Things to do in Chiang Rai
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Akha Hill House
This outfit does one- to seven-day treks. They begin with a long-tail boat up the river, before trekking to and around their Akha Hill House about 23km from Chiang Rai, at a height of 1500m. A portion of the profits from the guest houses and their activities go into a local school. Inquiries can be made at Akha Hill House.
reviewed
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Suwannee
Suwannee offers nearly day-long cooking courses that involve a visit to a local market and instruction in cooking four dishes. Suwanee's house is about 3km outside of the city centre, but she can pick you up at most centrally located hotels and guest houses.
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Hilltribe Museum & Education Center
This museum and handicrafts centre is a good place to visit before undertaking any hill-tribe trek. The centre, run by the nonprofit Population & Community Development Association (PDA), is underwhelming in its visual presentation, but contains a wealth of information on Thailand's various tribes and the issues that surround them. A visit begins with a 20-minute slide show on Thailand's hill tribes, and exhibits include typical clothing for six major tribes, examples of bamboo usage, folk implements and other anthropological objects. The curator is passionate about his museum, and will talk about the different hill tribes, their histories, recent trends and the community …
reviewed
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Phu-Lae
This air-conditioned restaurant is exceedingly popular with Thai tourists for its tasty, but slightly gentrified northern Thai fare. Recommended local dishes include the gaang hang·lair, pork belly in a rich Burmese-style curry, here served with pickled garlic, and sâi òo·a, herb-packed sausages.
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Loong It
To eat like a local, look no further than this rustic but delicious northern-style food shack. There’s an English-language menu on the wall, but don’t miss the sublime lâhp gài, minced chicken fried with herbs and topped with crispy deep-fried shallots and garlic. The restaurant is on Th Phranorn near the intersection with the Superhighway; look for a sign that says ‘Local Food’.
reviewed
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Paa Suk
This immensely popular third-generation restaurant specialises in the local dish kà·nŏm jeen nám ngée·o, a thin broth of pork or beef and tomatoes served over fresh rice noodles. The restaurant is between Soi 4 and Soi 5 of Th Sankhongnoi (the street is called Th Sathanpayabarn where it intersects with Th Phahonyothin); look for the yellow sign.
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PDA Tours & Travel
One- to three-day treks are available through this NGO, the profits from which go back into community projects that include HIV/AIDS education, mobile health clinics, education scholarships and the establishment of village-owned banks.
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Wat Klang Wiang
This Buddhist temple appears thoroughly modern, but dates back at least 500 years. Extensive remodelling in the early 1990s has left several structures in the temple with a unique 'modern Lanna' style, but the elegant hŏr đrai (manuscript depository) appears to retain its original form.
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Cham Cha
This casual little hole-in-the-wall is good for breakfast or lunch. It has all the usual Thai and Chinese standards, along with a few Isan dishes that are not on the English menu, such as lâhp (spicy minced-meat salad) and sôm·đam (spicy green papaya salad), plus ice cream.
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Wat Jet Yot
The seven-spired chedi at Wat Jet Yot is similar to that of its Chiang Mai namesake, but without stucco ornamentation. Of more aesthetic interest is the wooden ceiling of the front veranda of the main wí·hăhn, which features a unique Thai astrological fresco.
reviewed
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Kaat Jiang Hai Ramleuk
If you’re around on a Saturday evening be sure not to miss the Kaat Jiang Hai Ramleuk, an expansive street market focusing on all things Chiang Rai, from handicrafts to local dishes. The market spans Th Thanalai from the Hilltribe Museum to the morning market.
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mz collection
On entering the night market from Th Phahonyothin you’ll see mz collection on the right-hand side. This shop has unusual handmade silver and semi-precious stone jewellery. Each piece is unique so don’t expect bargain basement prices.
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Jao Nang Studio
Dress up like a member of Lanna royalty and have your portrait taken for posterity – a must-do activity for Thai visitors to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Has a huge array of costumes and backdrops.
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Old Dutch
This cosy, foreigner-friendly restaurant is a good choice if you're tired of rice. There's a variety of well-done Dutch and other Western-style dishes, as well as a good attached bakery.
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Natural Focus
Formerly a project of the Hill Area and Community Development Foundation (www.hadf.org), this now private company offers tours ranging from one to 15 days that concentrate on nature and hill-tribe living.
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Mirror Art Foundation
This non-profit NGO does many admirable hill-tribe projects, ranging from educational workshops to Thai citizenship advocacy. Trekking with this group encourages real interaction with the villagers.
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Private Tour: Hill Tribes and the Golden Triangle Tour from Chiang Rai
8 hours (Departs Chiang Rai, Thailand)
by Viator
Start your full-day privately guided excursion to Mae Chan to visit the Yao and the Akha hilltribe villages from Chiang Rai. Your private guide offers you great…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$65.53 -
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Cat Bar
Kind service, the coldest beer in Thailand, and a Bob Dylan soundtrack make this the best among the strip of bars along Th Jet Yot. There’s also a pool table and live music nightly at 10.30pm.
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Private Tour: Elephant Adventure, Hilltribes and Mae Kok River Trip from Chiang Rai
6 hours (Departs Chiang Rai, Thailand)
by Viator
The Mae Kok River, 80 miles long, running through the heart of Chiang Rai, is said to be one of the most beautiful and unspoiled rivers of the world. It flows g…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$83.62 -
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Nakhon Pathom
Named after a central-Thailand city, Nakhon Pathom is very popular for inexpensive kôw man gài (chicken rice) and gŏo·ay đěe·o Ъèt yâhng (roast duck with rice noodles).
reviewed
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Rosprasoet
This Thai-Muslim restaurant next to the mosque on Th Itsaraphap dishes up delicious Thai-Muslim favourites, including kôw mòk gài, the Thai version of chicken biryani.
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Wang Jao
Located in the same compound as Doi Chaang@Art, this spa emphasises traditional Thai treatments and massage. Five-day courses in Thai massage are also available.
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Night Bazaar
Adjacent to the bus station off Th Phahonyothin is Chiang Rai's night market. On a much smaller scale than Chiang Mai's, it is nevertheless a decent place to find an assortment of handicrafts.
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Museum
Situated adjacent to the Wat Phra Kaew is a two-storey wooden building which is a museum housing various Lanna artefacts.
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