Chiang Rai itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Chiang Rai

1. 01

   Day 1: Art temples and the royal temple

   Start early at Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), then go to the Blue Temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten. After lunch, visit Wat Phra Kaew and its free museum in the city centre, and end at Baan Dam if you still have energy.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)	About 1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Opening time on a weekday, or late afternoon; November to February is more comfortable for walking
   Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple)	30 to 60 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon, when the colour reads best and the heat is lower

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Chiang Rai

1. 01

   Day 1: The art temples

   White Temple first thing, then the Blue Temple, a long lunch and a rest. Late afternoon at Wat Phra Kaew.

2. 02

   Day 2: Golden Triangle

   Drive north to Chiang Saen for the ruins, then Sop Ruak for the river and the Hall of Opium. Return in the afternoon.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Golden Triangle (Sop Ruak)	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning for clearer light; dry season for easier travel
   Hall of Opium	About 1.5 hours	Easy	Daytime, any dry-season day; air-conditioned, so useful in the heat

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 03

3 days in Chiang Rai

1. 01

   Day 1: White and Blue temples

   Visit Wat Rong Khun at opening, Wat Rong Suea Ten after, then rest. Afternoon at Wat Phra Kaew.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)	About 1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Opening time on a weekday, or late afternoon; November to February is more comfortable for walking
   Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple)	30 to 60 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon, when the colour reads best and the heat is lower

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Golden Triangle

   Chiang Saen, Sop Ruak and the Hall of Opium, with Mae Sai added only if you have energy.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Golden Triangle (Sop Ruak)	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning for clearer light; dry season for easier travel
   Hall of Opium	About 1.5 hours	Easy	Daytime, any dry-season day; air-conditioned, so useful in the heat
   Mae Sai	2 to 3 hours	Moderate	Daytime; avoid the heat of midday

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Mae Sai: The town centre is flat but busy, and the temple view involves steps. Heat and traffic can tire older travellers, so choose one stop and rest.

3. 03

   Day 3: Doi Tung or Mae Salong

   Choose one hill day: Doi Tung for the royal villa and garden, or Mae Salong for tea and views. Consider an overnight at Mae Salong rather than a very long day.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Mae Salong (Santikhiri)	A long day, or an overnight	Moderate	Cooler months, November to February; the village is often cooler than the city year-round

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Mae Salong (Santikhiri): The roads climb and wind, which is difficult for anyone prone to motion sickness. In the village, streets are sloped and steps are common, so older visitors should plan short walks and use a car for the rest.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Chiang Rai trip for parents and children

• Travel between November and February, when mornings are cool and the air is clearer.
• Book a hired car with driver for the temples and hill trips; the sights are spread out and public transport is limited.
• Visit the White Temple at opening, before the tour groups and heat.
• On winding hill roads such as Mae Salong and Phu Chi Fa, carry motion-sickness medicine and plan stops.
• Buy comprehensive travel insurance. Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital is the major public hospital and Kasemrad Sriburin General Hospital is a private one, per Wikipedia.
• Cover shoulders and knees at temples and remove shoes inside halls.

Chiang Rai with elderly parents: the full guide →