Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai (เชียงราย) is the capital of Chiang Rai province, in Northern Thailand. The town has a population of around 62,000 and 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.

Get In :
By car
Chiang Rai is about 820km north of Bangkok and is easily accessible from Bangkok via highways # 1 / # 32 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.
If you are arriving from Laos, buses leave Chiang Khong bus station every hour or so and have the destination clearly marked. The journey takes two and a half hours and costs 76 baht

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

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
Wat Phra Kaeo

* Gate of Siam - on the border with 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 70km north-west 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 the Mae Fah Luang Garden, a large beautiful flower-filled garden, and a memorial hall commemorating the Princess Mother.

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

* Doi Tung Zoo

* Phucheefah - great sunset view

Original: Wikitravel