not worth a special trip, but if you're already up a Mae Fah Luang garden, certainly worth the extra 15 minutes drive. There's a small coffee stand on site and toilets as well (not sure how clean, but they smelled a bit from outside). Take a few photos, have a cup of coffee, and be back on the road in 30 minutes. There's a donation box at the entry point, otherwise it's free to visit. See more..
   
4. 4.5 Jinnaluck Mulberry Saa Paper Workshop (3 reviews)
   - At the end of the world
   Points of Interest & Landmarks
   
   
   Hotel concierges and drivers in Chiang Rai don’t know this place, so you have to instruct them about the location. It’s basically on the way between the Golden Triangle and Mae Sai, but not on the main road. At least when coming from the Golden Triangle, the way to Jinnaluck is clearly marked with plenty of road signs. Just remember their logo you see on the website. It’s not much of a detour since the secondary road going past Jinnaluck continues to Mae Sai. Turn right from main road #1290 into #1041. Jinnaluck consist of a factory, a shop and a workshop where children (maybe adults, too) can make a nice framed picture with mulberry paper (250 baht, takes about 20 minutes). They also have kind of a museum where the production of paper is explained. You can get coffee and water but there is no real restaurant. The shop sells various paper sheets for gift wrapping and paper products like boxes, bags, booklets or ornaments. It’s not cheap: cheapest paper sheets (thin, one color) are 5 Baht while most of the really nice sheets are 50 Baht. Quantities on stock are very limited. If you’re also visiting Chiang Mai, HQ Paper has a better selection of sheets at better prices while a wider range of paper products can be bought on the night market. Jinnaluck is recommended as a charming little place to learn about mulberry paper. It’s not a shopping paradise. Call them to avoid visiting at the same time as tour buses. And have their phone number ready so your driver can ask for directions if necessary. See more..
   
5. 4.5 Doi Pha Mi (2 reviews)
   - My beautiful place
   Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lookouts • Scenic Walking Areas
   
   
   Doi Pha Mi or Doi Pha Mei ( ดอยผาหมี ) is the commune name. I like this place There are several cafes with beautiful views and 2 or 3 Home stays. Best time to visit this commune between 15.00 and 16.00 , the only time when the valley is well lit.I visited this place twice in different years. See more..
   
6. 4.0 Doi Wao & Wat Thamphajoen (49 reviews)
   - Temple with a view
   Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
   
   
   Once you have passed through the market, where you can grab some roasted chestnuts or fresh fruit, you will need to climb a substantial Naga staircase to this temple. At the top, the temple, while not the grandest, is beautiful and houses a unique giant scorpion statue and boasts a wonderful view across the Myanmar border. See more..
   
7. 4.0 Wat Phra That Doi Wao (46 reviews)
   - stunning panoramic scenery, beautiful monastery
   Spent < 1 hour Religious Sites
   
   
   the iconic tourist attraction spot of Maesai. from the observation deck, we can see the great beautiful panoramic scenery of Myanmar Tachilek town. the steep climbing up stair was so challenging and impressive experience. the violet building near Scorpion statue was so interested, the peaceful serenity atmosphere inside, nice place to take a rest and do some meditation, and the 4th floor also provide another beautiful panoramic scenery as well. See more..
   
8. 4.0 Tum Luang-Khun Naam Naang Norn Forest Park (22 reviews)
   - Heroes Monument
   Caverns & Caves
   
   
   In this park is the cave made famous by the Wild Boars football team who became stuck inside for 2 weeks prompting an international effort to get them out safely. The cave is locked up so you are unable to enter it at this time. It was nice to see the statue commemorating the Thai Navy Seal who died in the rescue attempt designed and commissioned by the owner / artist of Wat Rong Kuhn ( The White Temple ) his mural of all the heroes is now on display. There are also other caves in the park. See more..
   
9. 4.0 Tham Luang Nang Non (3 reviews)
   - See it with your own eyes
   Caverns & Caves
   
   
   The whole world held it’s breath during the rescue operation of the boys of the football team when they were trapped in this cave. Now the area is a tourist attraction and you can’t blame the locals for making some income out of their endurance. After parking a pick-up takes you to the first photo spot, and then to the cave entrance. There are many displays and you can walk about 100m into the cave, to get not more than a glimpse of an idea of what it must have been like at 2.300m. Most of the explanation is in Thai, but the pictures are easy to understand and a translating app does the rest. After visiting you are taken to a lake and then back to the parking. See more..
   
10. 4.0 Wat Phra That Doi Wao (1 review)
    - Opulent Temple
    Spent 2-3 hours Religious Sites
    
    
    The temple was undergoing renovation works but its opulence showed. Large amount of artwork work being used to the extent of having a top end nightclub style toilet. It has a good viewing deck looking across into Tachilek. There were lots of neon lights and likely to be the casinos built. As the border was closed, the opposite bank is pretty lame. You will see the Chinese construction dotted along the Mekong of similar scale. The temple ground is good to visit from 4pm onwards if you are interested in getting into the prayer halls The external structures are good to kill a number of frames in your camera. Thereafter enjoy the night view See more..
    
11. 3.5 The Thai - Burmese Border Gate (317 reviews)
    - Border now open for overland travels in Myanmar
    Points of Interest & Landmarks
    
    
    Until now international tourists could not travel to other regions in Myanmar, when they crossed the border between Mae Sai and Tachilek. This has changed on August 28. Myanmar now allows international tourists to enter the country at the for checkpoints of Mae Sai / Tachilek, Mae Sot / Myawaddy, Phunaron / Htee Kee and Ranong / Kawthoung. Of course you have to have the visa stamp already in your passport, because there are no visa on arrival. Read more about this decision: http://myanmarinsider.blogspot.ch/2013/09/myanmar-opens-border-with-thailand.html See more..
    
12. 3.5 Fish Cave (54 reviews)
    - Nice cave, good view of Golden Triangle from the top
    Caverns & Caves
    
    
    Wat Thampla (Fish & Monkey Cave) is located about an hour drive from Chiang Rai. We visitid it during our day trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. There were monkeys running freely in the compound, snatching bananas offered by the visitors. The fish were found in a stream that flows out from the cave. My main objective of visiting is to visit the cave and sights behind the temple. The cave is sitting on a steep hill behind the temple. Climb up some 200 stone steps (read: tired legs!), you will be greeted by the sight of towering limestone walls, magnificent! Entered the pitch dark cave, there is a shrine with Buddha statue sitting in the serene cave. Take another small detour outside the cave, you will be pleasantly surprised with the inspiring panoramic view of the jungle bordering Thailand, Myanmar and Laos (Golden Triangle). It is a perfect place to rest your tired feet and take some pictures before you make your way back to the foot of the hill. See more..
    
13. Dao Wow Market (0 review)
    Flea & Street Markets
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14. Tham Saw Hin Phrayanakh (0 review)
    Caverns & Caves
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15. Doi Nang Non (0 review)
    Mountains
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16. Mu Ban Phamee (0 review)
    Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lookouts
    
    
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17. Hat Nang Non (0 review)
    Bodies of Water • Lookouts
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