Chiang Rai Travel Guide

The northernmost province of Thailand, Chiang Rai is often overlooked in favor of its more high profile southern neighbor, Chiang Mai. Those who do journey to 'the other Chiang' however, will be rewarded with beautiful waterfalls, picture perfect gardens, stunning mountains, untouched jungles, ancient and unique temples, authentic hill tribes and mysterious mythology. Being the Northern-most province, Chiang Rai also has the coolest climate in Thailand and can be visited in relative comfort all year round. Flanked on either side by Chiang Mai province to the South, the untamed forests of Mae Hong Song to the West, exotic Myanmar to the North and rural Laos to the East, Chiang Rai is a region with rich cultural roots. The mighty Mekong River (Mae Nam Kong) runs along the border where fishing, commercial traffic and occasional boat races are an intricate part of local life. Aside from its somewhat dark chapter as a gateway to the Golden Triangle and the poppy trade, the region is the former heart of the Lanna Kingdom and has a magnificent history for those who seek it.

Where to Go in Chiang Rai