From Wikitravel

Chiang Rai (pop. 40,000) is in Northern Thailand and the capital of Chiang Rai province, the northernmost province of Thailand. The town is the main commercial centre serving the Golden Triangle border region of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. It is an excellent base for exploring the region.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By car 1.2 By bus 1.3 By Train 1.4 By plane 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 8.1 Budget 8.2 Mid-range 8.3 Splurge 9 Get out

Get in

By car

Chiang Rai is about 830 km north of Bangkok and is easily accessible from Bangkok on highway no 1 and from Chiang Mai on highway 118.

By bus

Extensive services run to Chiang Mai and there are several buses daily to Bangkok. The main bus station is called Kohn Song.

By Train

The nearest train station is at Chiang Mai.

By plane

Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) is located on Phaholyotin Road 8 kilometres from downtown Chiang Rai. Car rental is available on arrival from Avis [1]

The airport is served by Air Asia, Nok Air, One-Two-Go and Thai Airways

Get around

Public transport consists mainly of tuk-tuks and songthaews, plus a smaller number of taxis. The city itself can be explored on foot, but for trips into the province consider renting a car or a motorbike. Budget and Avis both have offices in Chiang Rai and there are several local agencies. If you don't feel up to driving in what may be a very different environment, then consider hiring a car with driver - it doesn't cost much more.

A motorbike is a good way to see these parts; there are several trails and a 250cc dirt bike is a great way to see the country side. However be aware that many of the mountain roads are narrow and winding and that Thailand has one of the highest rates of motorcycle accidents in the world. Stay alert.

See

• Gate of Siam. On the border to Laos. You stand high up on a mountain and Laos is in front of you and the mighty Mekong River.

• Wat Santhaat

• Wat Phra Kaeo - this beautiful Buddhist temple on Trairat Road right in town is famous for having housed, in the 14th century, the Emerald Buddha, one of the most famous Buddha images in Thailand (it is now housed in Bangkok)

• Wat Thoeng Sao Hin

• Princess Mother Hall and Doi Mae Salong About 70 km northwest of Chiang Rai. A beautiful road from Mae Chan, sometimes quite steep. The view from the temple and Princess Mother Hall is fantastic. In Mae Salong there is a museum for KMT and you can learn what happened after they got kicked out of China by Mao Tse Tung, going to Burma, kicked out from there and then into Thailand where they helped the Thai goverment to fight the Communists for many years.

• Doi Tung Royal Villa - final residence of the Princess Mother (mother of the King of Thailand), located at kilometre 12 on highway 1149, to the west of highway 1. This magnificent villa was built on the mountain overlooking the surrounding hills and valleys in a unique mix of Swiss and Lanna architectural styles. Adjacent to the villa is a large beautiful flower-filled garden, and a memorial hall commemorating the Princess Mother.

• Wat Doi Tung. A very important temple for the Buddhists and with probably the most fantastic view of all temples in Thailand.

• Doi Tung Zoo

Do

• Organize a trekking tour to the hill-tribes

• Visit Mae Sai and the Golden Triangle

• Visit Buffalo Horn Hill and Kun Korn Waterfall (Nam Tok Kun Korn)

Rent a motorbike and go to the temple on Buffalo Horn Hill to have a splendid overview over Chiang Rai by following the old road to Chiang Mai, called Thanon Ratchayotha. Just about when you'll cross the city borders you'll notice a long curve in the road to the right. From this point watch for a hill in the distance at the lefthand side. That's where you want to go! Take a left turn at the next big Soi. Find your way up this hill. The entrance to the small road up is to be found on the left side at the base of this hill (look for temple flags). You will be treated with the most beautiful view over Chiang Rai. Especially around sunset! The restaurant at the small lake serves nice fish and gourmet frogs. Another way to find Buffalo Horn Hill (Wat Phra That Doi Khao Khwai) is to go Thanon Sanam Bin south to the Old Airport, turn right onto Thanon Pracha Santi follow this one and you see the hill in front of you.

Take the same old road to Chiang Mai for about 15 km and turn right at the wood carved sign 'Kun Korn Waterfall'. The pitoresque road meanders up for 11 km. Walk the last kilometer to the waterfall itself through fantastic jungle. Impressive.!! You might need a swimsuit and/or dry clothes... prepare to get wet.

• Play and practise golf at The Old Airport. Here you have a very good Driving Ranch and also a 9-hole golfcourse. You can find one of the best teachers in golf here, Barry Finch. And when you are hungry there is a hamburger restaurant.

• Golf in Chiang Rai There are two highclass golfcourses outside Chiang Rai. Santiburi is one of Thailands 5 best courses and you can find Santiburi 10 km east of town.

Waterford Valley is as good as Santiburi. You find Waterford Valley 35 km northeast of town. There is a hotel if you want to stay over. In town we have two 9-hole courses. The Army Course that you find close to Mae Fa Luang Bridge and The Old Airport course that you find, yes, at the old airport. The Old Airport course you can play without a caddie. At the other courses you must have one.

Buy

• Night Bazaar - The bazaar is located between the bus station and Phaholyothin Road in the center of town. The market consists of many small stands lining the narrow street running between Phaholyothin Road and the bus station. Everything on display from silk ready-made garments to tattoo etching, even pets. The hill tribes sell an amazing selection of old coins, collector's pieces of needlework and very fine quilted bed spreads.

Eat

• Roughly halfway down the alley entering the 'Night Bazaar' from the main road is 'Centrepoint', an open-air hawkers/restaurant surrounded by more stalls and with a stage for classical music and dance performances.

• On the main road there is a Lebanese restaurant serving Falafel, Tabouleh, Hummous and other middle-eastern delicacies.

• Da Vinci is an other good place on the main road serving nice charcoal pizzas an pastas. Homemade foie gras.

• Good bakery just opposite the bus station (bread, rolls, good coffee, cakes). At the same time you are helping hilltribe young women have the opportunity to be apprentences, running this very bakery. Nice (and very rich) marchpain rolls.

• Oasis is a very specialized and delicious vegetarian restaurant. Standing with your back toward the main stage at the 'Night Bazaar' you'll notice a high building on the lefthand side. At the corner of this street (which eventually leads you to the fruit and flower market), you'll find the restaurant downstairs. Situated behind the small eateries which still belong to the market. A 'must' for vegetarian people!

• "Chiang Rai Beach" during the day or the early evening is an excellent spot. There are around 20 eateries overlooking the 'Mae Kok River'. Bring your dictionary with you for there are no English menus to be found. A bit out of town. Go by tuktuk or motorbike.

• Tong Tung Restaurant (no English sign) serves you Northern Thai food. Try this semi-outdoor place on the western side of the road about 1 km south of Thanon Banphaprakan on 1/1 Thanon Sanambin (old airport road).

• Eat khao sawy (Birmese style chicken curry with noodles), sausage and naam phrik num (dip made of eggplant and peppers) at a small but famous shop just in the middle of Thanon Jet Yot. All the locals eat here.

• More on the same street Thanon Jet Yot but more toward Thanon Banphaprakan is a new shop called CR 49. It seems they serve good pastas.

• The famous khao moo deng (rice with red sauteed pork) tastes best at the big Chinese restaurant on Thanon Phahonyothin, the main street. Red sign board with large yellow font. Big cold coffee machines attract the locals to having lunch there. Delicious!

• Siam Corner on Thanon Jet Yot. Very good Thai food. They also have some farang food.

Drink

• Muze Bar at Thanon Sanambin ('the old airport road'). Runned by resident DJ Skin (Pi Job) and Pi Num. If you are into good music this is the place to be. Go eat first at the Tong Tung Restaurant opposite the street.

• Big Bamboo Bar at Thanon Jet Yot. Near crossing with Thanon Phahonyothin. Play free pool!!

• Bo's Place on Thanon Phahon Yotin 100 m south of busstation. Here is one place where local farangs meet for a beer and for a nice meal.

• Reggie Bar inside Night Bazaar. Good variety of music and drinks. Open after 8pm. Later local farangs meet there.

• Easy Bar on Thanon Jet Yot. Open all day. You can have a meal here, read Bangkok Post, watch Cable TV.

Sleep

Chiang Rai offers all kinds of accommodation from basic guesthouses to hotels.

Budget

• Ruangnakorn Hotel near the police station costs 450 baht/room.

• Baan Bua on Thanon Jet Yot. Very central but nice and quiet. Nice garden where you have breakfast with other travellers and in the evening you have a beer together with Brian. Room from 200 - 400 (aircond). (053 - 718 880)

Mid-range

Splurge

• Dusit Island Resort, 1129 Kraisorasit Road, Muang; tel. +66-53715777 fax. +66-53715801

Get out

• Go north to Mae Sai and on to Myanmar
• Go north-east to the Golden Triangle, where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet, and formerly a major opium-growing region
• Go south to Chiang Mai

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