Chiang Rai Day Trip Guide

Although Chiang Rai has enough for multiple days of exploration, a day trip is possible and allows you to cover a lot of the city’s main cultural attractions! If you  are short on time, or even if you just don’t wish to stay over to enjoy other cities, you will still be able to be amazed by Chiang Rai. 

(Be aware though that this is a charming little city, with plenty of nature and hiking opportunities that you can enjoy if you can stay longer)

 In this guide, I will help you to plan your day visiting Chiang Rai, based on my own experience in the city. Let’s go!

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When to visit Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai follows the weather calender of most of Thailand. Located in the north, it also experiences a dry season and a cooler one.

November to February: The Cool and Dry Season (Best Time to Visit)

This is the most popular time to visit Chiang Rai, thanks to its cool weather and clear skies. Temperatures range from 15°C to 28°C (59°F to 82°F), making it perfect for outdoor activities and exploring temples, markets, and nature trails.

March to May: The Hot Season

While the heat can be intense, ranging from 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F), this is a quieter time to visit, with fewer crowds and better deals on accommodations.

June to October: The Rainy Season

Chiang Rai transforms into a lush green paradise during the rainy season. Temperatures are cooler, ranging from 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F), and the landscape is at its most vibrant.

How to get there

I won’t lie to you: to make a day trip and back to Chiang Rai you will need to wake up early. Unless you are staying in a neighboring city, a trip can take around 4 hours each leg. 

Bus

There are several buses arriving in Chiang Rai and back every day. That is how I went there and it is a great option if you wish to save energy for visiting instead of driving!

Price: around €8 each leg

Hours: the earliest bus departs 7am and the last at 6h30pm (the same for return)

Duration: each leg takes between 3 and 4 hours from Chiang Mai and back.

Rental car or scooter

You can also rent your own vehicle and drive there, if you have an international driver’s license. It personally find it can be quite exhausting traveling that much seating in a scooter, but you gain in time and flexibility to move by yourself. It is also cheaper, considering you won’t need to pay for transportation once in the city.

Tickets can be bought in advance in sites like 12Go, and I really recommend you to do it.

Price: around 200-250 bach/day for a scooter, and between 600-1000 baht/day for a car

Hours: up to  you, but I advise you to go early.

Duration: at least 3 hours each way.

Taxi

You can hire a taxi to take you there and back – a very convenient option for sure, but also more expensive. It will cost at least 2,000 baht for the day.

Join a tour

The most convenient way to visit if you are short in time and wish to save energy for more activities is to join a tour. 

How to move around

Grab and Tuk tuks

Grab is available in Chiang Rai, although there are not many of them and you might have to wait a little – but, in my experience, that didn’t impact much. 

You can also find tuk tuks in every attraction you visit, and they have a similar price if you are in at least two people: around 100 baht for each delocation. 

Grab bikes cost around 49 baht for most places, but in farther locations like the White Temple they might be more expensive.

Songthaews

The cheapest option to move around, they will cost around 30 baht/person. They are usually follow established routes, so ideal for short trips when you are just covering the basics. 

Scooter rental

If you came with your own bike or decided to rent one in Chiang Rai, that is also a good option for licensed drivers. Traffic is mostly easy in Chiang Rai, and the lease for a day might cost around 200 baht.

What to do

Blue Temple – Wat Rong Suea Ten

Hands down my favorite place to visit in Chiang Rai. The newest temple built in the city, it was finalized in 2016. Besides the main temple, there are other buildings surrounding it with impressive details and symbolism. The inside decoration makes you feel like you have stepped in heaven. 

Times: 7am-8pm

Price: free

White Temple – Wat Rong Kuhn

One of the most famous attractions of Chiang Rai, it is an impressive art work and very photogenic. The down side is that it is usually full of tourists, and it is not really a very spiritual experience. Besides, it is around 30 minutes away by car from the center of the city. 

Times: 8am-5pm

Price: 50 baht

Baan Dam Museum (Black House)

The Black House is an interesting visit that mixes traditional Lana references with contemporary art. The topics of the art surround the relationship between life, death, and spirituality. I confess I skipped it, for the main reason that it displays several artworks that use animal parts, something I don’t feel good with. Since I was short in time, I decided it was not worth it. But it can be an interesting activity regardless, just decide if it seems like something you will enjoy.

Times: 9am-5pm

Price: 80 baht

Wat Huay Pla Kung

This is the temple with the giant Goddess of Mercy statue, and one of the nicest visits in Chiang Rain in my opinion. It lays on the top of a green hill, creating a beautiful scene. It also has a small white temple, and although its symbolism is not the same as the bigger one, it can also make for a beautiful visit if you want to skip the touristy vibes. 

Times: 7am-9pm

Price: free, 40 baht to go up the Goddess of Mercy statue.

Chiang Rai Contemporary Art Museum

This one is definitely not in most itineraries, but it was among my favorite places. I highly recommend it if you are visiting on a Sunday, since they host a small fair with live music by the sunset time, and you can get a glimpse of local families enjoying their free time. 

At the time I visited, they were also displaying an exhibition of local contemporary artists’ paintings, and I found it so interesting to see what informs their imaginary. Buddhism and family relationships were recurrent topics, showing how these values shape their culture. 

Times: 9am-5h30pm

Price: free

Where to eat

Chiang Rai has plenty of options for food. These were the places I visited and recommend for a great experience on a day trip!

Lalitta Cafe

You probably already saw it on Instagram, and it is totally worth it to go see in person. Perfect for a brunch or lunch break. The food and coffee are very good, but you will also want to separate some time to wonder around and take some pictures. Be shameless and enjoy the vibe! They have created a really magical place there.

The entrance is 60 baht/person, with 30 baht going towards a discount on your meal.

Night Market

If you came by bus, you are probably taking it back at around 6pm. There is a night market right behind the bus station, with delicious and affordable local food. I arrived there around 5h30 and all the stalls were already open, although not many people were eating yet. You should definitely fill up before taking the 4 hours trip back!

I hope this guide was helpful! Let me know if you want to know more, and don’t forget to subscribe to receive new posts.