Experience Chiang Rai Loop: 31 Unforgettable Spots (2024)

Day 2: Chiang Rai – Mae Salong

If you stay here for one more night, then you will have time to visit the magnificent Phu Chi Fa mountain, which is located on the Thai-Lao border, and with which breathtaking views of the surrounding area open up.

There are two routes to get to Mae Salong – the first one goes straight through and is about 60-70km long, the other route is more scenic route but more than double the distance in terms of kilometers. The best way to get to here is by motorcycle.

Direct route – 60km
Scenic route – 170km

Thing to do on the road to Mae Salong:

Blue Temple Wat Rong Suea Ten (open 7:00)

The Blue Temple is widely regarded as the most underrated temple in Thailand. It was opened in 2016, after 11 years of construction, and has yet to become popular with the crowds of package tourists. The architect of the temple is Salah Nok, a disciple of the world-renowned artist Chalermchai Kositpipat who built the White Temple. Read more about the place on our website here – Blue Temple Chiang Rai.

White Temple Wat Rong Khun (open 8:00)

Wat Rong Khun is probably the most interesting Buddhist temple that you will visit in all of Northern Thailand, that is because Wat Rong Khun is a large art exhibit that is also in the shape of a Buddhist temple. The original Wat Rong Khun was bought by local Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who also designed the Golden Clock Tower. He spent a lot of his own money in renovating Wat Rong Khun to make it a tourist attraction and intends to use the space around Wat Rong Khun for tourists to learn about the teaching of Buddhism.

This place is more popularly known among tourists as the White Temple in Chiang Rai.

Open from 8am, but be sure to arrive early, before peak time! A must-see if you are traveling in Chiang Rai.

Black Temple or Black House (open 9:00)

Most commonly known as The Black Temple or The Black House, Baan Dam Museum is a temple styled art gallery that would probably impress even the most vetted temple hopper. Baan Dam Museum features work by Thawan Duchanee and other contemporary Thai artists that includes a collection of wood buildings, painted black with each of them holding a different display of uniqueness tied to the Black House theme.

In saying that, each exhibit is made from the remains of a variety of dead animals including moose antlers, water buffalo skulls, to snake skins and even blow fish hanging from the ceiling – almost everything from the Black House is made from the remains. Although, there is no sense of being in an animal cemetery at all as it has been laid out quite artistically and is unlike anything you’ve seen before!

The Black House is home to a lot of Thawan Duchanees life work along with a lot of artist’s taxidermy too.

Perhaps this could be the most unusual place on the Chiang Rai Loop?!

Union of Hill Tribe villages and the Karen Long Necks

Northern Thailand borders Burma and is a very mountainous region home to a large number of tribes and their people. For the tribes that are willing, the Thai Tourism Department has created accessible villages for them to inhabit which has made them open for tourists.

The small village known as Union of Hill Tribe Villages is inhabited by the more commonly known tribe, Karen Long Necks, where tourists from all over the globe can come to understand their lives, culture, and practices, whilst also being able to take home a piece of Thailand’s tribal heritage.

Doi Tung

Doi Tung (Mae Fah Luang), part of the Nang Non-Mountains is, in fact, the highest peak of this mountain range that is heavily forested and about 1650 meters above sea-level. At the summit, there is a Temple, a bunch of cafes and a tree garden. The weather here is cold and icy all year around.

Our blog has a travel guide about Doi Tung! Be sure to read it if you are heading to Chiang Rai!

View Point

As with every summit, Doi Tung too has a designated viewpoint that offers a panoramic view of the entire mountain range and a beautiful village – that is also the best place to see the sunrise and sunset. There are many trails in and around the summit that every nature lover will enjoy.

Royal Villa

The Royal Villa is the home of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother of Thailand. It is built in an authentic Swiss Chalet style with lawns and gardens around tastefully manicured and set up. The Royal Villa is a mixture of all that Thailand has to offer. Architecture, nature with a tinge of foreign influence.

Open from 7am-11:30am and 12:30pm-5:30pm

Entrance fee:
– for adults 90THB;
– for children 45THB

The Hall of Inspiration

The Hall of Inspiration is a collection of stories about an old Royal Thai family called the Mahidol’s. It includes a lot of stories that depict how the family was encouraged to serve the country that also covers three generations of the family. Each of the exhibits posing as an encouragement to serve Thailand.

Open from 8am-5pm.
Entrance is free.

Botanical Garden

Home to all sorts of flora and fauna, the Doi Tung Botanical Garden is a nice place to kick back, relax, read a book and just cool off. The main features of the garden are the shaped walks and sculpted hedges that pose as a great place to take pictures.

Open from 6:30am-6pm.

Entrance fee:
– for adults 90THB;
– for children 45THB

Doi Tung Tree Top Walk

The Doi Tung Tree Top Walk is a remarkable experience located amongst the Botanical Gardens where tourists walk along a 300 meter wooden rope bridge. After being harnessed into a safety belt, you can then walk across the treetops and have a beautiful view of the Gardens below and the mountain range above.

Entrance fee:
– for adults 200THB;
– and children 100THB

Doi Tung Temple + viewpoint

Near the summit of Doi Tung, is the Doi Tung Temple called Wat Phra That Doi Tung. The site is at about 2,000 meters above sea-level and was built in the 10th Century. The Temple atop Doi Tung has twin stupas, both stupas being golden in color. The site is in a quaint little location that offers a nice panoramic view of the mountain range and if you’re really lucky, you get to see the clouds above.

To the left of the main building is a path that leads to the amazing viewpoint.

In this place of the Chiang Rai Loop you can see the surroundings from a bird’s eye view – so remember, you are not a bird and therefore you should be careful! Take precaution and hold onto the handrails provided.

Doi Tung Arboretum

Slash and burn farming techniques destroyed large portions of the forest on Doi Tung. The Princess Mother dedicated herself to restoring a particularly damaged area which is now known as the Doi Tung Arboretum. It’s 9 kilometers north of the Doi Tung Royal Villa and is replanted with native and non-native flowers and trees. There is a walking path, too, that offers panoramic views of Thailand’s neighboring country, Burma.

Open between 7am-5:30pm.

Entrance fee:
– for adults is 90THB;
– for children 45THB