CHIANG RAI TOUR – Complete Day Trip Review

Any trip to Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand, is not complete without a side trip to Chiang Rai. Located to the North East of Chiang Mai, it holds its own fascination for visitors to this part of the country. Many will decide to spend a couple of days there, but for others with less time to spare, a simple day trip has to suffice. I myself was in this situation on my most recent visit to Chiang Mai. So I booked the Chiang Rai Tour to visit on a single Day Trip.

I was very impressed.

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Table of Contents

• About the Chiang Rai Tour
• The Drive to Chiang Rai
• Mae Kachan Hot Springs
• Wat Rong Khun – The White Temple
• Wat Rong Suea Ten – The Blue Temple
• Baan Dam Museum – The Black House
• Where to book the Chiang Rai Tour
• Other Tours in the Area
• Summary

About the Chiang Rai Tour

The Chiang Rai Tour that I did was a day trip that lasts around 12 hours. Actually, it ended up being more like 11 hours by the time we all got dropped back at our hotels. It was a small group trip, with only 4 of us in total, so the time spent driving was quite comfortable.

The driver, an English speaking local woman named Puma, was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Not only did she rattle off an incredible amount of detail about the places we visited, but also answered every question I had about life in Northern Thailand. She was more than willing to chat, and this made the trip to Chiang Rai and back that much quicker!

Puma picked us up at the hotel in Chiang Mai just after 7am. She had already picked up the two other members of our tour, a couple of young Norwegian girls, and before we knew it we were on the road. Only a couple of incidentals needed to be taken care of first, including providing her with our passports, so that she could take photos for insurance purposes.

Before we were even out of the street, Puma was already chatting away, providing us with details about the day ahead, and what we could expect. Our expectations rose, and we were suddenly really looking forward to the trip to come.

The Drive to Chiang Rai

The drive to Chiang Rai takes about 3.5 hours. This is pretty good, as there is a nice new road that covers a lot of the distance. I noticed how new it looked, and asked Puma about it. As per usual, she was more than willing to chat.

Before Covid, the trip to Chiang Rai was a LOT longer. The trip could take up to 5 hours in one direction, and that was on a good day. During wet season, it could actually become impassable at times. This nice new, 4 and sometimes 6 lane wide road, was only completed two years ago. Now, the Chiang Rai tour and other day trips are open to more visitors from Chiang Mai.

The problems with the old road extended far beyond the fact that it was circuitous, winding its way around mountains and through villages. There were times that it would get washed out altogether during storms. Then, there are some trees that are illegal to cut up or chop down. If one of these fell across the road, they couldn’t just use a chainsaw to clear the way. They had to wait until the entire tree, roots and all were carted away for transplanting. So as you can imagine, the big new road makes a HUGE difference!

The other point of note along the way is a police check point. This seemed a bit out of the ordinary, but Puma explained that because of the proximity to the infamous “Golden Triangle”, police still have in place checkpoints for drug trafficking. During the daytime, it is really just a police presence, but late at night they will fully search cars.

For those that are not aware, that Golden Triangle refers to the point in Northern Thailand that Thailand, Laos and Myanmar all meet at the confluence of two rivers. Many years ago, this spot was infamous for drug trafficking, particularly in the trade of Opium. These days it is a big tourist hotspot, and a border crossing utilized mostly by backpackers. There is still a small problem with amphetamine trade though, hence the police check points.

Mae Kachan Hot Springs

Mid way along the drive, you will stop by at Mae Kachan Hot Springs. This is a spot right alongside the road, and is really just to stretch your legs and go to the toilet. You will be here for 20 minutes or so, though, which is good, because it really is quite interesting.

At this particular spot, for only a few hundred meters in each direction, the temperature beneath the Earth’s crust is so intense that the water in the wells is constantly on the boil. You can see it spitting into the air right in the very carpark. Interestingly, it is so hot that you can boil an egg in only a few minutes, and there are a few sellers around the carpark that will actually sell you an egg so you can try it yourself.

Just up the hill a little, in front of the toilet area, beyond the souvenir stands and shops, you will find a smaller spring where you can soak your feet in water that is a lot milder. It’s free, so give it a go!

Wat Rong Khun – The White Temple

Wat Rong Khun, better known to visitors to the area as The White Temple, is one of the most famous temples in Thailand. It is privately owned, and built on the site of the original Wat Rong Khun that had fallen into a state of disrepair. A local artist by the name of Chalermchai Kositpipat stepped in, and along with over 150 volunteers, made it their life’s work to create the new temple that is standing today. It is said that to date, he has spent over $40 million of his own money on it!

In many circles, the White Temple is considered an art exhibition, rather than an actual temple. Despite that, it does have an Ubosot, the hall that is at the centre of every Thai Temple. The entire temple is stark white in color, and glints in the sun from thousands of pieces of glass that are embedded into the surface of the structure. It truly is a sight to be seen on a sunny day.

The main building is reached via a bridge that spans a small lake. Stepping onto the bridge, visitors will pass over a “pit” of human arms and hands reaching out as if to grasp you as you pass. This is meant to visualize unrestrained desire. The belief is that to reach eternal life, you must not give into temptation, greed or desire, and therefore to pass over the bridge to the Ubosot is a symbolization of our path to eternal life. Indeed, Chalermchai Kositpipat constructed the White Temple as just that. His path to eternal life.

Inside the Ubosot, make certain to linger and take in the artwork on the walls. You will find images of Harry Potter, Superman, Neo from The Matrix, and even a Terminator. The image of Hello Kitty aside, the presence of nuclear war images, the Twin Towers of 9/11 and other conflicts pushes the message that mankind is wicked.

Once you leave the Ubosot, walk around to the rear and exit via a side gate. Take note that the path through the temple is “one-way” and you cannot back track. There is plenty to see around the rest of the grounds though.

Off to the side, near the exit is a large golden building. Before you linger to take photos, take note that this is actually the public rest room! It was painted a Gold color, not just to contrast starkly with the White Temple itself, but to symbolize the greed of Mankind.

Around to the rear of this building is another beautiful Gold Building that is actually a Museum. You can reach it via a Golden Bridge across a small lake. It is worth stopping by for photos. Off to one side are some nice artificial waterfalls, and then a large complex of white buildings at the rear. Once you have browsed around, head for the exit gate and get ready for lunch at one of the cafes outside.

Note that the entrance fees to all exhibits on the Chiang Rai Tour are included in the price, but lunch and refreshments (other than water) are not, and will be at your own expense.

Wat Rong Suea Ten – The Blue Temple

Next stop on the tour is Wat Rong Suea Ten, better known to visitors as the Blue Temple. The name, as you can imagine, comes from the actual color of the temple, which is a brilliant shade of blue. The color is representative of the sky, and symbolic of purity, wisdom and lack of materialism.

The Blue Temple is built on a site that was known for where tigers once jumped across the river. The name Wat Rong Suea Ten is reflective of just that. The original temple that was built on the spot hundreds of years ago fell into disrepair, and once abandoned became home to the very tigers that it was named after. The villagers, though, had no temple of their own, and in 1996 the decision was made to rebuild. Construction began in 2005, under the guidance of Putha Kabkaew, a student of the artist who designed the White Temple.

The Blue Temple is still under construction, although the main hall, entry and courtyard fountain are already complete. Being still new, it is not as well known as the White Temple, but personally was my favorite when I visited as part of my Chiang Rai Tour.

When you arrive, you will park right next to the temple, where there are a dozen or so small shops selling souvenirs and refreshments. Wandering the grounds is free, as is entering the main Hall. As with all temples in Thailand, it is customary to leave a donation that will go toward the upkeep of the temple.

While the outside photos of the Blue Temple are amazing, the inside cannot be discounted. I felt a great calm as I entered, most likely due to the passive blue that surrounds you on all sides. The artwork inside is incredible, and worth your time to wander around in silence to study.

When you leave, take note of the artwork around the doorframe. In contrast to the artwork on the walls, the exit sees you stepping into the mouth of a dragon, or the fires of Hell, back into the real world. If that isn’t an expression of the artist’s view of the world we live in, nothing is!

You will have around 40 minutes at the Blue Temple, before your Chiang Rai Tour continues. Take your time but make certain not to miss anything at this amazing place.

Baan Dam Museum – The Black House

Baan Dam Museum will be the next stop on the Chiang Rai Tour. It is also the last stop, and will be totally different to what you have experienced at the two Temples.

“The Black House” is often mistaken as a temple itself, but it is far from it. It is a museum, and was once the home of the famous Thai artist Thawan Duchanee, who was proclaimed worldwide for his artworks. The name Baan Dam literally means “Black House” in Thai.

What you can expect to see here, some will find fascinating, while others may find totally disturbing. I sort of sat halfway. There are about 40 structures that are spread across the property, and each contains collections of artwork, bones, animal skins, and sculptures. There seems to be in inordinate amount of buffalo horns and crocodile skins. Apparently the artist would pay the local villagers for the horns from buffalo that died around the village, and he mounted the horns to pay homage to the beasts that called the area home long before man came along.

It is this sort of thinking that created what is now a truly strange and eerie museum. Make of it what you will, but it is worth at least taking a look while on the Chiang Rai Tour, as it is a big part of the history of the town and area, created by one of their most famous residents.

Where to book the Chiang Rai Tour

I did my Chiang Rai Tour through GetYourGuide. I always book my trips with them when I can, and they always deliver! Once again, I couldn’t fault this trip, and really highly recommend it. Booking online makes it really free and easy. You will get a confirmation email, and the host will contact you personally to make arrangements.

On my trip, Puma messaged me the night before via WhatsApp (so make sure you have it on your phone, as you should in Asia anyway, as everyone uses it). She arranged our hotel pickup, and then advised us of a few things, such as dress etiquette for the temples etc.

You can book this particular Chiang Rai Tour, or Chiang Rai Day Trip if you like at THIS link. Alternatively, you can simply click the button below, or any of the others I placed in this article.

Other Tours in the Area

There are several variations of the Chiang Rai Tour that you can do. All of them will visit the White Temple, while missing the Blue Temple in order to head to other locations, such as the nearby Golden Triangle. For mine, I think missing the Blue Temple is a real shame, but if you really want to see the Golden Triangle, then maybe another Chiang Rai Tour is for you.

Here are a few variations you can do, with links:

• From Chiang Mai – White Temple and Golden Triangle Daytrip. Take a boat ride down the Mekong River and see the point where three countries meet. Click HERE to check it out.
• The normal Chiang Rai Tour as reviewed above, but in SPANISH. Click HERE to check it out if you would rather a Spanish speaking guide.
• Chiang Rai small group sightseeing tour – Almost the same tour, but add in a stop to visit the famous “long neck” hill tribe of Northern Thailand. Click HERE to check it out.
• Chiang Rai full day customizable tour – go where you like and see what you like according to your preferences. Check HERE for more details.

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Summary

Chiang Rai is an amazing place with some really incredible things to see. If you are in Chiang Mai, and don’t have the time to take a few days to travel and stay there, then a Chiang Rai Tour from Chiang Mai is the way to go. I really enjoyed it, and would do it again in a heartbeat.

The White Temple and Blue Temple are unmissable, in my opinion!

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