Photography, Travel
3 Days in Chiang Rai, Thailand
We spent 3 days in Chiang Rai, to see these really unique architecture and temples in the area, it’s something I saw in a photo before and couldn’t believe it actually exists! But it does 😀 Here are all the places we visited while in Chiang Rai.
WAT RONG KHUN (WHITE TEMPLE)
I thought it was an actual temple, but it’s actually an existing temple that was renovated into an contemporary art exhibit, designed and owned by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. The white temple looks unworldly and beautiful from afar, with the intricate details and designs. At a closer look, you’ll see some weird stuff lol. Entrance fee is 50 baht.
WAT RONG SEUR TEN (BLUE TEMPLE)
Another beautiful and intricately designed temple with a blue color theme. The shrine inside has a big white Buddha statue with designs all around that is very beautiful. Entrance fee is free.
BAANDAM MUSEUM (BLACK HOUSE)
It’s a museum with unique wooden buildings and structures and works by Thawan Duchanee. It has a lot of animal bones and weird looking statues so if you’re an animal lover you may not like this place. Entrance fee is 80 baht.
WAT HUAI PLA KANG (BIG BUDDHA)
This is a temple complex featuring a 9-floor pagoda, a giant goddess of mercy statue, and a white temple. The big white Guan Ying (Goddess of Mercy) is huge! It’s a amazing site to see looking up from the bottom.
When we visited (April 2018), the white temple and parts of the stairs to the Guan Ying were not completed yet. Once it’s all completed I believe it’ll become one of the must-see sights in Chiang Rai. Admission is free to the temple and padoga. Only fee is if you want to use the elevator to go up from the inside to the top of the Guan Ying (using the stairs is free).
GOLDEN CLOCK TOWER
A gold colored clock tower that has a light and sound show at 7, 8, and 9pm. It’s a pretty cool sight to see.
THAI MASSAGE
If you’re in Thailand, definitely try out a Thai massage! You’ll feel very very relaxed after getting one 🙂 They’re also very cheap compared to any you find in the US. The one I went to cost 240 Baht (~$7.50 USD).
OUR ONE DAY ITINERARY
We were able to visit the White temple, Blue temple, Baandam Museum, and the Big Buddha temple complex all in one day! Lol. We rented out some motorbikes and went along with a few travelers we met at the hostel and just freely went to each sight for the day.
TRANSPORTATION IN CHIANG RAI
When we were here in Chiang Rai, we mostly went around using a motorbike. It seems to be a good cheaper option if you want the freedom to go wherever you want. The accommodation we stayed at (Mercy Hostel) provided rental service so we just went with them. If you have experience riding a motorbike, then this is a good option. If you’re completely new to motorbiking, then it can be nerve wrecking to drive here since the main roads can be very busy. Me and my friend are very very beginner bikers so it was a bit scary for us to drive on the main roads, especially the highway. We tried to take the small roads as much as possible lol.
Other modes of transportation are hiring tuktuks or private drivers, or you could also find day tours to those sightseeing locations.
COST OF TRIP FOR 3 DAYS IN CHIANG RAI
Here’s a breakdown of the cost of our 3 Day stay in Chiang Rai per person in USD (excluding flights). It is based on a 2-person share.
Food: $20
Accommodation: $24
Transportation: $11
Entrance fees and activities: $12
Total Cost: $67 USD
Accommodation: Mercy Hostel
See the photos I took for the Chiang Rai, Thailand.