By air
Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai (CEI), ~8 km from town
Southeast Asia · Thailand
Chiang Rai, Thailand
The White Temple and the Golden Triangle
Getting there
Best time to visit
November to February — cool and dry
Don't miss
Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple)
Baan Dam Museum
The Golden Triangle
Doi Tung
Things to do
The Golden Triangle viewpoint on the Mekong
Singha Park's tea and cycling trails
Hill-tribe villages
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Chainwit. · CC BY 4.0
What to pack
Layers for cool mornings, temple-appropriate clothing
A quieter corner
Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple, quieter than its white neighbour
Questions travellers ask
What shouldn't I miss in Chiang Rai?
Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), the Baan Dam Museum, the Golden Triangle viewpoint on the Mekong, and Doi Tung.
Is there a quieter temple than the White Temple in Chiang Rai?
Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple, is quieter than its white neighbour.
When should I go to Chiang Rai, and what should I wear?
November to February is cool and dry. Bring layers for cool mornings and temple-appropriate clothing.
Where should I eat in Chiang Rai?
Head to the Night Bazaar for khao soi and sai ua sausage, or browse the Saturday Walking Street.
About Chiang Rai
- Hills
- Riverside
Where it is
Chiang Rai is the capital of Thailand's northernmost province, set on the Kok River in a valley of the northern highlands, not far from the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet on the Mekong.
History
King Mangrai founded Chiang Rai in 1262 as his capital, before moving south and founding Chiang Mai as the seat of the Lanna kingdom. According to tradition, the Emerald Buddha now in Bangkok was discovered in the 1430s when a chedi at the city's Wat Phra Kaew split open. Like the rest of Lanna, Chiang Rai later passed under Burmese and then Siamese rule.
People
Chiang Rai's lowland people are northern Thais who speak Kham Mueang alongside Central Thai, while the hills are home to Akha, Lahu, Yao (Mien), Hmong and Karen communities and to Yunnanese Chinese villages such as Mae Salong, known for its oolong tea.
Known for
- Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple
- Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple
- Baan Dam, the Black House
- The Golden Triangle on the Mekong
- Doi Tung and the tea hills of Doi Mae Salong
Did you know?
Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, has been rebuilt since the late 1990s as a work of contemporary Buddhist art; its dazzling white plaster, set with fragments of mirrored glass, is meant to turn the mind from material things towards merit.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.