CHIANG RAI - THAILAND

INTRODUCTION








Chiang Rai is the most northern province of Thailand. The mighty Mekong river creates a border in the north to both Laos and Myanmar (Burma). The place where all these countries touch is the famous-infamous Golden Triangle. The terrain of Chiang Rai province is mountainous and covered in large parts with tropical rain forests. The scenery is among the most beautiful of Thailand and one of the best things about Chiang Rai province is its rich cultural diversity - lots of different ethnic communities - various hill tribes, Thais, ancient aboriginal people like the Lawa or Khamu, Shans, Lao, Chinese, and Mon, they all live peacefully and friction free together. In addition, the province offers opportunities for boat tours (on the river Kok and on the Mekong), elephant rides, hill trekking, and sightseeing. Combine all these and you'll know why it is a very worthwhile destination for travelers.

The river Kok near Chiang Rai

Most visitors start at the province capital which is also named Chiang Rai. It is a small, peaceful town, with a few interesting temples, markets, and museums. Accommodation ranges from inexpensive guest houses to 4 start hotels (the Dusit Island Resort, for instance). It is a very pleasant town, people are friendly and the pace of life is still very tranquil.

The attractions of the town Chiang Rai include two temples and some interesting museums. Other things to do in the province are for instance boat rides on the Mekong or raft tours on the Kok river. In the evenings a night market that offers a large variety of handicraft opens daily after sundown. It can be found between the bus station and Pahonyothin Road. To see more of Chiang Rai province you will have to leave the town and go on one of the tours suggested in the following pages.

The Golden Triangle is the place of the Mekong where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and Laos touch and the rivers Ruak and Mekong join. If there was no sign on the bank of the river that advertises this fact no doubt nobody would notice anything there that is special. Nevertheless, the Golden Triangle is a "must" for every visitor of Chiang Rai province. There used to be nothing at this place but with the advent of tourism a small village, called Sob Ruak, was founded, and now countless souvenir booths and small restaurants line the road. There are also two international class hotels, the Imperial Golden Triangle Hotel, which is quite decent, and the Baan Boran Hotel (formerly called Le Meridien Baan Boran), which is exquisite.

Hill Tribe Children posing for a picture

The main attraction of Sob Ruak are boat tours - rent a longtail boat for an hour or so and speed up the Mekong river. To the left are Thailand and Myanmar, and on the right is Laos. Lots of interesting things can be observed on the water - fishing boats, Lao housewives doing their laundry in the river, skipper's wives preparing lunch on the boat while their little children climb around, monks taking a walk on the river banks, and plenty of other things.

If you are dressed reasonably smart and would like to take your lunch in very nice surroundings, drive to the Baan Boran Hotel for lunch. They have a good restaurant with an extensive menu where you can sit outside on the terrace and enjoy a beautiful view of the lush valley of the Mekong and the green hills beyond.

The tour to the Golden Triangle can easily be combined with a visit to Chiang Saen.

The town of Chiang Rai was founded in the 13th century (at least that is when it was first mentioned in the annals). It was founded by King Mengrai who also founded Chiang Mai further south), a very successful politician and ruler. He made Chiang Rai the first capital of his new kingdom and has a fortress built to hold the Mongols at bay who kept invading the country from the north).

Strasse in Chiang Rai

Little remains of this interesting past, and Chiang Rai today is mostly popular for its pleasant, relaxed atmosphere, and its rich cultural diversity. It is the best starting point for trekking tours to the tribal villages in the hills around the Golden Triangle and also for sightseeing tours to the region. Nevertheless, there are some nice spots in Chiang Rai that are worth a visit. They are all in the old part of the town and you can easily walk from one to the other, with the exception of the museums.

Let's start at Wat Phra Singh. It is located in the north of the old town, south of the Kok river (Mae Kok). It holds one of the oldest Buddha images in Northern Thailand. It is also famous for its modern doors on which two really fierce looking guardians are depicted.

From this temple walk to left and at the next corner again to the left. You are now on Ruang Nakhon Road. On the left side is a market that you can explore. After the visit to the market proceed walk right (towards the river). You will reach Wat Phra Kaew - it has the same name as the famous temple in Bangkok, and for the same reason: "Temple of the Emerald Buddha". It is here, in its Chedi that in the year 1436 the small jade Buddha image was found or "stolen", as some might say :-) that is now displayed in Bangkok. Recently a copy was made that is now on exhibit in a small new viharn (chapel). The inauguration of the building and the statue was an important event attended by the king and high officials; pictures of the ceremony are displayed inside the building. Apart from that Wat Phra Kaew is a lovely traditional Lanna style Temple with the typical rich decor of woodcarvings and leaf gold. There are lots of other temples in Chiang Rai, but Wat Phra Singh and Wat Phra Kaew are the essential ones.

Entrance Gate of Wat Phra Kaew

The two museums are located a bit farther

away - take a tuk-tuk, as the distances

are several kilometers. The first one is the

Haw Kham Mae Fah Luang Royal Museum.

You can find it on Rajyotha Road, in a a

beautiful Lanna style teak wood building.

Its focus is on religious objects - wooden

Buddha images, monk's fans, and carved

wooden screen, swords, stone markers,

and so on. It is surrounded by nice

gardens with a lake.

The second interesting museum is the
Oub Kham, also located in a lovely garden.
It is located near the military hospital and
Den Ha wet market. This museum offers\
interesting relics from Lanna's royal past:
processional chairs, peacock fans, cloths
and costumes, silver work, and statuary.
The museum is named for the golden bowl
that in old Lanna was part of the regalia
and to be used only by the king and its
family.

Doi Tung means "flag mountain". It is 1800 meters high, located on the border to Myanmar (Burma), and popular for the Mae Fah Luang Royal Gardens and Wat Doi Tung, a temple on the top of the mountain. The trip to Doi tung is itself very nice, it leads through very beautiful mount scenery, and on the way are elephant camps and hill tribe villages to visit, so it is really a worthwhile day tour. Elephant Camp Depart at around 9 am latest from Chiang Rai. You can go by car, either self driven or with a chauffeur - the latter is not much for expensive, and you will not have to pay attention to the road. You could also go by motor bike, if you prefer that. On the way you can make detours to see that Phong Pha Bat waterfalls and near Mae San a hot spring, but honestly, you won't miss much if you skip them :-). Your first stop should be the Karen elephant camp Baan Ruammit on the bank of a small river. The village is quite touristy, with lots of souvenir shops and nobody except the shop girls dresses in the traditional costume. Nevertheless, it is interesting. And the real attraction, of course, are the elephants. You can rent them for half and full hours (at least 1 hour is recommended). From the top of a platform you get onto the howdah on the back of the elephant and then the mahout gently directs the animal up the hill and into the jungle. At first being so high above the ground may feel scary, but you will soon get used to it. The beauty of an elephant ride is that it can take you places a car or a bike cannot and where it would be uncomfortable to walk. Plus, elephants make no noise - it is a quiet ride, only interrupted now and then when the elephant finds something interesting to nibble on and won't continue until it has eaten. You can hear the birds and the cicadas sing, inspect epiphytic orchids that grow in the tree here and there, and watch the butterflies. Don't forget to feed your elephant some bananas or sugar cane after the end of the ride - they expect this treat! If you like to, you can sit in the small open air cafeteria, drink something, and watch the elephants, grownups and babies, splashing around in the river. Elephants love water, indeed, they need to moisten their skin regularly and therefore should be given access to water whenever they want. Where they are not allowed this, the camp is not well run and the animals are mistreated. Avoid such camps! After the elephant camp continue on the road to Doi Tung. It soon leads into a mountain terrain and the road becomes quite steep. Lovely scenic views can be enjoyed as your car or bike climbs up higher and higher. Doi Tung was a favourite place of the late king's mother. She had a residence built, on Doi Tung Moop (which is not open for sightseeing tours). What can be visited here are the royal gardens and the mountain top temple, Wat Doi tung. On the way are also interesting hill tribe villages where you can stop. The most interesting is probably the Akha village, quite near the summit. You can see simple houses, children playing, hens rpicking in the dust for grains, and other scenes of rustic life. Most of the women wear the traditional dark costume with short skirt, knee high leggings, and the famous elaborate headdresses that are decorated with silver coins. The Akha of this village are used to foreign visitors and welcome them as a source of income - plenty of souvenirs are offered, and every clicking of your camera will result in the extension of at least one hand, followed by a demand for money. After the visit to the Akha village continue to the Mae Fah Luang gardens. Although the flowers are not spectacular for tourists form the Northern Hemisphere (they are mostly plants from temperate zones, like begonias, snap dragons, delphiniums, hollyhocks, and so on), the gardens are beautifully landscaped and offer good views of the surrounding mountains. Take time for a leisurely stroll along the flower beds and afterwards for some coffee or tea on the open air terrace of the simple cafeteria. Entrance is 70 Baht. On the way to Doi Tung From the gardens drive up the mountain to Wat Doi Tung (there are signs). The road runs in serpentines and offers exiting views of the valleys and forests beyond. Drive past the temple Wat Noi Doi tung (which is not very interesting) and on the to the summit to Wat Doi tung. Its two small chedis are very old - the were built as early as 911 AD. Apparently people even then enjoyed the splendid panorama. The gorgeous views of the mountains of upper Burma are indeed astonishing, especially on clear days. From a small sitting area visitors have a particularly breathtaking view, as well as from the walkway lined with posts form which hang large temple bells. The walkway leads to a staircase decorated with two Nagas that takes you to a couple of souvenir stalls if you are interested in buying something. Doi Mae Salong is one of those places where the journey there is more beautiful and worthwhile than the place itself. Don't miss this trip, as it leads on a very good road through beautiful mountains. The splendid views on the way alone are worth driving to Mae Salong. The little town was founded in the 1960s by former Kuomintang (anti-Communist) soldiers who had been expelled from Burma (Myanmar) and settled on the lovely mountain, unfortunately only in order to compete with the local drug barons for a sizable share in the opium and heroin trade. On the way to Doi Mae Salong At that time Mae Salong was more or less a fortress. When the Chinese were defeated by the more powerful Shan lord Khun Sa they opted for the more peaceful and socially acceptable business of fruit growing. The peaches and lychees from Mae Salong are delicious and justly famed. Today MAE Salong is entirely safe and peaceful. On the way lies the Akha village Ikoh San Yuek that is worth a detour. Although it is nowadays overrun by tourists its shops nevertheless still offer a good selection of traditional hill tribe handicraft. After the village the road parts - the road to the right should be avoided (it leads into dangerous territory), instead drive ahead. Hill Tribe Village Mae Salong is 1800 meters above the sea level and cool enough for Japanese cherry trees to bloom - as you will see if you come in the right season. The town has Chinese temples, open air bazaars, and shops that offer Chinese specialties as tea and locally grown preserved fruit. There are several little restaurants that offer good southern Chinese food, and even a couple of simple, but clean guest houses. Mae Salong is also a market place for the Lisu and Akha from the surrounding hill tribe villages. For these reasons it is definitely worth spending a few hours in the town, to walk around, savour the special atmosphere, and to enjoy the grandiose mountain panorama. The Chiang Saen of today is a normal south east Asian town, a little bit sleepy and dusty, with lots of simple little shops that sell all kinds of goods, some government offices, some guest houses, a wet market (interesting, especially if you come in the morning when the freshest fruit and vegetables are offered in a large variety), and friendly small restaurants along the main street. The main attraction of present day Chiang Saen is the river Mekong on whose banks it has been built. River boats from Yunnan in China are unloading almost every day. There is a long promenade along the river, with many stalls that sell clothes, shoes, toys, and souvenirs, as well as some simple restaurants. Take a stroll and watch as the boats unload their cargo. At the boat rental booth you can rent a long tail boat for a one hour (or more) ride up the Mekong; you will be able to observe interesting scenes of daily life along the river. Boats from Yunnan Boat tours to Laos are also offered, however, a visa is required that you must get BEFORE your trip (Laos does not offer day trip visa, so you need to apply for one at the Lao embassy of your home country; the visa is usually granted, but you should allow 6 weeks for the process). This is modern day Chiang Saen. The town has, however, a long history, and once it was the capital of the oldest Thai kingdom on Thai territory, founded in the 10th century, immediately after the Thai first entered the region, presumably coming from an area at the Mekong river near what is today the Chinese province of Yunnan. A number of archeological sites, not as impressive as Ayuthaya or Lopburi, but nevertheless interesting and charming, remain from these times. From the river promenade follow the streets that leads at a right angle into town. You can walk until you arrive at the remains of the old brick city wall (it is less than a mile) or you can rent a tuk-tuk. Ask the driver to take you to Wat Pa Sak, Wat Phra Thom Kitti, and to the National Museum (and afterwards back into town). There are more temples in Chiang Saen, but these are the most remarkable ones. The cost for the tour should not be much more than 100 Baht. Wat Pa Sak means "The temple in the teak forest" - the forest is long gone, but some trees, offering welcome shade, are still surrounding it and give the place a pleasant, tranquil atmosphere. Entrance to the temple is 30 Baht. Most of the buildings are still in ruins; you can see them scattered about the place. Only the large, rectangular chedi, built in 1295 Ad, has been restored. It has been built from red bricks, like the city wall. Its style is a mixture of Haripunchai (another old Lanna capital, near Chiang Mai), Sukothai, and Burmese elements ( the "lace work" like decorations). Stucco Buddhassna din the niches of the chedi's four walls and smile serenely. At Wat Phra Thom Kitti After your visit to Wat Pa Sak ask your tuk-tuk driver to take you to Wat Phra Thom Kitti. This temple is even older than Wat Pa Sak; its foundations were dated back to the 7th century (and they are thus Pre Thai). It is located on a hill; a long stone stairway (with broad and safe steps) leads up to it. From here you have a wonderful view of the mountain panorama, the river, and the confluence at the Golden Triangle. The next, and last, stop is the National museum of Chiang Saen. Although it is quite small it is worth a visit, as it displays not only ancient sculptures with inscriptions that were excavated at the archeological sites, but also a fine collection of ancient Chiang Saen style Buddha statues and lots of objects form everyday life in Lanna, such as pottery, weapons, baskets, fish traps, fish nets, and other utensils for fishing that were very important for people whose major source of food was a river. There are also exhibits that are dedicated to the various hill tribes of the region, their clothing, and their life styles. The museum shop offers book in Thai and English about history, religion, and culture of Thailand and other Asian countries. For nature lovers: 4 km outside of Chiang Saen is a lake. A tuk-tuk can take you there. It is a lovely spot for walks and bird watching. Getting There and Around Chiang Rai has a small airport, located about 10 minutes out of town. Daily flights from Bangkok and Chiang Mai are operated by Thai Airways. A taxi into town costs ca. 250 Baht (700 Baht to the Imperial or the Baan Born Hotel at the Golden Triangle). Some hotels offer shuttle buses. You can also drive to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai - a good road leads to it. The trip takes about 4 to 5 hours and is very nice - a good opportunity to observe normal, everyday Lanna life. In Chiang Rai and other towns in the province tuk-tuks (trishaws) and songthaews (a kind of collect taxi) are available for transportation, if you want to visit places outside the town areas you will need a car or a motor bike. Climate The best time to visit is from November to April (April is already very hot) - while the vegetation is lusher in the rainy season and more trees and flowers are in bloom, the air is clearer in the dry season and the mountains views are better. The climate is much cooler than in the rest of the country and for this reason it is very popular with people from Bangkok who like to vacation there or even have weekend homes. It is not really cold, however, except on the highest mountains. How Not to Offend In general, the Thai are friendly and polite, and you should try to act the same way. It is very bad behavior to start loud arguments or challenge someone in public. Harsh criticism, shouting, or other displays of anger or rage will not get you anywhere in Thailand. A person's head is considered sacred and it is an insult to touch it. The feet, on the other hand, are considered very impure, and you should never point at a person, or a religious object with a foot or step over somebody. The king of Thailand and royal family are held in genuine respect by the people and you should never speak derogatively about them or act disrespectfully with regard to them (for instance, never step on a Thai bank note - it depicts the head of the king. People have been known to be arrested for this!) Women Traveling Alone in Thailand It is still unusual for a female tourist to travel alone, but you will probably not run into any problem because of it. The Thai women themselves have considerable influence, especially in business life, and are respected members of society. A tip: observe the Thai "dress code" - long skirts or pants, shoulders covered, everything clean and ironed. It will help you to get along with the locals. Health The standard of hygiene in first class hotels is in general o.k., but you should not drink the tap water (though it can be used for teeth brushing). The better hotels provide bottled drinking water for free. You should be careful with the food from food stalls or in simple restaurants. Eat only things that have been thoroughly cooked and are served really hot. The large amounts of chili that are part of nearly every Thai dish may have a disinfecting effect, but you should not rely on this! (The people themselves are nearly always neat and clean, but sometimes they use dirty water for dishwashing, etc.) Northern Thailand is still a malaria area, so consult you doctor before your trip. (You can look up details about Prevention of Malaria Infection at the web site of the University of Leicester). Vaccinations against tetanus, hepatitis, and salmonella infections are also advisable. Food Thai Cuisine is very spicy and includes curries, stir fried dishes, interesting salads (e.g. a salad made of pomelo with shrimps), and of course many rice and noodle dishes. A large variety of sweets, most of them based on rice flour and coconut milk are produced. If you have a "sweet tooth" Thailand definitely is your place! A favourite Thai dessert is Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango, or you can try a platter of sliced local fruit like pomelo, melon, pineapple, rose apple, papaya, etc. (By the way, Thai food recipes can also be found on the Internet). Safety Thailand is generally considered a safe country. Of course there is criminality, but it is unlikely that you will encounter it. The worst that could happen to you is that you get pick pocketed. Something else that happens quite frequently is that touts wait in front of major sightseeing spots, approach the visitors and claim that the temple etc. is closed. Instead, they offer to take you to a jewelry or carpet shop where, you guessed it, sensational "special deals" are available - only today, of course. Just ignore these people. As everywhere, of course, it is better to avoid carrying large amounts of cash; credit cards or travelers checks are preferable. Trekking Trekking and hiking tours should only be tried in the company of experienced guides. You might unknowingly cross the often unmarked border to Burma (Myanmar). The Thai side is safe, but beyond the border the land is under the control of the drug lords, a lawless country where no one, neither the Thai nor the Burmese government can help you. This is no exaggeration, so please take this advice seriously. WHERE TO LIVE LIST OF CHIANG RAI HOTELS Hotel Name Category Rate From Book Here Dusit Island Resort Chiang Rai THB 4,355 nett Instant Confirmation Golden Land Hotel THB 750 nett Reserve Imperial Golden Triangle Resort THB 3,000 nett Katiliya Mountain Resort & Spa THB 7,000 nett Laluna Hotel & Resort THB 1,050 nett Legend Chiang Rai THB 3,600 nett Mantrini Boutique Resort Boutique THB 2,220 nett Phowadol Resort & Spa THB 2,200 nett Rimkok Resort THB 1,450 nett Wang Come Hotel THB 1,450 nett Wiang Inn Hotel THB 1,700 nett YMCA International Hotel Chiangrai THB 300 nett Restaurants in Chiang Rai Thailand is known the world over for its delectable cuisine, which is characterised by a typical sharp, pungent flavour  and rich taste. The food eaten in northern mountainous  Thailand differs from that which is eaten in the plains. The availability of fresh vegetables makes its presence  felt in the cuisine of the mountainous regions. Different areas in Thailand have their own way of  cooking and their own speciality dishes. Our Chiang Rai Restaurant Guide below tells you all  about northern Thailand cuisine, as well as some places  ]to find a great meal whilst in Chiang Rai. Be sure to know that Thai cuisine will entice all your senses leaving  you coming back for more to one of Chiang Rai's  restaurants. Our Thailand Restaurant Guide offers  more information on Thai restaurants and Thai cuisine.  Use Chiang Rai Shopping Guide to take a little piece  of Thailand with you, remembering all the sights and smells. Food & Cuisine in Chiang Rai Wheat grass, lemon grass, bamboo shoots and various herbs and roots are used extensively in Chaing Rai food and cuisine. Laos and Myanmar, Chiang Rai's  neighbours have also contributed to the flavours of  Chiang Rai cuisine. The end result is very pleasing  to the taste buds, so be sure to taste the local  delicacies. Glutinous rice is the staple food of the locals in  Chiang Rai. This sticky rice is served after being  rolled into small balls. Woven bamboo is used to  make small bowls that are used to serve food in.  A typical Chiang Rai meal is served in the   ‘khan toke' style. In this style the vessels are hand made bamboo containers and the food is eaten with fingers while being seated on the floor. You will enjoy 'Somtam', a spicy dish made using raw green papaya. Popular local favourites are rich pork curries that are seasoned with tamarind,  turmeric and ginger. While you are at it do try  'khaeng yuak', a dish made using banana palm leaves and, khaeng khanoon'- a spicy jack-fruit  curry. Noodles of several varieties are also very popular  in this region. The most famous varieties are the  Burmese and Yunnanese rice noodles. Spicy,  tantalisingly hot sai ua or Thai pork sausages   should definitely be sampled as these are a big hit with both locals and tourists. Eating out in Chiang Rai is an entertaining and yummy  experience! Restaurants List Cabbages & Condoms The northern branch of Bangkok's Cabbages and Condoms was opened by the Population & Community Development Association. The extensive Thai menu is excellent. Type : Thai Address : 620/25 Thanalai Rd Opening hours : 10:00 to to 23:00 Golden Triangle Cafe if you are looking to learn while you eat, then this is the place. Located at the entrance to the ]'Golden Triangle Inn, their menu not only offers a great variety if Thai and western dishes, but explains the various dishes that make up a Thai meal, describing the ingredients and preparation of each. Type : Thai and Western Address : 590 Phaholyothin Rd Opening hours : 08:00 to to 22:00 A&P Bakery Bakery offering wide range of breads and cakes. Type : Bakery Address : Thanon Sanambin Opening hours : 08:00 to to 17:00 Chiang Rai Tours and Activities Chiang Rai offers many interesting things to see . Whether you are rafting the Kok River or just exploring the city it is advisable to experience a Chiang Rai tour to see the major sights as well as some that many tourists don't get to see. Check out our wide range of tours in Chiang Rai below or contact us for more information. Hill Tribe Excursion Duration: 1 day(s) From: USD 64.00 Mae Salong , also known as Santikhiri, is an 'ethnic Chinese enclave, inhabited by remnants of the Kuomintang (Nationalist) army of Chiang Kai Shek. Continue to Therd Thai, where we visit the former headquarters of notorious drug baron Khun Sa. Golden Triangle and Doi  Tung Royal Project Duration: 1 day(s) From: USD 65.00 Visit the Mae Fah Luang botanic gardens and learn about the Royal Project on Doi Tung. Continue to Mae Sai, the bustling border town between Myanmar and Thailand. A visit to one of the jade-cutting factories here is of special interest. Hilltribes, Chiang Saen,  Golden Triangle & Mae Sai Duration: 1 day(s) From: USD 65.00 A visit to the Akha and Yao tribes will allow visitors to experience the authentic lives of hill tribe people, from here visitors can explore ruins and witness the panoramic views of the Golden Triangle. The final stop is Mae Sai. City and Temples Duration: 3.5 hour(s) From: USD 24.00 Spread across Chiang Rai is interesting architecture that combines the influences between the Thai and Burmese styles, most importantly Wat Phra Kaew. Built in the 12th Century during the Lanna Empire, this temple is a must-see for everyone. Hilltribes, Elephant &  Boat Trip and Handicrafts Duration: 1 day(s) From: USD 125.00 A thrilling boat ride along the Mae Kok river ends with a visit to a traditional Karen hill tribe village. While here, visitors can also enjoy a ½ hour elephant ride through the countryside before continuing on to a local hot spring. Transportation in  Chiang Rai Chiang Rai is well connected by air and by road. Travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, tourists get to choose from several options including plane,  car and bus. Travelling inside Chiang Rai and other towns can be done on the songthaews (a collect taxi) or tuk-tuks (trishaws). For visiting places outside  the town you can hire a car or even a motorbike  if you are adventurous. Chiang Rai has good air and road connections with Chiang Mai and Bangkok, and is easy to get  around once there. Make the most of your visit and take one of   Chiang Rai tours. Alternatively, if you choose  to explore this area yourself this Chiang Rai  transportation guide gives you information on getting to and getting around Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai Transportation Guide Getting to Chiang Rai By Plane There is a small international airport on the outskirts of Chiang Rai which can be reached in  ten minutes from town. Most of the flights are  operated by Thai Airways, with daily flights from  and to Bangkok and Chiang Mai. However,  several budget airlines are now trying to cater  to the tourist traffic from Chiang Rai. A taxi ride  from the airport to the town will cost 250 Baht.  Some of the Chiang Rai hotels run shuttle buses  to and from the airport. Thai Airways - Thai Airways is the national  carrier and it operates hourly flights to and from  Chiang Mai. Flights for to and from journeys to  Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son are also available from Chiang Mai. Tourists can plan their trip by  viewing flight schedules and seat availability, and, book tickets online using the Thai Airways website. Bangkok Airways - Bangkok Airways is  also a national carrier and it operates flights to  Chiang Mai from Bangkok and back. Tickets  can be booked online, but, payment is accepted  only through Visa and MasterCard. Air Asia - Air Asia is a Malaysian budget  carrier that operates a few domestic routes in  Thailand. Air Asia flights are available from  Chiang Mai. Bookings made well in advance  ensure low fares. One-Two-Go - One-Two-Go is the budget arm  of Orient Thai, a charter carrier. The planes used by One-Two-Go are large ones when compared  to those used by other airlines. The routes served  by this airline are the standard ones of Phuket ,  Chiang Rai and. Chiang Mai. By Bus You can opt for bus travel between Chiang Rai  and Chiang Mai. The trip will take about four to  five hours and you will be able to view the Lanna way of life from your bus window. A widespread network of buses plying inter-city routes is in place in Thailand. There are two classes of bus travel available. First class service is air- conditioned while the second class service is not.  There is a gradation even in the first class with the  super first class having comfortable reclining seats,  more leg space and a few other amenities. The rates  charged for the bus rides are reasonable. Buses for  Chiang Rai can be boarded from Bangkok's Mor  Chit bus station, Chatuchak. Luggage theft is quite common so keep an eye on  your bags especially during intermediate stops. Getting around Chiang Rai It is easy to do your sightseeing in Chiang Rai as it is a relatively small place making transportation in Chiang Rai easy. Most of the sightseeing  destinations can be walked to from the centre of  the town. Do not look around for licensed taxis as there are none here. There are however other ways  of getting around Chiang Rai. By Airport Transfers As the airport is quite close to town most city hotels  offer free shuttle services to and from the airport.  However do ask specifically for charges involved  before ordering hotel transportation. By Tuk-tuk Chiang Rai transport offers Tuk-tuks or samlors  that are three wheeled carts, and are a popular  option for travelling inside Chiang Rai. Samlors are quite noisy but are not very powerful. So,  uphill rides are not possible in samlors. Use your negotiating skills to agree upon a fare before you get onto a tuk-tuk. By Pedalo Pedalos are three wheeled bicycles that are a  common form of transport in Chiang Rai. The  fare charged is almost the same as that for a tuk-tuk. So just hop on to whichever one you find first. By Motorcycle Renting motorcycles is also a good way of being  mobile in Chaing Rai. Make sure you are carrying your driving license and wearing a helmet. By Car Car rental agencies are aplenty in Chiang Rai. You will even find branches of international chains like Avis, National and Budget. Though driving in Chiang Rai is not very difficult, hiring a driver along with the car will ensure that you have a more restful holiday. There are police check points near the border on the northern side, so a local driver will be helpful in crossing these pointstion Shopping in Chiang Rai Whilst it doesn't have as many shopping options as Chiang Mai or Bangkok, shopping in Chiang Rai is  still fun and rewarding. The most important shopping spot is the Night Bazaar which is meant for tourists.  The bazaar is adjacent to the bus terminal and comes  into its full splendour at night. Rain can however spoil  the show as most of the market is uncovered. So,  if it rains don't bother to go there as the vendors are not likely to show up. Shopping in the markets and from the local hill tribes in Chiang Rai is sure to be an enjoyable  experience. Use our Chiang Rai Shopping Guide below for  information on what to buy and where to buy it whist in Chiang Rai. Information about unique  Thai items that you may wish to consider purchasing  can be found by visiting our Thailand shopping guide.  Situated in many of the shopping areas in Chiang Rai  are some great Chiang Rai restaurants serving  delicious Thai meals. Chaing Rai Shopping Guide Night Bazaar The night bazaar in Chiang Mai is the inspiration for Chiang Rai's Night Bazaar. At present it is not  as large or busy as Cjiang Mai but there is still  enough to satisfy tourists. The bazaar is located  in a narrow street in the town's centre between  Phaholyothin Road and the bus station. Shops in  Chiang Rai night bazaar consists of small stands  that are lined up on both sides of the street. There is an open-air restaurant called Centrepoint   situated halfway down the street. A small stage is also in place for dance and music performances. Towards the bus station, the stalls are replaced by  a food court. The eats available mainly cater to  local tastes. However, there are a couple of  restaurants catering to tourist palates near the  bazaar entrance on Phaholyothin Road. Handicraft Centres If you are looking for options other than the night  bazaar then look for the handicraft centres that  sell items made by the local hill tribes. One of these is the Hill Tribe Museum and Handicrafts Shop  functioning under the aegis of the Population and  Community Development Association. You will  find another outlet on the highway between the  airport and the city.You can also visit the city's  main market. A wide range of goods right from  fruits and vegetables to apparel and home needs,  await you here. Chiang Rai Souvenirs Hand-woven cloth 'Pha phun muang' is a typical northern Thai  hand-woven cotton cloth. Supplementary-weft  patterns and tapestry weave patterns are used  to give 'Pha phun muang' its typical look. The  north-eastern Thai people weave 'Matmi' which  are silk cloths. The Thai lue women are very  skilled at weaving and they use plant dyes  extensively. Quite a few of the weavers produce under the OTOP (One Tambon One Product)  scheme. A tambon refers to one administrative  sub-district. The womenfolk of a tribe which has moved to the  Wiang Chiang Rung district from the northeast  weave silk cloth. Sa paper The Sa or mulberry tree grows well in northern  Thailand. Sa paper is fashioned out of these trees.  This paper is used for a variety of purposes like  writing, making envelopes, as wrapping paper  and even for making lampshades. These Sa paper  items can be bought at souvenir shops in Chiang  Rai, at the Night bazaar or even at regular stationery shops. Woodwork Traditionally weaving has always been women's  domain while the men work with wood. Woodworkers  churn out items like photo frames, dolls, toys, mobiles,  and the like. Some of these products sport the natural  look while a few are coloured and varnished.  These woodwork items are sold at souvenir shops in Chiang Rai. Silverwork Traditional Thai dresses are always worn with  silver jewellery. All the hill tribe people you see  will be sporting silver jewellery. These jewellery  items are sold by weight. In order to suit tourist  tastes jewellery for sale is often fashioned in latest trendy designs. Crafted products byHill Tribes Yao embroidery Yao women are very skilled with their embroidery  needles. Elaborate geometrical patterns are very  popular. These designs look splendid on their  traditional dresses of black turbans and black pants. Karen textile Karen women specialise in weaving cotton cloth.  The looms they use are back-strap looms. They  also weave 'Matmi' - a silk cloth- in different patterns. The traditional colours used are indigo  blue and red. However nowadays more colours  are used to cater to tourist demands. Hmong batik and appliqué The traditional dress of the Blue Hmong women  consists of pleated cotton or hemp skirts. The  skirts are decorated with batik designs in indigo  blue. These women are skilled in appliqué work  too and they make several items using this  technique. Trendy clothes, wallets and bags  sporting local designs are sold in many souvenir  shops. Akha, Lahu and Lisu embroidery  and appliqué Women belonging to the Akha, Lisu and Lahu  tribes are very skilled in embroidery and appliqué  work. They use their skills in making several interesting items that are showcased for sale in   Chiang Rai souvenir shops. Coffee Coffee grows abundantly in the mountainous  districts in Chiang Rai. Doi chang, Doi tung and  Doi Mae salong are the principal coffee growing  areas. Head for a coffee shop where you get to  enjoy coffee fresh from the Chiang Rai mountains.  Coffee beans are a popular takeaway in souvenir  shops. Tea Tea is grown by Chinese people on the mountainous  districts of Doi Wawi and Doi Mae salong in Chiang  Rai. High grade oolong tea is produced in these  plantations. The tea produced here has earned  OTOP 5stars - a local quality grading. You can taste the tea and buy some to take back home. Night Life The main activity is wandering the Night Market, which is really just a more toned-down version of t he raucous Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai. Like its big-city model, you can find a few bars and clubs (a bit seedy but fun). In Chiang Rai there are the   standard "beer bar" storefronts with names like Patpong Bar, Lobo, and Butterfly lining the road just a short walk west of the market along Punyodyana Road, behind the Wangcome Hotel. There are also a few quiet pubs.