7 Things to Do in Chiang Rai

7 things you absolutely have to do in Chiang Rai (and don’t let someone else tell you about them)
Sure, you could stay watching Netflix or keep saving reels of places you never visit. But if you’re really thinking about moving, about stepping off the track a little, Chiang Rai is that northern Thai corner where beauty slaps you in the face without warning.

This isn’t “pretty tourism” — this is temples that stir something inside you, hills that smell like tea, and culture that doesn’t show up in brochures.

Wat Rong Khun – The White Temple
It’s not a temple. It’s a visual scream. All white, all twisted, full of modern symbolism packed into traditional architecture. It’s weird. It’s beautiful. It’s uncomfortable. It’s hypnotic. It’s one of those things you either see live or you just don’t get. Every step to get there is worth it.

Wat Rong Suea Ten – The Blue Temple
Not as famous as the White one, but it hits you with blues so bold they leave you speechless. Electric blue, gold, dragons, ceilings that look like they came from Dalí’s wet dream. You don’t expect it. And that’s exactly why you love it. You go out of curiosity and leave with your jaw dropped.

Lalitta Café – Eating inside a fairytale
If Peter Pan became a barista, this would be his spot. Gardens, hanging bridges, wooden cottages, waterfalls… and you, there, sipping a coffee like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Some places are made to light up your phone with photos, but this one also leaves you with that goofy grin of someone who just lived something different.

Karen Tribe Village – Real people
They won’t give you catalog smiles. There’s no filter here. Just living culture, women weaving what they wear, eyes that know more than you and I combined, and a way of living we’d do well to copy a little. Don’t come in a hurry. Here, things are felt slowly.

Tea plantations – Greens that heal
You breathe. You feel. And suddenly you realize you don’t need that much. You climb a hill, see a horizon full of green, and they serve you a tea ice cream or a tart made from freshly picked leaves. The world stops for a while, and you thank the silence. Choui Fong or Doi Mae Salong — pick whichever. They’re all worth it.

Baan Dam – The Black House
If the White Temple is heaven, this is hell (but a very aesthetic one). Skulls, bones, unsettling sculptures, and black wood everywhere. It’s art, yes — but the kind that sticks a finger in your soul and stirs without asking permission. You’ll leave with more questions than answers — and that’s always a good sign.

Wat Huay Pla Kang – The goddess watching from above
Few tourists. Lots of peace. A hill, a dragon staircase, and a giant white statue of Guan Yin that seems to be there to protect you — or at least remind you that silence sometimes says more than any words. And when you climb up and look at the view from the top… the stress vanishes. Just like that.

Chiang Rai isn’t for everyone. It’s for those looking for more than pretty photos. For those who want to discover a Thailand that doesn’t shout — but whispers, loud and clear.

So do what you want. But if you go… don’t go in a rush. Go hungry to see, to listen, to taste.
Because this city — though small — touches you. And once it touches you, you never forget it.

Writer's Profile: InspireThailand