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Your finest day journey to Chiang Rai begins right here! Belief me!
The Wat Rong Khun temple is so shining and spectacular that it may very well be simply mistaken for a portray. I ponder how a lot love, inspiration, and work have been wanted to create that masterpiece.
Wat Rong Khun aka White Temple is among the most well-known sights in Chiang Rai – Thailand, and there I used to be, admiring it on my first solo journey of the yr. A day journey to Chiang Rai filled with marvelous temples, scrumptious meals and the sensation of overcoming certainly one of my largest fears.
Nicely, extra about me afterward. First, let me let you know the White Temple is simply the cherry on high of the cake. This present day journey from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai was past wonderful and the locations I visited have been as unimaginable because the White Temple, if no more.
Chiang Rai is situated in Northern Thailand, a metropolis recognized for its arts, religion, nature, and scrumptious meals. After all, it deserves greater than only one go to, but when, like me, you solely have a day in Chiang Rai, attempt to benefit from it.
This journey had a particular that means for me: it was my first journey alone after months of preventing towards an eye fixed an infection that nearly took my imaginative and prescient away. However even with my left eye removed from being 100%, I packed my baggage and confronted the problem.
I wished to expertise all the highest issues to do in Chiang Rai in simply sooner or later so I partnered up with TakeMeTour to go on a day tour from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai.
Methods to plan the proper Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai day journey?
Chiang Rai is situated about 200 km from Chiang Mai, probably the most well-known vacationer vacation spot in Northern Thailand.
Looking for the best way to get to Chiang Rai you will see that two choices: flying or driving. If you’re touring from Bangkok or every other vacation spot removed from Chiang Rai, you possibly can both fly to Chiang Mai [which has more flight options and better prices] or fly to Chiang Rai and begin your day tour from the airport.
If you’re staying in Chiang Mai, the street journey is the most suitable choice and it solely takes 3 hours and a half so that you can get there.
It’s also possible to journey from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by your self, as there are buses operating every day and the tickets are fairly low-cost. However as soon as you might be in Chiang Rai you continue to want a taxi or a tuk-tuk to go to the temples and sights.
It’s completely possible, particularly when you already traveled to Thailand or Southeast Asia and know the best way to cut price and seek for one of the best offers.
Touring in Thailand by bus? Learn our tremendous information right here!
However, in case you are staying in Chiang Mai and have solely sooner or later to go to Chiang Rai, I might say {that a} tour is one of the best, the simplest, and probably the most sensible possibility. Even higher in case your information is somebody native who can take you to the highest sights and likewise off the crushed path.
That’s why I booked the “Blue Temple, White Temple, Black Home, Lotus Temple & Greatest Khao Soi” expertise with Kiki, a neighborhood professional from TakeMeTour. This isn’t the primary time we e-book day journeys with TakeMeTour, in Bangkok we did a Espresso Tour, a Chinatown Meals Tour, and visited a neighborhood floating market adopted by a cooking class.
Day journey to Chiang Rai Itinerary
Our journey began early morning. At 7 am, Kiki arrived at my lodge in Chiang Mai [check the lovely The Mellow Pillow Hotel here]. It took us about 3 hours to reach on the first cease of our day tour, the touristy Chiang Rai Sizzling Spring.
1st cease: Chiang Rai Sizzling Spring
To be trustworthy, it was smaller than I anticipated and busier than I wished, nevertheless it turned out to be enjoyable.
When you cross the crowds and discover a spot by the water, you possibly can sit and chill out below the bushes. It’s fairly enjoyable to see the vans and buses filled with vacationers arriving and leaving 10 minutes later, which jogs my memory why I don’t like massive tour teams.
Whereas persons are flocking out and in, Kiki and I had time to speak. He advised me the story concerning the street that connects Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, the rising variety of vacationers which might be visiting the area, how fascinating Chiang Rai sights are, and the way he feels pleased to point out them to vacationers.
To stability the journey, the following attraction of our Chiang Rai tour was probably the most peaceable and likewise my favourite one.
2nd cease: Wat Sang Kaew Phothiyan
It was there that each one the story a few native professional made sense. We drove a couple of minutes from the new spring to this empty automotive parking on a secondary street.
The solar was shining vibrant, it was sizzling and I used to be about to see some of the lovely temples in Chiang Rai. After the doorway, we have been greeted by an incredible staircase with dragons, bells, and never a single particular person round.
Wat Sang Kaew Phothiyan has distinctive structure, a lovely backyard, and a shocking temple.
Please, be respectful there. Totally different from the White Temple which is a vacationer attraction in Chiang Rai, this temple was constructed for praying, so act respectfully, costume modestly and when you really feel like praying, do it.
Proper on the entrance of the temple, there are two massive statues symbolizing the nice and the evil, the angel and the satan. The Buddhists imagine that good and evil can co-exist so long as they’re in stability.
The enjoyable reality is that the satan drinks whiskey, wears Converse runners, and has an iPhone with Fb and Instagram. It’s positively, a reminder that we have to search for a balanced life in our fashionable and digital world.
On the Wat Sang Kaew Phothiyan, I realized the best way to pray in a Buddhist temple and I even obtained a blessing from a monk. The blessing was adopted by a strong message, don’t fear an excessive amount of and dwell within the current. Famous!
After the blessing ritual, it was time to move to the third cease of our day tour to Chiang Rai, the White Temple was ready for us.
third cease: Wat Rong Khun AKA White Temple in Chiang Rai
The White Temple is breathtaking, some of the lovely temples in Chiang Rai and in Thailand, and as I anticipated it was crowded with guests.
Totally different from the earlier temple, Wat Rong Khun is a creative website the place individuals go to admire the design and its artwork, to not pray.
You continue to must be respectful and costume modestly, nevertheless it’s extra relaxed in the direction of strolling round, snapping pictures, and queueing for the so-wanted Instagramable shot.
Though, contained in the temple itself you possibly can’t take pictures, which retains it magical. You possibly can solely see how weirdly fascinating the inside of the temple is when you journey to Chiang Rai. And belief me, the Chiang Rai White Temple is an expertise to not be missed.
The White Temple is a mixture of science fiction and Thai beliefs. There you will note statues and work of aliens, characters from Hollywood films and Buddhas. It’s oddly lovely.
The palms rising from the bottom in entrance of the temple symbolize hell, so it’s worthwhile to cross the bridge over the palms to reach in heaven, the inside of the temple. That’s the that means of Wat Rong Khun, a journey expertise from the mundane to the nirvana.
One can simply spend hours exploring the White Temple, there are completely different shrines, a backyard, and a golden bathroom on the advanced. The spectacular golden toilet was the fanciest bathroom I’ve ever been to, the cubicle was clear and regular, however the constructing itself is artwork. An image in entrance of it’s one other should for all vacationers visiting Chiang Rai.
A rest room picture was snapped and Kiki introduced the 4th cease of our Chiang Rai day tour, the so-needed lunch break.
4th cease: The most effective Khao Soi in Chiang Rai
Once I was reserving the tour to Chiang Rai I advised Kiki that Khao Soi is certainly one of my favourite dishes in Thailand, so he promised to take me to a restaurant in Chiang Rai that serves one of the best Khao Soi in Northern Thailand.
Aside from excursions, TakeMeTour additionally gives Native Desk Experiences, a gastronomic expertise the place you possibly can go to a neighborhood professional home to strive home-cooked dishes, or go to a neighborhood restaurant to style conventional recipes.
My Chiang Rai day journey was a mix of a tour and a Native Desk Expertise, and the consequence was a mouth-watering-cultural journey.
On the menu, we had a scrumptious Khao Soi – a coconut curry noodle soup with hen, the Cha Pu Moo Yang – grilled pork sausage wrapped in Betel leaf, Pad Thai with shrimp, stir-fried Morning Glory, and contemporary spring rolls.
Every thing was yummy, and, it was certainly one of the best Khao Soi I’ve ever tasted.
Happy from tummy to soul, it was time to seize an iced espresso and head to the fifth cease of our Chiang Rai day tour.
fifth cease: Baan Dam Museum AKA Chiang Rai Black Home
The Black Home or Baan Dam is a museum: a novel, lovely, and creepy one.
The museum is unfold all through 15 homes and an enormous backyard, and all the things there’s a part of the artist Thawan Duchenee personal assortment.
Be able to see animals’ skins, previous furnishings, bones, and sacred pictures. Baan Dam is a darkish place to go to in Chiang Rai, a advantageous line between the creative and the grotesque.
I used to be impressed by the elephant skeleton they’ve there, whereas different individuals have been screaming due to the large snakes. In a nutshell, you will see that unusual issues for all tastes and fears.
Chiang Rai Black Home will not be for the faint-hearted and when you really feel you want a break from all of the useless issues, sit down within the backyard and revel in lovely residing nature.
After the Black Home, it was time to go to one other spectacular temple in Chiang Rai and catch the sundown.
sixth cease: Wat Rong Suae Ten AKA Blue Temple
Our day tour was nearly in the long run, and though my legs have been drained I used to be nonetheless pumped with pleasure to go to Chiang Rai Blue Temple.
Totally different from the White Temple, this one was filled with native vacationers. I might see far more Thais than Westerners visiting it, and that gave me the sensation I used to be stepping on one other particular attraction in Chiang Rai.
After visiting the temple I sat in entrance of the doorway to look at the sundown. We stayed there for a couple of minutes, admiring the sky turning orange, purple, after which blue. That’s what I referred to as the proper solution to finish our Chiang Rai tour.
What a day! We visited three of Chiang Rai’s high sights, tasted native meals, and shared some laughs.
When you wish to learn this expertise, take a couple of minutes to look at it. Here’s a video about my day in Chiang Rai.
The day tour to Chiang Rai is an expertise that I’ll always remember, not solely due to the gorgeous structure and the unimaginable flavors but additionally as a result of it was a studying expertise. I confronted my worry of touring alone with out seeing 100 %, I beat my very own limitations with the assist of a brand new pal.
To not point out the lesson I realized on the Wat Sang Kaew Phothiyan: “Don’t fear an excessive amount of and dwell within the current”. Khob Khun Ka! Thanks Chiang Rai and Kiki for this superior journey!
Journey tricks to Chiang Rai, Thailand
By now you already know the best way to plan the proper day journey from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and the way to decide on one of the best Chiang Rai tour, so let’s transfer on to different journey ideas.
Thailand is a giant nation and it’s arduous to suit all the things in only one journey, however you positively want to go to Bangkok, so try our information to your first time in Bangkok and our checklist of distinctive issues to do in BKK.
Touring to the Thai Islands? Learn our information to what to do in Phuket that doesn’t suck, issues to do and the place to remain in Koh Samui, the final information to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao journey information, Koh Lanta, and all it’s worthwhile to learn about Krabi, Railay Seashore, and Ao Nang.
Heading south? Don’t neglect to have a neighborhood expertise on the lesser-known however charming Hat Yai metropolis.
And naturally, when you’re touring to Chiang Rai you’re in all probability gonna cease at Chiang Mai too, so examine our favourite spots in Chiang Mai and the best way to get the blessed Sak Yant bamboo tattoo.
Nonetheless speaking about Chiang Mai here’s a money-saving tip.
Get your Chiang Mai Move
You are able to do quite a bit and get monetary savings by getting the Chiang Mai Premium Move or the Chiang Mai Day Move.
They’re digital passes that offer you entry to sights, eating places, river cruises, workshops, massages and extra.
The distinction between the day Move and the Premium is the variety of actions, providers, and eating places included. The Chiang Mai Move has 47 objects, whereas the Chiang Mai Premium Move has 78.
The Chiang Mai Premium Move consists of distinctive actions and two choices of transportation/sightseeing providers that may enable you to get round simply and see the town in consolation.
With each passes it can save you cash, because the cross is means cheaper than when you would pay for every exercise individually.
We used the Bangkok Day Move and Phuket Move and liked them! Right here is the video of our itineraries utilizing the Bangkok Day Move and right here utilizing the Phuket Day Move.
When you like the town cross concept, in addition they have the Ayutthaya Move and Pattaya Move. The actions, sights, eating places, and advantages in every metropolis are completely different, so it’s price checking them out.
Transportation
Getting round Thailand relaxed. You possibly can fly, take trains, buses and boats. And to achieve some locations and islands, you would possibly must do a mix of them.
To e-book bus, prepare, and boat tickets on-line we use 12go Asia or Bookaway, the 2 platforms supply all forms of transportation, so you possibly can e-book and journey in Thailand in a simple and protected means.
To e-book flights to and inside Thailand we advocate Skyscanner.
Lodging
You’ll find hostels, finances resorts, luxurious resorts, and villas in all places in Thailand.
To search out one of the best place to remain in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, or in every other vacation spot I like to recommend you to look and e-book your room on Reserving.com or Agoda. They’ve one of the best costs and a variety of properties.
For this journey, I flew from Bangkok to Chiang Mai with Air Asia and stayed at The Mellow Pillow Lodge. A couple of steps from the South Gate and previous city, this beautiful lodge is near many sights, temples and meals markets.
For extra choices of resorts in Chiang Mai click on right here.
Journey Recommendation:
Don’t neglect your Journey Insurance coverage! You don’t need something to spoil your journey, proper? So don’t take the chance! Dependable journey insurance coverage can assist you in case of journey points, from accidents to well being issues, journey delays, and misplaced baggage.
There are various insurances out there, our picks are HeyMondo and SafetyWing. We used each and at all times had expertise. Click on on the insurance coverage names to get a quote.
That’s a wrap, I hope you benefit from the learn and that you simply discovered the ideas and data on this information helpful for you!
If you’re planning a day tour from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, e-book your native expertise with TakeMeTour and have enjoyable!
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