Wat Phra Kaew, on Trirat Road on the northwest side of town, is the best known of the northern wats because it once housed the Emerald Buddha now at Bangkok's royal Wat Phra Kaew. Near its Lanna-style chapel is the chedi, which (according to legend) was struck by lightning in 1436 to reveal the precious green jasper Buddha. There is now a green jade replica of the image on display.
Wat Phra Singh is 2 blocks east of Wat Phra Kaew. The restored wat is thought to date from the 15th century. Inside is a replica of the Phra Singh Buddha, a highly revered Theravada Buddhist image; the original was removed to Chiang Mai's Wat Phra Singh.
The Burmese-style Wat Doi Tong (Phra That Chomtong) sits atop a hill above the northwest side of town, up a steep staircase off Kaisornrasit Road, and offers an overview of the town and a panorama of the Mae Kok valley. It is said that King Mengrai himself chose the site for his new Lanna capital from this very hill. The circle of columns at the top of the hill surrounds the city's new lak muang (city pillar), built to commemorate the 725th anniversary of the city and King Bhumibol's 60th birthday. It is often criticized for its failure to represent local style. (You can see the old wooden lak muang in the viharn of the wat.)
The Population and Community Development Association (PDA), 620/1 Thanalai Rd., east of Wisetwang Road (tel. 05371-9167), is a NGO responsible for some of the most effective tribal development projects in the region. The popular Cabbages & Condoms restaurants, with branches here and in Bangkok (and now a resort in Pattaya), carry their important message of safe sex and family planning. On the top floor of this office is a small Hill-tribe Museum (no phone) that's heavy on shopping and light on museum exhibits, but the admission goes to a good cause. It's open daily 9am to 7pm, and admission is 50B (US$1.45/75p).
The Mae Kok River is one of the most scenic attractions in Chiang Rai. You can hire a long-tail boat to ferry you up and down the river. You'll have the option to stop at the Buddha cave (a temple within a cavern), an elephant camp (for trekking), a hot spring, and a riverside Lahu village. Trips range from 500B to 1,000B (US$14-US$29/£7.70-£15), depending on the stops you make. The ferry pier is beyond the bridge across from the Dusit Island Resort. Contact Maesalong Tours, 882-4 Phaholyothin Rd. (tel. 05371-2515; fax 05371-1011), or ask at your hotel.
Trekking & Hill-Tribe Tours
Most of the hill-tribe villages within close range of Chiang Rai have long ago been set up for routine visits by group tours (not recommended). If your time is too limited for a trek, in-town travel agencies offer day trips to the countryside and areas less-traveled. Guided tours with transport are priced on a two-person minimum and greater discounts are available for groups of three or more.
The best operation in Chiang Rai is Golden Triangle Tours, 590 Phaholyothin Rd. (tel. 05371-3918; fax 05371-3963; www.goldenchiangrai.com). They are professional, experienced, and offer an array of tours and cater to personal interests. For hill-tribe treks, choose anything from a day trip to a week of adventure. Day trips to surrounding villages begin at 2,300B (US$66/£35) and can include light trekking to villages as well as elephant trekking for groups of two or three people (private tours cost a bit more). Longer treks range in price from 6,500B to 7,800B (US$186-US$223/£100-£120) for anything from multi-day trips in the Golden Triangle to 3- to 5-day sojourns among Akha, Hmong, Yao, Karen, and Lahu tribes. Exciting 4X4 treks along the opium trail follow new routes cut by government agencies to hurry local produce to market and thus replace community reliance on cultivating opium poppies.
