By Dan Forteza
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As someone who is so fond of geography, I have always been fascinated to visit the “tripoint” at the Golden Triangle where the borders of three countries — Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar — meet. I always wondered what it feels like being in three countries at once. That is why I decided to do this 1-Day Chiang Rai Itinerary tour.
Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel — a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.
After celebrating my 28th birthday in Yangon, Myanmar, I flew to Chiang Rai, Thailand to finally see the Golden Triangle I had been dreaming of ticking off my bucket list! Sorry if I sound dramatic haha.
Read Also: 2-Day Yangon Itinerary: Top Places To See In Yangon, Myanmar
WHERE IS CHIANG RAI?
Chiang Rai is a city situated in northern Thailand, in the mountainous province of the same name. The city is near the borders of Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma).
Language: Thai
Currency: Thai Baht (THB)
Airport: CEI
Time Zone: GMT +7
HOW I GOT THERE:
Finding a cheap flight ticket to Chiang Rai from Southeast Asia is relatively easy (and cheap too!). I booked mine from Yangon to Chiang Rai with a connecting flight in Bangkok.
I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheaper fare rates compared to other booking sites.
But the majority of tourists will probably travel by bus from Chiang Mai — the biggest city in Northern Thailand. It’s just three hours away so it’s even possible to do it on a day tour.
You can go via the Express or VIP bus. You can follow this link to purchase advance tickets.
WHERE DID I STAY?
I arrived at Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) at around 6:30 PM. I exited through the left side and looked for the metered taxi stand. I gave them my hostel’s name and I was assigned a taxi. It cost me 160 THB to get to my hostel in downtown Chiang Rai.
- Hostel name: Mercy Hostel (click here to book)
- Hostel room type: Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
Book AGODA here
Book BOOKING.com here
Get AIRBNB $43 free credit
You can book a room in Chiang Rai through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my accommodations through Booking.com because of their free cancellation and pay-at-the-hotel options.
If you’re new to Airbnb, you can get up to 42 USD free travel credit by signing up through this link.
CHIANG RAI ITINERARY – THE DAY TOUR
Since I was only staying for 2 nights in Chiang Rai, I made sure to maximize my time the next day. That’s why I booked a one-day tour to make the most of my visit around the city. The hostel staff arranged the tour for me.
Here are the tour details:
- Tour cost: 1,000 THB
- Tour itinerary: White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House, Long-Neck Village, Tea Plantation, Monkey Cave, Mae Sai, Golden Triangle, Opium Museum, and Chiang Saen
- Tour inclusions: Lunch, English-speaking tour guide, transportation, and White Temple entrance ticket
- Tour schedule: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Considering all these places included in the itinerary, 1,000 THB was definitely worth it! Most of these attractions are outside the city center, so getting around on your own can be difficult especially if you are unfamiliar with Chiang Rai’s transportation system. Traditional transport such as tuk-tuks and samlors are available, along with taxis, buses, and motorcycles. For me, this one-day tour was a perfect deal.
1st Stop: The White Temple
This epic White Temple, also known as Wat Rong Khun, was the first stop on our day tour. It’s definitely one of the most famous attractions in Chiang Rai. The White Temple is a sparkling white modern temple filled with quirky and surreal details. It was absolutely breathtaking, and I was surprised by how much I loved it.
- White Temple entrance ticket was included in the tour.
2nd Stop: The Blue Temple
Also known as Wat Rong Seua Ten, the Blue Temple was only completed in 2016. I think that’s why it isn’t as famous yet compared to Chiang Rai’s other attractions, but I’m pretty sure that will change soon. Visiting the Blue Temple was actually one of my favorite moments in Chiang Rai.
3rd Stop: The Black House
The Black House is actually a collection of painted wooden houses featuring artworks by Thai contemporary artists, most notably its designer, Thawan Duchanee.
- Entrance fee: 80 THB (not included in the tour)
4th Stop: The Long-Neck Village
The mountains around Chiang Rai are home to several hill tribe villages. Many of the people living here are nomadic tribes originally from Myanmar, including the famous Karen long-neck tribe. Some of the women wear brass rings around their necks.
When you visit this place, aside from taking photos, try buying some of the products they sell in order to support the local community.
- Entrance fee: 300 THB (not included in the tour)
5th Stop: Tea Plantation
Our next stop was a large tea plantation located about 40 km from Chiang Rai city. It is the largest tea plantation in the province and offers beautiful panoramic views in every direction. There’s also a café serving tea and food, plus a gift shop selling tea products.
6th Stop: The Monkey Cave
Also known as Wat Tham Pla or the Fish Tail Cave, this temple is filled with monkeys everywhere! They can be quite aggressive and are known to grab belongings from tourists, so be careful while visiting.
7th Stop: Lunch
We had lunch at around 2:00 PM and I was already starving by then. It was a buffet lunch arranged by the tour operator. Seeing all the delicious food definitely satisfied my hunger!
- Lunch was included in the tour.
8th Stop: Mae Sai
In the photo below, I was standing right at the border between Thailand and Myanmar. According to our tour guide, a river underneath the area serves as the natural border between the two countries.
Mae Sai is a fascinating border town where tourists can shop for goods imported from nearby countries. Visitors can find cheap jewelry from Myanmar and antiques mainly from China.
9th Stop: The Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle is the meeting point of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, where the Mekong and Ruak Rivers intersect. Visiting this place was the highlight of my trip.
There is also a giant golden Buddha statue overlooking the Mekong River, and above it sits an ancient ruined temple.
10th Stop: The Opium Museum
Located beside the Golden Triangle, the Hall of Opium is a museum that showcases the history of the opium trade in the region. It also explains the negative effects of opium trafficking in Southeast Asia.
- Entrance fee: 50 THB (not included in the tour)
11th Stop: Chiang Saen
Just south of the Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen is one of the oldest cities in Thailand. Formerly known as Wiang Hiran Nakhon, it was once one of the major cities of the Lanna Kingdom before Chiang Rai was established by King Mengrai in 1262.
This was the final stop of our 1-Day Chiang Rai itinerary tour.
GROUPIE!
Before ending the tour, I took a group photo with my fellow travelers whom I spent the whole day with.
What do you think about this 1-day Chiang Rai itinerary?
I hope you found this 1-Day Chiang Rai itinerary useful! If you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
BOOKING ESSENTIALS
Hotels / Hostels
I usually book my accommodations through Booking.com because they often offer free cancellation and pay-at-the-property options. From budget hostels to luxury hotels, there are plenty of choices available in Chiang Rai.
Airbnb is also a great option if you want a cozy place that feels more local and homey.
Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up using my referral link and get up to 42 USD (around 2,200 PHP) off your first stay.
Flights
I usually book flights through Kayak since it compares fares from hundreds of travel websites.
Check Kayak here for cheap flight deals.
Chiang Rai Package Tours
Viator is one of the best websites for booking tours and travel experiences worldwide.
Click here to find the best Viator deals in Chiang Rai.
Dan Travels 