Chiang Rai is a welcoming province in northwest Thailand, located in the mountains north of Chiang Mai, and has everything to appeal to lovers of trekking, hill tribes and good coffee.
See also :
What to do in Chiang Rai: guide to activities and visits
Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai's white temple (The White Temple)
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Description

Aerial view of the city
Chiang Raiwhich translates as "major city" is the name of the province and the city, the provincial capital.
It is a place appreciated for the hospitality of its inhabitants and its simple but authentic character.
Geography
The region in the far north of the country is mainly jungle and mountain, with the city, built on the banks of the Kok RiverIt is 780 km from the capital, Bangkok, and 200 km from its big sister, Chiang Mai.
This is one of the doors to the Golden Triangle or tri-border regionas it is adjacent to the Laos and the Burma.
History of Chiang Rai
Founded by the King Mengrai in 1262, Chiang Rai was the first capital of the Lanna kingdomlong before Chiang Mai.
After being a part of the Lanna kingdom for centuries, Chiang Rai has become a province of Thailand in 1910
Population
It is a multicultural city of 200,000 inhabitants, 12% of whom are from hill tribes, such as the Akha, Karen, Padaung, Hmong, Lisu and Meo…
The province has a population of 1.1 million.
Climate
Chiang Rai has a wet and dry tropical climate, the monsoon season runs from April to September but it rains less than in the southern plains.
October to March It rarely rains, the nights are cool and the days hot but bearable. From December to FebruaryIt can be very cold in the evening, with nights at 13°C in the city.
Find a hotel in Chiang Rai
You can find the best hotel deals in Chiang Rai with Booking.com
Practical Information
Tourist office
There is a tourist information stand at the bus station and a TAT (Thai tourism office) at this address:
448/16 Singhaklai Road, Muang District, Chiang Rai 57000
Telephone: +66 5371 7433, +66 5374 4764-5
Email : [email protected]
You will find many brochures in English on activities in the area as well as maps of the city, the province and bus schedules.
The TAT office is open every day from 8.30am to 5pm
Post
The post office is located on the Thanon Utrakit (see map below).
It is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 12pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Health
The city has three hospitals, one of which is semi-private and modern with English-speaking doctors:
The Overbrook Hospital located in the city centre in the street (thanon in Thai) Singhaclai.
They have a website: www.overbrook-hospital.com
Money exchange
There are many ATMs and currency exchange counters in town.
Transport
You can get an idea of the prices of internal transport (bus, train, plane) or book your tickets with 12go.asia :
Getting to and from Chiang Rai
By bus
There are two bus stations in Chiang Rai, the old bus station in the centre of town and the new one seven kilometres to the south (visible on the full map of the city here).
There are many shuttle buses between the two stations, which will cost you 15 bah in Song Taew but after 5pm you will have to take a Tuk Tuk or a taxi and pay 50 baht.
The old bus station serves mainly cities in Chiang Rai province and also some cities in Chiang Mai province.
The new bus station serves the main cities in Thailand.
The journey from Chiang Rai to Bangkok takes about 11 hours, there are many buses, the buses arrive at the Mo Chit station.
The journey Chiang Rai – Chiang Mai takes about 3 hours, there are also many buses.
The journey Chiang Rai –Sukhothai / Phitsanulok takes about 7 hours.
By train
There is no train, the nearest station is in Chiang Mai.
By air
Chiang Rai has an international airport: the Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport, located 10 km north of the city.
You can compare long-haul flights to Chiang Rai at Skyscanner.
For regional flights, the main low cost airlines are present: Nok Air, Thai Smile, Thai Air Asia and Thai Lion Air and the company Bangkok Airways.
The flight from Bangkok to Chiang Rai takes about 1.5 hours.
See also :
Transport in Thailand, getting around in the land of smiles.
Getting around the city
En Song taew
Blue in colour on Chiang RaiIt is a collective pick-up taxi that allows for economical travel.
You indicate your route and it takes you there while picking up other customers going in the same direction.
You can also use it privately, like a tuk tuk, by arranging with the driver.
By Tuk tuk
A faster but more expensive way, you should not hesitate to bargain with the driver.
En Sam Lo (rickshaw)
A practical and ecological way to make short trips
By Bike or Motorcycle
There are many places to hire a bike or motorbike in the city, most guest houses offer them but you can see :
ST Motorcycle Located in the city centre, they have the largest selection of motorbikes.
Chiang-Rai Big Bike Rental Located at 869/79 Soi Thai Viwat.
Photos of Chiang Rai












Video presentation of the city
A short video to see what the city looks like:
Maps of Chiang Rai
Map of the city centre
See also :
What to do in Chiang Rai: guide to activities and visits
Chiang Saen north of Chiang Rai, discover the golden triangle
Voyage en Thaïlande, the complete guide to prepare your trip
Source: wikitravel Photos : Chiang-Rai from above: Bee; Golden Clock Tower: Roundtheworld, King Mangrai Statue: Oatz; Emerald Buddha Statue: JFL; Wat Rong Khun: AN: D; Golden Clock Tower: Aranas; Wat Rong Khun White Temple: NorthThailander; Bandaam Museum Black House: Guswandhi; Klong Wiang Temple Guardian: Jpatokal; Wat Ming Muang: Jpatokal; Jade Buddha: Elgaard; Wat Sing Entrance: Elgaard; Chiangrai River: Jtaubrey; Night Bazar: Jpatokal