Must-see attractions in Chiang Rai Province

  • Mae Fah Luang Art and Culture Park in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

    Mae Fah Luang Art & Culture Park

    Chiang Rai

    In addition to a museum that houses one of Thailand’s biggest collections of Lanna artefacts, this vast, meticulously landscaped compound includes antique…

  • Hill Tribe Museum and Education Center, Chiang Rai, Thailand.

    Hilltribe Museum & Education Center

    Chiang Rai

    This museum and cultural centre is a good place to visit before undertaking any hill-tribe trek. Run by the nonprofit Population & Community Development…

  • Hall of Opium Museum interior, Golden Triangle, Thailand.

    Hall of Opium

    Chiang Rai Province

    One kilometre north of Sop Ruak on a 40-hectare plot opposite the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa, the Mae Fah Luang Foundation has established the…

  • Wat Rong Khun

    Chiang Rai Province

    Wat Rong Khun’s construction began in 1997 by noted Thai painter turned architect Chalermchai Kositpipat. It's a striking structure that, from a distance,…

  • Baandam

    Chiang Rai Province

    The bizarre brainchild of Thai National Artist Thawan Duchanee, and a rather sinister counterpoint to Wat Rong Khun, Baandam unites several structures,…

  • Wat Prathat Pukhao

    Chiang Rai Province

    Wat Prathat Pukhao provides the best viewpoint of the Mekong junction of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. There are steps up to the temple next to the House of…

  • Asia, Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, Wat Phra Singh temple. (Photo by: JTB Photo/UIG via Getty Images)

    Wat Phra Singh

    Chiang Rai

    This temple dates back to the late 14th century, and its oldest surviving original buildings are typical Northern Thai–style wooden structures with low,…

  • Wat Phra Kaew

    Chiang Rai

    Originally called Wat Pa Yia (Bamboo Forest Monastery) in the local dialect, this is the city’s most revered Buddhist temple. The main prayer hall is a…

  • Tham Tu Pu & Buddha Cave

    Chiang Rai

    Cross the Mae Fah Luang Bridge (located just northwest of the city centre) to the northern side of Mae Nam Kok and you’ll come to a turn-off for both Tham…

  • Oub Kham Museum

    Chiang Rai

    This slightly zany private museum houses an impressive collection of paraphernalia from virtually every corner of the former Lanna kingdom. The items,…

  • Wat Pa Sak

    Chiang Rai Province

    About 200m from the Pratu Chiang Saen (the historic main gateway to the town’s western flank) are the remains of Wat Pa Sak, where the ruins of seven…

  • House of Opium

    Chiang Rai Province

    This small but informative museum features historical displays pertaining to opium culture. Exhibits include the various implements used in the planting,…

  • Wat Pha Khao Pan

    Chiang Rai Province

    Inside the grounds of this active wát near the river stands a magnificent Lanna-period chedi. The large square base contains Lanna-style walking Buddhas…

  • Wat Phra That Pha Ngao

    Chiang Rai Province

    Located 3km south of town in the village of Sop Kham, this Buddhist temple complex contains a large prayer hall built to cover a partially excavated…

  • Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong

    Chiang Rai

    King Mengrai, Chiang Rai’s founder, first surveyed the site for the city from this peak, just west of contemporary Chiang Mai’s centre. The Lanna-style…

  • Wat Phra That Doi Wao

    Chiang Rai Province

    Take the steps up the hill near the border to Wat Phra That Doi Wao for superb views over the Myanmar border town of Tachileik. The wát was reportedly…

  • Wat Klang Wiang

    Chiang Rai

    This temple appears contemporary but probably dates back at least 500 years. Extensive remodelling in the early 1990s has left several structures in the…

  • Khunsa Museum

    Chiang Rai Province

    Displays on Shan culture and history and on Khun Sa, the narco-warlord known as the Opium King, can be seen at the Khunsa Museum, located in Khun Sa's…

  • Wat Jet Yot

    Chiang Rai

    The seven-spired chedi (stupa) at Wat Jet Yot is similar to that of its Chiang Mai namesake but is without stucco ornamentation. Of more aesthetic…

  • Phra Chiang Saen Si Phaendin

    Chiang Rai Province

    The first sight you’ll inevitably see in Sop Ruak is Phra Chiang Saen Si Phaendin, a giant Buddha statue financed by a Thai-Chinese foundation. The statue…

  • Lamnamkok National Park

    Chiang Rai Province

    Dating to 2002, this is one of Thailand’s youngest national parks. The area is home to waterfalls and, most notably, a hot spring. The latter is a short…

  • Wat Chedi Luang

    Chiang Rai Province

    The ruins of the Buddhist Wat Chedi Luang feature an 18m octagonal chedi (stupa) in the classic Chiang Saen or Lanna style. Archaeologists argue about its…

  • Wat Phra That Chom Kitti & Wat Chom Chaeng

    Chiang Rai Province

    The remains of Wat Phra That Chom Kitti and Wat Chom Chaeng can be found about 2.5km northwest of town on a hilltop. The round chedi of Wat Phra That Chom…

  • Chinese Martyr’s Memorial Museum

    Chiang Rai Province

    South of the turn-off to the KMT general’s tomb is the Chinese Martyr’s Memorial Museum, a Chinese-style building that houses some underwhelming displays…

  • Morning Market

    Chiang Rai Province

    A tiny but busy and vibrant morning market convenes at the T-intersection near Shin Sane Guest House. The market attracts town residents and hill peoples…

  • Pha Soet Hot Spring

    Chiang Rai Province

    The hot water from this natural spring has been redirected into a communal pool; for a more private experience, rooms are also available (50B to 80B). Ban…

  • Wat Santikhiri

    Chiang Rai Province

    To soak up the great views from Wat Santikhiri, go past the market and ascend 718 steps (or take the road if you have a motorbike or car). The wát is of…

  • Chiang Saen National Museum

    Chiang Rai Province

    Housing archaeological artefacts from the area, Buddha imagery and exhibitions about the local hill peoples, this is an impressive museum despite its…

  • All-Day Market

    Chiang Rai Province

    An all-day market forms at the southern end of town and unites vendors selling hill-people's handicrafts, shops selling tea and a few basic restaurants.

  • Clock Tower

    Chiang Rai

    Chiang Rai's 'main' clock tower lights up at night and is a popular photo opportunity.

  • Market

    Chiang Rai

    Chiang Rai's main market for fresh produce. It's busiest in the morning.

  • Morning Market

    Chiang Khong

    Chiang Khong's morning market is the place to come for fresh produce.

  • Afternoon Market

    Chiang Khong

    Chiang Khong's afternoon market offers a variety of fresh produce.

  • Pratu Chiang Saen

    Chiang Rai Province

    The historic main gateway to Chiang Saen’s western flank.

  • Wat Phra Kaew

    Chiang Khong

    Buddhist temple in the centre of Chiang Khong.

  • Wat Luang

    Chiang Khong

    A riverside Buddhist temple in Chiang Khong.

  • Clock Tower

    Chiang Rai

    The older of Chiang Rai's two clock towers.