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The King Mengrai Great Memorial, Thailand
This is a collection and summary of some of the trips that we, my Thai wife, my son and I, have made around northern Thailand, especially in the province of Chiang Rai, but also with corners of Phayao and Chiang Mai. The trips have been made over a period of fifteen years. We have never done the entire trip over a single 12-day period; and that is not what is suggested. Select parts of the route.
The route also contains a few places that we have not yet visited. These are especially waterfalls. I would like to visit them. The route focuses on nature experiences. I have chosen not to include religious active temples in this route. It's not because I think they are unattractive. I enjoy visiting temples and churches. There are just so many of them in Thailand. Within Chiang Rais city limits alone, there are over ten beautiful temples. Temples you can easily find other lists. Out in the landscape there is often a temple when there is a good view point.
The best time to visit Chiang Rai is from October to February, i.e. the end of the rainy season to the beginning of the smog period. The smog period in northern Thailand, with March and April, is not liked by many. We have also visited Chiang Rai in June/July, and had a very good trip then. The landscape is then very nice green, and we did not experience much rain.
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Phu Sang National Park, Thailand
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Phu Chi Fa Forest Park, Thailand
We have taken the big trip around the northeastern corner the Chiang Rai province, of the thai part of the Golden Triangle, several times, in both directions. A couple of times we ended up with Phu Sang National Park as the last destination before Chiang Rai. It fits in well with breakfast at Phu Chi Fa, dinner at Phu Sang, and arrival in Chiang Rai late in the afternoon. But it is also fine with breakfast at Mae Salong, and a stop for e.g. dinner on the way 'home' to Chiang Rai.
Most recently we went directly east from Chiang Rai via the new road 1421 - to Phu Chi Fa. Here we had to cross the mountain ridge at Ban Phaya Phipak, instead of the trip on the flat plain at Chiang Kham. Both routes offer beautiful landscapes. The trip up the mountain to Phu Chi Fa is always breathtaking. An overnight stay at Phu Chi Fa is necessary if you want to go up and see the sunrise over Laos from the top of Phi Chi Fa. You can only visit the top of Phu Chi Fa if it is not raining. Visiting here from October to February is therefore preferable. You can hike to the top without a guide.
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Chiang Khong, Thailand
There is a historical park here
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Chiang Saen, Thailand
Most recently we stopped in Chiang Saen - with a visit to the Hall of Opium on the way to Mae Salong. Here you should of course see the two rivers flowing together into one - at what is called the golden triangle. The landscape here is determined by driving along the river. If Mae Sai is skipped, the overnight stay around Doi Tung can be omitted.
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Chiang Saen Gate, Thailand
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Wat Pa Sak, Thailand
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Biggest Buddha, Thailand
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Golden Triangle, Thailand
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The Hall of Opium, Thailand
Realy good museem.
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Tham Sao Hin Payanak Cave, Thailand
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Wat Than Pla, Thailand
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Monkey Cave, Thailand
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Tham Luang Cave, Thailand
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Mae Sai, Thailand
Visit the big market.
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Tachileik, Myanmar
Pay attention to your visa. If you have a 60 day, single entry visa, you only have 30 days after your visit to Myanmar.
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Wat Phra That Doi Wao, Thailand
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Pu Pha Hee Camp Ground, Thailand
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Mae Fah Luang Arboretum, Thailand
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Mae Fah Luang Garden and Royal Villa, Thailand
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Doi Tung Royal Villa, Thailand
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Mae Salong, Thailand
The landscape around Mae Salong is very beautiful. It is characterized by many tea plantations here. There are many Chinese-style houses in this area.
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Ban Huai Kang Pla, Thailand
Huai Kang Pla Waterfall
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Tat Thong Waterfall, Thailand
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Ban Likhi, Thailand
Nang Lae Nai Waterfall
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Baandam Museum, Thailand
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Pong Phra Bat Waterfall, Thailand
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Blue Temple, Thailand
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Clock Tower, Thailand
About the destinations south of Chiang Rai: You cannot visit the White Temple, Singha Park, Khun Korn Waterfall, Maelao Wildlife Breeding Center, Mae Suai Viewpoint and Doi Chang in one day. Visit these destinations from a stay in Chiang Rai with several nights. You will need about three days if you want to see them all. You may be able to reach two of these three destinations in one day.
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Maelao Wildlife Breeding Centre, Thailand
Maelao Wildlife Breeding Center is a small 'zoo' where the animals are very well off by Thai standards.
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Mae Suai Reservoir Viewpoint, Thailand
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Ban Doi Lan, Thailand
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Ban Doi Chang, Thailand
The trip down around and over Doi Chang with Maelao Wildlife Breeding Center and Mae Suai Viewpoint can be done in one day - without an overnight stay on Doi Chang. But you can also have a nice overnight stay on Doi Chang. This trip is very nice when the landscape is green, i.e. in the rainy season - but preferably on a sunny day.
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Ban Huai Nam Un, Thailand
Huai Nam-un Waterfall
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Huai Chomphu Waterfall, Thailand
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Saturday night bazaar, Thailand
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Night Bazaar, Thailand
Night Market, Black (Baandam Museum) and Blue Temple in Chiang Rai are also worth a visit and can be combined with the visits outside the city. I also like to visit the large market around the old clock tower.
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Singha Park, Thailand
If you have children, Singha Park is a hit. You can easily spend more than half a day here, and you can also eat well in the restaurant in the middle of the area.
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Sunday Walking Street, Thailand
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Wat Rong Khun - White Temple, Thailand
At the White Temple you can see many other things than just the white building: There are, among other things, three galleries, a cave with a special exhibition, the golden toilet, and several other things. The wall decoration inside the small white temple is worth noting.
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Khun Korn Waterfall (close when rain), Thailand
You can hike from the parking lot to the waterfall without a guide. Some of the hike has two routes, so you can take one way up and another down.
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Night Bazaar Street, Thailand
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Mae Suai, Thailand
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Doi Angkhang Camp Ground, Thailand
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Doi Angkhan, Thailand
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Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, Thailand
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Fang hot springs, Thailand
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Doi Pha Hom Pok NP camp site, Thailand
The longer trip around Doi Chang over to Doi Angknah, Fang Hot Spring and Doi Pha Hom requires an overnight stay. We found a nice place at Fang. Next time we might camp at (both) Doi Angkhan and Doi Pha Hom. We will look for a weather forecast with a high cloud base here. I would like to drive back from Fang to Chiang Rai along the Kok River, but I don't know yet if it is advisable. It seems possible.
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Tha Ton, Thailand
From here it is possible to sail to Chiang Rai, for example, with a long tail boat.
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Ban Pha Kwang, Thailand
(I don't know if there's anything interesting at this position. The point is there to force the route along the Kok River. I haven't driven the road here along the river. We took the slightly more northern road over the mountain, up towards Mae Salong.)
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Ban Khwae Wua Dam, Thailand
Aeaja Bridge is here. Lam Nam Kok National Park and Huai Mak Liam Hot Spring is between Ban Khwae Wua and Ban Pha Soet.
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Ban Pha Soet Phatthana, Thailand
The hike to Huew Kaew Waterfall often starts around here. I've hiked here twice, both times with a visit to the waterfall, and both times with a guide. Thais I know recommend a guide here.
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Huai Mae Sai, Thailand
Huai Mae Sai Waterfall
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Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1, Thailand
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Ban Nam Tok Phatthana, Thailand
Huai Mae Sok Waterfall Forest Park is a little south of here
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Namtok Tat Sai Rung Forest Park, Thailand
Nam Tat Sai Rung Forest Park
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Ban Chai Phatthana, Thailand
Tat Khwan Waterfall Forest Psrk is a little north of here
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Namtok Tat Khwan Forest Park, Thailand
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Ban Wiang Chai, Thailand
Nava Land Water Park is a few hundred meters west of here
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Old Chiang Rai Airport, Thailand
Occasionally there are events, festival and/or market, on this former runway
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Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 2 (Green Bus Stop), Thailand