Chiang Rai Province has often been overlooked in favor of its better-known Northern Thailand cousins, Chiang Mai and Pai, but things are about to change, thanks in part to the growing popularity of hiking. On top of its rich Lanna heritage, Chiang Rai, with a capital city of the same name, just happens to be home to arguably some of the most breathtaking and hikable, forest-draped mountainscapes in Thailand.
Sharing a border with Myanmar to the northwest and Laos to the northeast, no visit to Thailand’s northernmost province is complete without getting to grips with at least one (or indeed any number) of its remarkable trails. If you have a day to spare, here are the top hikes around Chiang Rai and what to expect.
Easy: 2 kilometers to the peak at Phu Chi Fah
Early-risers should devote one morning to the two-kilometer hike up to the peak at Phu Chi Fah, at the border between Thailand and Laos, in the Doi Pha Mon range. Although the hike is incredibly pretty at any time of day, it’s also one of the easier trails and gets fairly busy. To avoid the crowds, get up before dawn and aim to summit in time for the stunning sunrise scene. Depending on your fitness level, you can make it to the top in 20 minutes to 40 minutes. Between the months of November and February, when warm clothing is advised, you could get even luckier with the view: a panoramic view of an ocean of clouds, as the sun rises up from behind the distant mountains.
The trail to the peak at Phu Chi Fah links up with various other trails in Doi Pha Mon, so once you’ve ticked the sunrise viewing off your list, you can extend your hike for several kilometers or even further still. Make sure to pack plenty of water and snacks.
Moderate: 12 kilometers from Phu Chi Fah to Phu Chi Dao
One such extension takes you from Phu Chi Fah to Phu Chi Dao. The hike is approximately 12 kilometers along the mountain ridge, skirting the Thai-Laotian border further northwards and upwards to about 1800 meters – it’s certainly more challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. As you leave the gathering crowds of Phu Chi Fah behind and rise above the sea of clouds, the view is even more spectacular, tranquil and breathtaking.
Super easy: 1.5 kilometers at Khun Korn Forest Park
Close to the city of Chiang Rai, Khun Korn Waterfall Trail within the Khun Korn Forest Park, elevating some 1400 meters, is a friendly hike among tropical foliage and bamboo trees. Over here there’s plenty to delight the casual birdwatcher. The trail is punctuated by an 87-meter-high cascading waterfall, which offers cooling respite after the 1.5-kilometer hike over. To avoid the smoke from seasonal burning of nearby fields, plan your visit between June and February. There’s ample parking at the park entrance, where the trail begins, and entry is permitted from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Moderate: 11 kilometers on the Huay Kaew Waterfall Extended Loop
If you like chasing waterfalls but need more of a workout, the 11-kilometer Huay Kaew Waterfall Extended Loop, just an hour’s drive further north, wends its way blissfully through Lam Nam Kok National Park. Set aside approximately four hours for this moderate trail through thick jungle, waterfalls, rivers, tea plantations and a local village. Birders, don’t forget your binoculars, there will be plenty to spot here.
Various levels: Doi Mae Salong and Mae Fah Luang
Even further north, the areas of Doi Mae Salong and Mae Fah Luang are highly recommended by Smiling Albino, a luxury travel company that’s been curating immersive, themed hikes in the region since 1999. With plenty of hiking options for all levels, Doi Mae Salong is replete with former smuggling trails and remote local villages, while deep valleys, steep terraced tea plantations and rice paddies abound in Mae Fah Luang. Smiling Albino offers high-end, tailored experiences complete with English-speaking guides and pack pony to carry your gear and food for a full-day hike between Doi Mae Salong and the charming Thoed Thai community in Mae Fah Luang.
The hike will take you through a mountain range, along coffee plantations, banana and cornfields and tea terraces among a slew of attractions. The actual hiking is generally relaxed, thanks to the four-legged hiking buddies, with no end to the picturesque spots for resting and dining. Smiling Albino founder Daniel Fraser can’t stress it enough: “Hiking in the region provides some of Thailand’s most fabulous visuals, and a truly exhilarating hiking experience.”
Ready for a getaway to Chiang Rai? Fly directly with Thai Smile Airways.
