Day Trips from Chiang Rai
The best excursions and trips you can do in a day
Full-Day Trips
Worth dedicating a whole day to explore.
Stand where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet, then bob downstream in a wooden long-tail while the Mekong's brown water slaps the hull. The riverside opium museum fills in the shady past, and you can hop onto Don Sao island (Laos) for a stamp-free passport scribble.
A 2,000-year-old moated city turned sleepy market town, ringed by lotus lakes that echo with splashing fish. Rent a bike and freewheel past brick chedis smothered in moss, then slurp khao si moo (rice soup with crispy pork) under flame trees.
The late Princess Mother's pine-scented retreat sits 1,200 m up, with manicured terraces that smell of petunias and cool earth. Walk the 200-m canopy to the Akha village below for hand-woven bags and sweet macadamia coffee.
Thailand's northernmost market town buzzes with jade traders and Myanmar day-trippers. Ten minutes south, the Tham Luang cave network, where the Wild Boars soccer team was rescued, still drips limestone water and smells of damp incense.
A pre-dawn scooter ride lands you on a cliff brow that juts above the Lao cloud sea. As sun rays spike through, the air tastes of pine sap and wood smoke from nearby Hmong kitchens.
Rolling green carpets of Assam tea give way to giraffe-viewing pastures and a 600-m zipline that hums above lime-green bushes. Finish with oolong ice cream while black-and-white cows graze nearby.
A 1.4-km jungle footpath ends at a 70-m ribbon of water that thunders into a mossy pool, cold enough to make you gasp. On the way back, detour through Lahu Ban Pha Hi where kids sell passion fruit and coffee husks perfume the lanes.
Half-Day Options
Shorter excursions when time is limited.
Five minutes from downtown, this indigo-washed temple glitters with sapphire glass and a white Buddha that seems to glow under UV murals.
Where the Kok River bends, a seasonal sandbar forms a makeshift 'beach' shaded by tall grass. Locals grill chicken skewers while long-tails buzz past.
Join the small open-air kitchen behind the bazaar stage; you'll pound nam prik ong (tomato-chili relish) and fold khao soi noodles while market guitars twang.
Day Trip Tips
Make the most of your excursions.
- ✓ Greenbus tickets sell out on weekends, book the day before at the new terminal.
- ✓ Scooters run 150, 200 baht/day; fill up at PTT stations before hill climbs.
- ✓ Carry a light jacket year-round; mountain passes drop 5, 8 °C by afternoon.
- ✓ Most border crossings want a passport photocopy, keep one in a zip-bag.
- ✓ National parks close during March forest-fire season, double-check Facebook pages.
- ✓ ATMs are scarce beyond Mae Sai. Withdraw in Chiang Rai before heading out.
- ✓ Bring small bills: hill-tribe stalls and park toilets rarely break 1,000 baht.
Book These Day Trips
Top-rated excursions you can book now.
Half Day Cycling Tour to the White temple
Explore Chiang Rai's countryside on a bike tour. The guide will lead you through villages, rice field, small farms on paved roads and dirt. The bicycle tour will be finished at Wat Rong Khun (White te
Full Day Cycling Amazing Chiangrai countryside and the White temple
Explore Chiang Rai's countryside on a bike tour. The guide will lead you through villages, rice field, small farms on paved roads and dirt. The bicycle tour will visit Wat Rong Khun, tea plantation, b
One Day Group Tour Experience in Chiangrai
1. Local Expertise from a True Insider "Addy" is a Chiang Rai native with years of guiding experience. He (and his team) shares deep knowledge of history, culture, and traditions in a fun, easy-to-u
Trekking with Lunch cooked by Bamboo in the Chiang Rai jungle
Explore the lush jungles of Chiang Rai on a trek through impressive landscapes. Learn the art of bamboo cooking and enjoy a delicious meal in jungle. Join us for a memorable day of adventure.
Chiang Rai Private Bespoke Sightseeing Tour
A One-Day Tour of 7 Amazing Spots in Chiang Rai! You get to choose the places you want to visit and create your own unique experience, discovering the varied wonders of Chiang Rai.
Elephant Care & Bathing Chiang Rai
You'll begin your journey with a hotel pickup and a scenic drive to the sanctuary. There you will get mahout closes for changing.Upon arrival, meet the elephants and learn about their rescue stories,
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