Chiang Rai Vacations and Tour Packages

Overview

Chiang Rai is located north of Chiang Mai and is a good centre from which to visit the Golden Triangle border region where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos merge. Although not particularly large and reasonably quiet, it has a wealth of historical and cultural sites worth visiting on a Thailand vacation. The visitor will notice a considerable number of temples here. The most important include Wat Phra Kaeo which is known for having been the place where the Emerald Buddha, one of the most famous statues, was kept in the 14th Century and which is now in Bangkok. There is a replica in the adjoining museum. Another is the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) which, although only built-in 1998, is architecturally beautiful. One of the halls of the temple is decorated with solver mirrors together with large murals of Buddha in different poses. The Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong Temple contains what is believed to be the oldest holy relic in Chiang Mai. One more important temple is Wat Phra Singh, one of Chiang Rai’s oldest temples built in 1385. It contains a chapel with a footprint of Buddha.

Chiang Rai also has some excellent museums. The Baan Dam Museum consists of 40 small black houses made of different materials in various unique styles. Inside are collections of paintings sculptures and silver and gold items. Several of the houses contain Balinese and Burmese architecture and art dating back to the Ayutthaya Period (1351–1767. The Cultural Hall has an enormous statue of King Mongkut at the main entrance. Inside are collections of prehistoric tools, t medieval cannons, ancient pottery, and ancient scripts. An interesting museum is the Hill Tribe Museum which highlights the culture of local indigenous people including their lifestyle, housing, tools, utensils, and hunting equipment. The museum operates tours to their outlying villages.

Other attractions in Chiang Rai on Thailand tours include the Saturday Walking Street, an excellent night market with exotic snacks, handicrafts made by the hill tribes and locally made clothes. With the many food stalls in the market, you can have dinner here. The Mae Fa Luang Cultural Park is a pretty park with attractive pavilions and lakes. Namtok Khun Kon Forest Park has the highest and most scenic waterfall in Chiang Rai. There are nature walks along trails.