Is Chiang Rai Worth Visiting? 15 Photos To Convince You It Is! (2023)

FAQs

Is Chiang Rai worth seeing? ›

Is Chiang Rai Worth Visiting? Yes. Chiang Rai is close to Chiang Mai, so a trip to Chiang Mai is usually combined with Chiang Rai. The landscape, ethnic villages, and interesting temples in Chiang Rai will show you what northern Thailand is really like.

2 days is enough time to visit Chiang Rai, but if you want to see everything, it will be 2 full busy days. Also, most places are not too closed to each other and you will need to drive quite a bit.

The White Temple is equally terrifying and beautiful. Though with all the fascination about the place it draws in huge crowds of tourists throughout the day. It is said that over a million people visit Wat Rong Khun each year which is huge as Chiang Rai isn't a city that is on the main backpacker trail in Thailand.

As described, Chiang Rai is usually a short stay destination for many travelers. If you're spending time in Chiang Mai and making a side trip to Chiang Rai, then one full day should be enough.

Both cities are worth visiting, but it depends on what you're looking for in your trip. If you're interested in culture, history, temples, and street food, Chiang Mai is the best choice, while if you're looking for natural beauty and a more relaxed atmosphere, Chiang Rai is the better option.

Chiang Rai Old City is very walkable, so don't miss the opportunity to go temple hopping, admire the art and feel its genuine vibes. While Wat Ming Muang, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Phra Singh aren't that big, the architecture and sculpture on the temple grounds will take your breath away.

The most convenient way to get around Chiang Rai is really to rent a car. There is no subway and very few taxis. You can easily visit the city center and its few temples on foot. However, to get to the main tourist attractions of Chiang Rai such as the famous White Temple, you will need to have a car.

Ideally four nights and five days will give you enough time to explore and get a true sense of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 and is located in an area of majestic mountains. This city was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and remains a religious and cultural centre.

It's a tough choice but depends what you're looking for, Pai is laid back and Chiang Rai has a little more culture. If you can squeeze time for both then even better! If your arriving into Bangkok there here are 8 things you can get up to in the big city.

What is the best time of day to visit White temple Chiang Rai? ›

The best time to visit apparently is at sunrise before the large coach tours arrive and the grounds around the temple are free to explore. The temple closes at 5:00pm on weekdays and 5:30pm on weekends.

One of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Thailand, the Golden Triangle is renowned for it's natural beauty and phenomenal scenery. The mighty Ruak and Mekong Rivers converge in this region, and the riverbanks are lined with golden Buddha statues, shrines to the royal family, and massive sculptures.

While Chiang Rai doesn't utilize Uber, know that they do use Grab, which is a very similar service, and they're the best way for you to get around the city. Other forms of travel also include the famous tuk-tuks (three-wheeled vehicles).

November to February: This is the ideal time to visit Chiang Mai because the weather is perfect for all kinds of outdoor activities. While it does not get too cold, you should carry a jacket and some light woolens.

For a budget day without being tight you can still spend 100 THB for breakfast, 100 THB for lunch, 250 THB for an evening meal, and 150 THB for rehydration and cheap snacks, totaling 600 THB for the day.

You should plan to spend around ฿1,307 ($38) per day on your vacation in Chiang Mai, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, ฿299 ($8.68) on meals for one day and ฿106 ($3.09) on local transportation.

You can also travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by yourself, as there are buses running daily and the tickets are quite cheap. But once you are in Chiang Rai you still need to get a taxi or a tuk-tuk to visit the temples and attractions.

If you're looking to do nothing all day, read a book, sip a wine or cocktail and hang out on the beach then Phuket is your choice. However, if you're looking for more physical activity like hiking, Elephant Trekking and more cultural activities Chiangmai is the choice for you.

Chiang Rai beach is located a little bit out of town on the border of the Mae Kok (River Kok). It is nice to walk (on both sides) of the river and enjoy nature, the long tail boats and the locals.

Driving in Thailand is super easy. It makes sense to be independent and it is a much cheaper way to get around. We recently did a fun road trip driving from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with our family.

Is there malaria in Chiang Rai? ›

Malaria precautions

There is low to no risk in the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Sot, Pattay and Phuket, the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Chang and the River Quai bridge area. High risk areas: atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline is advised throughout the year.

An international driving license is accepted as long as it is valid, but a foreign license is not accepted in Thailand.

- A Class Bus (48 seat bus, Air-con, No Toilet) = 129 THB - Duration / Travelling time 3 hours 30 minutes. Tickets can be bought directly at the Green Bus counters at Arcade Bus Terminal 3 or at one of the many ticket selling counters found in Chiang Mai.

Thai cities generally have extremely congested traffic but good public transportation, meaning that hiring a car is not recommended for travel in solely urban areas. However, renting a car in Thailand is a great way to enjoy more flexibility and get off the beaten track to explore other areas of the country.

Many travelers visit Chiang Rai as a day trip from Chiang Mai. This is ideal if you're short on time but I recommend that you try to spend at least 2 days in Chiang Rai to make the most of the region. Besides the temples, you have museums, art galleries, waterfalls, and even a beach to discover.

If your Thailand itinerary allows, plan at least 5 days in Chiang Mai as well, or stay longer and use it as a base to explore northern Thailand!

Chiang Mai and it's smaller sister Chiang Rai are the two main cities of North Thailand; both are superb places to visit with many sites to see. To do justice to both, you need to spend five or six days exploring both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Yes, you can use GRAB and UBER in Chiang Mai, the two popular mobile ride-sharing app that allows you to call for taxi services right at your fingertips.

The direct drive from Bangkok to Chiang Rai is 515 mi (828 km), and should have a drive time of 9 hrs 53 mins in normal traffic.

There aren't any trains running between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The journey to Chiang Rai takes three hours, with most of the journey through beautiful mountain areas. There is plenty of legroom and the seats are very comfortable. There is also a clean toilet at the back of the bus.

How many days should you spend in Pai? ›

With two nights based in the town of Pai, you have enough time to experience everything in and around Pai, and take a day trip west to Pang Mapha district.

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai

You would need around 76,318.8฿ in Chiang Mai to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 69,000.0฿ in Chiang Rai (assuming you rent in both cities).

How far is Pai from Chiang Rai? If you're traveling by land, it's important to know the distance from Pai to Chiang Rai. Your trip will be a total of 187 miles (300 km). The flying distance is 187 miles (300 km).

Your knees do not need to be covered. You can also wear long pants or jeans if preferred but most will be more comfortable in shorts due to the heat. Footwear – You'll need to remove your shoes in most indoor areas at Thailand's temples. You can wear trainers if preferred but I recommend flip-flops or sliders.

Dress politely

Please dress respectfully when you visit any temple in Thailand. Make sure your shoulders are covered (no vests, tank-tops or spaghetti straps) and although skirts or shorts are acceptable at many temples, they should be smart and at least knee-length.

What is this? The dress code is simple really, for both men and women, knees and shoulders must be covered. Additionally, no see-through clothing or skin-tight clothing. So, ladies, this means no leggings, please!

Chiang Rai lies at an elevation of 1,150 feet (350 m) in the basin of the Kok River, near the Khun Tan Range. It has an airport with scheduled flights, and road connections lead south to Lampang and north to Myanmar (Burma) and the Laotian border. It is a trading centre dealing in teak, coffee, and rice.

It's the Thai equivalent of “LOL”; when you see “555” /hâa hâa hâa/ (ห้า ห้า ห้า) in Thailand it means “funny” and “laughing out loud”. Occasionally, we will add a plus sign to the fives in order to indicate that the laugh is longer than typed and express a higher level of amusement, e.g. “555555” or just “555+”.

As Thailand's northernmost city, Chiang Rai is only 118 miles (190 kilometers) from Chiang Mai.

Is Chiang Rai close to Bangkok? ›

The distance between Bangkok and Chiang Rai Province is 676 km. The most popular airlines for this route are Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, VietJet Air, Thai Lion Air, and Thai Smile. Bangkok and Chiang Rai Province have 133 direct flights per week.

There is no Uber in Thailand, but there is Grab

It is a little more expensive than a taxi or tuk tuk, but the cars are safe, secure and usually air-conditioned—totally worth it for a cross-city journey.

Chiang Mai is a beautiful city to walk around, especially during the “Thai Winter” time – November – February, when the temperature is cooler.

The hot season which runs from March to May is Chiang Mai's hottest time of the year with midday temperatures often climbing beyond 32°C. On average April is the hottest month with daytime temperatures can rise up to 40°C.

Although Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, it's very walkable—especially the Old City, surrounded by the moat and remains of the defensive wall. Take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures to wander around the small streets and visit ancient Buddhist temples and small markets.

1 USD = 35.206 THB Feb 28, 2023 16:45 UTC

The currency converter below is easy to use and the currency rates are updated frequently.

Mid Range Budget: Average daily budget: $50-100 USD

If you're willing to spend a bit more money than the average backpacker, you can upgrade your Thailand travel budget to include more fun things. Visit all the best attractions, even if they cost a bit more.

Any person who brings or takes an aggregate amount of foreign currency exceeding USD20,000 or its equivalent out of or into Thailand shall declare such amount of foreign currency to a Customs Officer.

Ideally four nights and five days will give you enough time to explore and get a true sense of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 and is located in an area of majestic mountains. This city was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and remains a religious and cultural centre.

November to February: This is the ideal time to visit Chiang Mai because the weather is perfect for all kinds of outdoor activities. While it does not get too cold, you should carry a jacket and some light woolens. January is usually considered the best month and sees a high influx of tourists.

What should I wear to Chiang Mai? ›