-
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 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.
-
Phu Sang National Park, Thailand
-
Phu Chi Fa Forest Park, Thailand
We have taken the big trip around the northeastern corner Chiang Rai, 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.
-
Chiang Khong, Thailand
There is a historical park here
-
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.
-
Biggest Buddha, Thailand
-
Golden Triangle, Thailand
-
The Hall of Opium, Thailand
Realy good museem.
-
Mae Sai, Thailand
Visit the big market.
-
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.
-
Mae Fah Luang Arboretum, Thailand
-
Shan Village - Huai Nam Khun, Thailand
Doi Tung offers a very beautiful flower park: Mae Fah Luang Royal Garden. Here is also the Maeh Fah Luang Arboretum with the slightly larger plants and trees. This park is also worth a visit. However, few people manage to get to this part of the park.
-
Mae Fah Luang Garden and Royal Villa, Thailand
-
Doi Tung Royal Villa, Thailand
-
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.
-
Baandam Museum, Thailand
-
Blue Temple, Thailand
-
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.
-
Maelao Wildlife Breeding Centre, Thailand
Maelao Wildlife Breeding Center is a small 'zoo' where the animals are very well off by Thai standards.
-
Mae Suai Reservoir Viewpoint, Thailand
-
Ban Doi Lan, Thailand
-
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.
-
Saturday night bazaar, Thailand
-
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.
-
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.
-
Sunday Walking Street, Thailand
-
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.
-
Khun Korn Waterfall (close when rain), Thailand
-
Night Bazaar Street, Thailand
-
Mae Suai, Thailand
-
Doi Angkhang Camp Ground, Thailand
-
Doi Angkhan, Thailand
-
Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, Thailand
-
Fang hot springs, Thailand
-
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.
-
Ban Pha Tai, Thailand
-
Ban Pha Kwang, Thailand
-
Ban Pong Pham Phatthana, Thailand
-
Old Chiang Rai Airport, Thailand
There are of course many other temples, ruins, Buddha statues, waterfalls and other things along the routes than those mentioned here.