Chiang Rai town is one of those places that some guides call a "non-destination". So why do so many travelers visit? Mostly for what's around Chiang Rai.
Travel maps
Map of Chiang Rai Province
Map of Doi Tung
Food Everything from Northern barbeque to noodle stands to The Peak, an international standard restaurant atop the Dusit Island Resort. Western restaurants tend to be located along Paholyothin Road .. Chiang Rai food & dining
Hill tribes are a big cultural draw and Chiang Rai is a good staging point for Hilltribe visits and Hilltribe treks. And, generally speaking, trekking the Lao border is safer than the Burmese border .. Chiang Rai hill tribes
Doi Mae Salong makes an excellent day trip. Perched high on a hill northwest of Chiang Rai, this Chinese enclave offers travelers everything from Chinese liquor complete with snakes in the bottle to black chicken soup. We recommend the latter .. Doi Mae Salong
Chiang Saen is where it all began .. for the Thais, that is. This elegant little town which once served as the center of an emerging civilization has been relegated to umphur status in modern day Thailand. Yet Chiang Saen's subordination hasn't stripped away all of its ambiance. Chiang Saen
Chiang Saen Lake It's easy to miss the sign along the highway between Chiang Rai and Chiang Saen that announces Chiang Saen Lake. If you like nature, start watching for the 21 km marker. Then take the time to stop by this unique spot. Chiang Saen Lake is a few kilometers off the main road. .. Chiang Saen Lake
Maesai is the last town on the northern tip of Thailand. The triving gem trading center sets opposite the Burmese town of Tachilek. A bridge, which opens and loses at the whim of the Burmese government, spans a narrow waterway called the Sai River .. Maesai