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Is Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai Better For You?

The topic of Chiang Mai vs. Chiang Rai is one I bring up a lot to clients who avail my custom Thailand itinerary service. Most of them, as you can guess, are predisposed to choose Chiang Mai.

I don’t begrudge them this, of course. Chiang Mai is the most popular city in Northern Thailand for many very good reasons—I definitely love it with all my heart.

On the other hand, I find that when people learn about all the amazing things to do in Chiang Rai, they’re much more prone to want to visit. Let’s examine this topic deeper, shall we?

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Where to Stay in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

Hotels are an important distinction between Chiang Mai vs. Chiang Rai, though I should clarify what I mean by this. It’s not an issue of quality—properties such as Le Patta Chiang Rai and El Barrio Lanna in Chiang Rai offer similar ambiance and amenities, not to mention walking-distance locations from their respect city center. More important, both hotels (and many, even most others) offer authentic Thai hospitality.

The main distinction is quantity: There are more Chiang Mai hotels, both on a basis of density and in absolute numbers. Moreover, with a few notable exceptions (such as the Four Seasons Tented Camp, which is located far outside of central Chiang Rai in the Golden Triangle), Chiang Mai offers more resorts, and generally caters better to travelers craving luxury.

Questions to Ask When Deciding Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai

What is Chiang Mai known for?

 

Of all the things to do in Chiang Mai, I’d say three categories are the most famous: the variety of temples inside (but also outside) the walled Old City; elephant experiences such as the one on offer at Elephant Nature Park; and the large variety of nature in rural Chiang Mai province, namely Doi Inthanon mountain and any number of waterfalls nearby.

Is it worth going to Chiang Rai?

 

The Chiang Mai vs. Chiang Rai doesn’t really have any resolution here—Chiang Rai is just as worthy a destination, at the baseline, as Chiang Mai. This is true whether you explore Chiang Rai temples such as the Wat Rong Khun “White temple,” or take a day trip from Chiang Rai to the scenic Golden Triangle, along the Mekong River where Thailand meets Laos and Myanmar.

Is there a train from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?

 

You can’t take a train to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, as Chiang Rai does not have a train station. Rather, several buses per day run between the two cities, taking between 3-4 hours, depending on traffic and other conditions. Alternatively, you can arrange a private car to take you from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai (or vice-versa), though you’ll need to negotiate the cost, which will be 2,000 Baht at minimum.

How many days in Chiang Rai is enough?

 

For most travelers, the issue of how many days to spend in Chiang Mai vs. Chiang Rai is relatively similar. Assuming you have about two weeks in Thailand, 2-3 days in Chiang Rai is plenty. This gives you a day to explore the city center, and opportunities to visit both the Golden Triangle and coffee farms on excursions. Likewise, in Chiang Mai, you can have one day inside the Old City, then one each amid the elephants and then at Doi Inthanon.

Should I visit Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai?

 

Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai are two essential Thailand destinations that, while similar, are distinct enough that they both deserve a visit. If you have the time to travel to both of them, whether on the same trip or at different points in time, I’d absolutely encourage it. Even if you end up eventually favoring one over another (I personally prefer Chiang Rai), your experiences in both will cross-pollinate, as it were.

Other Destinations in Northern Thailand

For some travelers, the big cities of Thailand’s north are all there is. Many of my clients, for example, will ride the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, then travel from Thailand to Laos by crossing from Chiang Kong (in Thailand) over to the Laotian city of Huay Xai, where they’ll ride a slow boat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang. I highly recommend this, by the way—it’s one of most epic trips in Southeast Asia! (NOTE: You can also travel from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai!)

For the sake of this discussion, however, let’s try to stay in Thailand. Moving on from Chiang Mai vs. Chiang Rai, a couple of obvious other places to go are Lampang, a rural province near Chiang Mai, and Phayao, which feels similar, but is closer to Chiang Rai. If you finish in Thailand’s far north and don’t want to leave the country, you can head south to Phitansulok and Sukhothai, or south and then east to Isaan.

 

 

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Other Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai FAQ

Is Chiang Rai the same as Chiang Mai?

Chiang Rai is not the same as Chiang Mai. In addition to the fact that the two cities are separated by more than 100 kilometers, they are structured differently—Chiang Mai’s old city is walled and compact, while Chiang Rai is more sprawling. In addition, Chiang Rai is the anchor of the ethnical diverse Golden Triangle region, while Chiang Mai sits at the heart of the traditional Lanna Kingdom.

Is Chiang Rai cheaper than Chiang Mai?

Chiang Rai may be cheaper than Chiang Mai in some ways, such as the cost of hotels or the price of food in the night market. On the other hand, because you need to cover more ground to travel in Chiang Rai province, factoring in the cost of transport to your trip can make the two destinations come up surprisingly even, when you break it all down.

Is Chiang Mai close to Chiang Rai?

Chiang Mai is relatively close to Chiang Rai, with a road distance of less than 200 km. However, depending on which route you take between the two cities, a bus ride can take 3-4 hours, and in some cases even longer. Distances in Thailand are frequently greater than they appear!

The Bottom Line

The easiest way to settle the Chiang Mai vs. Chiang Rai debate is to visit both amazing cities. This isn’t always possible, of course, which is why I’ve written this post to help you decide. In general, I’d say that if you want an easier and more accessible trip with a wider variety of hotels, Chiang Mai is probably better for you. Travelers craving more authenticity and who don’t mind doing a bit of work when they travel, meanwhile, will likely prefer Chiang Rai. Let me know in the comments below which of these Thai cities—Chiang Rai vs Chiang Mai—you prefer!

 

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