Akha Hill House

The northern Thai city of Chiang Rai is home to a large assortment of Buddhist temples, or wats. With so many to see, it can be hard to know where to start prioritizing. Luckily, we’re here to help. Read on for our top picks of Chiang Rai temples.

Learn more about the rich diversity of northern Thai culture by visiting one of the hill tribe villages near Chiang Rai during an exploration of the Golden Triangle—where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. Here are some of the best hill tribes to visit from Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai.

Chiang Rai is ideally situated for discovering Thailand’s Golden Triangle, so three days in the city give you ample time to immerse yourself in local culture and cuisine, and explore the northern highlands. Here’s how.