Top Things to See
Chiang Rai is a sleepy little town and you won't find many attractions near the city centre. However, this former capital of the Lanna Kingdom is growing ever more popular as a base from which to explore the Golden Triangle region along the Mekong River. Daytrips to Doi Tung are rewarding, with several sites and activities available along the way.
 Doi Tung Chiang Rai's 'Flag Mountain' is one of the region's most important landmarks. Once considered the centre of northern Thailand's opium trade, Doi Tung was revitalised by the Princess Mother's efforts to convert opium fields into a sort of sanctuary for sustainable agriculture. New cash crops have been fostered, and local farmers have had success cultivating macadamia nuts, coffee, cabbages and even strawberries. Today, Doi Tung is an excellent place to go hiking and enjoy the scenery of Northern Thailand.
 Doi Tung Royal Villa The royal residence of His Majesty's mother is a splendid mountaintop mansion overlooking Chiang Rai province. This was the Princess Mother's final residence before she passed away in 1995. The villa blends the architectural styles of Northern Thailand (or Lanna) and Switzerland, the Princess Mother's home away from home. An onsite memorial to her life draws a steady flow of tourists—both domestic and international—and there's also an expansive flower garden that blooms year-round.
 Gate of Siam Set in the northernmost reaches of Chiang Rai province along the border with Laos is the Pratu Siam, or the Gate of Siam. This memorial is set along a path cut through limestone cliffs that formerly served as an important link to Laos, where communist forces (Vietnamese, Chinese and Laotian) clashed with Chinese Nationalist (KMT) and US Central Intelligence forces. Onsite graves belong to Chinese Nationalist soldiers who died in these skirmishes. Virtually unknown to the tourist industry, this remote outpost offers commanding views of the Thai-Laos border in a magical setting.
 Golden Triangle Along the northernmost border of Chiang Rai province, the countries of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar all converge in an area that has been dubbed the Golden Triangle. These rolling hills are cut by the Ruak River (a tributary of the Mekong), and the fertile riverbed was once infamous for the massive crops of opium it fostered. A number of museums and cultural institutes here examine the local impact on the rise and fall of the opium trade and an enormous golden Buddha image perches nearby on the banks of the Mekong River.
 King Mengrai Statue A bronze effigy of King Mengrai is the centrepiece of Chiang Rai town. The 13th century king is revered as the founding father of the Lanna Kingdom, and domestic tourists often stop off here to pay their respects. Legend has it that King Mengrai's elephant veered off trail and discovered Doi Tung and the land where the king would eventually found his capital city.
 Mae Fah Luang Garden The Royal Villa on Doi Tung overlooks an expansive (10 acre) series of botanical gardens. Easily the most impressive feat of landscaping in Thailand, this garden hosts a myriad of flowerbeds and plots of decorative shrubs, many of which are cool weather varieties that could not prosper in this region were it not for the garden's high altitude. The centrepiece of the garden is a bronze statue titled Community that depicts a human pyramid of children grasping for the sky. Phone: +66 53 767015.
Phu Chee Fah Mountain Outside of Chiang Rai city, Mount Phu Chee Fah is a wonderful daytrip destination. The climate here at high altitude is refreshingly cool, especially from December to January, and there's often a blanket of mist wafting through the low-lying countryside below. However, the most spectacular time to visit is in early spring (February) when white, wild flowers are in full bloom.
Princess Mother Commemorative Hall Part of the Doi Tung Royal Villa complex, this facility commemorates the life and work of the Princess Mother. The Princess Mother's title, Mae Fah Luang, literally translates as 'royal mother from the sky,' and as the mother of two kings, she is beloved by Thai people. A series of exhibits catalogue her work with local hill tribe farmers as she sought to establish sustainable farming techniques that would allow these poor farmers to generate an income from alternative cash crops. Her efforts ultimately succeeded in restoring tracts of unsustainably cleared forests as well as dampening the opium trade.
Top Things to Do
 Catch a live performance. The food court at the Chiang Rai night bazaar regularly hosts live musical performances ranging from traditional Thai music (accompanied by ancient dances) or more contemporary Thai pop. In any event, you aren't likely to hear many English covers. Draft beer is available.
Climb Buffalo Horn Hill. Views of Chiang Rai from the temple on Buffalo Horn Hill are outstanding. Just follow the old road to Chiang Mai (thanon Ratchayotha). There is also a small restaurant here that serves frogs and fresh fish.
 Cruise the Mae Kok River. The Mae Kok forms the northern border of Chiang Rai city. Follow the road parallel to the river west out of town to find the dock. Scorpion tail boats are available for hire, and they can be chartered for scenic cruises or for transport to Thaton.
Have a picnic at Khun Kok. Only 30kms (18 miles) south of Chiang Rai, Khun Kok Waterfall is a great place to plan a late-morning picnic. Before you settle down for lunch, there is ample opportunity here for hiking and swimming.
Make a Mae Sai border run. Mae Sai is the preferred border crossing for tourists to renew their Thai visas. Mae Sai sits across from Burmese Tachilek, and locals know it as a place to buy counterfeit CDs and DVDs at unbeatable prices. Travel companies in Chiang Rai can organise minivan border runs to Mae Sai.
 Play a round of golf. There is a golf course at Chiang Rai’s old airport. Facilities include a nine-hole green, a driving range and a modest restaurant. There are two more golf courses located afew miles outside of town including one of Thailand's top five courses at Santiburi.
 Take a daytrip to Chiang Saen. Located in the northernmost reaches of Chiang Rai province, this is one of the region's most historic cities. It has previously shifted between Burmese and Thai control, and the architecture here has been heavily influence by the former northern Lanna Kingdom.
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