Chiang Rai Hotels Resorts and Travel Guide

Sights / Attractions

• Gate of Siam - on the border with Laos - you stand high up on a mountain and Laos is in front of you and the mighty Mekong River

• Wat Santhaat

• Wat Phra Kaeo - this beautiful Buddhist temple on Trairat Road right in town is famous for having housed, in the 14th century, the Emerald Buddha, one of the most famous Buddha images in Thailand (it is now housed in Bangkok)

• Wat Thoeng Sao Hin

• Princess Mother Hall and Doi Mae Salong - about 70km north-west of Chiang Rai. A beautiful road from Mae Chan, sometimes quite steep. The view from the temple and Princess Mother Hall is fantastic. In Mae Salong there is a museum for KMT and you can learn what happened after they got kicked out of China by Mao Tse Tung, going to Burma, kicked out from there and then into Thailand where they helped the Thai government to fight the Communists for many years.

• Doi Tung Royal Villa - final residence of the Princess Mother (mother of the King of Thailand), located at kilometre 12 on highway 1149, to the west of highway 1. This magnificent villa was built on the mountain overlooking the surrounding hills and valleys in a unique mix of Swiss and Lanna architectural styles. Adjacent to the villa is the Mae Fah Luang Garden, a large beautiful flower-filled garden, and a memorial hall commemorating the Princess Mother.

• Wat Doi Tung - very important temple for the Buddhists and with probably the most fantastic view of all temples in Thailand

• Doi Tung Zoo

• Phucheefah - great sunset view