Where to stay in Chiang Rai – city, Golden Triangle and hills
Chiang Rai city, Chiang Saen, the Golden Triangle, Doi Mae Salong and Mae Sai compared. Where to stay in Thailand's northernmost province.
Chiang Rai is Thailand’s northernmost province, bordering Myanmar and Laos. It is quieter than Chiang Mai, with tea plantations, hill-tribe villages, the Mekong River and some of the country’s most unusual modern temples.
Choosing an area
- Chiang Rai city is the natural base, with a compact centre, the Night Bazaar, the clock tower designed by the artist behind the White Temple, and good-value hotels.
- Riverside areas along the Kok River, just outside the centre, have quieter resort-style hotels.
- Chiang Saen and the Golden Triangle, about an hour north, sit on the Mekong where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. There are a few upscale resorts here, plus the ancient ruins of Chiang Saen.
- Doi Mae Salong is a mountain village founded by former Chinese Nationalist soldiers, known for its tea and cool climate, with simple guesthouses.
- Mae Sai is the border town facing Tachileik in Myanmar, busy with trade and markets.
When to go
November to February brings cool, clear weather and, in the hills, cold nights. As in the rest of the north, smoke from agricultural burning can make the air very poor from about February to April. The rainy season runs from around June to October.
Getting there and around
Chiang Rai’s airport has frequent flights from Bangkok. Buses from Chiang Mai take about three to four hours. A car or a hired driver is the easiest way to combine the temples, tea hills and Golden Triangle; local buses also run to Mae Sai and Chiang Saen.
Things to do
The main sights are Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), Wat Rong Suea Ten (the Blue Temple), Baan Dam Museum (the Black House), the Singha Park farm, the Hall of Opium at the Golden Triangle and the Mae Fah Luang Garden at Doi Tung.
Hotels
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & ResortA hillside resort overlooking the Mekong and Ruak rivers where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, with an elephant foundation on site.
Things to do
Doi Nang Non and Tham LuangThe "Sleeping Lady" mountain range and the cave made famous by the 2018 rescue. How to visit Tham Luang–Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park.
