Chiang Rai Travel Forum

Hi Frens,
I am planning a 4/5D trip to both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Anyone can answer the following questions? Planning for 1 nite at Chaing mai and 2/3 nites at chiang Rai.
1. 1 full day at Chiang Mai (elephant riding, bamboo rafting, etc), then nite time visit night bazaar. Is one full day sufficient for this?
2. From Chiang Rai , how can i get back to Chiang Mai? What is the frequency and how much is the fare?
3. Anyone heard of someone called Eric ? He is a member of the virtualtourist, offering home stay at his house in Chiang Rai for 580 Bht per night. Any comment on it? Or any other homestay recommendation. We are on shoe-string budget.
Thx,
MK

Hi Allthai,

It is confirmed that i will be going to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai (4N/5D). Will reach Chiang Mai in the evening on 23 Nov. And leaving Chiang Mai back home on 27 evening as well.

My intention is to spend 2 nights at chiang mai and 2 nites at chiang Rai.

Not sure which of the following is a better, more enjoyable and viable itinery. Can you advice?

23 Nov : temple visit, nite market visit and spend one nite at chiang mai town
24 Nov: bamboo rafting, elephant ride and hill tribe visit (Mae Taeng), spend one nite at Chiang Dao
25 Nov : Take an early bus to chiang rai
or
23 Nov : temple visit, nite market visit and spend one nite at chiang mai
24 Nov: Visit Doi Inthanon natinal park and spend one nite at the accommodation there.
25 Nov: Take an early bus to chiang rai
or
23 Nov : temple visit, nite market visit and spend one nite at chiang mai
24 Nov: Take a bus to Mae Rim (visit elephant camp and hill tribe)and Chiang Dao (Visit hilltribe and hot spring). Take bus to Thaton and spend a nite there (Garden home bangelow).
25 Nov: Take a boat to chiang rai after visit Wat Thaton

How does the bus service works? Just hop in as long as the bus by pass that place? Lots os bus going to Chiang Rai via Chiang Dao, Thaton?

Thanks.
MK

Hi Allthai,
Can find Golden Home bungalow of Thaton in the web. Do we need to pre book the hotel? Any other good accommodation in Thaton?
Have you heard of Doi Suthep? From Chiang mai town, down town inn hotel, how can i get there?is it near the hotel?

Thanks,MK

ya, garden home bundalow. Need to book or reserve first? can find their website in internet.

For Doi Suthep, i only have 4 hours on that day. sufficient to go and return to chiang mai town?

Hi Allthai,

1. For temple at Doi Suthep, what time do they close? Is it easier to go there from airport or from down town?
2. What else can be done on the way from chiang mai to thaton? Only elephant ride and bamboo rafting at Chiang Dao? Need to join any tour package or we can go there ourself and participate in the activities?
3. Earliest long tail boat from garden Home Bungalow to Chiang Rai is 12.30 pm? No morning boat?

Thanks,
Starystarynite

So, how should i go to all these places. Take the 6am bus to Chiang Dao. Tell the driver i want to stop at the elephant training camp. do elephant riding and bamboo rafting. After that, how to go to the cave shrine at chiang Dao?

From Chiang Dao, take a bus to Fang hot spring and to Burmese Temple at Mae Ai. Necessary to go the Burmese temple at Mae Ai? If not, i will just go Fang hot spring then take bus from Fang to Thaton.

Hi Randy,

Any suggestions on my questions below?

"So, how should i go to all these places. Take the 6am bus to Chiang Dao. Tell the driver i want to stop at the elephant training camp. do elephant riding and bamboo rafting. After that, how to go to the cave shrine at chiang Dao?

From Chiang Dao, take a bus to Fang hot spring and to Burmese Temple at Mae Ai. Necessary to go the Burmese temple at Mae Ai? If not, i will just go Fang hot spring then take bus from Fang to Thaton."

Hi Randy,

Any suggestions on my questions below?

"So, how should i go to all these places. Take the 6am bus to Chiang Dao. Tell the driver i want to stop at the elephant training camp. do elephant riding and bamboo rafting. After that, how to go to the cave shrine at chiang Dao?

From Chiang Dao, take a bus to Fang hot spring and to Burmese Temple at Mae Ai. Necessary to go the Burmese temple at Mae Ai? If not, i will just go Fang hot spring then take bus from Fang to Thaton."

Hi Randy,

Any suggestions on my questions below?

"So, how should i go to all these places. Take the 6am bus to Chiang Dao. Tell the driver i want to stop at the elephant training camp. do elephant riding and bamboo rafting. After that, how to go to the cave shrine at chiang Dao?

From Chiang Dao, take a bus to Fang hot spring and to Burmese Temple at Mae Ai. Necessary to go the Burmese temple at Mae Ai? If not, i will just go Fang hot spring then take bus from Fang to Thaton."