Doi Tung is the site of a major environmental and socio-economic development project initiated by Her Royal Highness Srinakarindra the Princess Mother, mother of His Majesty the King of Thailand.
The 24 kilometers asphalt road from Ban San Kong to Doi Tung is a convenient route to the breathtaking scenery.
Doi Tung Royal Villa
The late Princess Mother chose to build her another home in the north where she could stay for a long rest or to work on her reforestation project on Doi Tung. The building began in 1987, with the erection of the foundation pole on December 23.
The architectural style of this two-storeyed house is the combination of Lanna style, Swiss chalet and log cabin building techniques. The uniqueness of this palace lies in its astral ceiling which is made of wood carved to resemble the celestial sphere with the constellation of the Princess Mother’s birthday. The panel by the staircase has the Thai alphabet inscribed with illustrations.
Mae Fa Luang Park
Built in 1992, the park is located by the front entrance to the palace on a 9 acres piece of land, It has been carefully and beautifully designed. The center- piece, created by the renowned artist Misiam Yipinsoi, is the superb sculpture of children standing on top of each other, symbolizing continuation and thus its name. It is an echo of the Princess Mother’s aspiration that, To accomplish anything, we have to work at it in continuation .
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Surrounding the sculpture are thousands of colorful flowering plants and bushes. There are several kinds of gardens on display here, such as a rock garden, an aqua garden, a palm garden, a plant garden, and a temperate garden.
The park is open daily from 7 am – 6 pm. Admission is 70 baht to the Royal Villa, and 50 baht to the park. A package ticket is 100 baht. Guided tours are scheduled for every half hour.
Mae Fa Luang Arboretum
Situated on about 100 acres of land atop Doi Chang Mup (the highest mount of the Nang Non Range). the garden was initially organized in response to the Princess Mother’s wish to improve and to replenish Doi Chang MUP.
Here you can find a rich collection of uncountable kinds of plants, both local varieties and some rarities from other areas. A long footpath winding among trees and shrubbery along the mountain side shoulders leads to its high summits.
The highest plateau is shaded by big trees removed from the Mae Sai-Mae Chan highway. From the observation balcony, visitors can enjoy the magnificent vista as far as the Laotian and the Myanmar borders.
An admission ticket to the garden is 50 baht.
Doi Tung Wildlife Reservation Station
This reservation station covers the area of about 80 acres, It aims to preserve Doi Tung area wild animals as wet as some endangered species. including deer, hog deer, chamois, bucks, hornbills, etc. Admission is free.
Ban Pa Kluai Hilltribe Market
This is an ideal place to look for souvenirs made by the Akha (l-Ko) and Musor, such as silverware, silver ornaments, woven bags, tribal dresses and other mementos.
Handicraft Center
The workshop is part of Doi Tung Development project. The assortment of handicrafts made by hilltribe housewives available here is diverse in style and ranges from hand woven cloth and rugs, sa paper products, to Arabica coffee beans.
Phra That Doi Tung (Doi Tung Shrine)
This shrine is the first shrine in Lanna built by King Uchuttarat of Yonok-Nakkhaphan in 911 in order to contain Buddha’s left-shoulder bone relies. In the reign of King Mang Rai, 50 more fragments were donated. Mang Rai, therefore, had another chedi built alongside the old one to house them.
Doi Tung Shrine is a popular place of worship for both the Thai and Tai Yai from neighboring Myanmar and Laos from Luang Prabang and Vientiane. During the Doi Tung devotional festival, the whole area is crowded with visitors and worshippers. Driving up to the shrine will then become inconvenient and rather dangerous. Walking is recommended as the most practical way.
Hilltribe Villages
Twenty-six villages of ethnic minorities lie within the Doi Tung Development Project area. Twenty-four are of hilltribe communifies: predominantly Akha and Lahu, with Lue, Lisu and others living in their midst. Another is a Shan (Thai Yai) community, and one a Chinese Haw village. All villages in Doi Tung can now be reached by road, and all receive electricity, water supply, and other physical and social infrastructure. Dramatic changes, through the training and work opportunities under the project, have led to dramatic increases in income and improvement in the quality of their lives. Yet despite the major changes that occurred in recent years, the ethnic minorities of Doi Jung maintain their unique cultures and traditions, and continue to celebrate their special festivals and rituals.
Running through the heart of Chiang Rai, the Kok river is a major transportation artery to neighboring province, Chiang Mai. From the boarding pier at Mae Fa Luang in Chiang Rai’s city, the raft ride downstream to Ban Tha Ton in Chiang Mai takes about 4 hours. Tourists wishing to come to Chiang Rai by the Kok River can also board the raft at Ban Tha Ton in Chiang Mai and take the ride up to Chiang Rai.
The river also pass several hilltribe villages, such as Ban Mai of the Tai Yai, Ban Muang Ngam of the Karen, Ban Cha-Khue of the Musor, Ban Pha Mup Mai of the Lahu (Musor), etc. An elephant-ride station at Ban Karen Ruammit can take you on an exquisite expedition of the forest and its yields. 
Located on Singhakhlai Road, the temple was built around 1385. The Phra Buddha Sihing image now housed in Chiang Mai’s Wat Phra Sing was formerly enshrined here. 
Located behind Wat Phra Singh, this temple is said to have been the original place where the Emerald Buddha, now enshrined in Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaeo was enshrined. 
Ku Phraya Meng Rai was initially built to contain Meng Rai’s bone relics after his cremation. The temple was built later where the Ku was found and was renovated once again in 1952 and Phraya Meng Rai’s statue was erected next to his remains then. 
Before the founding of Chiang Rai, King Meng Rai had a high citadel built around Doi Chom Thong, the city center. Then he had Phra That Doi Thong renovated. Phra That Doi Thong, originally built by Phraya Ruen Kaeo in 900, contains a portion of Buddha’s relics. One portion is kept at Wat Phra That Doi Tung and the other at Wat Phra That Chom Kitti. 
This private museum belongs to Mr. Chunlasak Suriyachai, an avid art collector whose outstanding archeological collections are unique. Some curios on display here include numerous ornaments, lacquerware, ancient fabrics, traditional costumes from some Lanna courts, as well as other hard-to-find items such as the throne of Chao Fa Muang Tai, and golden silk costumes of Tai Yai princes. 
Commonly called Tat Mok Waterfall, this fall is 70 meters high, and is considered the highest and the most beautiful in Chiang Rai. 
Songtaew is a pickup that has been converted into mini-bus with two long seats on each side. Generally songtaews ply the city’s main routes and look for passengers along the way. They can also be privately hired to take you wherever you want to go Prices are around 700 – 1,000 baht for eight or nine hours. Bargaining is required. 
Samlor or pedal trishaw is one of the favourite local forms of transport in Chiang Rai. Although a much slower than other types of transportations, samlor is great for short distances and a relaxing way to see the sites. Fares start at 10 baht and increase according to distance. 
There is a set price from one point to another within the city and should not more than a few Baht. Outside the city, the price is negotiable but generally more expensive than Songthaews. 
Those who wish to be independent, and explore Chiang Rai at leisure, can rent motorcycles or cars. Rental shops can be easily found within the city. 90cc Honda Dream or Suzuki Crystal bike costs around 150 Baht/day while 250cc trail bike costs 450 Baht/day. Visitors are advised to shop around, and consult local tourism publications, for different companies offer different prices and conditions. An international driver license is required. 
Boats can be hired from Chiang Saen to travel upstream to the Golden Triangle, and downstream to Chiang Khong. The trip to the Golden Triangle takes some 30 minutes, the trip to Chiang Khong about 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on river currents and water levels. Prices are depend on group size. 
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. 
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.