Chiang Rai In Thailand, The Most Exuberant Nature

Chiang Rai is the province located in the north of Thailand, 800 kilometers from Bangkok and 190 to the northeast of Chiang Mai. It has an incredible nature made up of 68% of beautiful mountains and 32% of plateaus and plains. It is best known for hosting The Golden Triangle, so called because three countries converge: Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

It is a fairly rainy area, so between the months of June and October you can admire very green and beautiful landscapes in the mountainous areas, while the flow of the Mekhong River increases considerably, giving a beautiful show. It is an ideal region for hiking, discovering ancient tribes, riding an elephant through the jungle and getting to know the famous Golden Triangle.

Things to do in Chiang Rai

Get to know the Golden Triangle

Knowing the Golden Triangle is one of the must-sees in your visit to Chiang Rai, so called because it covers areas of Thailand, Laos and Burma, countries dedicated to the cultivation of the opium plant. In fact, in the area there is the Opium Museum where you can learn everything about the cultivation of this plant.

At the viewpoint of the Golden Triangle, there is the Wat Phratat Ku Phao temple, which has a golden Buddha. From there it is possible to have a nice view of where the three countries converge and where the Mekong meets the Ruak River.

It is worth taking a boat trip on the Mekhong River, where you will have the opportunity to sail for a few minutes through the waters of three countries. Curious, don’t you think?

Visit the White Temple

The temple of Wat Rongkun, better known as the White Temple, is located about 12 kilometers from the city of Chiang Rai, it is a beautiful construction by the famous Thai artist Charlemchai Hositipat. Its beauty lies in the fact that it is designed with small crystals that give it a white appearance and make it glow in the sunlight.

Inside it has surreal paintings that evoke famous people, movies, and comic book characters. The project is not finished and, therefore, construction continues today.

Know the Temples of Chiang Saen

Chiang Saen is located about 8 kilometers by road from the Golden Triangle. There you can admire three temples: Wat Pasak, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phratat Pha-Ngao.

The Wat Pasak is considered the most beautiful and best preserved, it is located on the outskirts of the 

The What Chedi Luang is located within the walled city next to the main street of the city and has the largest Chedi of all the temples that existed in Chiang Saen.

The third interesting temple to see is about 4 kilometers away from the town of Chang Sen. One of the most striking features of Wat Phratat Pha-Ngao is that it is located on the rock, it is a “Vihan”, located halfway up the hill and has beautiful images of the Buddha.

Trekking in Doi Mae Salong

Doi Mae Salong is a hill about 60 kilometers from the city of Chiang Rai, where the descendants of the followers of Chang Kai Chek are. It is a place with a beautiful natural environment surrounded by tea plantations, the main source of income for the inhabitants of the area.

Here you can tour the plantations, taste and buy tea, taste typical Yunnan food and get to know the villages of the Akha tribes, where you will have the opportunity to buy souvenirs handcrafted by these tribes.

Get to know Doi Tung hill

The Doi Tung hill is characterized by its beautiful vegetation, which evokes the areas of Europe where pine trees predominate. One of the sites of interest is  the Summer Palace of the Queen Mother, a Swiss-style wooden palace with very beautiful gardens.

At almost 2,000 meters high, is the Temple of Wat Phratat Doi Tung, with several Lanna-style stupas. Due to the steep roads it is advisable to visit this area from November to May, in the dry season.

After that, you can take a tour of the mountains that border Burma until you reach the town of Mae Sai, where you will find some of the most impressive landscapes in Thailand given by the beautiful vegetation.