Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai Doi Tung Blossom Festival, 1st – 16th February, (check for dates) Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai. This is the perfect time for you to enjoy a wealth of colour and variety of species in bloom on the hills surrounding Doi Tung Royal Villa, as well as a tea exhibition and demonstrations at Doi Mae Salong.

Another way to find Buffalo Horn Hill (Wat Phra That Doi KhaoKhwai) 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.

Food

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. 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 Ria

Chiang Rai is in Northern Thailand and the capital of Chiang Rai province, the northern most 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 it is about 780km’s from Bangkok and 180 from Chiang Mai.

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 inThailand. Doi Tung Zooaka Doi Tung Wildlife Station is both a zoo and a wildlife preserve that is spread over 200 rai of land along highway no. 1149 it is heavily involved in the breeding of rare and endangered species.

The station has gathered many species found wild in the Doi Tung area, these include deer, muliacus muntjak, hogdeer, bear, peacock, Siamese fireback pheasant and hornbill. Visitors can walk along shady trails and catch glimpses of these rare species Entrance free open 08.00 to 18.00 Gate of Siam.

On the border with Laos. You stand high up on a mountain and Laos is in front of  you and the mightyMekong River.

Wat Phra Kaeo this beautiful Buddhist temple on Trairat Road r ight in town is famous for having housed, in the 14th century, the Emerald Buddha, one of the most famous Buddha images inThailand ( it is now housed inBangkok)

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 ofChina by Mao Tse Tung, going to Burma, kicked out from there and then intoThailand where they helped the Thai government to fight the Communists for many years.

Buffalo Horn Hill and Kun Korn Waterfall (Nam Tok Kun Korn)  You can rent a car or take an organized trip 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.

The area is also a center for adventure holidays with many activities such as mountain biking, caving, climbing, bamboo river rafting, elephant rides, and many more you can book a couple of hours or several days participation in these and other adventure activities with local agents.

Wat Rong Kuhn also known as ‘the white temple’ It is quite a long drive on ‘super-highway’ A1, direction Chiang Mai, to find these beautiful grounds with a white temple. The building of the temple was started in 1998. The grounds are situated on the righthand side coming from Chiang Rai.

It’s rather easy to miss actually. Once you pass a big red coloured temple, you drove already to far and you should make a U-turn. The architect is artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. He is famous for his religious paintings,but I believe his mud-castle-like architecture stands out and is definitely worth a visit.

Shopping

The best shopping in the area is for locally made crafts many from craftsmen who have specialized in the same items for generations. A must try is Chinese champagne. Another area for shopping is Mae Sai county and at the Golden Triangle.

Hundreds of shops and stalls at Mae Sai are situated densely together and extend right to the Thai-Myanmar border.Some popular items are silk and local clothes, silverware, jade, gems, woodcarvings, dried fruits, preserved food and hand-made souvenirs.

Night Bazaar

The bazaar is located between the bus station andPhaholyothin Road in the center of town. The market consists of many small stands lining the narrow street running between Phaholyothin Roadand 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.

“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.

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). 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.

Getting Around

Boat

One of the more popular ways to travel to or from Chiang Mai is by boat along theMae Kok River. Public boats make the 3-4 hour journey every day between Chiang Rai and Ban Tha Ton in Chiang Mai. Boats leave Chiang Rai at 10.30 am, the return trip leaves Tha Ton about 12.30 pm. Prices are 200 baht per person.
Long-tail boats can also be hired privately to some nearby destinations such as theBuddha Cave, Ban Ruam Mit elephant camp and the nearby hotsprings.

Bars
ReggieBar inside Night Bazaar many others spread around the area
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.

Sunset  Phucheefah. A great sunset view. By Tuk Tuk . Accommodation Lots of hotels guest houses from the basic 400-600 to good hotel 1200- 1500 to top class such as the Dusit Island Resort 2700

Getting There

By Bus

Air-conditioned buses from private companies depart regularly from the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok the trip takes about 10 hours. Reservations are recommended. Cost 400 – 600
By Train

Not recommended train goes to Chiang Mai then a bus to complete the journey.
By Air

From Bangkok about 90 min’s several flights per day cost around 2000. The airport is served by Air Asia, Nok Air, One-Two-Go and possibly Angel Air. From Chiang Mai about 30 min’s cost 500 -800