Airports
Despite its name, Chiang Rai International Airport deals exclusively in domestic flights and has yet to receive international passengers. However, the infrastructure is in place to accept flights from abroad in the future.
 Airlines operating at Chiang Rai Airport are AirAsia, One-Two-Go Airlines, Nok Air and SGA Airlines (the latter two both subsidiaries of Thai Airways International). Most of these carriers operate journeys between Chiang Rai and Bangkok, though SGA Airlines also flies to Chiang Mai. Flights to other destinations are considerably less common.
This single terminal airport offers basic facilities including: a tourist information desk, a currency exchange counter, light dining facilities, handicraft gift shops and restrooms. The airport is accessible to disabled persons and a small medical clinic operates onsite.
The airport is eight kilometres (five miles) from the city centre and there are taxis and songtaews (local shared taxis) on hand to shuttle passengers into town.
Public Transport
 By land, it is easy to reach Chiang Rai by bus or hire car from both Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The railroad that heads north from Bangkok travels no further than Chiang Mai, at which point passengers bound for Chiang Rai must charter another mode of transport. Travelling by bus from Bangkok takes roughly 10 hours and can be accomplished overnight in comfortable air-conditioned coaches.
 Another popular way to reach Chiang Rai is by boat on the Mae Kok River. Boats disembark from Thaton every day in the late morning and the journey to Chiang Rai typically takes three hours. Along the way, passengers enjoy spectacular views of the jungle and may even catch sight of Karen hill tribe people leading their elephants to bathe in the river. Lighter and faster long-tail boats also ply the river from Thaton to Chiang Rai.
 Once you are in Chiang Rai, transportation across town and to outlying destinations is easily arranged. Tuk-tuk (small, three-wheeled auto rickshaws) and songtaews (passenger-carrying pickup trucks) can both be hailed from anywhere along the roadside. The fare for this sort of transportation is highly variable, and it's wise to agree on a price before stepping into a vehicle.
There are a few metered taxis operating in Chiang Rai, though you're much less likely to successfully hail one on the roadside. It's also relatively inexpensive to hire a car with a driver.
Certain songtaew run fixed routes between popular destinations. These vehicles are grouped by colour and display a sign (often in Thai script only) announcing their destination. Prices are fixed on these routes. While fixed-route songtaew are less expensive than chartered songtaew, they make frequent stops and can become quite crowded.
 If you would rather drive yourself, car hire can be arranged at Chiang Rai Airport or with numerous travel agents throughout the city of Chiang Rai. Motorcycle hire is another popular way to get around town, and many guesthouses offer motorbikes and bicycles for hire.
 If you do choose to hire a motorcycle or car, be advised that many local hire firms don't insure their vehicles, meaning the driver is ultimately responsible for any damages incurred. Hire cars made available by reputable, international firms typically offer insurance to concerned drivers. Both Avis and Budget have desks at the airport in Chiang Rai.
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