Chiang Rai Thailand Hotel Travel
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.
How to get here
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
Deluxe coaches operated by Greenbus depart Chiang Mai's
Arcade Bus Terminal (north of the city, opposite Carrefour
and just off the super highway) on a regular basis. The
journey takes three hours and costs 520 baht round-trip.
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.
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.
Getting around
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 government 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
Phucheefah. A great sunset view.
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.
- Visit 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. On the mainpage
of 'Chiang Rai' in the regular Wikipedia, you'll find
a link to the coordinates of this place in Google Earth.
- 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.
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