White temples of Chiang Rai
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Chiang Rai
If you’re coming from Bangkok, you can fly here in just over an hour. However, if you’re travelling from Chiang Mai, there is a bus that takes around three hours. Once you arrive in Chiang Rai, you’ll head to your boutique hotel, where you will be staying in a Thai-style bungalow surrounded by lush gardens for the next three nights. Enjoy cooling off in the large swimming pool before heading out to explore this lesser-travelled city in Northern Thailand. With plenty of local restaurants to treat your tastebuds to and a must-visit to the clock tower in the evening, there is plenty of family fun to be had.
Day 2 – Exploring Chiang Rai
Today you can visit the famous temples that this region is well known for. Two temples stand out as highlights – the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) and the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten). You will spot the White Temple as it shines from afar – made from many tiny white tiles, and constructed fairly recently in 1997, the structure is a captivating sight. Don’t forget to check out the toilets…they’re made of gold! In contrast, the Blue Temple (as the name suggests) is completely blue. This temple, although smaller in size, is equally impressive – covered in vibrant shades of blue, with gold elements added for a striking view.
Day 3 – Departure from Chiang Rai
After another delicious breakfast, it’s time to leave Chiang Rai and head on to your next destination in Thailand. If you do want to spend some more time in Chiang Rai – of course, we can arrange that for you. From here you can easily travel to the adventure capital of Pai, head back to bustling Bangkok or head south for some beach time.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Chiang Rai cycling trip
Want to explore Chiang Rai and its surroundings by bike? You will not only visit the famous temples in the city, but you will also cycle along the banks of the Lao River, through rice fields and fruit orchards. This will give you an authentic glimpse into local life. After a short safety briefing, you will cycle through charming villages and past vast rice fields, while following the quiet banks of the Lao River. This tour not only lets you enjoy the beautiful landscape but also gives you a glimpse into the authentic rural life of Thailand, just outside Chiang Rai. A highlight of the bike tour is a visit to the White Temple, also known as Wat Rong Khun, a breathtaking masterpiece of modern Thai architecture. The immaculate white shades and detailed designs make this an unforgettable experience. After this cultural discovery tour, enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant near the temple, where you can taste the flavours of the region.
Tea plantations of Doi Mae Salong
If you’re looking to explore the lush green hills surrounding Chiang Rai, we can arrange a visit to Doi Mae Salong, a charming village nestled in the hills and surrounded by tea plantations. Despite the warm climate of Thailand, the hills here offer a refreshing mist and cooler temperatures. It’s the perfect place to experience tea first-hand—you can even pick, smell, and taste it! Watch as the women from local tribes carefully handpick tea leaves from the bushes. These leaves are then brought to a small factory, where they’re sorted, dried, and processed into delicious tea. Of course, you’ll also have the chance to sample the tea yourself. After our tea adventure, we’ll head back to Chiang Rai. Get ready for a memorable family day out!
