By Car   

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1. Travel from Bangkok by Highway 1 (Phaholyothin Road), which passes through Ayutthaya, Nakhon Sawan, Kampangpetch, Tajc, Lampang, Phayao, before reaching Chiang Rai city.Total distance is 830 kilometers.

2. Another route passes through Chiang Mai. In Lampang province, take the highway to Lampang and Chiang Mai. From Chiang Mai city, go to Doi Saket, Mae Kajarn, Wieng Papao and Mae Saruay, then on to Chiang Rai city.Total distance from Bangkok is 900 kms.

3. A third route splits off from Highway 1 at Nakhon Sawan, going to Pichit province via Pc Talay and Po Pratap Chang districts. From Pichit, travel on Highway 1084 to Phitsanulok and Uttaradit. Turn right on Highway 1105 to Denchai district, Phrae province. Turn right again onto Highway 101-46 kms. from Rong Kwang in Phrae. Turn left onto Highway 103, and travel 70 kms. until the intersection with Highway 1 at Ngao district. Turn right to travel to Phayao and Chiang Rai. Total distance from Bangkok is 780 kms.
 
 

By Bus  

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 Air-conditioned and non-airconditioned under the Transport Co.,Ltd. (Bor.Kor.Sor.) and other private companies depart regularly from the Northern Bus Terminal on Kampangpetch 2 Road in Bangkok The ttip takes about 10 hours. Reservations are recommended for air-conditioned busses. For more information, call the Northern Bus Terminal at 537-8055-6.

Bangkok – Chiang Rai Bus Schedules 
 
 

By Rail    

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There are no direct rail links to Chiang Rai. Passengers must go either to Chiang Mai or Lampang. From there, travel either by bus or car to Chiang Rai. For more information about train service to Chiang Mai and Lampang, call the Passenger Service Division at the Bangkok Railway Station at 223-7010 or 223-7020 
 

By Air  

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Thai International flies directly 3 times each day (4 on Sunday) from Bangkok to Chiang Rai and twice daily from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. For more information call 1566. For reservation phone 280-0060 or 628-2000 in Bangkok, or (053) 210043-5, 211044-7 in Chiang Mai, or (053) 715734-5 in Chiang Rai.  

The ethnic combination results in a wide variety of Chiang Rai’s local flavor. Here you can find northern Thai dishes, Yunnan Chinese dishes and tasty fish from the Mekong River.

Local dishes which also commonly found in other northern provinces are fermented-pork (Naem), pork crachlings (Khaep Mu), northern-styled sausages Sai Oua and chilli pastes-either nam-prig num or nam-prig ong, served with warm fragrant sticky rice and several kinds of fresh local vegetables.
 

Hung-Iae Curry

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Sweetened curry made with hung-lae curry-paste, coconut milk and thick pork. However the original recipe of Chiang Saen hard-to-find hung-lae is unique. It calls for additional ingredients include pickled bamboo shoots, string beans, green eggplants, fried sesame seeds and tamarind. 

Pork Leg with Hot Chinese Buns

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This is Doi Mae Salong’s special dish. Tender pork leg is simmered with Chinese herbs which add a sweet aroma to the pork’s tender flavor. It’s served with steamed Chinese buns called man-tho. 

Nam-Ngiao/Khao-Soi

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A specialty of Mae Chan, nam- ngiao is a Tai Yai dish, consisting of a curry made with pork ribs on noodles topped with fresh vegetables.
Khao-soi, on the other hand, is yellow curry of chicken or beef spread on boiled yellow noodles served with pickled and sliced challot.
 

Fresh Chinese Mushrooms in Clear Soy Sauce

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This is another specialty of Doi Mae Salong. Only proper-sized fresh chinese mushrooms are picked for the dish. They are de-stemmed and marinated in clear soy sauce and other herbs. Then they are baked and fried until golden and crispy brown. 

Stewed Black Chicken in Chinese Herbs

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Black chicken is the breed originally imported from China. This recipe boasts to offer a very delicious soup with medicinal values, believed to enhance stamina and sexual prowess. 

Fish Dishes

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Along the river basins, fish-lovers will find a wide variety of fishy dish in Chiang Khong made from the Mekong fish. Chiang Saen also offers numerous restaurants by the riverbanks where you can experience sumptuous dishes while enjoying the sights and local flavor. 

The following are some sample itineraries which might be used as guideline. 

One-Day Trip

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Boat trip, Elephant riding, Hilltribe Villages, City Tour

Boat trip to the elephant camp ( Karen Village ) Elephant riding around the village or the hilltirbe villages nearby

After lunch, Boat trip back to Chiang Rai City tour, visit King Meng Rai’s Monument, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Phra Singha, Wat Phra That Doi Thong.Overnight at Chiang Rai City
 

Two-Day Trip

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Doi Tung, Shopping at Mae Sai, Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen

First Day – To Doi Tung. Visit Doi Tung Royal Villa and Mae Fa Luang Garden. Shopping at hilltribes market at Ban Pa Kluai. Visit Phra That Doi Tung.

After lunch, depart for Mae Sai. Shopping at the border market. Overnight at Mae Sai.

Second Day – To the Golden Triangle. A cruise to the Three-Corner Point. Visit Ban Fin Museum and Phra That Doi Phu Khao.

After Lunch, depart for Chiang Saen. Visit Chiang Saen National Museum, Wat Pa Sak,Wet Phra-Chao Lan Thong and Chiang Saen Lake. Back to Chiang Rai City.
 

Three-Day Trip

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Chiang Khong, Hilltribe Villages, Chiang Saen, Golden Triangle, Doi Mae Salong, City tour

First Day – Depart for Chiang Khong. Visit Yao and Mong Villages and the scenic Mekong River

After lunch, depart for Chiang Saen. Visit some magnificent ruins and ancient temples (Museum, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Pasak, Wat Phra That Chom kiti). Then visit the Golden Triangle Viewpoint of the Golden Triangle Overnight at Golden Triangle

Second Day – Depart for Doi Mae Salong. Visit Phra That Chedi Si Nakharin

After lunch, visit General Tuan Memorial and Chinese Village, Tea-Tasting and Chinese gourmetdisnes. Overnight at Mae Chan.

Third Day – Back to Chiang Rai to visit King Meng Rai’s Monument. Visit Phra That Doi Thong. To Up Kham Museum and some ancient temples in the area. Shopping at the city markets. 

In order to avoid Mongol’s attack, King Meng Rai decided to move the capital of his kingdom to a new site. The city was then built in 1262 and called Chiang Rai meaning the city of Meng Rai. Chiang Rai remained the capital of the Lanna kingdom for over three decades before Meng Rai moved his capital to Chiang Mai in 1296. Chiang Rai had since become a tributary state of Chiang Mai. Nevertheless, the king always preferred his original capital and never actually lived in Chiang Mai himself.
In 1558, Lanna with its capital of Chiang Mai was repeatedly attacked by both Lao and Burma and was to eventually submit to Burmese rule and occupation for more than 200 years.

In 1804, Prince Gawila of Chiang Mai led a successful uprising against Burma. After that he came to seek protection from the Thai King in Bangkok. Chiang Mai, therefore, became a tributary state of Bangkok before it was finally proclaimed an official Thai province by the king Rama IV in 1910.

Lychee Fair   

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May 22-24 , Provincial Stadium, Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is known for its high quality of lychees that grow in this northernmost province of Thailand. Each year, to celebrate the harvest of the fruit, a fair is held featuring sales and exhibitions of lychees, other agricultural products and local handicrafts, as well as a Miss Lychee beauty competition and cultural performances. 

Blooming Bua Tong Festival

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November , Doi Hua Mae Kham, Chiang Rai

November is the time of tiny yellow wild sun flowers locally called “Bua Tong”. They cover vast areas on Doi Hua Mae Kham along the Thai-Myanmar borders in Mae Fa Luang district. The tiny blooms turn the entire mountain range into a golden heaven amidst loitering white fog, making it an unforgettable vista. 

Tea-Tasting and Cherry Blossoms   

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January , Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai

Tourists flock to Doi Mae Salong in Mae Fa Luang to admire the cherry trees which have burst into full bloom, covering the whole mountains with their pink floral blankets from early or the end of January, depending on the cold weather. This coincides with the tea-tasting festival. During the festival, there are tea-making demonstrations, a display of the tea growing process, a tea-queen beauty pageant, as well as performances by Doi Mae Salong’s hilltribes. 

Founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai, Chiang Rai was once the capital of Lanna Thai (Kingdom of a Million Ricefields). Located 785 kilometres north of Bangkok and 580 metres above sea level, the province marks the northernmost borders of Thailand. Several natural walls of high mountains surround it and separate it from Myanmar and Laos.

Chiang Rai is home to serveral ethnic minorities include Tai Yai, Akha, Lahu, Lisu, Karen, Yao and more. Each group has its own language, costume, customs, and religious beliefs.
Most of the whole area of Chiang Rai is coverd by high mountains and forests which are well-kept and abundant. Because of these unspoiled natural resources, Chiang Rai is paradise for nature lovers.

Chiang Rai also well known for the area called The Golden Triangle. This area where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge was once supposed to be the center of all the opium poppy growing in Thailand. 
 

Attractions in Chiang Rai 

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Chiang Rai City

Chiang Rai City
Enjoy a pleasant ride by trishaw, the favorite mode of local transportation, visit Chiang Rai’s Lanna-style temples.

Rafting & Trekking
Take a raft ride along the scenic Mae Kok River to the hilltribe villages. 
 

Into The Mountains

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Doi Tung
Visit the palace of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother.

Doi Mae Salong
The mountain top settlement, home to descendents of Chinese Nationalist soldiers who fled to Thailand.

Doi Hua Mae Kham
Admire the tiny blooms which turn the entire mountain in to yellow and visit the Lisor hilltribe village. 
 

Northward Bound

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Mae Sai
Shop for goods from Myanmar and China at Thailand’s northernmost point.

The Golden Triangle
The world-famous place where the borders of Thailand,Burma and Laos meet.

Chiang Saen
See the ruins of this ancient city.

Chiang Khong
Visit the Yao and Hmong hilltribe villages.
 

Seas Of Fog

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Doi Pha Tang
Thanks to cherry blossoms and mountain mists.

 Phu Chi Fa
The best spot to enjoy the sunrise in Chiang Rai.
 
 

Forests

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Roam among wild forests in national parks, swimming in the waterfalls and camping underneath its astral ceiling.
 

Doi Luang National Park
Khun Chae National Park

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