Things to do in Chiang Rai Province

Although the temples are really far away from Chiang Mai (3.5hrs/single way), they are worth-visiting. The itinerary was fine, yet the time left for White temple/ Black House were too short to visit the whole as they are too big. The tour guide Apple was really nice. Still recommend!

Chiang Rai was quite a distance, but we made it there and back safely. Our guide was excellent and fun, and took many photos for us. I don't think the Red Temple was originally on the itinerary, but it was included, and I'm glad we got to go as I really wanted to see it. We had to return to Bangkok that same day, so we arrived back in Chiang Mai later than scheduled. However, our guide dropped us off at a spot near the airport where it was easy to catch a GRAB, and we were able to board our flight without any issues. Since Chiang Rai is quite far, I highly recommend this tour!

We are meeting at 6:50 PM near the parking lot exit at the back gate of One Nimman shopping center. Do not go outside the parking lot; keep walking inside toward the exit direction of the parking lot. Because I couldn't easily find the meeting point in the picture, I ended up walking all the way around the main street of One Nimman. The White Temple is a combination of Buddhism and contemporary art, and even as a non-Buddhist, I had things to learn. It is very spacious with many photo spots. Photography is prohibited inside the White Temple. We had lunch at a restaurant near the White Temple and took a car for about 30 minutes to get to the Blue Temple. It is said to have been newly built by a disciple who helped construct the White Temple, and its scale is smaller. The Baandam Museum (Black House) showcases the artistic world of Chiang Rai-born artist Thawan Duchanee. It is quite grotesque. Using motifs like animal skins, bones, and hides, it strongly portrays the themes of life and death. Our guide, Alyssa, explained the temples very seriously, calmly, and clearly, making them easy to understand. Our driver, Mr. La, was also kind, drove safely and comfortably, and handled the long drive very well. You must definitely try the cocoa sticky rice ice cream at the Blue Temple. It is an exotic, delicious, and healthy-tasting natural ice cream. At the Black Museum, I received and ate something like a mini pineapple, which was very refreshing and delicious. I highly recommend a one-day trip to Chiang Rai.

Our tour guide, M, was very kind and dedicated, switching between Chinese and English to assist everyone in the group. Before the trip, pay close attention to the travel agency's messages. The day before departure, they will send an email with the updated meeting time; the one I received was different from what was initially booked. The car arrived exactly on time. 8:50 AM: Chiang Rai Hot Spring. The foot bath was extremely hot, so I could only dip my feet in briefly. 9:20 AM: Long Neck Village. There's a coffee shop on a hill next to the parking lot, offering distant views. The owner had difficulty communicating in English, so it's best to double-check your order. 11:30 AM - 12:40 PM: White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). It was breathtakingly beautiful, and the route design was very meaningful. Photography is not allowed inside the main hall. 12:50 PM: Lunch. It was a buffet with freshly made noodle soup, various Thai desserts, and sweet fruits. 1:50 PM - 2:30 PM: Blue Temple (Wat Rong Seur Ten). You can take photos with the large Buddha statue inside the Blue Temple. Outside, there's a row of vendors where you can buy souvenirs and snacks. 2:50 PM - 3:30 PM: Black House (Baan Dam Museum). This is an artist's private collection with a unique style. 4:30 PM - 5:40 PM: Golden Triangle Park (optional boat tour for 300 baht per person). We returned to Nimman Road at 10:00 PM, an hour later than the scheduled 9:00 PM. Thankfully, I had brought snacks for the journey. The streetlights along the route were quite spaced out, and the mountain roads were not very smooth, so I recommend that those prone to motion sickness take medication beforehand. Although the tour ended very late, the guide remained energetic and provided excellent service throughout.

The temple in Chiang Rai is absolutely beautiful. Our tour guide explained its history very well, which made the visit even more meaningful. We also had plenty of time to explore the temple grounds on our own. It was a wonderful experience and definitely worth visiting.

Mr Em is a great tour guide! he's very patient, friendly, and informative about the places. i learnt alot from him. the places are all incredible. hot spring was kinda meh, but its on the way to chiang rai so why not. the long neck village as well. but you can opt not to go in the village, you can kill time at the cafe on top the entrance. great coffee with a view! and cozy too! all the temples are soooo beautiful. we had a safe ride for the return trip so kudos to the driver mr man. its a longggg day so make sure you bring and use sunscreen and umbrella. it was insanely scorching, and then strong rains at the same day. the buffet place was really nice! lots of choices and its right next to the white temple. the journey back from red temple is about 4 hours, you'll be so tired so everyone just sleep in the van. you'll get a break at a petrol station to pee or buy things!

The driver was extremely attentive and thoughtful, parking the vehicle right at the entrance of our accommodation to make it easier for all of us to get on board. At every stop, he reminded us of the restroom locations and provided a list of recommended local foods to buy. Although the journey was long, we didn't feel any discomfort from travel fatigue. We are so grateful to have had the driver accompany us on our trip to Chiang Rai!

we had a wonderful day trip with the famous 7 spots. The tour guide PING and the driver KEAR did a fantastic job always making sure we were well taken care of, introducing the places ahead of the time and showing us the tricks on how to see the places and where the best spots to take a picture! Kear was always cleaning the car and went out of his way to take our trip to another level! it was such great day and if we come to Chiang rai again we will book with them for another route!

The tour guide was friendly and polite, fluent in both Mandarin and English. They provided detailed explanations of the history and background of the attractions. The driver drove smoothly and steadily. Friends traveling to Chiang Mai should definitely sign up for this activity to gain a deeper understanding of Northern Thai culture. The food quality was good, and most of our fellow travelers were from all over the world, so we all got along well. The best part was being able to admire the White Temple, Blue Temple, and the Long Neck Karen village. The villagers showcased traditional Northern Thai handicrafts, and the adorable smiles of the children in the village left a lasting impression on us.