Chiang Rai (Chiang Rai, Chang Rai, Changrai, English name Chiang Rai) is a city in , the capital of the province of the same name. Located on the Mae Kok River, 800 km from Bangkok, 150 km from Chiang Mai and 65 km from Myanmar ( former name Burma) and Laos. The total area including the surrounding area is 60 sq. km. The population, excluding tourists, is 68,000 people.

Chiang Rai is the northernmost city of Thailand, interesting not only from a tourist point of view, but also for long-term stay. Of course, even further north are the Golden Triangle, Mai Sai, Chiang Khong and other small settlements. But foreigners visit there for a maximum of 1-2 days, since there are few interesting sights and the infrastructure is very poorly developed.

The city is small, you can easily walk from one end to the other in 1.5-2 hours, if not less. There is all the infrastructure: a shopping center with a cinema, a night market with a food court, restaurants, bars, banks, travel agencies, etc. Chiang Rai is famous primarily for the unusual White Temple, which is located 10 km south of it. It is a launching pad for trips to the Golden Triangle, which is an hour and a half away.

Chiang Rai on the map of Thailand

Story

The city of Chiang Rai was founded by King Mengrai in 1262. Until 1281, it was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Then, for several years, the city of Lampun became the center, and after that, in 1286, the capital was moved to Chiang Mai. For a long time it was captured by the Burmese. In 1899, the territory was annexed by the Kingdom of Siam.

Only in 1933 did Chiang Rai fully become part of Thailand, becoming one of its provinces.

Who should go

Why do tourists come to Chiang Rai, and some stay here for weeks and months? There may be several reasons. There are day-trippers who arrived here as part of an organized excursion, for example, from Chiang Mai, Bangkok or Pattaya. They only briefly explore it, visiting a couple of temples. Their main goal is the White Temple, located 12 km to the south and the Golden Triangle - 65 km to the north.

Others come on their own to get to know the history, sights and spirit of the city in more detail. They usually explore all the temples, visit the night market, and ride around the surrounding area.

Still others specifically go to Chiang Rai for a long period of time because they are tired of the crowded popular resorts of Thailand and their hot weather.

Chiang Rai has everything you need to stay for a week, a month, a year or a lifetime. The climate is especially pleasant – not humid and cool at night (+12…+18). The city has a large selection of accommodation, prices start from 80 baht per day for a place in a dormitory and from 250 baht for a private room with shower and toilet. There are numerous restaurants, bars, cafes, tour desks, and motorbike rentals at your service. Everything you need can be bought at the night market, the Big C hypermarket and the huge Central Plaza shopping center (with a cinema, Robinson store, Tops supermarket and a bunch of boutiques).

Despite such infrastructure, Chiang Rai can be explored on foot if desired (although it will not take one or two hours). In size it can be compared with Pattaya. But only in size, everything else is very different. The city is very calm, in the evenings the activity is only near the night market and the bus station.

Inside Thailand you can get there by plane or bus; there are no trains to Chiang Rai.

Almost all popular airlines fly: Thai Airways, Nok Air, Air Asia, Bangkok Airways and others. There are direct flights from Bangkok, Krabi, Udon Thani, Phuket and Koh Samui.

Cheap flights to Thailand

You can buy air tickets to Thailand as profitably as possible using special search engines that collect data from all airlines.

You can take buses from almost anywhere in Thailand. The easiest way to buy tickets is at the nearest travel agency or. You can also leave from the nearest bus station.

There is a ferry from Chiang Mai from the pier to Thaton (3-4 hours), for some this will be a good alternative to the serpentine road to Chiang Rai.

Transport

Beaches

Chiang Rai is not a resort for a beach holiday. However, 4 km from the city there is a place on the river for local residents to relax, which can roughly be called a beach. In principle, you can go there to sunbathe, get a massage right on the shore, ride a boat on the river and enjoy beautiful views. It's unpretentious to even take a swim. But the water is muddy, the coast is so-so.

There is no smell of tourists here because they know nothing about this place. But Thais come here only in the evenings, after work or on weekends. But don’t think that there are crowds of locals here. Not at all! The author of these lines was on the beach on Sunday at 10 a.m. - there was no one there (see photo). The place is well equipped, there is a toilet, shower, canopies with sun loungers and a fan! In a word, you are guaranteed a comfortable stay. The only negative is that the sand here is not as beautiful as on the sea, sometimes with green grass. In general, in appearance it quite resembles a beach next to a river somewhere in middle lane Russia.

What to do and what to visit

There are quite a few in Chiang Rai, mostly represented by old ones. Unfortunately, they are not as ancient as those in Chiang Mai or Ayutthaya, but still deserve your attention. Ironically, the most popular is the White Temple, which is located outside the city and is a very young complex, built only in 2008. However, the construction has not yet been completed and new fragments and structures are added to it every year.

Several ancient temples and remains have been preserved stone wall, surrounding the city, from the time when Chiang Rai was part of the Lanna Kingdom. Also of interest is the Wat Phra Kaew temple, which is located in the historical part of the city. It was here that the statue was found, which is now located in the temple of the same name in Bangkok. A copy of it is now installed here.

In the province of Chiang Rai (not in the city itself), the tribes of long-necked women are of tourist interest, to whom you can book an excursion at any travel agency.

Well, and of course, beautiful nature - green meadows, majestic mountains, waterfalls, caves, hot springs.

And from here you can go to Burma or Laos; the trip will take 1.5 and 2.5 hours, respectively, by bus. Also a mandatory point is to visit where the borders of three countries meet (despite this, you cannot cross the border at this place and get a visa). It takes 1.5 hours to get there to the north.

The atmosphere in Chiang Rai is completely different, unlike any other place in Thailand. This is not a remake like Pattaya, which was a God-forsaken village 60 years ago. Here you will see a city with a rich history that dates back more than 700 years. This place is definitely worthy of your attention!

Climate

It is no secret that in the central and southern parts of Thailand the climate cannot be called comfortable: during the day +30...+35, and at night +26...+28, i.e. There is no escape from the heat and high humidity even after sunset. Chiang Rai in this sense is simply a paradise, especially for long-lived people - during the day the temperature is really the same, but after 18 o'clock it begins to drop sharply, reaching +25 in the evening, and +15...+20 in the morning. Plus the humidity is much less. Many people stay here to live precisely for these reasons - on the one hand, there is an excellent climate, and on the other, a fairly calm place, albeit with all the necessary infrastructure. There are never crowds of tourists in Chiang Rai - neither in the low season nor in the high season.

Read in detail about.

Chiang Rai is the northernmost capital of the province of the same name in Thailand and one of the oldest cities in the country. This is a very provincial and not the most popular tourist place; there are no beach holidays, luxury hotels and the usual entertainment of Thailand. People come here to take a break from noisy cities and enjoy the picturesque beauty surrounding nature: fields and mountains, beautiful waterfalls, thermal springs and deep mysterious caves.

Chiang Rai is located 185 kilometers north of Chiang Mai, its population is about 100,000 people. The city has a unique location, thanks to which it is visited both by those who purposefully came here and by travelers on excursions to neighboring countries: Chiang Rai is located not far from the “Golden Triangle”, where the borders of three countries – Laos, Thailand and Myanmar – connect. Such a favorable location allowed the provincial capital to become the commercial center of the area. The city is also unique for its multinationality, which is explained by the transition of several mountain tribes to the Christian and Muslim faith. This led to the presence on its territory, in addition to traditional Buddhist temples, also of Christian churches and Islamic mosques. The once wild tribal areas are gradually being filled with tea and coffee plantations.

• Area: 61 km²;
• Time zone: UTC+7;
• Population: 67,200.

general information

King Mengrai is considered the founder of the city. From 1262, for almost 20 years, this was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Then, the status of the center passed for a short time to the city of Lamphun, and already in 1286 Chiang Mai was appointed the capital. For a long time it was under the rule of Burma. At the end of the 19th century, the territory was annexed by the Kingdom of Siam. And only in 1933, the city, as a province of the same name, became part of Thailand.

Local residents love their region for its special climate, which is not typical for Thailand. In the central and southern regions of the country it is very hot and humid at any time of the day. Chiang Rai's weather is comfortable: despite the fact that daytime temperatures reach +35⁰C, in the evening and at night the thermometer drops to +15⁰C. In addition, there is optimal air humidity here.

Transport

8 kilometers from Chiang Rai there is an airport serving exclusively flights from. Therefore, to get here from our country, you will need at least one transfer. There is no railway connection with the city. Transport connections with neighboring large cities are provided through bus routes.

There is no public transport in the city; you can only get around by taxi: both budget tuk-tuks and more expensive air-conditioned cars offer their services. However, the city is small and very compact, so you can walk around all the sights of Chiang Rai in a few hours.

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The borders of three amazing Asian countries - Thailand, Myanmar and Laos - constitute a special region called the Golden Triangle. The total area of ​​the region is quite large, while the tourist center is the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers in the village of Sop Ruak in Thailand. Travelers from all over the world head to the north of the country to see with their own eyes three great countries at the same time.

But not so long ago, completely different motives brought people here. The “opium paradise” attracted smugglers with a thirst for profit. The policies of neighboring powers have successfully overcome the situation, and this issue is no longer on the agenda. So what can you profit from in the Golden Triangle now? The pristine beauty of Don Sao Island, a descent along the Mekong River, a visit to the observation deck at the top of Wat Phra That and, of course, a visit to the opium museum will diversify your vacation.

Kok River

The Kok River is the deepest and longest river in Northern Thailand. It begins in Myanmar, flows through picturesque places, some of which are nature reserves, and flows into the Mekong River in the Golden Triangle area, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. The border in this place is precisely the river.

Kok links the Thai provinces of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai and is the most important route between them. This is why walks along the Kok River are so popular among tourists: following the flow of the river, you can watch the inhabitants of these places, stop the boat near the shore and continue traveling through the jungle, or get to the city to admire the ancient temples.

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Mount Doi Tung

Mount Doi Tung is located in the Golden Triangle. This “Triangle” is the intersection of the borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. The main income of local peasants has always been income from growing opium poppies, which had a detrimental effect on the local population. However, in the 80s of the last century, the royal family began to revive these places, and Doi Tung became one of the most important projects. The once disadvantaged region has become blooming garden, when the mother of the current monarch of Thailand moved to the palace built here especially for her.

The Doi Tung project occupies 150 sq. km of land and employs more than 11 thousand people. Now, instead of opium poppies, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and coffee are grown here. The project is directly supervised by the royal family.

Wat Rong Khun Temple is considered to be the most unusual Buddhist temple in Thailand. It is relatively young - its construction began in 1997. The creator of this unique monument is the Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who, according to rumors, erected the temple only with his own money in order to perpetuate his name in history. The artist made every detail, every roof slope, every figure in the temple according to his own sketches.

It is simply impossible to describe the temple in words. It looks as if it was created not by man, but by some unprecedented force. The stark white jagged temple is surrounded by ponds teeming with sacred fish. Inside the temple you can look at the works of the artist Chalermchayu and even buy some of them.

Monument to King Mengrai

In Chiang Rai, at the exit from the city, next to the road to Mae Chan, there is a tall dark monument against the backdrop of a golden carved wall with sharp ends. This is a monument to Koroi Mengrai, the founder of the city. According to legend, King Mengrai was looking for his elephant on the banks of the Kok River and, admiring the beauty of the area, decided to found a city here. Many city tours start from this place as a sign of respect to the founding king.

Opium Museum

The world's most famous Opium Museum is located in Thailand for good reason. It was in this country that almost until the end of the 20th century, opium production was almost the only means of ensuring the life of local peasants. The museum's exposition is designed in such a way that, moving from one exhibition to another, one can imagine the development of the production of narcotic drugs in Thailand from ancient times to the present day. The museum's extensive collection includes production tools, agricultural implements, posters, as well as modern multimedia resources.

The museum is open every day except Monday from 8.30 to 16.00.

Museum "House of Opium"

In the very center of the Golden Triangle is the private museum “House of Opium”. Its collection is not as extensive and varied as that of the large and famous Hall of Opium, but it is also worthy of attention. Here are examples of agricultural implements used in poppy cultivation, utensils for making opium, a collection of old photographs and much more. The entrance ticket price is several times cheaper than a ticket to the large Opium Museum.

In addition, the “House of Opium” is open every day, seven days a week, from 7.00 to 19.00

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Wat Umong Temple

Wat Umong is one of the most unusual temples in Thailand. It was founded in 1927.

The temple consists of caves that are connected by tunnels. Translated from Thai, "Umong" means "Tunnel". Inside the underground temple there are Buddha statues illuminated by candles.

Most of the territory is occupied by a pond and forest. The pond is home to large carp and turtles. “Wise trees” grow in the forest near the temple; there are signs with written Buddhist sayings on them. The temple houses a replica of the Ashoka pillar with four lion heads and the wheel of Dharma, installed in the 13th century. This is a world symbol of the spread of Buddhism.

There is also a library-museum and a meditation school, where classes are taught in English language.

The most popular attractions in Chiang Rai with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Chiang Rai on our website.

More attractions of Chiang Rai

Having spent nearly 30 years in the shadow of Chiang Mai, the Thai city of Chiang Rai has sprawled haphazardly on the southern bank of the Kok River. Now the city is trying to rival Chiang Mai as an upscale tourist destination, with all the trappings of hype and crowding. The long arm of the complex industry has reached this northern outpost, opening the way for busloads of reckless tourists and newlyweds in cars who stop here and walk around the area for a couple of days, and then rush on.

Paradoxically, this allows the city to live its own life during the day. ordinary life, as travelers leave for excursions, but at night the neon lights flash and the souvenir shops and ersatz Western restaurants are pandemonium. However, among Thais the city retains its reputation as a weekend getaway for lovers. This comes courtesy of several motels with carports, where you pull into a garage and pay for a modest screen to be drawn behind you. Travelers on a limited budget are given less attention, but they still come for hiking, day trips and other outdoor activities.

Chiang Rai is most famous for the things it had and lost. The city was founded in 1263 by the king of Ngon Yang, Mengrai, who caught a runaway elephant here, which he was chasing around Doi Tong Mountain. The king decided that the capture of the animal was a good omen for the new city. It is traditionally believed that Chiang Rai was the capital of the North for 30 years, but historians believe that Mengrai and his court moved from Ngon Yang directly to in the 1290s.

It was once home to two of the most revered shrines - the Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok) and Phra Singh Buddha (now in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or, depending on which story you believe). They were later taken to other places, but at least replicas of these statues can be seen at Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Phra Singh.

Arrival and transport in Chiang Rai

If you arrive at the bus station, which is located on Thanon Phaholyothin Road, in the south of Chiang Rai, you will have a long walk to most guesthouses, so you may want to leave here by tuk-tuk (about 30-50 baht) or songthaew - these are the two main ones type of transport in the city. Longtail boats from Tha Thon arrive at a boat station located northwest of the center, on the north side of the Mae Fah Luang Bridge. Thai Airways flies to Chiang Rai from. You can also use the services of Air Asia and Oriental Thai. There are taxis from the city to the airport, located 8 kilometers to the south (300 baht).

The convenient TAT office is located at 448/16 Thanon Singhaklai, next to Wat Phra Singh (daily from 8.30 to 16.30), where some good free cards and information brochures. This office covers the provinces of Chiang Rai, Nan, Phrae and Phayao. Every October they organize the Mekong Adventure, a nine-day bicycle trek through China and Laos. Gare Garon at 869/18 Thanon Phaholyothin has a small selection of new and used books in English, as well as handicrafts and drinks. Tourist police are located on Thanon Phaholyothin Road near the Golden Triangle Inn.

Songthaew, which has no set routes, charges locals 10-20 baht for a short trip. You can negotiate the price for other trips. Most guesthouses offer motorbike and car rentals, although finding a bike rental may be a little more difficult. Both mountain bikes (100 baht per day) and motorcycles (150-300 baht) can be rented from the very reliable Soon Motorbikes at 197/2 Thanon Trairat. An expensive car with full service can be rented through Budget, which is located at the Golden Triangle Inn.

Accommodation in Chiang Rai

The Thai city of Chiang Rai is crowded with all kinds of hotels, but many of them offer low quality service at high prices. One or two guesthouses are said to be comparable to the best hotels in Chiang Mai. More expensive accommodation is concentrated around the commercial center of Thanon Phaholyothin, while guesthouses, most of which also offer tours and treks, are located on the south bank of the river and on the outskirts.

• Cheap places

1). Baan Bua Guest House– This is a pleasant establishment, located in a surprisingly large garden, away from the road. The concrete rooms are very clean and beautiful, with private hot water baths and some with air conditioning. Location: 879/2 Thanon Jet Yot;

2). Bowling Guest House– This charming establishment, located on a residential street, is famous for its peaceful atmosphere. It offers small concrete rooms next to a fragrant courtyard filled with potted plants. Owned by a young family, this guesthouse has a homely, friendly atmosphere. Six rooms have a private bathroom with cold water, and in addition, a shared hot shower is available. Location: next to Thanon Singhaklai Street, near Mae Hong Guest House;

3). Guesthouse Chat House– Located on a quiet side street behind its own garden cafe. It is Chiang Rai's oldest gathering place for travelers with a relaxing atmosphere. The modern rooms are colorfully decorated and have private bathrooms with hot water, although cold water they are somewhat cleaner. The cafe shows satellite TV programs every evening. Location: 3/2 Soi Sangkaew, Thanon Trairat;

4). Chian House Guesthouse– This lively, run-down complex with a small pool offers lovely en-suite rooms (all have hot water, some with air conditioning) and spacious, clean, wonderfully furnished wooden bungalows with cool tiled floors. There is Internet access. Location: 172 Thanon Koh Loy;

5). Mae Hong Son Guest House– This friendly establishment is located on a quiet street. The complex is housed in wooden buildings surrounding a green, shaded courtyard with an elegant bar and cafe. The rooms are very nice - some have baths (with hot water) and others have shared hot showers. Location: 126 Thanon Singhakai;

6). Guesthouse Tourist Inn– A clean hotel-style guesthouse housed in a modern 4-story building, run by a Japanese-Thai team. Near the reception on the 1st floor there is a European-style bakery, a lobby with large comfortable chairs, a TV and a library, and the bright, bright rooms have hot water baths and air conditioning or a fan. There are cheaper rooms in the next building, not as modern, but with hot showers. Location: 1004/4-6 Thanon Jet Yot;

7). Hotel YMCA International– Trustworthy hotel with comfortable rooms with hot water. Some rooms have air conditioning. The hotel is located in modern building in the northernmost part of the city. They also offer beds in a dormitory (90 baht). The hotel has a small swimming pool, a café-restaurant and a small charity shop with handicrafts and local agricultural products. Location: 70 Thanon Phaholyothin.

• Establishments with reasonable prices

1). Baan Worabordee Hotel– A quality, well-equipped, newly built building located on a quiet road off the main street. Comfortable, clean, beautifully decorated rooms with small balconies, hot water baths, cable TV and a fan or air conditioning. Location: 59/1 Moo 18, Thanon Sanpanard;

2). Golden Traingle Inn Hotel– The hotel is located in the city center and is surrounded by a garden. It offers large comfortable rooms with exquisite decor. All have air conditioning and hot water. Location: 590 Thanon Phaholyothin.

• Expensive establishments

1). Dusit Island Resort Hotel– This hotel is located on an island on the Kok River, offering a magnificent view of the entire valley. It is considered the best in the city. There is a health club, tennis courts, swimming pool and children's playground. The service meets the highest standards. Location: 1129 Thanon Kaisornrasit;

2). Rim Kok Resort Hotel– A magnificent luxury hotel located in the quiet northern part of the city. It occupies a vast area and has a swimming pool. Location: 6 Moo 4, Thanon Chiang Rai-Tha Ton;

3). Wangcome Hotel– An ordinary hotel with a swimming pool, located in the city center. Not quite up to international five star standards. Location: 869/90 Thanon Pemavipat;

4). Wiang Inn Hotel– Located across the street from the Wangcome Hotel, but slightly more sophisticated than the latter, and also has a swimming pool. Location: 893 Thanon Phaholyothin.

Sights of Chiang Rai

The walk from the center to the towering Doi Tong Mountain in the northwest is especially beautiful at sunset, when you can enjoy magnificent views of the Kok River. At the top of the mountain stands the most interesting of Chiang Rai's few, a sort of phallic one centered around the city's new lak muang, symbolizing the Buddhist order of the universe. Historically, the Lak Muang was erected in honor of the official founding of the Thai city, in Chiang Rai this happened on January 26, 1263, and the new Lak Muang and the carefully crafted stone structure around it appeared exactly 725 years later, to celebrate the 16th anniversary of King Bhumibol.

The lac muang itself symbolizes the axis of the Universe, Mount Sineru (or Meru), and the series of concentric terraces, ditches and columns symbolize the heavens and earth, the great oceans, rivers and the main features of the Universe. It is believed that if you sprinkle water on the entwined garlands of lac muang, and then sprinkle your head with the water that flowed from it into the pool, this will bring good luck. wood varnish muang can be seen in the viharn of Wat Phra That Doi Tong, the first temple in the city, the buildings of which are scattered chaotically on the eastern side of the hill. Notice the small golden prang, it's old fashioned wooden house for the spirit and a Chinese shrine, linking the hill with the wat into a single sacred place.

The Emerald Buddha, the most significant Buddha image in , was discovered when lightning shattered the chedi (it has since been restored) at Wat Phra Kaeo on Thanon Traitat Road. The beautiful copy, which was donated to the city by a Chinese millionaire in 1991, was carved in China from a 300-kilogram piece of soft green jadeite. It can now be seen in Khor Phra Yok, a small Lanna-style pavilion located on the right behind the viharn. This copy, which is 47.9 centimeters wide and 65.9 centimeters high, is several millimeters smaller than the Emerald Buddha, since, according to religious rules, a copy cannot exactly replicate the original.

The entire complex has been recently renovated and decorative finishing now distinguished by a high degree of craftsmanship. Of interest are the decorations on the large wooden building to the left of the viharn, where ancient religious objects and texts are kept. The Hill Tribe Museum and Craft Shop at 620/25 Thanon Tanalai offers a collection of authentic, exquisite hill tribe crafts. The store on the 3rd floor was opened by a member of leading development company Meechai Viravaidya under the auspices of PDA (Population and Community Development Association), which continues to be involved in village projects.

The museum (Monday-Friday from 9.00 to 18.00, Saturday-Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00; 50 baht) is a wonderful place where you can learn more about the mountain peoples before going on a hike to them. Hikes to the mountain tribes are also organized here. The exhibition includes a well-produced, informative slide show (25 minutes). You can donate old clothes or money for jumpers and blankets to the hill tribes. All handicrafts that differ good quality and at a low price, you will find it at the night bazaar, located next to Thanon Phaholyothin street near the bus station. Here you can also just while away the evening.

• Traveling and Hiking from Chiang Rai

The area around Chiang Rai offers a variety of treks, from easy walks along the Kok River trails to strenuous treks along the mountain slopes north to the Burmese border. The region has settlements of all mountain ethnic groups. The river, both on the western and eastern sides of the city, is deep enough for rafts, and most trips include a ride on elephants. However, the region's abundance attracts too many travel agencies, and many mountain villages, especially between Chiang Rai and Mae Salong, have grown tired of the regular visitors.

Some tourism companies in Chiang Rai have recently expanded their network to the rest of the province, including Chiang Khong, where the Hmong and Mien people live. Group sizes on treks from Chiang Rai are usually smaller than in Chiang Mai, often ranging from 2 to 3 people, with a maximum of about 7 people per group. The estimated prices set by the Chiang Rai branch of TAT are quite high; an average three-day trek with two overnight stays and an elephant ride usually costs 3-4 thousand baht for each participant in a group of 2 to 5 people. Almost all guesthouses in Chiang Rai can arrange trekking for you. Trustworthy guesthouses include Chat, Chian and Mae Hong Son.

More expensive treks are offered by several non-profit community tourism organizations with offices in Chiang Rai. Hill Area and Community Development Foundation founded Natural Focus, which is located at 129/1 Moo 4, Thanon Pa-Ngiw. It offers tours from 1 to 15 days during which you will study the life of mountain peoples, and there are also programs for young people who volunteer to live and volunteer in the villages. The company has a folk crafts store.

The growing PDA offers one, four-day jungle treks that include elephant and longtail boat trips. It also offers day trips on mountain bikes to the source of the Kok River, the program includes fishing, meals and guide/mechanic services (2,200 baht). There are also excursions to and from other interesting places. Most guesthouses can arrange sightseeing tours, boat trips and elephant rides for you. Mae Hong Son Guest House and Chian also offer motorbike rides, while the latter offers horseback riding tours.

Food and drink in Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai's restaurants, including those that cater to Western tastes, are clustered around Thanon Jet Yot and Thanon Phaholiothin streets, where there are also good Thai restaurants. There is a grocery section at the night bazaar, where they offer a variety of very delicious snacks, and there is also a beer garden where you can catch a free cabaret performance by gay people, or local folk singers, or traditional dance performers. On Thanon Jet Yot, south of the clock tower, there are several Western-style bars where you can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere, satellite TV, music or just a drink and a chat.

1). Cafe Baan Chivft Mai– This is a Scandinavian bakery owned by a Swedish charity company that helps children from the slums of Chiang Rai and Bangkok. This is a very cozy air-conditioned cafe serving exceptional sandwiches, cakes, cinnamon rolls, croissants, coffee and tea (Monday-Saturday 7am to 9pm, Sunday 2pm to 9pm). Location: 172 Thanon Pra Soop Sook, opposite the bus station;

2). Restaurant Cabbages and Condoms“This restaurant proudly states, “Our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy.” The walls here are lined with various items related to birth control, including paintings by Meechai Viravaidya, who offered family planning products in the early days of this organization. The menu is very delicious dishes Thai cuisine, including some traditional northern delicacies. All dishes are labeled in English, there are several items that are suitable for vegetarians. Opening hours: daily from 7.00 to 00.00. Location: located in the Museum of Mountain Peoples;

3). Restaurant Chiangrai Coffee Company– A simple cafe-restaurant that serves a variety of coffees made from local beans, as well as many types of tea, Belgian waffles, good all kinds of breakfasts and Western dishes, for example chicken breasts in orange sauce (120 baht). Location: 1025/38 Thanon Jet Yot;

4). Muang Tong Bistro– Offers a wide range of Thai and Chinese dishes, presumably 24 hours a day, and also displays a great variety of ingredients in the open lobby. The establishment is popular among both Thais and foreigners. Location: On the corner of Thanon Phaholyothin Street just south of the Wiang Inn;

5). Salungkum establishment– This establishment is rightfully appreciated by local residents, as it serves the best Thai food in the city, and also has a garden where you can dine in the evening. There is no English sign here, the guide is Gas station Cosmo is on the opposite side of the road. Location: 843 Thanon Phaholyothin, between the statue of King Mengrai and the river.

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Chiang Rai, Thailand- from remote hill tribe town located in picturesque surroundings the mighty Mekong. Chiang Rai was founded in 1262 as part of the Lao-Thai Lanna Kingdom. It became a Siamese territory in 1786 and eventually one of the 77 provinces of modern Thailand in 1910.

The city of Chiang Rai brings back memories and exotic images. The mountain range in Chiang Rai is bordered on the west by Burma and Chiang Mai, and to the southeast is the famous Phu Chi Fa mountain and nature reserve. But otherwise the landscape in Chiang Rai Thailand is mostly flat and the land is agricultural.

The city of Chiang Rai in Thailand is bounded on the north by the Kok River and bordered on the east by Highway No. 1. The old city of Chiang Rai was built on the site of the ancient settlement of Lawa or Mon in the early 14th century. Today, little remains of the old city, but there are walls and a moat.

So, what is Chiang Rai, where is it located and what is there to do there? Chiang Rai is the northernmost province of Thailand. Tourists rarely get here and even less often on their own, because the main attraction here is the famous white lacy temple of heaven and hell ( white temple in Chiang Rai). And for the more curious, there is also the Black Temple and the village of the long-necked Karen tribes. A large number of the population of the hill tribes converted to Christianity, so in the city of Chiang Rai in Thailand you can see, in addition to Buddhist temples, also Christian churches, as well as Islamic mosques and Chinese temples.

The high western mountains, inhabited by numerous hill tribes, were, until recently, quite wild places. Today, these destinations are becoming more famous for travel, mainly due to the coffee and tea plantations, as well as the town of Mae Sai in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand, known as the site of the illegal trade of dubious Chinese goods, duty-free cigarettes and counterfeit Viagra. Many illegal drugs still pass through the Burmese border. So rural areas of Chiang Rai see more police on the roads than any other Northern province.

The city of Chiang Rai has a local population of approximately 200,000. It is a small and calm town, although there are also places for tourists: several restaurants serving international cuisine, a brand new shopping center with all the famous foreign brands, supermarkets and a cinema.

Chiang Rai (Thailand), basically an inconspicuous provincial town. Entertainment in Chiang Rai - pthe coastal area where the river descends into the town of Tha Ton in Northern Thailand. Another attraction is the night market. There are also plenty of decent and nice places to stop and eat in Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai Thailand is also a transport hub for the region due to its central location and airport.

Many ATMs can be found on Phaholyothinу street. The largest shopping center is Central Plaza Chiang Rai.Chiang Rai has several extraordinary places that are worth visiting. These are the Black Temple of Chiang Rai (Baan Dam), the famous White Temple of Wat Rong Khun in Thailand and Wat Huai Sai Khao. The White Temple in Chiang Rai is perhaps just his calling card. This place is definitely not to be missed in the city.

White Temple in Chiang Rai (Wat Rong Khun)

The White Temple of Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun is without a doubt the most famous and most photographed temple in Chiang Rai province. It is also one of the most beautiful (and unconventional) temples in Thailand. The color of the white temple signifies purity. The temple was built according to the design of a local artist in 1997, who took 15 years to turn his idea into reality.

Inside the white temple in Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khun, you can find not only statues of Buddha, but also images of Superman, Batman and Neo from The Matrix. In general, the author’s very unconventional approach to creating the temple is obvious, who, by the way, believes that this project will give him immortality.

White Temple in Chiang Rai Wat Rong Khun is located 12 km south of Chiang Rai, near Pahonyothin Road. It is open daily from 6:30 am to 6 pm. Entrance to the White Temple in Chiang Rai, Wat Rong Khunw, is free.

Doi Mae Salong Village and Mountain, Chiang Rai

There are several interesting villages in the mountainous northern part of Chiang Rai city. One of the most picturesque of them is Mae Salong, located 74 km northwest of the city of Chiang Rai. There is a special atmosphere there, and everything around is reminiscent of China, and by the way, most of the residents have Chinese roots and even speak Chinese to each other.

The view from the top of the mountain is breathtaking. Very atmospheric, quiet and peaceful place. There are few tourists, life seems to have stopped. There are also numerous scenic routes along tea and coffee plantations. You can just walk around these places and enjoy yourself away from the hustle and bustle. If you rent a motorbike, the trip will also be very exciting.

Black Temple of Chiang Rai Baan Dam

If there is a white temple in the city of Chiang Rai, Thailand, then there must be some kind of opposite. And there it is, too—the black temple in Chiang Rai—another highly ambitious project by another local artist. The temple illustrates the darkness in humanity. The entire temple is done in red and black colors and is decorated with skulls, skins and various other animal parts and creepy artwork.

The Black Temple of Chiang Rai (Baan Dam) is located approximately 10 km north of Chiang Rai off the Phahonyothin Highway leading to the Thai-Burmese border at Mae Sai. The temple is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. There is a visitor center, a gift shop, and a small cafe.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha Wat Phra Kaew

Of course, this is not the most popular temple among tourists in Chiang Rai. Everyone has heard about the white temple in the city of Chiang Rai (Thailand), but few have heard about Wat Phra Kaew. However, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew, is one of the most significant cultural and religious sites in Chiang Rai province. This temple gained fame when it was struck by lightning in 1434. An emerald Buddha statue was found in the rubble. Since then the temple has been called that way. The statue itself was long ago taken to Bangkok, and a malachite copy of that same emerald Buddha remained in Chiang Rai.

It is still not known exactly where the Buddha statue came from in the temple. There is a version that it was created in India about 2000 years ago and brought to Sri Lanka, then to Cambodia and at the end of the 14th century it ended up in northern Thailand.

Chiang Rai Clock Tower

The clock tower traditionally marks the center of the province. In Chiang Rai, this clock tower is one of the best and most beautiful in all of Thailand.

Singha Park, Chiang Rai

The park is little known among tourists (yet). The main reason why most people would like to come here is the massive golden lion statue of Singh. A very picturesque place.

Why go to Chiang Rai in Thailand?

The path to the golden triangle on the border with Chiang Rai also runs through Chiang Rai. It is the junction of three rivers and historically (formerly) a drug-offshore zone. Selling drugs was prohibited and severely punished, so they came up with a way to circumvent the law, to exchange goods in the middle of the confluence of three rivers, during a decline in the water level, where a small island was formed for several people.

In fact, there is nothing beautiful or important in this triangle, a common lure for gullible tourists. Most often, it is under this program that tourists who travel to the north of Thailand buy themselves a one-day excursion from.

On your own in Chiang Rai Thailand those who want to carry out a visa run (extending their stay in Thailand by crossing the border and returning to the country one day for a new stamp) or desperate backpackers who want to visit Laos and are heading, as a rule, to.

Town Chiang Rai (Thailand) small, no different from others of its kind, quiet, but the influence of Laos, and therefore of France and America, is clearly felt here, and prices are 20-30% higher than Thai ones. There is little left of Thailand here, it feels like a completely different country and people, although it would seem like a hundred kilometers away…. In general, there is hardly any need to go here specifically, only if you intend to cross the border on your own and head to the wonderful, mysterious Laos.

That's all for now. Today I told about the city Chiang Rai in Thailand. This city is interesting in its own way; you can find a special charm and local flavor in it. And for tourists, this place is famous for the fact that the famous white temple in Chiang Rai, famous among independent travelers, is located here. The White Temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand can be seen in pictures of Thailand and also in the list of the most interesting places in Thailand.