The Chiang Rai Tour was one of the best days I had during my time spent in Northern Thailand.
I booked the Chiang Rai Tour with TakeMeTour, one of Thailand’s best tour companies offering unique and local experiences throughout the country.
Table of Contents
THE CHIANG RAI TOUR ITINERARY
I chose the Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai tour package which includes Mae Kajan Hot Spring, The White Temple, lunch at Salungkham restaurant, Doi Tung Botanic Gardens, The Royal Villa, and visiting the Akha Hill village tribe.
- The Chiang Rai tour starts at 7 am with a hotel pick-up in Chiang Mai
- 3-hour drive to Chiang Rai with a 20-minute break at the Mae Kajan Hot Spring
- Visit the White Temple for 1 to 2 hours
- Stop for lunch at Salungkam restaurant
- A further 1-hour drive to Doi Tung Botanic Gardens
- 20-minute drive along the Thai-Myanmar border to the Akha Hill Village Tribe
- 4-hour return journey to Chiang Mai arriving back at the hotel between 8 pm and 9 pm
Akha Village
MAE KAJAN HOT SPRING
Halfway between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai we took a break the way locals do at Mae Kajan Hot Spring. It was a great spot to relax at the Mae Kajan hot spring for about 20-minutes before continuing on to Chiang Rai.
Must Read → 3 Week Thailand Itinerary
The Mae Kajan Hot Spring has half a dozen thermal foot baths to dip your feet in and you’ll be sure to encounter the local Thai women boiling eggs in the hot springs before selling them off by the basket load.
Mae Kajan Hot Spring Chiang Rai
THE WHITE TEMPLE CHIANG RAI
The White Temple in Chiang Rai is not the average temple that one would usually come across. In fact, the White Temple Chiang Rai is a contemporary, unconventional, privately-owned art exhibit in the form of a Buddhist temple.
Also, known as Wat Rong Khun, this unique temple is one of the most recognizable temples in Thailand and it is one of the best things to do in Chiang Rai.
The White Temple Chiang Rai stands out among most, through its white-coated exterior and plastic glass embedded into the rendering that sparkles brightly in the sun.
It is said that the white color signifies the purity of Buddha and the glass symbolizes Buddha’s wisdom. The White Temple Chiang Rai was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a famous visual artist and architect from Thailand.
Photography is strictly prohibited inside the White Temple Chiang Rai, so I will try to explain what to expect as best I can in words.
The big open hall inside Wat Rong Khun has contemporary illustrations, comic book artworks, and symbols of Buddha painted on the walls from top to bottom.
Without giving too much away, I could have spent an hour inside the White Temple Chiang Rai admiring the detailed artworks.
Full blog post: The White Temple Chiang Rai
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LUNCH AT SALUNGKHAM RESTAURANT
We had a quick stop for lunch at the Salungkham Restaurant which serves up two sets of Local Table menus.
We went with “set A” which was absolutely delicious. Either way, we were guaranteed delicious authentic Northern Thai tastes.
DOI TUNG BOTANIC GARDENS
We walked above the trees along the Doi Tung Tree Top Walk, a 300-meter long wooden suspension bridge hanging 30-meters above the ground, and then took a long stroll in Doi Tung Mae Fah Luang Garden and enjoyed the vibrant colors and pungent smells of the flowers.
Also inside the Doi Tung Botanic Gardens is the Doi Tung Royal Villa which was once the late Princess Mother’s residence. Doi Tung Royal Villa beautifully blends Northern Thai and Swiss architectural styles.
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Doi Tung Botanic Gardens
AKHA HILL VILLAGE TRIBE
Last but not least is a 20-minute drive along the Thai-Myanmar border from Doi Tung to the Akha Hill Village.
It was a great experience visiting the Akha hill tribe people who migrated from China to live high in the mountains in the Doi Tung area.
Down the end of the main street is an amazing coffee shop on the edge of the mountain serving up local Thai coffee harvested from the Doi Tung region and there is a rooftop seating area with panoramic views.
There is also a selection of costumes to try on and make sure to get a photo holding the woven basket of coffee beans.
Catch an incredible sunset from the car as you make the 4-hour journey back to Chiang Mai.
BOOK A CHIANG RAI TOUR WITH ‘TAKE ME TOUR’
The easiest way to organize a Chiang Rai Tour with TakeMeTour is to visit their website and book online.
Take Me Tour Website: www.takemetour.com
WHERE TO STAY IN CHIANG MAI
Chiang Mai has hundreds of accommodations to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay in Chiang Mai to suit the needs of budget backpackers, luxury travelers, and everyone in between.
See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
LUXURY: SHANGRI-LA HOTEL
MID RANGE: LE CHARCOA HOTEL
BUDGET: CHIANG MAI TREE HOSTEL
FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN CHIANG MAI, SEARCH ON AGODA OR SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
WHAT TO PACK FOR THAILAND
When visiting Thailand, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you;
- Sunscreen – the Thailand sun is very strong, so make sure to pack some high-quality sunscreen.
- Quick-dry travel towel – the most compact and lightweight towel for traveling.
- Reusable water bottle – stay hydrated by bringing along a reusable water bottle.
- Backpack – The Nomatic 30L Travel Pack is the ultimate backpack for everyday adventures.
If you’re interested in taking awesome photos and videos on your travels, this is the camera gear that I use and recommend;
- GoPro HERO10 – the most popular camera on the planet for action-packed adventures.
- Canon EOS R – perfect for traveling, this is the most affordable, compact camera on the market.
- DJI Mini 3 Pro – take your photos and videos to new heights with this user-friendly drone camera.
MORE THAILAND TRAVEL GUIDES
- Thailand Travel Guide: 3 Week Thailand Itinerary
- Bangkok Travel Guide: 5 Things To Do In Bangkok
- Koh Tao Travel Guide: 15 Things To Do In Koh Tao
- Chiang Mai Travel Guide: 10 Things To Do In Chiang Mai
- Pai Travel Guide: 10 Things To Do In Pai
- Krabi Travel Guide: 5 Best Beaches in Krabi
TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!
- BOOKING.COM – search and book accommodation worldwide
- SKYSCANNER – compare and book cheap flights to anywhere
- VIATOR – find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world
- BOOKAWAY – book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance
- RENTAL CARS – search all rental cars in your next destination
- GROUP TRIPS – join one of my epic small group trips
- TRAVEL INSURANCE – purchase World Nomads travel insurance
- TRAVEL MONEY CARD – get a Wise card today for free
Looking for more? Check out my Travel Resources page for further help with your trip planning!
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you have any questions, please drop me a line below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can! For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.
THANKS FOR READING
Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!
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